Arthur and Ajax looked at the contents of the Blood Contract.
They found no problems with what was written. "Now sign it with your blood.", Leah instructed them.
They nodded. Ajax pricked his finger and touched the contract with his blood followed by Arthur. The contract glowed and disappeared.
"If you wish to dissolve the contract then both parties must agree to it. That is the only way.", Leah finished her drink and got up, "My work here is done. Suppose you have any doubts about the contract. Feel free to approach me."
She smiled, "Let's all enjoy the games.", she looked at Ajax, "Don't forget. You owe me.", she nodded to Arthur and Minerva and walked to the counter to pay for her drink.
"What a scary woman.", Ajax remarked, watching her leave the cafe. He narrowed his eyes, "She wasn't just talking about the Battle Festival."
Minerva nodded, "Looks like Class C is going to start making moves. She could make a troublesome enemy."
"Or a good ally.", Arthur was also watching Leah exit the cafe. He smiled. The young Stelian would be pretty useful but she would be hard to approach. She's wary of him.
"Alright then. It seems like we have an agreement.", Ajax stood up. "Ah yes.", he ruffled his pockets and took out what looked like a card with runes, "Consider this an advance payment.", he offered it to them.
Arthur recognized the card, "That's a Dungeon Pass. How did you get it?
Dungeons are pocket spaces created by the Immortal Warlock to help other warlocks become stronger. Every Dungeon is unique and rewards those who complete it with materials for upgrading their weapons or even for their growth as a warlock.
Dungeons are uncommon and the Adventurers Guild manages them. So it is hard to get passes to enter them.
A dungeon can contain any challenge, be it monsters or even a whole environment, but all of them have one thing in common, all have a final boss. These spaces were designed to test everything that a warlock possesses. Depending on the difficulty, Dungeons are ranked from E to S.
Anyone can enter a dungeon, as long as they have permission from the Guild, represented by these passes. And these passes aren't cheap. The pass Ajax offered was to a C rank Dungeon.
Despite the rank, it is still a difficult one. Special Class A would hugely benefit from it.
"I have some contacts who were happy enough to give me two passes to C rank dungeons and I am offering one of them to you.", Ajax said, "I know we have already signed the contract but with this, let's seal the deal."
"Very well.", Arthur accepted the pass, "I will be looking forward to our fight."
Ajax walked next to him, "You are a dangerous man, Arthur.", he remarked. "Let me pay for your drinks.", he offered but Arthur shook his head, "You don't have to. We're fine."
Both of them gazed at each other before Ajax shrugged, "Well. See you later.", he nodded and left.
Arthur and Minerva saw him leave the cafe. "So we just show this to the Adventurer's Guild right?", the latter asked, looking at the dungeon pass.
Arthur nodded, "Yep. And they will guide us to a C rank dungeon.", he handed it to Minerva, "You show this to the class. Tell them a colleague gave it."
Minerva accepted the pass, "What about the alliance. Should I tell them?"
He shook his head, "Let's not, for the time being. We must focus on the Battle Festival."
She nodded and finished her tea, "I hope you know what you're doing.", she got up, "Coming with me?"
Arthur shook his head, "I'll come a little later. I want to process everything that has happened by far. You don't have to pay. My treat."
"I'll take that offer.", Minerva turned around to leave.
"Oh and don't worry Minerva. Everything will be fine.", Arthur assured her with a smile. She sighed, "I pray that you do.", with a smile she left.
Arthur sat alone at his table. He glanced at the girl and her companion at the other table. She was reading a book while the young man was writing something.
Someone sat opposite him. It was Vesta holding a cup of coffee. "Minerva has seen through your act.", she looked at him as she reclined on her chair.
He smiled, "Seems like it. She is the sharpest person I've ever met."
Vesta shook her head, "I am surprised that she didn't drop kick you for what you did.", she sipped her coffee, "You pretty much caused the attack on the dorm."
"Honestly I think she will. She is my sparring partner for today.", Arthur looked at his now empty cup. It was no coincidence that he was ambushed by the guys in Class D. He had orchestrated the whole thing.
The one who gave them the information about the hunt was Vesta, disguised as a student and she spread it in such a way that the news would reach Ajax.
In the end, the entire incident was all a plan for Arthur to meet Ajax Slader on this day, to get a new useful ally.
"You predicted everything and played your cards pretty well and no one suspected you until now. Impressive as always, Arthur. But can you handle the repercussions of all this manipulation?", Vesta asked.
Arthur just smiled, "You have known me the longest, Vesta. Not even my siblings have seen this side of me. In this world, not having an attribute means a difficult life.", his face was unreadable.
"I will do whatever it takes to survive, even if I become an enemy to the world.", he declared.
He shook his head, "Anyway. Everything went according to plan. I can now relax. Ajax will ensure our security at the Battle Festival and I'll get to have an amazing fight.", he smiled.
Vesta didn't take her eyes off him. Despite all these years, she never understood Arthur Night. She figured that becoming his Shadow would help but it appears there is more to unearth about her friend.
She swore to protect him from anything, even himself and she will hold onto that oath until her dying breath. Vesta chuckled, for her to have this much loyalty for a single person is unheard of.
"You sure you can beat Ajax?", she asked. Arthur shrugged, "I hope so. I have never seen him fight. He has cleverly kept his skills hidden."
She chuckled. That was typical Arthur. Terrifyingly smart and manipulative but also a clueless guy at the same time.
She finished her coffee and stood up, "Alright then. Time to head back to the dorm. It would help if you got ready for your hellish training. I saw Ms. Ruth heading towards the dorm."
"Looks like I should get going.", he stood up.
"Oh yeah. Please pay for me too.", with a wink Vesta disappeared into the shadows.
"Hey!", Arthur glared at the floor. He sighed, "What a day. I wonder if there is something else in store.", he stood up and went to the counter to pay.
******
Vanessa saw the young man walk down the stairs to the counter. She sipped her tea and closed the book she was reading.
"Your students are very interesting, instructor Seventeen.", she said to the young man sitting opposite her.
He smiled as he finished writing the report. "You will not have to worry about making new friends."
Vanessa looked at him, "You have a remarkable body, to be able to transform at will."
"This is the first time I am doing a complete transformation.", Seventeen examined himself, "I must say I did a pretty good job.", he nodded with satisfaction.
He tucked the report into his storage ring, "How about I show you around before introducing you to the class?"
Vanessa nodded. They stood up, paid for their drinks, and went to explore Cardinal Town.
They were getting a lot of gazes from students and other warlocks, especially Vanessa with her godly beauty. Seventeen sighed. Looks like he can only transform back in the woods.
Ruth had stayed behind to inform the Headmaster of the progress they are making with the training for the Battle Festival. He and Vanessa were on their way to the dorm when they saw Arthur and Minerva going towards the Twins Stags cafe.
Curious, they found a table before the students entered and heard everything. Seventeen was impressed that his students were able to figure out the truth.
He was shocked to learn that it was all a plan by Arthur to get an alliance with Class B. Seventeen was slightly angry at Arthur for doing such a thing but he believes Arthur will face any repercussions that will follow.
He looked around at the students who collapsed on the street. "Can't you do something about this? Weren't the Primordial Seals not enough?"
Vanessa looked at the vampiric students who seem to twitch under her gaze. She sighed.
"Unfortunately there is nothing I could do about that. It is a natural reaction of their bodies towards something that is beyond their realm. You could say it is an instinct deeply rooted in vampires."
"You sure? Things will become troublesome if they figure out that it's because of you.", Seventeen said. She smiled, "Don't worry. They will adjust to my presence and might even become stronger."
Seventeen could not help but marvel at Vanessa Dracule. A being so powerful that her people instinctively react to her presence, even when her power is sealed.
He wondered how such a godly being have remained hidden for this long.
Seventeen showed Vanessa around Cardinal Town. The Vampire Queen was fascinated by everything in the city, asking a lot of questions to which he answered.
She tried many of the delicacies offered in the food stalls and restaurants around the town and it appears that she enjoyed them all.
By the time they reached the forest path leading to the dorm, it was late afternoon. Seventeen transformed back into his original form when he sensed that no one is around.
"Cardinal Academy is a wonderful place. I get why that old warlock asked me to join.", Vanessa remarked. "You mean Eravon Lock?", he asked.
She nodded, "He told me a lot about your creator. He sounded like a pretty amazing person. I would love to meet him in your Mindscape one day."
(It would be my pleasure.)
Seventeen repeated what Prime had said. Vanessa smiled, "Your purpose is to guide this world's Arthur Night right? Is that the only thing?", she asked.
He thought back to his first conversation with Prime. With a smile, he said, "I should also live my own life."
Vanessa looked at him, she chuckled, "You are a truly interesting being, Seventeen. I get why Vicaris took a liking to you by the end of his life. I hope you like his gift."
Seventeen glanced at the bracelet on his arm, "Yeah. It is perfect."
They had finally reached the dorm. The sound of clashing weapons can be heard as the students practiced hard with their sparring partners.
"I am a bit miffed that I cannot participate in the Great Battle Festival.", Vanessa pouted as she looked at him.
"With good reason. Sending you to the arena is the same as a god descending to fight mortals.", Seventeen stared back at her.
She shrugged, "You have a point."
*******
Arthur knew that Minerva would be mad at him but he didn't know she would be this mad as she rained volleys of arrows infused with air magia at him.
He was giving it his all to prevent even one from touching him, skillfully dodging and intercepting them. Whenever he tried to close the distance between them, Minerva would release a strong wind attack and fly away.
She released a powerful shot which he dodged but he saw a second arrow behind the first one, coming at him with tremendous speed. He sharpened Ghost with magia and sliced the arrow in half.
Streaming magia into his legs he leaped up in the air in front of Minerva and slashed her. She immediately flew up and drop-kicked him to the ground.
"Ow.", he groaned as he rubbed his face.
He got up and saw Seventeen approach Ruth who was supervising the training. They talked about something for a minute before Ruth nodded and clapped her hands.
"Everyone. That's enough. You guys did well. Now gather up, we have something to tell you.", she announced. Everyone stopped sparring and gathered in front of the instructors.
"Are you and sir going out?", Ray asked for which he almost got impaled by an ice spear.
"Watch your trap Callen.", she warned, her face a bit red. She coughed, "As I was saying. We have a new student coming to Special Class A."
This surprised everyone and they wondered who it would be.
Ruth nodded to Seventeen who looked back, "You can come now."
Everyone gasped when the student came. Arthur's eyes widened. It was the girl from the cafe. Now that she is standing in front of them, he can see that she's more beautiful than any of the girls in the class. She almost looked like a doll.
The girl bowed in an elegant manner, "My name is Vanessa Dracule. It is a pleasure to meet you. I hope we can all be great friends."