"I refuse.", Inferno replied immediately.
Seventeen tilted his head, "Well. That is not how I imagined this conversation would go on. You didn't even hear the details of the deal."
"It doesn't take a genius to figure out your deal is not in my favor." Seventeen touched his chin and smiled, "Actually, it does lean in your favor."
"...."
"I take that your silence means that you are interested?"
"...."
He leaned over Inferno and smiled calmly, "Doesn't matter. So here's the deal, Blu. You said Arthur is not strong enough to wield your power?"
"Well. I will make him into a strong vessel for you. The kid has immense growth potential. You have already seen his perfect magia control and combat skills. With the necessary guidance, he will become a strong vessel and may even achieve unity with you."
Inferno scoffed, "Ha! As if that will happen!"
"It will happen. I will make sure of it.", Seventeen replied confidently, his amethyst eyes glowing from within.
"Until we destroy the creature called Lazarus. I'll need your cooperation in making Arthur strong."
"And if he is not strong enough by then?", Inferno asked, curious about his end of the deal.
"Will I get to fully control this body? If so, then what is the point of the deal since I will be occupying the boy's body now?"
Seventeen shook his head and spoke lowly, "If Arthur is not strong enough by the time we face the creature. I will offer my body instead of Arthur's"
"What?"
"Think about it.", Seventeen said, "Which is a better vessel? A human with a complete soul that is a hassle to control without unity or a doll with an incomplete soul?"
Inferno thought about it, "The latter would be a better choice. But the boy is a dragon half-blood whose awakened form is on par with a founder dragon."
What Seventeen said next both shocked him and changed his mind.
"I bleed liquid magia.", the instructor whispered in his ear.
"The blood of the Guardians. Those arrogant bastards who called themselves gods.", Inferno spoke.
His eyes fell on Seventeen's. "But you are not natural. An artificial god?"
"Interesting.", Seventeen said and held out his hand, "So. Do we have an agreement? Should I arrange a Blood Contract? I know a vampire who can make a potent one."
Inferno thought for a moment before replying, "Fine. You better keep your end of the deal if things go south. And no need for a contract, I always keep my word."
The instructor smiled, "Sure. Now shake my hand."
"I can't. I am paralyzed by the Frost venom."
"Oh. My bad." Seventeen pulled back his hand and looked at the spirit, "Now give back my student."
"I look forward to seeing how powerful your body is.", Inferno said before his blue eyes faded and were replaced by Arthur's amethyst irises.
The young man's eyes rolled back as he slipped into unconsciousness.
Seventeen sat down on the forest floor and sighed in relief. 'That was a close one.', he thought. He added the part about his blood as a last resort.
Judging how Vicaris called it the blood of the gods, he figured that liquid magia was an important substance.
Even the Voice of Magia introduced herself as the blood of the gods when he first encountered her.
Could the Arken gods have liquid magia flowing in their veins? He has to ask Vanessa to confirm it.
'Did you know about this when you created my body, Prime?'
(I just used liquid magia for your blood just because it was the best out of many substances suitable for your optimal function. Seems like having magia flowing in your veins is a mark of divinity in this world.)
(By the way. Will you give your body to Inferno if you can't hold your end of the deal?)
'Heck no. I'll make sure a situation like that will never occur.' Seventeen felt a familiar presence approaching him with a wave of cold air.
"Seriously. Now you are like a giant walking popsicle.", he said as Ruth sat behind him and the two leaned against each other.
She sighed, "I can't help it. I just broke into CAT 1. It will take some time for me to adjust the magia I emit."
They sat back to back in silence for a minute before Ruth spoke up, "What Inferno said about your true identity. Is it true?"
She glanced at him, "You are not human?"
Seventeen thought about his answer before sighing, "Yeah. I am not human."
This doesn't mean that he is from another race. In this world, all the humanoid races except Vahari and shifter dragons are part of Humanity.
The other humanoid races are different variations of humans that have evolved with the influence of magia.
The first races to evolve and diverge from humanity were the elves and dwarves.
Evolution progressed until the highest form of humans emerged as the Fairies. According to some scholars, there is one more race that is higher than the Fairies and seen as the peak of humanity.
This race is called the Primals but they exist only in theory. So far, no evidence exists of a race higher than the Fairies.
But among the races in humanity, mankind is the only one capable of interspecies propagation. They are also capable of adapting to any situation and are considered the first human race.
The non-human races consist of the Vahari, dragons, and homunculi. The latter is a non-human because of the artificial origins of a homunculus.
"You are not a Vaharis for obvious reasons, and you are not a dragon.", Ruth mused. She turned around and looked him in the face, "Seventeen. Are you a homunculus?"
He just gazed into the bright blue eyes of the half-elf.
Now that he thinks of it. There is not much difference between him and a homunculus. Both of them are created artificially except in his case, he is a completely synthetic being while a homunculus is organic.
So Seventeen shrugged, "Nope. I am not a homunculus, Popsicle."
"Oh.", Ruth looked slightly disappointed and turned around, leaning on his back. Seventeen can feel her cold touch with his thermal sensors.
"But.", he spoke, "I am quite similar to a homunculus." Her slightly pointy ears perked, "Similar to one huh?"
"So what are you?"
Seventeen stared at the moon and answered, "I'll tell that another time. I promise."
"Are you afraid? Scared that if I learn your true identity, I might not see you the same way ever?"
He nodded, "You can say that."
Ruth sighed, "Very well. Another time it is. But I can discern what you are from the clues I got from you and Inferno. Well, I will wait."
"Thanks, Popsicle."
"Don't mention it."
Again, an awkward silence hung in the air.
After a few minutes, Seventeen spoke up, "So. About that meal. What do you fancy?"
"What are you talking about?", Ruth asked.
"You know, the compensation for what happened this morning?"
"Ah.", her face turned red as the memory of the sudden intrusion into her room rushed into her mind.
She hugged her knees and buried her face in them.
"Um. C-can we go out instead? I-I can eat your c-cooking anytime in the dorm.", she spoke in a low shaky voice.
"Uh. Sure. I'm fine with that.", Seventeen replied when he realized what was happening. He was lowkey glad to be unable to blush, "I know a good place in Crystalis that serves amazing food."
"Can you afford it though? You said it yourself, you were quite strapping for money."
"Oh don't worry about that. I'll find a way."
"You better not do a bank heist. I know you are capable of it."
"Jeez Popsicle. Just have some faith in me."
Ruth chuckled, "So. Looks like a date.", she said, blushing furiously.
Seventeen nodded, "Yep. A date indeed." The two warlocks sat with bashful faces that were illuminated by the light of the moon peeking through the clouds above.
"What a long day.", Seventeen sighed.
*******
On a dark corner of the woods, a lone figure staggered toward the coast.
Black smoke rose from his body and the smell of burned flesh trailed off him.
'Shit shit shit! I never should've taken this job!', the Predator thought as he dragged his charred body away from the monster he tried to kill.
He doesn't care if the branch family kills him anymore. He just wants to get as far away from Arthur Night as possible.
After a few minutes of painful shuffling, the rogue Shadow saw a glimpse of the coast and quickened his pace.
But just as he reached the edge of the forest he froze in his tracks.
"Found you. You sneaky rat.", a calm voice spoke behind him.
An immense Bloodlust enveloped him as he turned around and faced Cardinal Leonard Zephyrus.
The Headmaster of Cardinal Academy was just a few feet away from him. "H-How?", the Predator stammered.
He was sure no one was behind him a moment ago.
But the Air Cardinal appeared behind him.
Like a silent snake. And the snake is angry.
"That was both brave and foolish.", Zephyrus said, "Despite knowing that I and four powerful warlocks are on this island, you still chose to do the dirty work of the Night branch family.
The rogue Shadow's body suddenly contorted as the air surrounding him tightened and bound him like invisible ropes.
He screamed but no sound came out and he suddenly could not breathe. His one remaining eye noticed a frosting around him and realized that the Cardinal had trapped him in an air bubble.
Except that this bubble was devoid of any air. He gasped for air like a fish out of the water as Zephyrus approached the bubble.
"No one messes with my students and gets away unscathed.", he said calmly, "But what I am doing to you could be considered mercy. If Seventeen had found you. I don't want to think about what he would do to you."
Just as the Predator was about to pass out, Zephyrus snapped his finger and the bubble trapping him dissipated along with the air binding his body.
He collapsed to his knees and took deep breaths.
"Unfortunately I am not the one to kill you.", the Cardinal said and walked away from him, "He is yours, Vesta."
A figure rose from the shadows of trees next to him and the Fire Dancer walked toward the Predator, her eye glowing bright red and an aura of heat surrounded her as she took out her serrated dagger.
Before he could open his mouth, his head started sliding off his neck. But just as his head was about to fall off, time slowed to a crawl and Vesta knelt and looked him in the eyes.
"Did the branch family ask you to kill Arthur?", she asked. She just wanted to confirm it.
He didn't respond but his eyes gave him away.
Despite the panic of losing his head, the Predator didn't stop cursing those damned elders.
"I see.", Vesta closed her eyes, "Despite your betrayal, you were one of the best. The Shadow Sect sends their regards. Now rest, Hans Luhar."
Time started flowing normally and the rogue Shadow's head rolled to the ground.