"Finally cooperating, good. Now for the questions..."
Aron said to Anastasia in a calm almost mocking type of tone as he lowered his hand causing the strange effect from the glyph to come to a halt.
"If you lie and I can tell if you do, just know I won't hesitate to do what I said. For my first question, I want to know who the strongest person in Pesia according to you is and their tier." Aron stated before explaining his reasoning on his own.
Aron asked this so as to confirm Ariel's words as he obviously didn't trust her. As for the tier, it was simply so he would know the gap between him and that individual.
Anastasia took a moment to assess his question, she did find it strange he asked this of all questions but it was a fairly simple one and so she had no reason to even lie.
"I can't speak for the other noble families but from my knowledge the arch mage is the most powerful person in all of Pesia. How powerful exactly is known to maybe only the family heads. Why do you ask?" After answering, Anastasia couldn't help but ask the reason as to why Aron needed to know such a common question.
"Quite simple really, an acquaintance of mine had told me no one can interfere with the matters of the Galos Academy. If the arch mage is the most powerful then I don't have to fear offending people during the journey." Aron replied casually and received a short glare from Anastasia.
His words technically did hold ground and Anastasia hated this but what truly caught her interest was this friend Aron mentioned. Was he working with others? Or did he have some greater scheme in mind? Anastasia couldn't help but wonder but Aron only said this casually to make her think he had some attachments.
"For my next question, I want you to explain the basic structure for Galos Academy and this Journey. Ranks and what levels of strength are required to qualify for them as well as restrictions placed on students." Aron's facial expression remained stoic as he asked this while still maintaining eye contact with Anastasia.
This question was something Aron needed a clear answer to. If he was going into unfamiliar territory then it was better if he was confident in escaping should anything go wrong. What's more he wasn't planning on staying long, the ideal plan was to get his issue sorted and also acquire some useful knowledge if possible, because as vast as Argos's collection was it was far from covering all known knowledge especially given how much time he passed.
But if this academy held restrictions towards just leaving arbitrarily or worse if it had measures that could be prove problematic if he chose to do so then he had to rethink going there entirely.
For this question Anastasia found no problem as it was general knowledge among the aristocrats of higher families.
She explained in simple terms that the Journey was as the name described. A journey towards the academy which pitted students against each other and against beasts in the region for the sake of bettering their rank upon arriving.
If one simply finished the Journey then they qualified to enter but they'd begin from the lowest rank and thus make it harder to climb up from there on out. Most chose to face other beasts so as to better their rank but quite a few did chose to attack other students as well.
Death wasn't disallowed so this time around the aristocrats saw the commoners as easy targets. How kills were recorded wasn't completely accurate as not areas were monitored, especially those not out in the open which made the challenge even harder.
As for the academy's ranking system, she gave Aron the basic outline on it as well as stating the few rules she was aware of.
Anastasia explained but showed a sour look as she did so while Aron remained silent for a moment fully taking in what she had said before speaking once again.
"Well, that was enlightening. But before I leave I'm curious as to why you are traveling alone? and remember... the truth." Aron reminded Anastasia before a small smirk appeared on his face.
Anastasia furrowed her eyebrows at this question and seemed reluctant to answer, but Aron hadn't left her much choice so she simply clicked her tongue in irritation before thinking it wasn't worth being humiliated.
"Most times, major noble families don't battle during the Journey as they have little to nothing to prove. They almost always directly head for Galos Academy but this time with commoners present, some have chosen to use them to increase their ranking while most are after artifacts."
"During every Journey the arch-Mage purposefully has artifacts of tiers ranging from one to even three hidden in certain parts of the region so as to courage competition."
"Most aristocrats are currently searching for these and so am I because finding one can boost your ranking and is a huge display of one's prowess even outside combat." Anastasia explained while still baring a hateful gaze towards Aron.
'Is that all he wanted to know?' Anastasia thought to herself as she calmed her breathing and looked towards Aron who was about to turn and leave.
"I acknowledge you aren't like others, wether you're a commoner or are working for someone my offer still stands. If you pledge allegiance to me, I guarantee you a more than comfortable life within the academy and even after. As you are now you won't make it far." Despite the hateful glare she still showed Aron, Anastasia was smart enough to recognize a good asset when she saw one hence she made Aron an offer without hesitation.
"Not a bad offer I admit so I'll think about it. For now I've got a site to check thanks to your information and coordinates". Aron replied vaguely before turning and walking away. What Anastasia offered him was another route he could take should things not go his way currently, downright refusing her would almost be as nonsensical as directly accepting.
'Coordinates?' Anastasia thought for a moment before she had a sudden realization.
"!!"
A look of panic grew on her face as she began checking the pockets on her clothing frantically.
'It's gone!' She concluded with wide eyes before turning towards Aron who was close to exiting the room.
"You bastard! return it to me! If you so much as go anywhere near those coordinates, you'll be killed..." She threatened furiously and loudly but never turned back and continued walking away, the sound of the young woman cursing him growing fainter and fainter.
After leaving the lower floors, Aron didn't immediately return to his quarters but instead made a stop by Scarlett's.
When he arrived at her door, he knocked lightly on it twice before it rapidly swung open and a frowning Scarlett appeared.
She had changed from her usual attire and now only wore black undergarments that left little to the imagination.
"Are you here for my arse or something else?" She asked in an annoyed tone with her hands on her waist as she looked up at Aron.
"The latter. I'm from asking our angry guest a few questions and it's bred some rather interesting results, don't you want your own probably expensive artifact?" Aron explained before taking out a piece of paper and handing it to Scarlett who shifted from a frown to a greedy smile.
"You had me at expensive, but you know if we go through with this we'll probably meet some other greedy or lucky fellows right?" Scarlett pointed out but rather than worry, she had a greedy look in her eyes and a smirk on her face.
"That's what I'm hoping for, don't worry we'll plan ahead."
....
[Rule#16: Always Plan Ahead]