Standing outside of a classroom a sign, hanging read, "Class 2-A," as Alice was pondering over what she should do. Before seeing Vlad she had collected some information about him. The previous day Alice had asked her brother what kind of person he was, to which he replied.
"Vlad? Oh, him," remembering, "I don't really know him personally, so I shouldn't be saying this. But from what I remember he's the worst in both academics and physically. He's always ranked at the bottom as he is often seen with his head down and when it comes to things like combat training such as sparring he always loses. I don't know why you're asking about him all of a sudden, but I should warn you not to get close to him as I've heard he has a rather nasty personality."
Remembering how her brother had initially described him, she overlapped his description with the man she remembered at the hospital. She took a deep breath and opened the door, entering the room. As she entered the room everyone took notice of her and murmurs started.
"Hey who's that?" One student asked.
"So, that's Ran's sister," a female student awed.
"Hey, she's kinda cute, think I got a chance?" Another betted.
Conversations about Alice continued as she noticed a certain black-haired student with his head down in the desk. Just as her brother described, with his head down, she then approached him. As she arrived in front of Vlad's desk the room turned silent as they watched her. Noticing a familiar presence, he woke up and met her eyes as he cracked a familiar smile.
"Well, this is interesting," he said once again.
Suddenly, sliding his chair out from the desk, he got up and walked out of the classroom, as he did he stopped at the door frame, turning and calling, "What are you waiting for? Let's go."
Alice faltered for a moment, surprised by his sudden actions before hurriedly chasing after him. As they both left the room murmurs broke out once again as they tried to discern the relationship between the two.
"Would you look at that? That bastard actually has a friend," a student named Nia said.
"I don't think it's a good idea to talk about people behind their back," another student, Ilene rebutted her.
"Come on Ilene, you're still defending him? Even after that?" Nia questioned.
"That's not it," Ilene said as her face turned red.
Meanwhile, Vlad had dragged Alice behind the Academy where no one would find them. Tensions were high as Alice, feeling a bit nervous, took a deep breath as she mustered up the courage to speak.
"What do you want? Stalker," Vlad suddenly blurted out. Catching Alice off guard she flustered around denying it.
"That's not it! I'm not a stalker! I swear!" A smirk formed as he watched her reaction.
"Calm down kid, I know, I'm just messing with you," he joked, before asking; "but how did you find me?"
"Um, that's because of this," Alice answered, taking out the student ID from yesterday. She then handed it back to him, "you dropped this at the hospital."
Taking back his ID Vlad snorted as he realized his mistake, "I didn't realize I lost this," he said as he put the ID away.
"Thanks for returning it but I don't think you'd go out of your way just to return this," he said. Alice, who had calmed down as he spoke, nodded her head.
"That's right, I'm here for a favor," she agreed, revealing her intention.
"A favor?" Vlad repeated, "I don't mind doing a job, So go ahead, I'll bite."
"Teach me how to fight," Alice said.
"I refuse," as soon as those words left her mouth he immediately shot her down.
"Why?" Alice asked, confused by his immediate rejection.
"Then, let me ask you this; why do you want me to teach you?" he questioned.
"Because you're strong," she answered, "the way you handled those monsters with ease captivated me. So, please let me learn from you."
"Who're you trying to fool?" Vlad scoffed, "I can see the look in your eyes. You want revenge right?" He pointed out her true intention as he saw the raging vengeance in her eyes.
"That's-," Alice tried to refute him only to stumble upon her words.
"I never said there was anything wrong with that," he stated, "but what you're asking for is an apprenticeship. Something I'm unable to provide so give up the idea."
"But what if I don't want to?" Alice said, determined, "I'll come see you every day until you accept me."
"Oh," he lets out intrigued by her determination, "In that case, why don't we make a bet?"
"Fine," Alice accepted, "what's the bet?"
"For the next seven days, you'll do 100 pushups, 100 situps, 100 squats, 100 pullups, and run 10km every day. If you're able to complete the assignments that I have given you then I'll take you in as my apprentice. But if you fail, this conversation never happens and we never meet. Deal?" Vlad proposed as he put his hand out.
"Deal," she answered without hesitation and shooked his hand.
As they shook hands Vlad suddenly pulled her in and spoke directly into her ear, "Be warned, I'll be watching your every move from now on. And if I catch you slacking, deal's off," With that, they broke off.
As Vlad was parting ways from her he suddenly halted in his steps, without turning around he asked, "One more thing, what's the fourth reason?"
Bewildered by his strange question she thought about it as she remembered their conversation at the hospital. Hesitant, Alice still answered, "I felt like you didn't feel human. You… felt like a monster."
"A monster?" he said as he began cackling, Placing a hand on his face to contain his laughter, calming down he then coldly said; "You should've trusted your feeling, kid." Before disappearing from her sight.
Vlad was now standing on the roof of the school, "You can come out now," he called out to someone.
"Dear me, it seems like I'm getting rustier," An old butler said as he appeared behind him.
"Have you been listening in?" Vlad asked.
"Yes we have from the beginning," Ivan answered.
"We?" Vlad questioned as he turned around to face him. As Ivan then reached inside his suit and pulled out a phone, holding it with both hands he displayed the screen to Vlad. The phone was on speaker mode as the name of the caller read out "Clan head Saera."
Upon learning of the phone call and eavesdropping on him Vlad immediately bowed even though she couldn't see him.
"Master," he respectfully said.
"What was that about?" the phone projected.
"It's nothing much, the daughter of the objective was there yesterday. She happened to enjoy the show and wished to learn my showmanship," he stated.
"I see then. I've also heard about your bet," Saera mentioned, "so tell me, are you a man of your word?"
At his master's questions, he replied, "Of course."
"Then, in seven days if she's able to complete the assignments you gave her, let her learn from under you," she ordered.
"As you wish, my master," he heeded.