"I want you."
It was quite the experience really, being told by a beautiful lady that she wanted me, and yet there was not a speck of romantic tension in the air. Because it wasn't hard to understand that she didn't mean it in that kind of way.
Still, even after thinking about it, without having to know the details, my answer was clear.
"I will have to decline but thank you for showing interest. I'll be on my way."
Stunned by my response, I managed to get in a good four steps before her voice rang out behind me again, this time with a lot more intensity.
"Wait! Shouldn't you at least hear what I have to say?! How can you just walk away like that?!"
"Because whatever you're about to suggest is going to be a pain in the ass!"
"You don't know that!"
Stopping my feet, I rotated my body toward her again, as something about her desperation had at least managed to spark a tiny bit of interest in me.
"Fine. Then tell me, what are you suggesting? Also, are you sure you want to scream like that in the hallway? From your acting in the classroom, my guess is that you would like to be seen as a gentle and calm girl. So, isn't shouting kind of the opposite of that?"
Gritting her teeth and gripping the fabric of her pants, it appeared that my words had been right on the money. After this, she forced herself to speak in a much calmer voice, although it was apparent that it was quite difficult for her.
"I.. wouldn't have had to scream if it wasn't for the fact that you just started walking away! Anyway, what I'm suggesting is something that will make your life at the academy a lot easier. Because if you think that the small incident this morning was the end of it, you are sorely mistaken. If something doesn't change, there is no doubt that your life here will become hell."
She probably wasn't wrong. I had a pretty big target already painted on my back after what I did to Levi, and although I still found it ridiculous for the entire academy to go crazy just because of something like that, it was very likely that the incidents would escalate.
So far I had gotten away scot-free, managing to escape without being subjected to real violence, but who knew for how long this would last?
"Then, what are you suggesting?"
"I'll try to help you out at the academy, decreasing the number of students that dare to approach you. In return, I want you to tell me more about your relationship with Levi and Will."
"So you want information? Then why did you have to phrase it so weirdly?! What makes even you think I have any information to give you about them? Also, what would you even do with something like that?"
Smiling, not bothered at all by my many questions, Celina took a step closer to me, now acting a lot more comfortable as it didn't look like I would try and run away again.
"Let's go somewhere more private, shall we? Although the hallway is empty right now, you never know if someone would accidentally hear us talking to each other. Also, and I apologize for how this might come across, I really don't want to be seen talking with you for too long."
"Haaa... Fine. Where are we going? Also, I still need to be home before six, so I can only give you an hour."
==========
Ending up in an extremely tiny café, safely hidden away in one of the many corners of the Rellea, Celina had picked a good spot for us to talk without being seen or heard.
Fully decorated with nice flowers and filled with a gentle aroma, it was also evident that she had picked this place to make me subconsciously make me lower my guard.
'-Why are you even talking to this woman? You already have me!'
'Because this woman could possibly make my life a bit easier.'
"Ah, thank you."
After having gotten our coffee and tea delivered by a cute waitress, I once again turned my focus to Celina, a bit stressed about being late in going back to Ms. Zito's apartment. Or, I guess home would be a more proper way to put it now.
"Now then, please explain. Also, I'm assuming that you have already made a background check on me as there would otherwise be no reason for you to believe I would know anything about Levi and Will."
Taking a quick sip of her tea, she confirmed my thoughts immediately to make sure we were on the same page.
"That's right. You went to the same elementary school and middle school. For all intents and purposes, it appears that your very existence was very much erased from all the records, but after using some connections, it turns out that you were apparently a very good friend of both Levi and Will."
So far, it was very accurate, though even back then I wouldn't have called those two good friends. Of course, I regarded them as friends, but being good friends was a bit much.
"After that something happened and there have been no records of you at all for the past four years. So obviously something must've happened, and if I'm not mistaken, it should have been something to do with one of those two people. There's not a lot of people outside of that upper echelon that has the resources to just make a person disappear."
'Hmm? No records at all? Was that your doing, Lucifer?'
'-Me? No. At that point, I could only rely on the fact that I had previously sent Dona a dream that told her of when you would be waking up and attending the academy.'
It was strange, hearing this girl suddenly tell me things about my own life that I didn't know, even more so as I struggled to find a reasonable explanation for it. At the same time, I just realized that Celina's use might be a lot more than just fending off some cocky students at the academy.
Because in just one or two days, she had already managed to lay her hands on this amount of information like it was nothing.
"So, what I want is merely to hear everything you can tell me about Levi and Will. It doesn't matter how much information you have, any and all information will be regarded as enough for me to help you out..."
"Actually, I have another idea."
Interrupting the golden-haired girl, I had already made up my mind about how I was going to go about this. And no way in hell would I allow my end of the deal to just be her acting like my white knight.
Even if it would be nice to have an easier time at the academy, my sights were already far beyond that.
"Let's trade information for information."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Confused by me suddenly taking hold of the conversation, I knew I wanted to keep the momentum up so as to not give her too much of a chance to think things through.
Noticing what I was thinking, a very happy voice rang out in my head.
'-You're a scammer, Aarick! I love it!'
"I mean this. I will tell you about our time in middle school and you will allow me to use your connections three times for whatever information I want to know."
Her eyes opened up, as she realized just what kind of ridiculous proposal I was making. No way would the small amount of information I could possibly have been worth as much as her using her connections three times to find answers for me.
"No way! In what world is that fair?!"
"Alright."
Standing up, I had a feeling that the desperation she had shown me earlier was enough for her to panic now as well. And sure enough...
"Shit! Fine! Fine... Sure, okay. I'll accept it. I'll accept this ridiculous deal. Three times, but that means I won't help you at all at school!"
Sitting back down in the comfy chair, I couldn't help but smile at the agitated young lady that just couldn't allow this opportunity to pass her by.
"Great! Then, I'm assuming that you have some kind of contract that you can write to make sure neither of us backs down from our agreement?"
"Yes..."
Out of nowhere, a piece of slightly glowing paper appeared in her hand, a piece of paper that she promptly put down on the table between us. A legally binding mana contract.
"Here it is. Now we just have to state our conditions and inject our mana into it. After that, we will both get a copy, with a third being instantly recorded in the government's database. So unless we want to go to jail, there is no way for either of us to avoid fulfilling the terms."
"Sounds good to me. Then, shall I begin?"
Putting my hand on the contract, I recorded my part of the deal.
"I will answer any questions related to the history I have with Levi and Will during one conversation with Celina Black."
Then, following me, Celina also put her hand on the contract.
"I will make sure to use any connections I have to find information for Aarick Laupier for three instances, as long as it doesn't put myself or my family in danger."
Just like I had done the small addition of my part being a one-time thing, she had also done a reasonable addition to make sure she wouldn't be forced into doing something dangerous.
"Then, both of us will put our hands on the contract and say 'I, our name, accept the terms of the contract'."
It didn't even take a second for both of our hands to be in contact with the contract, our hands now being so close that I could feel a bit of her warmth on my skin.
"I, Celina Black, accept the terms of the contract."
"I, Aarick Laupier, accept the terms of the contract."