Time ground to a halt as Valeria and Klaus locked eyes, a charged silence enveloping them. Their gazes bore into each other, unyielding and intense, as if their very souls were engaged in a battle. Tension hung in the air, thick and palpable, threatening to explode into violence.
But just as it seemed inevitable, a voice pierced through the suffocating atmosphere, cutting through the frosty silence.
"I see the both of you have met," came a voice, resonating with a mix of amusement and concern.
Startled, Klaus and Valeria turned their attention towards the source of the sound. Their eyes met Margaret's, who stood a few paces away. Confusion etched itself on their faces, mirroring the countless questions swirling within.
Valeria's fury surged, a tempest brewing within her. With trembling hand, she pointed an accusatory finger at Klaus, her voice laced with a venomous rage. "Who is he, Margaret?" she demanded, her eyes fixed on Klaus, stabbing him with a gaze that promised nothing but destruction.
A sneer curled Klaus's lips, his features contorted with disdain. He made no attempt to conceal the animosity he harbored for the woman standing before him. How could he, when her very first instinct upon meeting him was to attack him.
"Who is she?"
Klaus's voice sliced through the charged silence, devoid of rage but coated in an unnerving frostiness. Valeria couldn't help but feel a chill crawl down her spine as his words hung in the air, piercing and sharp.
Shaking her head, Margaret gazed at the duo before her, weariness etched upon her face. A deep breath swelled in her chest, and she made her way toward the imposing desk nestled in the heart of the chamber. Folding her hands across her chest, she positioned herself between Valeria and Klaus, a figure of authority and wisdom.
"This is Valeria Bloodmoon, my student," Margaret stated firmly, her voice carrying an air of unwavering certainty. Her eyes then shifted to Klaus, and with a subtle curl of her lips, she continued, her words laced with an enigmatic warmth. "And Valeria, allow me to introduce Klaus Drakonov. He will be joining and training with us for a while."
As Margaret's voice waned, Valeria's frown deepened, her eyes narrowing with suspicion as they fixated on Klaus. The disdain she had harbored for him began to spill forth, her words tinged with a mix of defiance and concern. "That simply cannot work, Margaret," she asserted, her voice tinged with a raw edge. "What qualifications does he possess that merit your esteemed teachings?"
Valeria's bewilderment couldn't be concealed as she circled Klaus, her eyes scanning him with a mix of confusion and disbelief. Her gaze traveled from his head to his toes, as if searching for a hidden truth that eluded her grasp.
"He is weak," she declared, her conclusion drawn after mere seconds of intense scrutiny. Valeria's voice carried a hint of incredulity, her disbelief echoing through the chamber.
With a furrowed brow, she continued her assessment, her words laced with a growing sense of certainty. "There's not even a trace of mana within him. His body lacks any ounce of magical energy. And judging from his earlier sneak attack, it's clear that he's not concealing it. Klaus truly possesses no mana."
Valeria's confusion deepened as she analyzed Klaus further, her mind grappling to comprehend this enigma before her. She turned her attention back to Margaret, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and frustration. "Is that the reason, Margaret? Are you drawn to him because he's an anomaly, devoid of any magical essence?
As the word "anomaly" escaped Valeria's lips, a palpable shift coursed through Klaus. His countenance hardened instantly, his hand clenching into a tight fist, and his eyes bore into Valeria with an icy intensity.
The utterance of that word had struck a raw nerve within Klaus, summoning memories Thorne previous attempt to kill
him.
The glint of killing intent flickered in Klaus's eyes, an unspoken warning that simmered beneath the surface. Valeria, however, met his gaze with an unfazed smirk, relishing the tension that crackled between them. Her voice dripped with a mix of arrogance and amusement as she taunted him. "You can despise me all you want, but your animosity will forever remain impotent. Do you know why, Klaus?"
Her words hung in the air, pregnant with arrogance and disdain. Before Klaus could respond, Valeria's voice pierced through the charged atmosphere once more, her tone laden with contempt. "Because you're weak," she spat, her voice laced with a bitter satisfaction.
The words struck Klaus like shards of ice, his expression turning colder with each passing moment. His glare intensified, a tempest brewing within him, threatening to unleash its destructive force upon Valeria. Yet, just as it seemed he might succumb to his rising anger, a profound shift occurred.
With an unexpected release, Klaus's tightly clenched fist suddenly relaxed, his hand falling open. The tension in his body seemed to dissipate, replaced by an eerie calmness that belied the storm within.
Margaret's lips curled into a sly smirk, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Do you honestly believe you're superior to Klaus, Valeria?" she taunted, relishing in the opportunity to provoke her rival.
Valeria's response was swift, her voice brimming with unwavering confidence. "Why would I entertain such a thought? I surpass him in every conceivable aspect," she declared, her words laced with a touch of arrogance.
Margaret's expression remained unchanged, a subtle nod revealing her satisfaction. "Good," she muttered under her breath, her tone tinged with a hint of intrigue.
Then, with a sudden shift in demeanor, Margaret's gaze locked onto Klaus, her eyes dissecting him with an intense scrutiny. The room seemed to hold its breath, the air heavy with anticipation, as she spoke again, her words carrying a weighty significance.
"Two days, Valeria," she uttered, her voice infused with gravity. The unexpected timeframe sent a ripple of surprise through Valeria, her eyes widening with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.
The room seemed to hold its breath as she continued, her words resonating with a quiet certainty. "In terms of combat prowess alone, Klaus will require merely two days to match your skill."
Valeria's brows furrowed at Margaret's proclamation, her surprise evident upon her face. Her gaze darted between Klaus and her mentor, questioning the validity of such a remarkable claim. A whirlwind of thoughts churned within her mind as she struggled to reconcile Margaret's words with the reality before her.
A burst of laughter erupted from Valeria, tinged with a mix of disbelief and incredulity. "You must be joking," she blurted, unable to contain her skepticism.
However, as Valeria met Margaret's unwavering gaze, a realization dawned upon her. Margaret's serious countenance revealed the truth behind her words—there was no jest, no deception. Valeria's voice lowered, laced with a mixture of astonishment and disbelief. "That's... impossible."
Valeria's voice resonated with unwavering confidence as she declared, "I don't care what tricks he has, there's no conceivable way an anomaly could surpass him in physical combat."
Margaret's lips curled into a smug sneer as she retorted, "Why don't we make a wager, then?"
A glimmer of intrigue sparked in Valeria's eyes, her curiosity piqued. "What do you have in mind?" she inquired.
Margaret's gaze hardened, her resolve unyielding. "If, within the next two days, Klaus manages to defeat you in physical combat, you shall hand him three B-Rank beast cores," she proposed, her voice laced with a daring challenge. Her voice trailed off for a moment as she considered her own stakes. "And if..." she started to say, but before she could continue, Valeria's voice resonated once more, cutting through the air.
"But if I win," Valeria interjected, her tone resolute, "I want him gone." Her gaze bore into Klaus, her intentions clear as day.
Margaret's eyes bore into Klaus, her expression inscrutable as the weight of the decision settled upon her. Finally, she nodded, a sense of reluctant acceptance etched onto her features. "Very well," she acquiesced.
Meanwhile, Klaus stood as an enigmatic figure, observing both Margaret and Valeria with a stoic expression. His face remained devoid of any emotion, yet his mind churned with thoughts. What was Margaret thinking, accepting these terms? Klaus wondered, his curiosity piqued, as he kept his thoughts to himself.
As the agreement settled in the air, Klaus stood as an observer, his countenance betraying neither a frown nor a smile. His mind, however, churned with curiosity, pondering Margaret's motivations for accepting the audacious challenge.
Lost in contemplation, Klaus suddenly found his attention snatched away as a beast core materialized before his eyes. His reflexes kicked in, and he swiftly reached out, snatching the pulsating object. The surge of overwhelming energy coursing through the core brought an enigmatic smile to Klaus's face, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes.
Margaret's voice pierced the air, interrupting Klaus's reverie. "Take a break from deciphering the book. Prepare yourself for the clash with Valeria. I'll see you in two days." Her words carried an air of calculated assurance.
With a deliberate nod, Klaus pivoted on his heels, departing the chamber with a measured stride.
As Klaus exited, a chuckle escaped Valeria's lips, her amusement echoing in the air. Her gaze fixed upon Margaret, she couldn't contain her laughter any longer. "Master Margaret, do you think I may have gone too far?" Her voice, once confident, now carried a softer, more deferential tone.
Margaret's response carried an air of satisfaction. "No, you did just the right amount," she replied assuredly.
Valeria's confusion bubbled to the surface, her curiosity unyielding. "But I can't help but wonder, what are your motives behind all this?" she inquired, her voice laced with genuine intrigue.
Margaret turned to face Valeria fully, her eyes revealing a mix of caution and uncertainty. "He is simply too good to be true," she murmured, her words carrying a weight of hidden concern.