[Ding!Varalie Count Dracula has not been conquered!
Punishment: None!
Urgent mission generated.
Mission: Find the mystery behind Valarie's sudden change of heart and conquer her again in a week!
Rewards: None!
Punishment: Lose the acquired ability!]
A welp of surprise escaped Pyris's lips as he processed the unexpected turn of events. Despite the passionate time he had spent with Varalie, he hadn't managed to conquer completely her as he thought.
Her demeanor after their encounter suggested she'd developed some affection for him, and while love wasn't likely to bloom from just one sec session, Pyris had at least expected her to hold him in some fond regard. Yet, he had failed.
Despite his best efforts, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss in his relationship with Valarie.
Their connection seemed to be slipping through his fingers like water, and no matter how much passion they shared in the bedroom, it wasn't enough to satisfy her elusive heart.
Little did he know, Valarie was battling her own inner demons, struggling to resist the magnetic pull towards him.
Her mind was constantly at war with itself, torn between the desire to run back into his arms and the need to break free from the toxic cycle they found themselves in.
____
"How is this even possible?" he muttered to himself, puzzled by the situation.
[She's either incredibly strong-willed, and this wasn't enough to sway her heart, or something happened afterward that made her lose the budding feelings she had for you. I'd bet on the latter,] Lia's voice chimed in his mind, her tone analytical.
[But let me assure you of one thing: Varalie may not love you now, but no woman who's been with you could ever see another man as worthy. Eventually, she'll come around if you put in enough effort. So, that's one problem solved. Now, think carefully—how will you bring her home?]
Lia's words soothed some of Pyris's worries, offering a small comfort. He sat back, his thoughts momentarily calming.
"Varalie, Count Dracula's daughter, huh? She really is the child of that old vampire," Pyris chuckled darkly. "Dracula… the most feared vampire alive. He rarely makes an appearance, but when he does, the world shakes."
He laughed quietly to himself, imagining how Dracula might react if he learned that Pyris had taken his daughter's chastity. "Too bad that day's not coming anytime soon, thanks to Varalie's sacrifice."
Pyris's chaotic thoughts gradually subsided, his mind settling into a tranquil state. He leaned back, his figure embodying the stillness of an immovable god, his aura pure and serene, like a still lake under the moon.
Around him, fellow students continued their animated conversations. A few stole flirty glances at him, while others eyed him with thinly veiled jealousy.
The class, packed with over two hundred students from every corner of Argos, was filled with individuals who came from renowned families.
Pyris didn't recognize most of them, and that seemed to influence how they perceived him—some with awe, others with envy.
As his eyes scanned the room, they landed on a striking pair sitting together: a boy and a girl who exuded an aura of calm and allure. The young man wasn't as devastatingly handsome as Pyris, but he was undeniably attractive, second only to Pyris himself.
Both radiated an energy that drew people in—the girl brimming with life and quiet strength.
Their golden hair shimmered like the first rays of the morning sun, cascading down their backs.
Though lean, their forms were graceful and strong, with the girl's build slightly more delicate compared to the boy's.
"The Life-Space Twins," Pyris murmured, his voice tinged with respect. The twins were a phenomenon, revered for their once-in-a-million-years talent.
As if sensing his gaze, the twins turned toward him. Their golden eyes locked onto his, burning like two miniature suns.
The intensity of their stares was palpable, as though they were peering straight through him.
"Interesting…" Pyris thought, meeting their gaze head-on.
[Even without consciously bending space, they are in complete harmony with it, which makes them hyper-aware of their surroundings! Such mastery at such a young age is remarkable,] Lia commented, her respect for the twins evident.
A small smile crept onto Pyris's lips, and he held their gaze with unwavering confidence, silently challenging them. Now that he had their attention, he observed their features.
The boy had a long, handsome face with sharp jawlines and pointed ears, barely hidden by his flowing hair. His sister, on the other hand, had a softer, rounder face with slightly chubby cheeks, which made her look irresistibly cute.
If Pyris were to compare the elf girl's beauty, she rivaled both Varalie and Aurelia. In fact, she might even surpass them with her ethereal charm.
"He's provoking us," Pyris heard the boy say in a calm voice. "Ignore him, sister."
The girl's glare lingered a moment longer, but eventually, she followed her brother's lead and looked away.
"Calm, collected, and calculative. That boy is dangerous," Pyris thought to himself. "The girl, though… I like her. She's harder to read. I can't see through her like I can her brother, who's an open book to me."
Satisfied, Pyris turned his attention away from the twins. Glancing up at the wall-mounted clock, he realized they had been sitting in the class hall for nearly three hours, yet no teacher had shown up.
"Hey," Pyris called out to a boy sitting nearby. He was alone, seemingly enjoying his music through a pair of miniature earbuds that were nearly invisible at first glance. His jet-black hair and dark eyes made him stand out in a sea of students.
The boy looked over, slightly surprised that Pyris, of all people, was speaking to him. "Yes?"
"Sorry, I'm new. Why haven't the lessons started yet?" Pyris asked, his curiosity piqued. He had no particular interest in the boy beyond the information he might provide.
The boy pulled out one earbud and offered a polite smile.
"There's a staff meeting. It happens every week at the beginning, but it usually doesn't take this long. Once the meeting's over, the teacher will show up. We've already missed the magic lesson, so the next class should be Forging Craft."
Pyris nodded, absorbing the information. The boy returned to his music, clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation.
Leaning back in his seat, Pyris thought about the upcoming lesson. Forging Craft was a subject his mother had forced him to learn at a young age. Though he hadn't enjoyed it at first, those grueling lessons had paid off.
He'd become adept at creating equipment and prototypes for his inventions, including the nearly indestructible material he used in his top-selling phone.
"I wonder how she's doing…" Pyris mused, thinking of his mentor, a brilliant and beautiful dwarf.
Dwarves were known for their unmatched skill in forgery and craftsmanship, and Pyris's mother had gone to great lengths to secure that dwarf woman as his teacher.
It had cost a fortune, but the profits Pyris's creations brought to the family business more than made up for it.
"I might stay for the lesson, just to see if I can learn anything new, though I'm not registered for this class. But given my experience, I doubt there's much I can pick up from a first-year's forging lessons," Pyris thought with a smirk.
Still, the idea of sneaking into higher-level classes to learn more intrigued him. "I'll talk to the principal and see what I can arrange," he decided.
Hopefully, the principal would agree to his request.