Sweeping his eyes across the hallway, Peter quickly scanned the students.
His attention was caught by something interesting, and he glanced at Sylvie. Everyone who to look their way quickly arverted their gaze away, focusing solely on him... out of fear?
This reaction was uniform among the low-level students and they seemed to be of humble background and weaker awakened individuals. However, there were no high nobles and royals, they would have behaved differently, watching the two with expressions of surprise, interest, confusion, envy, and even anger.
Luckily or unluckily, the hallway was devoid of nobles or royalty neither could he see any Descendants. How was he sure?
Well, those three groups had a way for changing the atmosphere of the place.
Strangely, Peter noticed red lines running through their bodies, and with just a glance, he could see their pumping hearts in their ribcages.
This was new; he hadn't been able to do this before. It seemed to have started only now.
Another oddity was that, although he could see the blood running through their veins, he didn't feel an urge to drink it. Perhaps it was because healready had his fill with a blood of a royal dragon?
While the students murmured quietly among themselves, Peter used this moment to address something important.
"Elena, can you explain it to me now? You know what I mean, right?" Before Elena could respond, he felt a warm hand intertwine with his.
He chose to ignore it, letting her do as she pleased.
[I didn't want to dive into this, but I suppose I should have explained it earlier. There are vampires with special Blood Talents beyond the innate control of blood. These talents vary from one another and are most common among Original Vampires—there are seven of them. No other vampire can possess a special talent except the Originals.]
[But you do. No, you have all of them. They're related to blood control, but you can't fully use them yet. You know why. For now, you can only see those red lines in living beings. Your special talent is Life Drain. That...
[...That's why you feel stronger and notice your lifespan increasing every time you feed—though you might not consciously feel the latter.]
"What!?" Peter stopped abruptly, causing Sylvie to glance at him in surprise. "If what you're saying is true, then that means I've been unknowingly stealing Sylvie's life essence! Tell me that isn't the case!"
Forget being special—how could he live with himself after taking advantage of the one person who had supported him so far?
[Calm down. As I mentioned, it's a special talent, and you're in near-complete control of it, even unconsciously. So don't worry—you can't harm her unless you intentionally mean to. Besides, there's something else you should know. Your fangs release a unique substance that completely heals the bite wounds on your prey. That's why Sylvie recovers instantly.]
Peter exhaled a sigh of relief as the explanation eased his worries.
"What is it, Pete?" Sylvie asked, her reassuring smile hinting that everything was fine. Without replying, he resumed walking.
Though the conversations around him were hushed, his enhanced senses easily picked up what the other students were whispering about.
He didn't care. He already knew he had made himself a target for their rumours and curiosity.
The girls admired his striking appearance, while the others speculated about his identity.
Who was this mysterious figure walking alongside Sylvie Dragonia, a woman renowned for her fiery temper and willingness to attack anyone who approached her?
Was he a Delphyne Dragonia as well? That didn't seem likely. He didn't carry the same draconic scent they would expect. Instead, his scent was... unique.
"He smells... alluring," a fox beat folk girl muttered under her breath.
[As a vampire, it's not just your strength and senses that are heightened. Your emotions are too. Love, hatred, excitement, sorrow—you'll feel them all far more intensely than before. The only exception is fear. You'll need to tread carefully in crowded places, especially around emotionally unstable individuals, like teenagers. Otherwise, you might find yourself acting impulsively before you can think rationally.]
Immediately as she finished, Peter's ears twitched at a particular sound, snapping him out of his thoughts.
He turned his gaze back to where they had come from. A boy stood at the end of the hall, surrounded by five others, staring directly at him and Sylvie.
[Oh no…]
Before Sylvie could react, Peter vanished in a burst of speed.
Bam!
All eyes turned to the source of the sound. Under their astonished gazes, Peter had slammed the boy against the wall, gripping his throat tightly.
"How fast!" They all exclaimed their breathe held.
"What did you just say?" he growled, his voice dripping with fury. His crimson eyes glowed ominously, though only the serpent boy he held could see them.
As if compelled, the boy's mouth began to move.
The Influence skill.
"Sylvie is just a hidden slut all this time. Look at how she's acting with a handsome man. I bet the dragon's l—"
"Forget it."
Before the boy could process Peter's words, the world around him spun as Peter's fist connected with his skull.
The Naga boy's body went limp, and he collapsed, unconscious. A Kindled-rank awakened had been knocked out cold with a single punch.
Shock rippled through the hallway.
Despite the serpent race being known for its physical fragility, the boy's rank should have ensured he could at least endure an attack. Yet, he was completely overpowered.
How strong was this newcomer? He had only recently awakened.
Could he possess an ability that amplified his strength? No one had the answers, except perhaps Sylvie, who strode toward Peter.
Her steps were quick yet graceful as she reached him. Without a word, she placed a hand on his arm and called softly, "Hey~"
Her enchanting voice and calming touch worked instantly. The fury in Peter's glowing eyes dissipated as though it had never existed. He released the serpent boy, who crumpled lifelessly to the floor.
"Shall we go?" she asked, her tone gentle.
He nodded silently, allowing her to lead him away. Their intertwined hands and synchronized steps sent a chill through the crowd.
No one dared whisper now.
Though Sylvie had always been known for her short temper and ruthless demeanor, this young man seemed even more terrifyingly short tempered. The serpent boy had made the fatal mistake of insulting Sylvie and he had served as an example.