Peter's emotions surged uncontrollably. Protecting Sylvie wasn't just a thought—it was instinct, primal and overpowering. Before he could process his actions, his body had already acted.
The foul-mouthed boy, that unlucky soul who dared to insult the wrong person, was already at his mercy.
Peter, who had never consciously used his innate vampiric skills and abilities before, found them unfolding within him like second nature.
He found his control over his powers easy as breathing that even Elena was surprised.
The way he moved with blinding speed, how his hand gripped the boy's throat in an iron grip before the latter could react, and the effortless activation of his Charm skill to force the boy to repeat his vile words—all of it felt natural, almost predestined.
A Natural Born Vampire.
Yet, paradoxically, Peter was human in every observable way—save for his crimson eyes and godly crafted features.
He had been turned for less than three days, and still, his vampiric instincts and abilities were nothing short of extraordinary.
His raw execution of power…
It could put even Natural Born Vampires to shame!
Leaving behind a trail of astonished faces, Peter and Sylvie walked hand in hand, radiating a mix of romance and dominance that sent chills through the bewildered onlookers.
Sylvie's eyes stayed fixed on Peter, unwavering. The way he carried himself now—strong, confident, and commanding—was mesmerizing. Her gaze was so intent she nearly stumbled, but the polished black tiles beneath her feet ensured she kept her balance.
She turned to the students in the hallway recalling their faces, all of them, there was no noble or royalty amongst them, "Let what happened here stay here!"
Her words were like a decree, all of them nodded.
As they strolled, Peter gently shifted their hands so that he could be the one holding hers. He gave her a soft, reassuring smile, and they continued forward.
Sylvie, sensitive to even the slightest changes in his demeanor, could feel the shift in his aura.
His body language exuded confidence, his crimson eyes burned with clarity, and his disdain for the weaker Awakened in the corridor was palpable. Even the Kindled seemed to shiver despite Peter being a Regular vampire, same level now as an Ember awakened.
It was as though a dragon were watching a snake.
"Why the sudden change?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Peter, too, was aware of the transformation within himself. Something had awakened during that brief, fiery encounter with the serpent boy. He realized, for the first time, the extent of his power.
He was no longer just Peter, the human—he was Peter, the apex predator.
His former personality, which clung to doubt and hesitation, was now a liability.
Recognizing this, he discarded it. Confidence now defined him, and he accepted, fully and without reservation, what he had become.
"I've come to terms with who I am," he said, his voice steady. "And I've realized how much trouble my old self would have caused. If I want to keep you by my side and protect you from harm, I needed to change. That boy? He opened my eyes."
Sylvie smiled, her sharp, paper-white teeth glinting as she shared her own story.
"You're right," she said. "You're part of the race that sits atop the food chain. There's no reason to hold back, especially if showing a little power won't cause problems. I get it. You know, when I first came to this Academy, I struggled with something similar. My parents told me to treat the other awakened dragons as equals, to show them respect like fellow dragons deserve. All to keep the peace between the dragon race, original one and awaken..."
Her grin widened, but there was bitterness in her tone.
"And guess what? That changed fast. The so-called 'dragons' (awakened dragons)here? Weak. Arrogant. They act like they own the world. Don't get me wrong—dragons are among the most powerful races, and our pride is well-earned, but there's a limit. At least there should be, right?"
Truth be told, awakened dragons were weaker than original vampires, Sylvie didn't understand why they would be arrogant before a real dragon!
Peter nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he listened.
Sylvie's expression darkened. "But then one of them—a stupid, arrogant awakened dragon—actually dared to challenge me. And to make it worse, he had the audacity to say I'd become his mate if he won!"
The smile vanished from Peter's face. Sylvie noticed and pressed on, enjoying his reaction.
"In my anger, I beat the living hell out of him. But—"
****
"Took you long enough," Sonya remarked, not bothering look up from the card she was examining. But when neither Peter nor Sylvie responded, she finally raised her head, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Her gaze shifted between the two. Something had clearly happened during their 'lunch break.'
Peter sat stiffly, his face shadowed by an unmistakable anger. In stark contrast, Sylvie was practically glowing with happiness.
Peter was angry after what she told him.
"What's wrong with you two?" Sonya asked, though her question was directed primarily at Peter.
He met her eyes, and for a moment, she saw something in his crimson gaze—a flicker of something unnatural, something that almost sent a chill down her spine.
It wasn't out of fear, just a something she didn't understand.
She shook her head, brushing off the sensation. It had to be her imagination. How could a mere fledgling cause her to feel this way? Impossible.
"Principal Sonya, does the Academy have a relationship counselor?" Peter asked suddenly, his tone so casual it caught both women off guard.
"What?" Sonya blinked, caught off-guard. "Yes, we do. Why?"
"I might need one in the future," Peter replied, casting a glance at Sylvie. Her grin faded, replaced by a look of quiet curiosity.
"Why? Are you and Sylvie really in a relationship?" Sonya asked, her tone laced with intrigue.
"Yeah and no that isn't why I was asking, I'm just learning how to joke," Peter said, smiling faintly.
Sylvie burst into laughter, her voice echoing through the room. Sonya, on the other hand, frowned deeply.
"You're lucky I'm in a good mood," she muttered. "Otherwise, I'd have thrown you into a Gate. Seriously, though, where do you get the nerve to joke like that with a principal? Does eating make you overconfident or just stupid? If so, your race is broken, I swear."
"It does seem that way," Sylvie interjected, giggling. "He's always confident after he's eaten."
"Then I'm sorry to the one to break it for you but if you thought jokes are your calling, you're so wrong. Try a new hobie, playboy, perhaps?" Sonya replied.
"Nah, I'm a loyal one you see. Sylvie, she's enough." Peter replied.
"For now you mean?" Sonya was becoming amused with Peter.
"That..." He scratched the back of his head.
Knock. Knock.
Two sharp knocks interrupted the exchange.
"Finally your IDs are here. I will have my space for myself soon. You may enter," Sonya called out as she threw a joke.
"We kept you company though, we weren't back, not so?" Sonya just smiled without replying.
A staff member entered, carrying something that caught Peter's attention—a device resembling a smartwatch, though slightly larger in size.