Gabriella broke the silence by silently walking up to Quash. She opened her arms and so did Quash, understanding what she wanted.

​She hugged him, her fangs coming out, ready to bite his neck. Her eyes glowing extra red.

​"Careful boy, this is her first time sucking blood from a direct source."

​Quash nodded as he hugged her back. Gabriella licked his neck with her long tongue to numb the area. Her fangs dug deep and Quash felt no pain. Gabriella quivered ever so lightly. Her eyes slightly rolling back from ecstasy.

​She felt like she was drinking nectar. The blood was warm, sweet, salty and a bit tingly that danced on her tongue. She couldn’t get enough of the blood and started sucking aggressively.

​"Umm. Hello? Shouldn’t I be drinking her blood as well?"

​Quash asked the warden. From what he knew of Vampire marriage, both the groom and bride must drink each other’s blood.

​"Mm. That would be the case, if you were a Vampire. But you are not. So if you want to hold a dominant position in your relationship, or even an equal position, you must tackle her influence on you. With your Abstract Stats alone."

​"You mean the clogged but tingling feeling in my head?"

​"Yes."

​After the warden confirmed it, Quash focused on the feeling that suddenly started to appear. Vampires establish bonds through body and mind by drinking the blood of their partner. They can feel their partner, their emotions and even where they are if their bond is strong enough.

​But it also comes with a price for non-Vampires. Among the Vampires, it’s just regular stuff. Just establishing a relationship.

​But a Vampire plus a non-Vampire is a different matter. The Vampire instinctively will try to dominate the mind of their partner. If they succeed, although the partner will retain their autonomy, they will not be able to disobey anything the dominant partner says.

​It will feel like a taboo to not listen. And Quash didn’t want to be like that. He wondered how he should send it back before giving up thinking halfway through and just treating that feeling like Aura and pushed it out.

​"Ghua!"

​The moment he did, as if hit by something physical, Gabriella’s head shot back with a short exclamation. She bent back, unconscious. Her eyes were rolled back. Quash caught her.

​"Idiot!"

​The warden hit the back of Quash’s head again.

​"It was my first time too! How would I know her Abstract Stats are so weak!"

​"It’s not that her Stats are weak, she was vulnerable!"

​"Oh. OK. Sorry about that."

​Quash apologised and Gabriella regained consciousness in that brief time. She stood straight with Quash’s help. She was still licking her lips and looking at Quash’s neck, which Quash felt was buring, indicating that Gabriella’s mark was slowly becoming visible. And the wound from the bite also healed quickly because of that.

​But one thing he noticed was her gaze. It now held a kind of respect there wasn’t before. And he could feel that it was not because of the bond, but something born from her own realisation.

​Quash could feel the invisible connection between them now. A strange sense of familiarity was suddenly there.

​"Hmm. Isn’t this basically Marriage?"

​"No, we still need to make vows to our ancestor."

​For the first time, Gabriella answered Quash out of her own volition. Which made both Quash and the warden smile.

​"She is right, and she will fill you in with the rest of the details later. And I will talk to you later as well. I have many questions I need answers to, for now, go back. And cultivate your relationship with each other."

​The warden said. Both of them nodded which made him pleased and he sent them away. They arrived at the stage again. In front of the Headmaster who had his usual smile on. The earlier expression was gone.

​"Congratulations. Randolf would have been happy. But alas. Oh well, you two have my blessings."

​The Headmaster said while stroking his long beard. He had seen and heard everything. Which was natural. He would be surprised if he didn’t.

​"Thank you Headmaster."

​Quash said as he bowed 90 degrees. He looked at Gabriella who still seemed a bit dazed, he wondered if it was because of tasting his blood or because of the shocking turn of events. But he grabbed her pinky and pulled on it. Her attention returned.

​"Oh. Yes. Thank you, Headmaster, for your blessings."

​She also bowed to the Headmaster. Since he was now technically her grandfather-in-law.

​"Hmm."

​He looked extremely pleased and nodded. Quash wanted to ask more about his grandparents but decided not to. It was not the time. If he needed to know something, the warden would have informed him of it. Since the treasury has a different time duration. They spent a while there but barely seconds have passed here.

​"Good composure. That mindset will lead you far."

​The Headmaster suddenly said, as if he read his mind. Making his eyes widen a bit before he smiled, there was a very high chance that this old monster could read minds but just doesn’t do it.

​And with their experience, they could probably predict what someone like him is thinking without even mind reading.

​But regardless, Quash and Gabriella stood straight, he looked around to find no one actually paying any attention to them.

​"What are you making them listen to or see?"

​"Just me talking about survival and motivation."

​The Headmaster said and turned to the students.

​"Alright little ones. After a long wait, from this moment, the Award Ceremony is officially concluded. Both our title holders have received their rewards. Everyone, give a big hand to these two. Who performed amazing feats."

​Everyone clapped for Gabriella mostly. Not Quash. Not that he cared. They stopped a few moments after.

​"Now with the Award ceremony out of the way. The admission process will start from tomorrow 9 onwards. Make sure to choose your Academy wisely."

​The Headmaster warned everyone with a touch of seriousness. Making everyone involuntarily nod.

​"And lastly, for those of you who didn’t make it into the passing ranks, do not worry. Try again next year. This year just had all the unexpected talents cramped together. Next year might be your chance. Don’t give up. And with this, I declare that the Admission Exam of the Academy City is officially over. The City will close off after tomorrow evening, 6 P.M. sharp. Everyone not qualified, please make sure to leave within that time. Thank you for your understanding."

​And with that, the Headmaster disappeared just the way he had come.