"You’re here"

Zeres’ head snapped towards the sound, there—all of the main characters we’re gathered in a single table.

"What’s the occasion? " he trudged towards them, hands on his pocket.

"Seat here, it’s important" Aeliz pointed at the seat beside her, her long white hair slipped through her slender shoulders, she wore the uniform lazily—wearing it off-shoulder.

"Now let me tell you what’s going on." Feilres smiled, then he stood up, his blonde locks shome under the sun slipping through the window.

"In the Luminary Trial. All students will gather to eliminate us all, the class-A students."

"As such, I suggest that if we happen to stumble into each other early on—we won’t clash, we need points; I hope you all understand that." Feilres staref at them one by one.

"I agree~" Haslien nodded.

"Great, I was a having troubles about that when the trial arrived" A breathe escaped Vairel, then he stood up.

"Where are you going? " Feilres’ brow raised, his head turning towards Vairel standing before the tall wooden door.

"To train, it’s still early"

Zeres stared quietly at Feilres, just like in the novel—he’d always been one step ahead even among all nobles.

’No point in clashing early huh’ a smirked tugged at his lips, then he went at the farthest seat to rest.

’Let’s see what will happen within the Luminary Trial.’

___________________

"Let me brief you all about the Luminary Trial" professor Elyssa’s voice drifted across the room.

"The Luminary Trial will take place in an exclusive island owned by the academy."

"Every students have the same starting point, all of them have their own flag, it changes color the moment you’ve reached a certain number. The starting point for all of students is at 0 points, you can gain points by either gathering herbs, slaying forsakens and monsters; but eliminating a fellow student have the most points. Of course, your flag changing color is also a bad thing—when it reaches the color of Red, your location will be revealed to the maps of all students."

"And the Trial will take approximately 5 days"

"The other details will be briefed on you tommorow when you all have docked into a ship." Professor Elyssa glanced at them.

"Bring me good results and I’ll treat you!" she then walked towards the door before she went out.

’I’ll have to leave Ryu for five days, it looks like I’ll really need a guard for him even though he’s already a gifted.’ Zeres fingers tapped the wooden table, leaning back—he let out a breath.

’The first act is already near, he needed to train seriously’ his head rested on the table, staring at the close parchments beside him, his eyes faintly gleamed.

’Right, I can make the basement my training grounds’

"Zeres, do you have time today? I wanted to talk over the offer I gave you." Zeres head turned at the figure standing before him, it was Feilres.

"I’m busy, next time" a tired smile appeared at his lips before he stood up. He was getting sick of the political things of this world.

___________

"I need a slave contract—I mean a contract" he hummed under the cold wind, his destination; the black market.

Zeres face twisted in disgust as a pungent smell assaulted his nostrils.

’That’s it, a slave merchant’ he forced himself to head straight towards a wide stall, there were two balc guards standing there.

’I hope there’s someone here, or else—I’ve been wasting my time, I’ve already check four shops prior go this’

"I need a slave" he said flatly, then he threw a pouch of coins on the floor.

"Do you have a preference sir? We have young ladies here" a crooked smile appeared at the slave mechant’s ugly face as soon as Zeres entered.

’I need a gifted’ he halted on his tracks in the middle of the metal cages, then he spread his mana.

He let it spread through the entire place, carefully searching for someone who also possess mana—then he felt it, at the farthest right.

’That’s it! ’ adjusting his robe, he trudged towards the farthest right.

"What the—" he was unable to finish his sentence as he arrived before a massive metal cage, a man was in there, or more precisely—an elf.

"How did you catch this? " Zeres pointed at the elf inside the cage, his gaze sharpening.

"Uhh, he happened to cross the borders severely injured—no one wants him cause he ventured deep into Lilith."

"Foolish. I’ll take this one" Zeres sneered, he find the Idiocity of the merchant before him pitiful, he didn’t know this one might trigger a war with the elves.

’Well, not like I care—it’s even better I think’ a sinister smile tugged at his lips while he watched the merchants man to dragged out the elf before him.

"Thank you for the patronage sir~"

After being dragged out, the elf man lunged straight at Zeres, too fast for the human eye—his fist roaring with mana.

"Let’s not be too foolish" Zeres’ hands sprang straight at the elf’s neck. He made a choking sound before he went unconscious.

"Are you awake? " the man’s eyes fluttered open, then he staggered backwards.

"What do you want from me, my senses are telly me you’re not human" the elf beside him mumbled, his dry voice an emphasis to the cruelty he’d experienced.

"Work for me, for 10 years and I’ll set you free" Zeres flexed his hands, his claws appeared as he severed the slave collar hanging on the man’s neck.

"And why should I work for you? I don’t even have the collar to restrain me anymore" the elf sneered.

"Well, you’re welcome to try" Zeres spread his hands wide, then a terrifying bloody aura burst forth

The elf’s hands trembled. Sweat dripped from his brow.Yet he still forced himself to meet Zeres’ eyes.

"Five years" he muttered.

Zeres’ eyes sharpened "Very well"

He gritted his teeth, then he grabbed the parchment. "What do I need to do? "

"Just guard a boy for me"

"I see, otherwise—it won’t make sense for a vampire at your level to request my assistance." The elf man nodded, his long messy blonde hair fluttered on his back as he settled on a nearby table.

He made a wound on his thumb, then he dove it straight at the paper containing the contract.

"You sure decide fast" Zeres whistled.

"It’s not like a have a choice do I? "

"Indeed"

________________

"Who’s this? " Ryu asked, his eyes squinting at the robed man beside Zeres.

"He’ll be your bodyguard for now"

"What’s your name? " Zeres scratched the back of neck, he had forgotten to ask the man what his name was earlier.

"Ryndol" the man replied in a low voice.

"Well first take a bath you stink! " Ryu’s face scrunched as he threw him a towel.

"Oh, okay" Ryndol replied, a flush crept up his neck before he went straight at the bathroom.

Zeres stared at Ryu before he laughed.