Chapter 51: Chapter 51 : Unease
"Wow, you actually made effort this once." Aeliz smirked, she wore an exquisite dark blue dress adorned with silver embroidery, a sapphire necklace hung on her neck, white silk gloves covering her slender fingers.
Behind her, the mages of the Azure Tower stood, they wore long sapphire-blue coats embroidered with silver runes along the sleeves and collar. Some carried staffs, while others had grimoires hanging from their waists. Their expressions were calm, yet the mana surrounding them made it difficult for ordinary students to approach.
"Young lady, is this the vampire you’re talking about?" A woman stepped forward, her long blonde hair fluttering behind her in soft waves, eyes a deep shade of blue.
"He is" Aeliz nodded, her head turning at the woman beside her.
The woman scanned him thoroughly.
"Nice to meet you cadet Zeres, I am Keisha of the Azure tower. A senior mage—and the successor of the vice tower master." She extended her hand as a warm greeting, though her expression looked cold.
"Nice to meet you" Zeres took her hands.
’She’s strong!’ Zeres’ eyes sharpened, the women before him. She was as strong as professor Elyssa, a monarch rank!
Zeres extended his mana, hoping for it to be a mistake on his part. But his guess turned out correct. She was at monarch-rank.
A strong presence was surrounding her, the air itself seem to tremble faintly.
’How come? ’ he felt cold sweats had formed behind him.
Something was off, professor Elyssa was hailed to be the youngest one to reach Monarch, yet the woman standing before him looked to be at the same age or even younger.
Just then.
"You’re bold" a voice suddenly echoed inside his head.
His gaze snapped towards Keisha, she was staring at him! a cold smile tugged at her lips.
"That might also be the reason the young lady wanted to scout you." The voice continued.
"But don’t test your luck, your boldness might cause your death in the future."
Zeres’ body felt cold, it was his first time feeling this helpless, he tried to pushed away the voice—but it remained there, a constant reminder of his foolishness.
"So, will you scout him? " Aeliz tilted her head.
’Why is he quiet? ’ she thought, the usual Zeres was a smug one—yet now, he looked subdued.
The woman stared intensely at Zeres, her eyes narrowing before she turned back at Aeliz.
"I’ll need to see it for myself. After all, the tower master herself gave me full authority regarding this." She replied.
"Assuming he’s a mage." Keisha continued, then she pullled her hands away.
"Ohh right, Zeres, you’re a mage right? I’ve seen you cast spells." Aeliz asked, the sapphire earings on her ear shining under the afternoon sunlight.
"Yeah" Zeres nodded.
A ridicule laugh echoed behind Keisha.
"Are you sure about that, Keisha? I can’t even feel any essence from him." A man sneered, his gaze condescending while he gripped the staff tightly it might splinter unto pieces had it not been an artifact.
"Rowan, this matter is for me to decide." Keisha turned, her eyes cold as ice as a pressure suddenly erupted.
’My dear sister, I want to curse you—this world’s difficulty have risen because of your revision.’ Zeres cursed inwardly.
He felt his skin prickled, if not for her still controlling the lightning, a thunder strike might have already stroked them.
Even being near her presence felt like being hit by lightning.
’But, am I missing something? Just Keisha being that strong yet not being a tower master just meant one thing: the human empire might have many Exalted, but they’re all hiding it. Bidding their time so when another empire waged a war, they will use it to their advantage.’ Zeres clenched his fist.
If the humans were that strong—that just means the church have someone who could easily trample on him.
’This is getting troublesome.’ He gritted his teeth.
Just then, his senses screamed—his head instantly snapping towards the source of that disgusting presence.
A group of humans walked across the stone pavement, white cloaks draped over their shoulders, some held a book with a cross on it. Their expression serene as they crossed the academy grounds.
"It’s the church." Keisha whispered. "But why is a bishop here? "
The bishop stood at the front, his sleek black hair was perfectly combed back, calm Hazel eyes. he had a serene expression on his eyes,
The group of the church walked slowly, then they went passed them, not even bothering to look at the Azure tower mages.
"They’re still arrogant! " one mage gritted his teeth.
All of a sudden, the bishop turned it’s head, his gaze locking with Zeres.
’What’s going on? Are they here for they Saintess or they’re here for me?’
’Just what is going to happen inside this banquet? ’ he felt uneasy.
The banquet looked like it will be filled with high-ranking peoples.
"We’ll go now, please excuse us." Keisha bowed her head politely, then the group of mages she led crossed the academy’s grounds.
"See ya" Aeliz waved at him.
He stared at their departing figures, his fist clenched tightly.
"I have a bad feeling about this. " Zeres clicked his tongue, a grave expression casting over his pale features.
______________
"Is that him? " the bishop asked, his Hazel eyes narrowing ever slightly.
The paladin beside him nodded. "Yes he is"
"Interesting."
"I haven’t seen a white-haired vampire yet, I want to know more about him." The bishop muttered to himself.
The whole group shifted uncomfortably. From what they’ve heard, this bishop loves torturing vampires—a thing almost all of the members of the church knew.
’What is the Cardinal thinking? Sending someone like him.’ The paladin thought inwardly.
"Aren’t vampires fascinating creatures? " the bishop said. "They can tranform into something, they’re born with the natural strength of a beast, and the most fascinating of all: they heal once they drink blood." The bishop raised his hand towards the sky.
"Yes, they are interesting." One paladin answered, a forced smile on his lips.
"Where is that girl? " he inquired, his eyes scanning the whole grounds.
"She’s already there" another paladin said, his eyes fixed on a figure from far away.
