Chapter 55: Chapter 55 : Night of Vipers
’Just how do I get out of this? ’ Zeres stared at the people flocking before him.
Their were a bunch of people in front of him. Some from a renowned guild, others a merchants and the nobles attendant lining up before him.
"Cadet Zeres, can we have a private conversation?" A gentlemanly voice made his head snapped from the sound.
A man stood there, he wore white suit adorned with crimson embroidery, a chiseled jawline and a slightly aged face.
"That’s Luke right? The son of the Obelir county?"
"What is he doing here? "
"I heard he’s from the first prince’s faction."
The people around them that used to pressure him like vipers all stepped back.
Zeres took one last glance on the man before he nodded politely. "It would be my honor." He bowed as a polite gesture.
’Does that mean the first prince is taking attention of me?’ He thought inwardly.
Settling in the round table on the corner, a waiter approached them before it put down two glass of red wine.
"Greetings cadet Zeres, I am Luke of the Obelir county. And as you’ve heard, I myself is a member of the first princess faction."
"He took a liking to you just be hearing your accomplishments, but he was saddened to tell you that he was unable to meet you today." Luke said calmly, a warm smile casted over his smooth face.
’Saddened my ass, you just don’t deem me worthy enough for you to step in yourself.’
"It’s my honor to meet someone of your stature."
"You’re a decent cadet, I’ll put in a good word to the first prince—" Luke wasn’t able to continue his sentence as the voice of the man standing on the podium echoed once more.
"The Zenith: Saelyz, ranked first— Come forward."
Saelyz stood up from her table, she wore a black dress adorned with crimson embroidery. Ruby earings on her ear and a huge pendant hang kn her neck. Beside her, mages wearing crimson cloaks sat around in a circle.
The Vermillion Tower.
A Tower composed of only gifteds of the mage class and with an affinity to fire. The Tower master there was Saelyz’s father, and that’s how she and Aeliz were compared oftenly—the prodigious daughter of the Tower masters.
She crossed the banquet hall confidently, her slender slik gloved hands played with the fan she held.
He expression calm, posture the usual she has as if the banquet didn’t really matter.
’As expected of the protagonist.’ Zeres thought to himself, Saelyz’s heartbeat rhythm was calm—too calm for someone being the center of attention.
’She’s not even nervous.’
Then she stepped up on the podium.
The man smiled at her softly, his gaze drifting back in the paper he held up.
His eyes widened, pupils constricting for aoemny before he found his calm again.
"Zenith Saelyz, from the accomplishments you’ve achieved, your entry to the Academy’s vault sha be permitted as your reward."
Saelyz’s expression barely moved.
But the crowds erupted, their relations varying from happy, sorrow and envy.
"Thank you." Saelyz bowed before she left the podium, her direction geadubg back to a table where mages of the Vermillion Tower is.
"That concludes the reward ceremony of the Trial, from now on—all cadets can enjoy themselves freely." The man announced, sliding I’m the parchment inside his cloth.
"To those names that was not called, you’re all expelled according to the rules of the academy."
The Hall was engulfed in silence, students shifting uncomfortably.
"Thank God I passed! "
"Me too!"
"The academy is really strict."
"Of course, how can they become the best academy if they’re lenient? "
People’s chattered, the tension earlier had now been completely dissipated.
"Ay least only little of you freshmans have been expelled."
"Ahem, now back onto the topic." Luke coughed up to get Zeres’ attention.
"Ahh yes, I apologize for my indecency." He scratched the back of his neck.
"You don’t need to answer right now, we just want to have a good relationship with you." Luke emptied the gladd of wine before he stood up.
"Then I’ll go now, look’s Luke you’ll have to survive for a while."
"What do you mean—" Zeres asked, his head turning behind him.
’Ohh I’m fucked!’ He thought, his gaze fixed on the outsiders behind him.
There were too many of them!
_________________
"This place is filled with vicious bastards." A paladin gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on Zeres figure that’s seating at the corner round table.
"If only the church’s authority isn’t bbeing suppressed by the nobles." He clenched his fists.
"Calm your self Daril."
The Bishop warned, his gaze drifting occasionally at Zeres.
"It will be hard to make a move, the headmaster even went as far as warning us that vampire is under his wings." The Bishop muttered to himself.
His hands shot up to grab the fork and knife on the table.
"Well, we can just wait for the right time—and that will be the will of our God." He continued, slicing a piece of expensive meat, he ate it.
"Understood your Excellency."
"Haslien, I’ll need you to monitor him closely." The Bishop ordered, his gaze sharp as he stared down at Haslien.
"Yes"
"Your efforts will be deeply appreciated."
The round table was filled with silence, save for the sound of clinking wines and fork meeting knives.
_______________
Moments passed.
"Phew, I’m finally done." Zeres breathed, leaning heavily against the chair, his eyes drifted at the clock hanging on the wall.
Ha raised his hand casually, asking he nearest waiter for another glass of wine.
Just then, a romantic melody echoed across the hall.
Zeres’ head turned at the podium, a piano was now there—or should he still call it a piano?
A musician sang a melody unfamiliar on Zeres’ ears, yet it was beautiful.
His gaze drifted across the hall. Cadets have started to invite women.
They danced under the guide of a song, their expressions serene and peaceful.
’Should I just go home? ’ Zeres thought.
After all, he didn’t know how to dance, he was an anti-social person even back on earth.
’Poor me’ he sighed.
