Chapter 116: Deciding For The Future

Alexia sat in a quiet study, surrounded by towering shelves filled with ancient tomes. A thick book wrapped in dark leather rested open in her lap as she read, the soft rustle of turning pages the only sound in the room—until a ripple of unfamiliar mana brushed against her awareness.

She froze. The mansion was part of her domain, intricately tied to her senses. Every heartbeat, every footstep, every whisper of mana within its walls was known to her. And this one—this presence—didn't belong.

With a small gesture, she extended a finger. A shimmering image bloomed in the air before her, suspended like a window into another space. It displayed Leo's room.

He was sitting on his bed, motionless.

"What are you doing this time?" she murmured, narrowing her eyes.

Over the past few months, Leo had proven to be anything but ordinary. He had a knack for stumbling into the strange and inexplicable. The latest incident involved a table infused with the unmistakable mana of the Moon Goddess—an artifact that he brought mere minutes ago.

And now this. As she studied the image, it flickered—just for a moment. The feed blurred, then quickly returned to normal. Leo suddenly stood up and rushed to the mirror across the room. But what truly caught her attention was the sudden shift in the mana surrounding him. It had changed—subtly, but undeniably.

"Did he just get possessed?" she muttered, sitting up straighter.

She was ready to act, already weaving a countermeasure in her mind, but Leo made no threatening moves. He simply stared at his reflection, confused and contemplative.

Then, her eyes widened. The mana pattern—she recognized it. It was no longer raw and unfocused. It had begun to take on structure, cohesion.

'He's forming a domain,' she realized. 'Already?'

The corners of her lips curled into a small, proud smile.

In all her years, she'd rarely seen someone progress so quickly. Leo, her newest student, had already begun shaping a domain—without instruction, without guidance, and likely without realizing it himself.

"Try not to get yourself corrupted," she said softly, speaking as though he could hear her. Her tone was amused but laced with a touch of genuine concern.

…

Leo walked through the serene halls toward the teleportation room, his footsteps steady, but his mind a storm of thoughts. He had awakened a new power—blood magic—and with it came not just strength, but questions. Questions about what he was becoming.

The thirst lingered, quiet but persistent, like a whisper echoing at the edge of his thoughts. Vampires drank blood to survive. He could feel a similar hunger now—unfamiliar and unnerving. But he wasn't a full vampire. At least, he hoped not. He still wanted to eat normal food, to hold on to a part of the person he'd been.

Still, the possibilities were undeniable.

Blood magic opened doors to spells he'd only read about. One, in particular that fascinated him was Vampire's Gaze, a spell that let its caster see the life force of others. Combined with his existing ability, Moonlit Gaze, which let him perceive heat signatures, he could track nearly anything, visible or not. It was like assembling the pieces of a puzzle into something greater.

He approached the teleportation chamber. Klaus was already there, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed.

"Didn't expect you to be late," Klaus said.

"Yeah, sorry," Leo replied. "Got caught up thinking about my fighting style. Lost track of time."

The two stepped onto the glowing teleportation circle. In a flash of light, they vanished—reappearing in the mansion below and moments later they were in the stone streets of the city. Klaus picked up where he left off.

"What's there to think about? You're already strong enough to give me a real fight."

Leo gave a half-smile. "My goal isn't to match you. I want to surpass you. By a lot."

Klaus raised an eyebrow, amused. "That serious, huh? Let me guess—there a girl involved?"

Leo hesitated. "Sort of… yeah."

Klaus blinked. "Seriously? Aren't you, what—seventeen?"

"In two days."

The older man chuckled, shaking his head. "Didn't think I'd be having girl talk with someone your age. Meanwhile, I'm forty-five and still single."

Leo smirked. "You've never had anyone?"

"Oh, I've had a few flings," Klaus said with a shrug. "Nothing that ever turned into love. Or marriage."

"I'm sure you'll find someone."

"Hey, don't say it like that. You make it sound like I'm a lost cause," Klaus groaned, though he was clearly joking.

Leo chuckled, then changed the subject. "So where exactly are we going?"

"To the Covenant Citadel. I need to present you to the council before we head off on our mission."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "They're that suspicious?"

"You'd be surprised how many people fake credentials," Klaus said. "But this isn't just about proving you're real. You're her student—and right now, you represent her." 

They continued through the winding streets until they reached one of the three towering spires in the heart of the city. The tower loomed over the skyline, its obsidian walls veined with glowing runes, pulsing softly with arcane energy.

At the entrance, layers of protective spells shimmered as they passed through—wards for detection, dispelling, and authentication. Leo felt each one brush against his skin like static, testing him, reading him.

Klaus didn't slow. He moved through them with practiced ease, leading Leo down a long corridor that ended in a strange, circular chamber with no ceiling. The open sky loomed above, framed by high stone walls.

Leo blinked and looked around. "What is this room?"

"You'll see," Klaus said, smirking.

Before Leo could ask again, they both began to rise.

He felt the magic lift him, weightless but steady, and within seconds they were floating upward. A platform of light shimmered into existence beneath their feet, keeping them stable. The city shrank below as the tower walls blurred past them. Finally, they stopped at a floating doorway high above the ground, and the platform slid forward to meet it.

Klaus stepped off casually and went through the door, entering a hallway. Leo followed, still wide-eyed.

"That was… incredible," he said. "What's the name of that spell?"

"It's just the tower's internal system for moving between floors," Klaus replied. "If it has a name, no one bothered telling me."

Leo considered that. "They should call it something cool. Like… Arcane Lift."

Klaus glanced over his shoulder, amused. "Yeah? Maybe I'll suggest it to the council"

They continued down the hall until Klaus reached a tall set of double doors carved with intricate sigils and symbols of the old covenant. With one firm push, he opened them, revealing a vast chamber.

Inside, the wide chamber was dominated by a large crescent-shaped desk at the far end. Seated behind it were four figures—two men and two women, each radiating the quiet authority of high-ranking officials. Leo followed closely behind Klaus and came to a stop in front of them.

"This is Victor Black," Klaus announced clearly. "Student of the Grand Magister, Lady Alexia Clayden."

Leo gave a respectful nod and bowed slightly.

One of the women leaned forward. "Mr. Black, what is your current rank?"

"B-minus illusionist," Leo replied calmly.

"B-minus?" one of the men echoed, his eyebrows lifting. "That's odd. The aura around you suggests otherwise."

Klaus stepped forward. "I assure you, Mr. Black is—"

"It looks like you misunderstood me, Mr. Klaus Moser," the man interrupted. "I'm not saying he's weaker. I'm saying he feels like an A-minus, not a B-minus."

Klaus turned to Leo, startled. "What?"

Leo nodded, thoughtful. "My last evaluation was two months ago. The result back then was B-minus."

"Regardless, that's good news," the other man said. "If your rank is higher, even unofficially, it only helps."

The second woman spoke next, her tone brisk. "Your mission is to investigate the ancient ruins of Falatra, out west."

Leo narrowed his eyes slightly. "What's the purpose of this mission?"

There was a subtle shift in the room. One of the men leaned back and steepled his fingers. "There are reports of vampire activity in the area."

Leo touched his chin, frowning. "Vampires?"

He went quiet, mind racing. 'Could this be a coincidence… or something connected?'

"Your team will consist of four members, including Mr. Moser," said the first man.

Leo gave a short nod. "Understood."

"You'll find the mission dossier at the front desk on the first floor," the woman added.

With another respectful bow, Leo and Klaus exited the room and made their way back toward the elevator platform.

As they descended, Klaus asked, "What do you think the vampires are after?"

"I guess we'll find out soon," Leo replied, though deep down, he had a suspicion. In fact, he might be the only one in the entire kingdom with even the faintest clue.

On the first floor, Klaus took a scroll from a woman behind a marble desk and began reading it as they stepped outside into the sunlit courtyard.

"We need to be at the west gate in half an hour," he said, scanning the paper. "That's where we'll meet the rest of the team." He glanced over at Leo. "You have everything you need?"

Leo nodded. "I packed everything already."

"Good. Then let's move. The west gate's a bit of a walk."

It took them twenty minutes on foot to reach the west gate. There, two figures stood waiting. One was a woman in a long robe, her blond hair flowing down her back. She had striking green eyes—uncannily similar to Leo's—and a graceful, poised demeanor. Her beauty was undeniable, but her presence held more than just charm; it radiated strength.

The other was a towering man Leo and Klaus both recognized instantly—Ivo.

Klaus narrowed his eyes. "What trick did you pull to get assigned to this mission, Ivo?"

Ivo grunted. "Didn't need one." He turned to Leo and extended a large, calloused hand. "We started off on the wrong foot. I'll own that. Sorry about that day."

Leo blinked, vaguely recalling the incident. It had been nearly a year ago, and whatever resentment he'd felt had long faded. He shook Ivo's hand casually.

Klaus, standing to the side, watched the exchange with a raised brow and folded arms.

The robed woman stepped forward with a polite smile. "I'm Sophie Heilig, student of the Grand Magister, Sir Bernal Galvan."

Leo recognized the name. Of the three Grand Magisters, Bernal Galvan was known to be the strongest—his control over elemental magic was unmatched.

"Victor Black," Leo replied. "Student of Grand Magister, Lady Alexia Clayden."

"Klaus Moser," Klaus said curtly.

Sophie gave a small nod. "I've been appointed team leader for this mission. Let's work together and make it a success."

Leo returned her nod. "Understood."

Near the gate, a carriage was waiting for them. Despite Ivo's massive frame, they all fit comfortably inside—one of the perks of being students of Grand Magisters. The interior was lined with soft cushions and faint magic circuits glowing gently along the edges.

"From the nearest teleport tower, it will take about a day to reach the ruins," Sophie said as the carriage began to roll. "Also, I've already read your files, but I'd like each of you to explain your field and fighting style briefly. It'll help me plan for any unexpected combat situations."

The three men took turns explaining. Leo kept his blood magic quiet, focusing on his illusion-based tactics and ranged support. Klaus gave a crisp summary of his high-speed close combat style using enhancement magic. Ivo, true to his form, was direct—he smashed things.

After about half an hour of exchange, Sophie gave a satisfied nod.

"As you all can guess, I'm an elementalist and a conjurer. My strongest affinity is wind."

She lifted her hand, and the air in the carriage stirred for a moment, a tiny spiral of wind forming around her fingers before vanishing.

"Wind magic gives me high mobility and sharp, precise attacks. I can control the battlefield—create barriers, launch cutting gales, and even fly short distances. But more importantly..."

She glanced at each of them, her green eyes calm but calculating.

"I'm also a conjurer. That means I can summon elemental spirits or bind temporary constructs—anything from a floating eye for surveillance to a minor elemental for backup."

She paused, leaning back slightly.

"I don't usually rely on raw power. I focus on coordination and control. If we fight, I'll be supporting, redirecting enemies, weakening their formation, or creating openings. Just don't get caught in one of my wind blades—they're sharper than they look."

There was a brief silence in the carriage as her calm confidence settled over them. Then Ivo chuckled.

"Sharp wind and summoned creatures. Got it. Try not to blow me off a cliff."

Sophie smiled. "No promises."