Dean walked past Yuki and made his way towards the sitting room.Just as he was about to slide the door open, he felt it.
An inhumane pressure pressed down on him out of nowhere.Dean winced slightly while gripping his chest as if it were physical pain, and almost instinctively, he summoned Ash.
The Slime curled out of a warp right above his head and landed on it with a soft thud.
Its gelatinous body bounced like jelly on top of Dean's head as it balanced itself.
Dean sighed. He could still feel the pressure, but it was less as Ash appeared. For the first time since he got to this world, the most intimidating presence in the Gray house wasn't Ying.
It was whatever or whoever it was.
Closing his eyes even while Ash was still on his head, he activated the Sage circuit, but the perk didn't change much either.
He could still feel his fingers twitching and going cold.
'So, this isn't an attack?'Dean took a step back from the door.
He absolutely didn't want to go in there.But then he saw Yuki, who was still in the hallway, still leaning on the wall with a heaviness he didn't know how to interpret.
He sighed. He would rather deal with whatever was in there than explain to Yuki that he was scared.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door to the side and entered the sitting room.
He closed the door behind him.It felt like the intimidating pressure doubled down immediately upon his entering.
His body was about to totally numb up, then an orange screen flew into his view.
[Sage Circuit Active: external verge expulsion engaged]
Looking away from the screen with a slight twitch, he saw the sitting room with a new sense of clarity.
The room was traditional with tatami mats covering the floor and cushions arranged neatly next to a low wooden table.
The family's crest hung on the wall at the far end of the table.
There were two unfamiliar figures on the left-hand side of the table.
They both had pale white skin and blood-red eyes that reminded him of Astrea.
'Vampires,' he thought.
One of the two looked more dignified.He wore black formal robes with a crimson design.His hair was the same color as his eyes, falling perfectly like a cascading waterfall on his shoulders.
With the first vampire sitting perfectly still, the other, who was younger and less formally dressed, moved.Gestured for Dean to take a seat.
"Dean Gray," he said with a smooth tone."My lord has been waiting for you."
Ying, who was at the far end of the table, nodded slightly at that remark as he kept his hand crossed with an unreadable expression, but his fingers had stopped tapping on his sleeves.
Dean set the briefcase down carefully at the edge of the cushion and sat in a different position with Ash still sitting on his head.
Without being told, Dean already knew where the pressure that was still threatening to bury the room was coming from.
The vampire referred to as Lord hadn't looked at Dean even once; instead, he stared at the cup of tea on the table as if Dean weren't worthy of his gaze.
But Dean didn't care, even though every rational instinct told him to lower his gaze at the sight of the vampire.
He looked at him anyway.
<><><>
The younger vampire did all the talking.He introduced the Lord to them as:
"Voss Vermith Dorian," a high-ranking member of House Vermith and an important figure in Vermith Academy.
The vampire continued, with fangs just visible.
"Vermith Academy extends an invitation to Dean Grey," he paused for a moment to look at Dorian as if they were talking with their eyes. He nodded and continued.
Your performance at the draft has been evaluated, and you've been selected for a sophomore entry.
Dean's eyes flicked to Dorian, but there was no reaction from the vampire lord, who simply sipped the reddish tea.
Vermith Academy is the highest-ranked academy in Zhrea.Our resources are unmatched, and our instructors are the finest summoners in their fields."
The vampire smiled softly, revealing more of his milk-white fangs. He glanced at Ash as he continued.
"--And our curriculum is designed to perfect every student's growth so that they can reach their full potential."
He finally stopped gesturing, as if to let all he had said sink in.
If you join us, you can start as a sophomore and not a freshman, with advanced classes assigned based on your abilities and potential.
Dean listened closely at this point. He was waiting for the catch. There was always one with large organizations like this.
"Your training will also be conducted in the best and most conducive environment, with strict separation between vampire, werewolf, and human students, which will ensure a controlled experience free from unnecessary conflict."
Dean's jaw tightened, even as Ash stared directly at the Vermith Lord, who was shifting slightly in what seemed like discomfort.
The slime's body didn't move.But the faint glow beneath its surface pulsed… once.
It was like it was measuring something.
'Racial divide. Of course!' Dean thought as he finally found the catch hidden in plain sight.
Before Dean could even dwell on his thoughts further.The young vampire placed a sealed black envelope on the table.
"You have a week to decide."
The Vermith Lord stood immediately after the envelope touched the table.
He looked at Ying and spoke for the first time.
"Your hospitality is as gracious as they say."
Ying nodded slightly while keeping his expression unreadable.
"The pleasure is all mine."
Dorian immediately turned to leave without saying a word to Dean and only glanced back to see Ash, whose eyes were now closed, seemingly napping on Dean's head.
They were about to leave the room when the young vampire turned to Dean.
"Lord Vermith doesn't extend invitations lightly. Put that in mind."
They left, and so did the pressure on the room.
Dean exhaled in relief as his subconscious grip on the briefcase lightened.
Ying shifted slightly, his expression remaining bland, but Dean could tell that even the head of the table was nervous.
Outside, Dorian and his companion walked side by side, and immediately they stepped out of the Gray compound.
"Revolting," Dorian said gently, with a cold sneer.
Back inside the house, Ying had shifted positions and sat directly in front of Dean and Ash.
He reached inside his kimono and brought out a sealed white envelope with a different stamp.
"Franseint Academy sent its offer yesterday."
He looked at Dean while collecting the briefcase from him with an expression that said. You would want to check this one out, too.