'Whats this suppose to be?' Dean's thoughts spiralled for a second.
Were this people trying to give him a migraine or something? First it was the Vermith and now a letter that came in since the day before, something Ying had waited till now, to spring up on him like a booby trap.
He looked at Ying and almost wanted to ask the question that had been bugging him the moment that envelope touched his hand.
"Why no-" Dean's intrusive thoughts won before his lips could hold their peace.
Ying who was inspecting the briefcase raised his head slowly almost like he wasn't expecting that response from his son.
"Because it is the best choice," Ying answered flatly with a level of certainty that made Dean curious.
"Why?" Dean asked immediately.
"Because it's the institution of the Saint family," Ying answered with a semblance of familiarity.
The answer made Dean's mind track back a bit as he recalled seeing the Red Saint Leona with blades that had their family crest.
There was a connection there, and he'd forgotten to inquire about it since he got back from the Draft.
There was also something he now recalled. It was the name. Vermith. That was exactly Astrea's name.
The vampire that had left was probably a member of her family too and she was probably a high ranking member like him.
If it wasn't for his forgetfulness, he could've easily inferred that. After all, the man had a vampire support system just like Astrea.
'He's was more like a sound system…' Dean almost chuckled when Ash bounced on his head like it was also anticipating him opening the envelope that was still in his grasp.
Dean was expecting more from Ying but the man seemed to think those eight words about the saint family were enough for him to understand everything about the relationship between the two houses.
The man's focus was now on the briefcase that faced him, its contents still out of Dean's view.
Dean took what he judged as excitement from the slime and broke the seal of the envelope with a single pull.
Stretching out the letter. He read through without hesitation.
Franseint academy's offer wasn't an offer actually. It was basically saying he starts as freshman as it was meant to be, with the catch that he could choose his courses. Whatever that meant.
Dean wasn't necessarily a school person and the last time he stepped in the four walls of one, was with a bag of weed he had to deliver since he fitted well into a college setting.
'Okay what else,' he continued with the letter and just like the Vermith's offer. There was a catch.
It wasn't just a catch, it was literally the one thing he'd wanted to avoid if his stalker hadn't plotted with fate and made him third.
It was the W.S.A…
Franseint bragged in their offer of how the school was on the World summoner Authority's watch and how about 70% of the Agency's workers came from the academy.
'Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.' the boy thought as he finished reading.
Bringing down the letter. His eyes met Ying's that stayed focused on him.
"What…? Old man," Dean said without thinking.
Ying smiled slightly as he shifted back from the table, picked up the briefcase and was about to leave.
Dean rolled his eyes. He had to admit he needed advice and he didn't know enough to just jump into a decision.
"Which would you choose?" Dean asked as he leaned back leaving the two letters on the table.
"I would choose the path that lets me forge my own blade. Not the path where the blade is forged for me."
Dean sighed. He couldn't with this one.
"So basically the Saint school?"
Ying stayed still for a moment. Without saying another word. He sat back down and looked directly at Dean.
"I can't pick a path for you my boy," Ying spoke calmly. Then he raised his index finger.
"But the Franseint academy allows for a mix of races and usher an age of competition that breeds the best of the best survivors."
Dean's eyes narrowed. "I thought that was the Vermith's thing?"
Ying chuckled. "They're the number one academy In the city. They are the best and safest choice, But—"
The man stopped for a moment and merely raised the cup that Dorian had drank from, like he was about to toast to something.
Dean didn't need Ying to speak further. He already got the point.
They were basically the same thing. Both were cages in their own rights.
But Dean…
Well.. He had a third.
'Peace.'
He could simply not go to any of their fucking academies.
If he was to be honest to himself. He would rather not be stuck in a shithole with hormone filled, monster summoning teens.
He could simply work at the forge with Ying. He already had a thousand quids from Yin. That was somewhere to start from at least.
But the bottom line of it all was the fact he needed the peace his old life never provided.
For the first time in two lives, He had something he'd never had before.
Safety.
That didn't require him sleeping with one eye open.
A family.
Well, he never knew what one looked like till only last week. But it didn't seem so bad.
And a house with food and stability that he didn't have to claw in the gutters to get.
He never had that before. He never had any of it.
After all, the orphanages didn't count. The street gangs didn't either and the octagon definitely didn't come close.
Ying watched him for a moment longer before silently leaving him to his thoughts.
With the black and white letters in front of him and the grey area that lived in his thoughts.
It was just obstacles after obstacles.
Lifting his eyes, he looked at the slime who stared back.
"What would you do?"
The slime stretched slightly but offered no answer.
Dean sighed. Picked up both letters. Took a final look at the sitting room.
The Tatami mat. The family crest on the wall. Nessa somewhere in the house planning mischief and Yuki just being Yuki.
Wasn't that enough?
He could wake up tomorrow, eat, train lightly, and help at the forge.
No monsters. No pressure. No expectations.
Just… live.
And "….Rot," he whispered to himself.
It should have been enough. Anywhere else this would have been enough.
But in this world?
He brought Ash down from his head and placed him on his shoulder.
In this world. He had a body seemingly blessed to survive and familiars that would never grow if he didn't.
Staying at home and being a housewife to Ying wouldn't help him get freedom.
He could live safely, keep his head down, keep the W.S.A away while under Ying's watch.
But would that truly account for survival?
Would it account for strength?
Strength was always a tool, no matter the world and the only path to it was to keep moving, pushing and grinding.
The worlds might have changed but not the rules.
He squeezed the letters lightly and made his way to his room.
<><><>
Dean sat at the edge of his bed. With both crumpled letters on the dresser a few feet away.
Every choice he had, came with a cost.
Whether it was Black or white or Gray.
There was no good answer.
He stared at the ceiling even as he placed his hand on his chest.
The pressure from that Vermith lord still lingered in his chest.
He'd never felt anything like that before.
Not even from Leona.
'It was power.'
Dean thought as he closed his eyes.
One week.
He had one week to decide.
He was about to take a nap before dinner when a knock came at the door.
"Yes?" he answered.
"You have more visitors at the gate," Yuki said.
Dean groaned as he got up. Who the fuck was that now ?
He stood and placed a hand on the door before he asked.
"Who are they?"
There was a short silence.
"They say they are from the World Summoners Auth…ority."
"How many?" Dean asked as he swallowed.
"Three."
Yuki paused.
"No… four."
Dean's eyes narrowed as he felt his heart skip.
'Speak of the devil,' he thought
His hand tightened on the door as he took a breath before he pulled it open.
A/N: Yeah I'll shamelessly keep asking for support. Your Powerstones and reviews would go a long way.
Thank you!