Dean's expression remained puzzled even as the young man with the face of an angel and the smile of a serial killer crossed the distance.
The grin was still on his face while he held the hilt of the tanto forward toward Dean.
"Can I have your autograph?"
'Autograph?' Dean was taken aback momentarily.
The young man noticed the shift in Dean's expression and he withdrew his enthusiastic tanto back.
"You're a Gray right?"
Dean nodded like his neck had its bolts tightened.
"Your family makes the best swords in Zhrea.." the boy paused, brandishing the tanto like he was inspecting it. "Unlike those Trumans–" he completed with a sneer.
'Trumans..?' The name sounded familiar. It seemed to jumble in his head until it finally got out.
Ohh… yeah. The Trumans were basically the Gray family's rivals when it came to sword-making.
While House Gray makes unbreakable blades… House Truman just made blades.
"Yeah, they could learn a thing or two," Dean nodded while he relaxed his shoulders.
"They definitely could," the boy spoke. "Still waiting on that autograph. It's my first blade."
The boy rolled his shoulders while he held the hilt of the tanto forward again.
Dean squeezed on the handle of his bag as he noticed a few things about the boy.
"Those are not the hands of someone who just got his first blade. Who are you really ?" Dean asked without batting an eye.
The boy still avoiding eye contact suddenly paused and then looked up and directly into Dean's eyes.
The jade of his eyes locked on Dean's black for a second or two before his lips parted.
"A fan," he said calmly, before he winked, turned and walked away without another word.
'...How interesting..?' Dean narrowed his eyes as he looked around for another second or two.
He wasn't going to be stressed about the unknown. This was his first day here and what he wanted was to understand what this academy life was all about.
Pulling his bag over his shoulder, he left the hall amongst a few others.
<><><>
After a few inquiries and some boot licking. Dean finally arrived at the Dorm allocation office.
He had quickly handed the person in charge the black card he'd received from the academy after he agreed to their offer.
The Dorm mistress. A tall and very well-built werewolf with sharp yellow eyes and pink lips that seemed to have lost the ability to smile then handed him a key pass after inspecting his card.
Dean took the key pass and made his way out of the office.
"D-D-Dean Gra- Gray- Gray. Dean Gray," the bird-like familiar on the woman's shoulder called with a sharp tone.
Dean didn't turn around but it somehow made sense to him that the first familiar he'd heard speak was a bird.
He didn't want to dwell on that and simply made his way to the dorm room.
It was room A-27 and was on the second floor of a building that looked a lot better than his house. It had a garden and stretched high into the sky for at least ten storeys.
Entering the hallway, he noticed some freshmen were already in their rooms. It was quiet other than some whispers here and there.
He also noticed that there was no segregation even in the Dorms. It was a mixture of all races, coming in and out of rooms.
Dean was only a few more steps to his assigned room when he heard some muffled sounds.
Stopping mid-step, he noticed the sounds came from room A-27.
Dean's jaw tightened as he moved cautiously towards the room, though he had a fair idea what was happening in there.
Before he reached the door. Three human boys ran out of the room laughing.
The trio stopped immediately they saw Dean. Who straightened up and squared his shoulders while he held his bag lazily.
"What you looking at?" Dean spoke with a sneer while he gestured his head upwards.
The Trio didn't even answer and simply moved around him. They retreated through the halls laughing as they went.
Dean sighed. And entered the room.
When he entered. He found a boy sitting in the aperture between beds.
Dean walked closer and discovered he was hugging his knees while making weird sounds that Dean couldn't tell if he was complaining or crying or maybe both.
Staring down at the boy in the semi-lit room. Dean's eyes gleamed. This was one thing he completely hated.
It wasn't bullying or crying but the fact he didn't fight back.
"Stand up!" The words came out colder than he meant.
Far from the noise of the academy…at the Vermith Mansion…
Astrea walked through a narrow and dimly lit hallway.
Her steps remained soundless even while her companion followed two paces behind her.
The door at the end of the hallway was wooden and old, with the iron handle tarnished so bad, it was completely black.
She was a few paces from the door when it opened from the inside.
A vampire stepped out with a hunched poise. He was short and wore robes that looked like they were smeared with dried blood.
Astrea didn't recognise him and simply nodded back at him when he bowed slightly before leaving.
With the door still opened. Astrea slipped in and locked it behind her. With her companion remaining outside.
Inside the room was no different from the hallway except from candles that layered the walls.
They were twelve in total with six on each side giving an orange glow to the room.
The chandelier on the ceiling still looked as old as ever but it swung to the left unlike the last time she was here.
A presence sat behind a desk at the far end of the room. With a small library behind him.
He remained comfortable in the calmness and the air that smelled like dust and old books.
"Astrea," he said, with an even voice even as he folded his hand on the desk.
"Congratulations on your placement on the draft."
"Thank you Marquis Von."
"I wouldn't have expected otherwise."
Astrea nodded once.
Letting the silence settle, the vampire's burning red eyes finally looked down from Astrea's gaze.
"Voss Dorian has failed," he said. "The Gray boy has refused Vermith's offer."
Astrea stayed quiet.
"It is time we take matters into our own hands," he spoke while opening his hands in a calm gesture.
He leaned forward slowly and continued.
"I'll provide you an opportunity to prove your worth," he smiled with fangs stretched out. "Prove that you're more than just killing beasts in a backwater trial."
Astrea's chest tightened. The fingers of her right hand almost twitched but she held them in place with her left.
"You'll attend Franseint Academy, And–"
The words came like a stone that shattered her expectations.
But she still remained still. Eyes calm and unchanged.
"Not Vermith?" She asked, cutting him off smoothly.
"No." The vampire responded softly.
"You will watch over the Gray boy and his familiar and report everything back to me."
Taking his hand off the desk. His fangs retracted as his smile disappeared.
"You leave tomorrow."
Astrea, still clenching on her right hand, nodded.
"As you wish. Marquis Von."
The man leaned back on the chair. "You may go."
Astrea bowed, turned and walked out of the room.
The moment the door closed completely behind her. Astrea's knees buckled as she felt light-headed.
She fell forward but managed to catch herself with her hands as her knees dropped to the floor.
She covered her face with trembling hands but she didn't cry or even groan.
She just stayed still with sharp breaths. As the weight she carried in her chest grew heavier.
Vermith Academy. Every Vermith attended that academy.
It wasn't her dream but it was inheritance.
And now even that is gone.
'Again,' she thought. 'Again….and Again. When does it stop?'
She was been punished. It was one thing to be participating in the middle district draft while her siblings entered an academy without a draft.
But this...?
How long would she pay the price for something that wasn't her fault. For the chaos she was desperately trying to keep contained.
And just when she thought she made a good turn.
Now this…
Another punishment dressed as a mission.
To watch after a boy. A boy she found interesting. But that interest was nothing when compared to…
A hand rested on her back. Rubbing slowly with soft strokes.
"Calm down my lady," her companion said quietly.
Astrea breathing calmed as she raised her head and stood.
Her companion stepped back, watching her.
"What happened?" Raenar asked.
Astrea looked at her with calm and determined eyes.
"We're resuming Franseint tomorrow," she said and began walking away.
Raenar watched her for a second and began walking behind her with a calm and knowing expression.
A/N: Sighs...