Shadow Author

While leaving the infirmary I realized that all of my classes were over for the day leaving my schedule completely open.

This left me with two no, three options: turn Griffin inside out, shatter the economy, or become a sword master.

Either of the decisions I made would have everlasting effects and cause irreversible damage.

As I thought through the choices I could make I realized that there was only one option that would have the most meaningful impact.

That was to become a sword master.

The other two could wait for the time being. Although they had to be taken care of soon.

However, the most pressing matter was my strength. I was far too weak.

I need to be able to keep up with the others — especially Elijah — otherwise I would be leaving everything up to chance and that wasn't a risk I wanted to take.

I need to prove myself, keep myself alive, survive, and uphold the deal I made with Charlotte.

The plans I had for her were something she most undoubtedly regret agreeing to, but nonetheless, I wouldn't go back on my word.

With my mind made up I moved towards a specific room where my future was at stake.

Passing the training center where some students were working out or using the individual rooms I continued on my way.

Once I finally arrived at the place I wanted I opened the metal door to enter a specific teacher's room.

"Miss smith."

Calling out the trio's teacher's name I stood patiently in the middle of the room while I waited for her to come out of her office in the corner.

I didn't have to wait too long before the young woman made her way over to me. This allowed me to have a good chance to look at her. All the times before I had been preoccupied but now that it was just the two of us I realized how good she looked.

Miss Smith had flaming red hair that dropped down past her shoulders, amber eyes, a mature face, a bust second only to Willow, and an extremely muscular body.

Her physique made sense due to all the training she went through as she had to live up to her title. After all, this was Griffin, home to the best of the best.

"Lucas… what can I do for you?"

Her tone indicated that she was annoyed but she didn't seem to be pissed off which was a good thing.

Taking advantage of her good behavior I decided to get straight to the point and not cut any corners.

"I have a favor to ask and in return, I'll provide you with some priceless information, what do you say?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"That's quite direct, what's this so-called priceless information of yours?"

I held up my hand.

"Now, now, Miss Smith, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, you didn't think I'd just give up my leverage without any guarantees?"

She sighed realizing that I was not stupid enough to give her what she wanted right off the bat.

"I suppose not, so what's this favor you need?"

Now that we were in business I went straight into my request without showing the least bit of fear.

"I need you to train me."

"…"

"…"

"Pfff, you want me-

She pointed to herself.

"-to train you?"

She ended by pointing at me and cracking up.

Internally I was pretty annoyed but it was a reaction I expected, after all when you don't reveal your strength people tend to underestimate you.

Externally though I smiled through her laughter as I waited for her to calm herself down.

A few minutes later she did.

"Ah, I'm sorry for laughing but really what did you expect?"

Then she broke out into more laughter.

Having enough of her charades I interrupted her joyous moment with some dark knowledge.

"Your sister, I know where she is."

'Please don't kill me.'

I was right to be fearful because her smile dropped the instant I mentioned her family member.

Slowly a horrendous aura and mind-shattering killing intent began enveloping my body.

"What did you just say?"

Her cold detached words shook my body.

But even through all this torment I didn't back down, staring Miss Smith straight in the eyes, I replied:

"You heard me."

It was then that the outward aura she was manifesting took the physical shape of a snake and it began slithering up my body until it had me wrapped around it.

Under this weight I knew at any point Miss Smith could crush me and I would die without having any chance of defending myself.

Instinctively I knew Null would have no effect which meant I was standing on death's door.

As the snake finished coiling up me it finished by coming right up to my face and opened its large mouth. Two enormous fangs revealed themselves as the mouth opened even wider, threatening to swallow me whole.

Restricted by the snake I couldn't move even if I wanted to, thus my fate was left up to whether or not Miss Smith could control herself.

But I did not care for fate, I only relied on myself.

Therefore while my head was inside the snake's mouth and I was only a centimeter away from being decapitated my wrist rang.

[Your five-minute timer is up.]

As if being freed from a trance the snake dissipated into thin air and Miss Smith immediately apologized.

"I'm so sorry."

Seeing her bowed in front of me at a ninety-degree angle I almost wanted to smile, unfortunately my body wasn't quite ready to listen to me yet.

However, I did manage to croak out an acceptance.

"No worries."

Thankfully my voice didn't crack and my façade was still intact.

'Thankfully my plan worked and the alarm was able to knock some sense into her or I'd be dead.'

Hearing that I forgave her Miss Smith stood back up vertically and calmed her mind.

"Again I am sorry for my shameful behavior, this is the second time I've lost control of myself. But don't worry it won't happen again, I am ready to hear you out."

'Perfect.'

It was a rough start and a rocky ending but I got to the point where I needed to be.

"I'll start with my request then I'll tell you what you want to hear. But first and this should be obvious everything said between us should remain confidential."

Miss Smith nodded.

"Go ahead, you have my honor as both a warrior and a Griffin faculty member that nothing you tell me will reach another person's ears."

'Assurance complete.'

I didn't need to use a mana contract with Miss Smith for a multitude of reasons. First, I didn't — couldn't — buy one due to the extreme prices. Second, they weren't a guarantee and it would have been disrespectful to ask her to sign one. Third, by swearing upon her warrior code I knew I didn't have to worry about anything.

It wasn't like with mana contracts where she would die if she broke it but rather it was based on her pride and what she stood for. Even the worst scum of the earth wouldn't break the warrior code.