"Panel."
[Name]: James Woodrow
[Age]: 18
[Mana]: 400/400(+50)
[Skills]: Shadow Step, Shadow Manipulation, Shadow Space, Ice Spear, Water Blast, Ice Prison (all level 1 abilities) (see more…)
[Magical Root]: High
[Class]: Level 1 Mage
[Bloodline]: Abyss Walker (1%)
[Contracts]: Selena Vaughn [79 (Love)], Helena Ashvane [5 (Stranger)]
After a night of meditation this was his result.
The combination of the drugs as well as his growing soul power made meditation even more effective. James could feel that his mana capacity was approaching his limit. Maybe today or tomorrow he would have to take the blood catalyst.
Today was the weekend, so no classes, but James still had to get up early to leave Selena's house.
The streets of Ainsworth were quiet at dawn, the city wrapped in an early morning hush. Cool mist hung in the air, and the rising sun cast amber light on the rooftops. James walked without a real destination, wandering through the winding alleys and wide thoroughfares of the academy's satellite districts.
For once, he let himself slow down. He watched bakers hang fresh bread behind glass windows. He saw mages in long coats sweeping their shopfronts with minor wind spells. Street lamps flickered off as the magical current reset for the new day.
It was curious, he had been at Ainsworth for a long time but he had never enjoyed himself like this.
Before his death, James was living in a state of constant fear. He was in a strange place all by himself, with strange people.
Actually, in some ways his life is even more dangerous now, but at least he had power. Only those with the power to determine their own fate can live in peace.
Most commoners didn't have that luxury. Under the tyranny of faceless oppression there is no way to appreciate the beauty of light dancing on the surface of puddles in the cobblestone streets. Can they listen to the murmuring of the city as it awakens and think of it as music?
For those people each day is another hell.
As it got later in the day there were more and more people on the streets. At 10 o'clock, James headed toward the central plaza to meet the first year demon delegation.
He was a little nervous. Walking with a group of demons through Ainsworth would bring him a lot of attention. But he was also expectant. James was certain something would happen in these two days. With the training camp coming up, he guessed that all interested parties would begin to feel restless.
Maybe they would make some small moves.
And if he watched carefully, perhaps he'd catch a glimpse of the undercurrents flowing through the academy—who was planning what, where the cracks were forming.
When he reached the plaza, more than twenty demons were already assembled, flanking Helena with military-like discipline. All of them were first years like him. He guessed that the demons in the other years had their own plans.
He stood at the edge of the gathering, waiting for Lydia and Kira to arrive. In truth, he didn't know much about the city's layout himself—so the tour was something of a free ride.
The demon students watched him closely. Their gazes weren't hostile, but more so curious. After all, they didn't know much about him, only that he soundly defeated Gorran, the stone demon. They didn't have the same disdain as human mages.
Of course they didn't have any good feelings either. The relationship between humans and demons was steeped in blood and war.
At some point, Helena stepped beside him. Her voice was low, meant only for his ears.
"By the way," she said with a sly smile, "we've confirmed your information with other sources. You were quite thorough. One might even wonder if you were a human mage at all..."
Her tone was teasing.
James' face was anxious, but he sneered in his mind. She already had his file, so what's the point of pretending?
"Professor, it's not like that," he replied nervously. "I—I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't need help. You know I'm a commoner… I have no backing. No resources."
James was hinting at the reward that was promised. If he could get something to improve his bloodline that would be best, but he thought it was unlikely.
"Don't worry, you'll get your reward soon."
Helene's dark lips curled into an enchanting smile. A smile like that would could make anyone lose their mind
But James was sober.
She wasn't planning to keep pushing it back and then never give it to me right? If that's the case, after her favorability becomes higher, he would have to return the 'favour' ten-fold!
Although James was vicious in his mind, his outward expression was still nervous. But he had to get some sort of advantage somehow…
"Thank you professor!" James said anxiously as he once again tried to grab her hand.
If Helene wanted to dodge she could have easily, but she didn't. She let him hold it for a brief moment with a gleam in her eye.
After Helene went back to talk to the demon delegation, he glanced over a few times. He saw that they were all glaring at him. Most of their favorability had reduced and they had scowls on their faces, as if to say: how dare you touch our goddess?!
Oops! James laughed in his mind. But soon he would do more than touch her hand.
James could feel that Helene was becoming more and more curious about him. And when he touched her just then her favorability didn't decrease. What did that mean? It meant her suspicions were decreasing!
Soon after, Lydia and Kira arrived. The group began to move.
James fell in line behind Helena, Kira walking beside him with a curious glance, while Lydia kept to the side. The humans in the city stared—openly hostile or fearful—but the demons didn't care. Some even sneered back, eyes proud, and defiant.
James stole glances at the demon students, studying them.
Especially one. The red skinned demon, Amon.
This was the demon he was most curious about. He felt whatever the Everhearts were planning, it had something to do with this person. But the demon's expression was unreadable and even the favorability didn't say much.
[Amon Tharin — Favorability: 0 (Stranger)]
James narrowed his eyes.
He had tried to research the last name in the academy library, but it hadn't shown up in any records. But if he could be the centre of attention he must be an important figure.