Prologue: Rayan's Hope
"HELLO, IT'S RAYAN AGAIN. I JUST REALIZED THAT WE HAVE RANDOM SUBJECTS!! AND I LOST COUNT OF EACH SINGLE OF THEM I THINK WE HAVE AT LEAST 100 OR MORE!!!"
"You said too many of's that's enough yapping and move now!" Cezar
"Man.. It's exhausting to keep going, I wanna drop out and go adventure, fight monster, get stronger you know, typically Isekai life and then have a wife and raise a happy family."
"Wow you've got some nice wet dream, that ain't happening, maybe in after life" Yeon smirk
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
Back To The Topic
I. Unlikely Classroom
Sunlight filtered through stained-glass windows, illuminating desks carved with claw marks and wing prints. Rayan, Yeon, Cezar, and Tonio shuffled in—each nursing bruises, PTSD, and a small collection of ghost-potatoes.
At the front stood Professor Morwen, winged fae with an eyebrow permanently raised.
Morwen: "Welcome to Diplomacy with Mythical Creatures 101. Today's objective: never offend the client, even if it's a world-ending serpent."
Yeon hissed: "We specialize in offending."
Morwen's wings fluttered.
"Then you'll learn to un-specialize, starting now."
II. Bribe Theory: Ghost-Potato Edition
Morwen produced a silver platter of glowing ghost-potatoes.
Morwen: "Lesson one: bribes must delight. Behold: bioluminescent snacks. Soft, sweet, and irresistible."
She tossed one to a stone statue—which instantly blinked to life and cheered.
Statue: "Encore!"
Yeon swallowed his. "Tastes like victory and regret."
Morwen: "Offer on a platter, not your grubby palm. Class dismissed—deliver these to the grotto krakens."
Groans rose. Krakens? Again?
III. Brawn vs. Brains Debate
Next, Morwen summoned a baby griffin—adorable, but with claws sharper than gossip.
Morwen: "Diplomacy fails, then brawn displays. But brandishing steel is last resort."
The griffin hopped onto Rayan's desk.
Rayan: "Any chance of a safe word?"
Cezar: "I volunteer as griffin cuddler."
Morwen handed them a gilded kukri: symbolic, not stabbing.
Morwen: "Hold upright. Not pointy."
Griffin peeped with approval.
IV. Snack Diplomacy Practicum
Pair A (Rayan & Yeon) vs. Grotto Kraken
Yeon offered ghost-potatoes on kelp leaves. Kraken sniffed, then guffawed bubbles.
Rayan used kukri to carve shapes into potato shells: a heart, a fish, a tiny sword.
Kraken clapped tentacles. "More!"
Pair B (Cezar & Tonio) vs. Smoldering Phoenix
Cezar cracked a cucumber (last pickled peace offering).
Tonio lit ghost-potato lanterns, moistening the phoenix's feathers with gentle heat.
Phoenix bowed, granting them safe passage through its flames.
V. Dark Humor Penalty
Yeon quipped, "Maybe we should roast marshmallows over the phoenix's feathers—"
Whack! Tonio smacked him. Ghost-potato bits flew.
Morwen: "Humor is fine—until it fires back."
Yeon rubbed his head. "Note to self: keep jokes edible."
VI. Graduation & New Crisis
Morwen beamed.
Morwen: "You've passed Basic Diplomacy. Up next: Advanced Rites of Contractual Sealing."
Doors burst open: a panting guard.
"Professor! The Chimera has broken loose from the menagerie!"
Rayan sighed. "Of course it did."
Yeon fainted. Cezar cracked knuckles. Tonio recalculated life expectancy.
Rayan: "Class dismissed—again. To arms?"
They gathered their platters, ghost-potatoes flickering.
End of Chapter 26