Luciferis walked around the buildings. The actual academy where students studied was large to say the least; it had a dozen buildings if not more, and each was utilized fully.
'It's expected, Varner's a guy who's not really into wasting too many resources. If a building can fit 100 people, he'll make sure 100 people fit in. That's why I liked him.'
He paused in front of a building with a large board outside, clearly stating the title of the person who owned this building.
Headmaster Rosette Vivienne Flore Van Cecilla
'That woman's name has always been a mouthful; she loves showing it off. She isn't even a noble, yet the Emperor allowed her to put Van in her name just because she's super strong.'
Luciferis took a step towards the door, but he paused, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. It was Rosette's Vitin, one that was incredibly potent.
'Whoa... Still super intimidating, not afraid of showing her strength like usual, it's probably to prevent any random bum from approaching her.'
He smirked, walking through the door, albeit he had to exert himself a lot, too much even. Rosette was known to be equal, if not stronger than Varner after all.
'I still remember our spar... God, she was tough to beat, but I was still at Rank XIX and hadn't fully awakened my abilities yet.'
The inside of the building was simple: a lady sitting in the middle with sheets of paper and a quill, a stairway in the corner, the door wide open.
"Ah, hello." The girl smiled at Luciferis. She seemed to be the only employee Rosette had.
"How may I help you?"
"I want to meet the Headmaster," Luciferis responded, a bit out of breath as he leaned against the table, a bit of blue Vitin starting to escape his body like vapor. "Quickly, if possible. Violet."
"H-How'd you know my name?"
Luciferis realized his blunder, he recognized this girl since she was a talented VItin Mage back then. But he couldn't say that now, huh?
"Well- Uh I mean-"
Just then, almost as if the universe had pity on Luciferis and decided to save him, the ceiling above Violet and him broke, Theolian crashing through it.
"Ah, come on! Rosette! I just wanted to-"
"Shut up! You brought a Vampire into Academy grounds!"
Rosette finally revealed herself, standing on a thick glowing green vine made of glass-like Vitin.
"And she attacked Leonidas Van Orchel? You know how dangerous that is? The first Frost User in almost 5 centuries dying inside our supervision?!"
She was wearing a simple nightgown; she was fond of sleeping her off days away after all. And it looked like she was awoken from her sleep, considering how her long black hair was messy and unbrushed.
Theolian got up from the ground, dusting himself off as he tried to reason with the woman, wanting her to see his side of the argument.
"She's from the House of Blood! I had to protect her according to the pact-"
"That pact was made a millennium ago! The contents are lost! You're just doing it for fun like you always do!"
"Ma'am! A boy is here!" Violet shouted, having protected Luciferis from the rubble with a shield of Vitin
"Huh?" Rosette's eyes flickered towards Luciferis, who was standing there a bit too awkwardly. He was still a bit confused about what to say or do.
"L-Leonidas? Oh my. I've shown a crude side of me."
She scratched the top of her head, a small sheepish smile on her face. She was worried as to what Luciferis would think of her.
"It's fine, Headmaster... I just wanted to talk to you about your own guild. But this conversation is more important, so I'll wait."
"Ah, I see, thank you for that. I need to let out a bit of steam anyway-"
She was cut off, a large column of golden flames bursting forward from Theolian's hand as she just barely managed to dodge it, the heat from the fire melting the stone around it.
"Don't worry about the heat. It won't get through this shield. But if we were out there, we would've been burnt toast." Violet sighed. Theolian was standing in the ruins of the building; he had sent Rosette flying backwards.
Luciferis stared at Theolian's flames with a bit of awe; he hadn't seen such intense flames in so long; it was akin to a dragon, if not more.
Just then, Theolian's upper body was wrapped up in the vines that belonged to Rosette. Since they weren't actual vines. He couldn't burn through them so easily.
"Theolian, you're causing quite a ruckus, you know. I've teleported everyone in the vicinity out of here." Rosette floated down towards Theolian, her hair a bit singed and her dress rumpled. But she was fine apart from that.
'Had I reacted a moment later, I would've been damaged. We playfight occasionally, but why is he this angry?'
Theolian sighed, trying to break out of the vice-like grip of the vines as they expanded and constricted to match his strength.
"Because you're just that wrong. Rosette. We as Elves have to honor the House of Blood."
Luciferis sighed. The House of Blood, he had thought it had always been a myth, a sort of legend to entertain. But Theolian was considering it to be real?
'The House of Blood, it consists of a document and a clan... The document I don't know much about, but Alucardial, the King of the Vampires, who I fought back then, was a member of the House of Blood. Though not full blooded. He wasn't that strong, though.'
Violet was silent, watching both her employer and her peer both glare at each other like they wanted to kill the other.
"Theolian. Whenever you caused a problem, whenever you caused a ruckus or damage to anyone, I never reprimanded you, but this? This was too far."
"You think I give a flying-"
The veins constricted, preventing Theolian from completing his sentence, but they also served to anger him even more as his eyes glowed a bright red. Like he was going to burst into flames.
"Alright, that's enough for today, both of you."
A voice, one that Luciferis recognized far too fondly. Varren's voice. But how was he here?
"I heard about how you both were sparring, but you guys are having an actual fight?"
'A Vitin avatar, a super expensive and hard skill to use... And yet he uses it so casually.' Violet looked at Varren's avatar; it resembled him somewhat, the same fluffy hair and thin eyebrows, down to the subtle droop in his eyes.
Hell, even the baby face he had was the same. And he was wearing a fancy green suit, like he was in a meeting, while Theolian and Rosette were duking it out.
"Varren-"
"Theolian, please? Not here. You're embarrassing the Academy in front of the rising ice cube- I mean... The rising star of the Aurelion Empire, right, Leonidas?"
Luciferis held back a smirk. Varren was still the same, cocky, fun, and best of all, amazing at reading the room.
"Uh... It's fine, Grand Headmaster. I was just waiting for the fight to end so I could leave. I'll discuss the Guild matter with the Headmaster later."
"Oh? Great. You're in. I would love a once-in-a-millennium talent like you to be under Rosette's... Somewhat responsible hands. Come back to this office tomorrow." Varren replied, pulling out an envelope from inside his pocket and throwing it at Luciferis, breaking Violet's Vitin Shield in front of him.
'He broke it so easily... It could've withstood Sir Theolian's flames. But he broke it with a piece of paper...'
Violet rubbed her eyes in shock, like she wasn't believing what was going on in front of her. Three of the most powerful people in the Academy's hierarchy were in front of her.
"Now, scram, Leonidas." Varren adjusted his black fedora, watching as Luciferis happily took the envelope and left. Leaving Rosette and Theolian both to be scolded by Varren.
"God... You both will bring the Academy down to it's knees."