'Lord Hayatobi? I thought he said he would be heading out?' Elizabeth thought in mild confusion, her hand instinctively twitching toward the hilt of her hidden blade before she recognized the silver-haired figure descending from the moonlit sky.
"Master teacher, why are you here so late? Are you also here to admire the flowers?" Mirabella asked. Her voice was flat, devoid of the reverence usually afforded to the strongest man in the empire. She didn't stand up or adjust her posture; she simply sat there on the marble bench, petting Cupcake as if the Dragon Lord were a mere gardener.
Hayatobi's boots touched the stone path with a soft thud. He ignored the barb and moved his gaze toward the garden gate where Carl and Grace had just exited.
"I saw everything that happened... I didn't know you valued your subordinates," he said, his silver eyes turning back to Mirabella:
"With your way of thinking, I thought you didn't care about anyone but yourself and your own gain. Seeing you nurture those two... it's an interesting development."
Mirabella narrowed her eyes at him. She didn't offer a defense or a justification. In this world of predator and prey, her motives were her own.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The air grew stagnant, and the colors of the flowers bled into a dull gray.
"Tri-pupil Future Sight."
Hayatobi's pupils split, forming the terrifying trifecta of the Sage's Eye. It was the same skill he had used to freeze Mirabella in their first meeting, forcing her to experience a hyper-realistic illusion of her own gruesome death. It was a mental suppression that bypassed physical defense.
'What the—?!' Elizabeth frowned, her spirit energy flaring. If it were anyone else who dared use such a skill on her lady, she would have cut them down where they stood. But she knew Hayatobi; he wasn't hunting, he was testing.
Mirabella felt the familiar cold grip of paralysis seizing her mind, the darkness creeping in to show her a vision of her end. But she wasn't the same girl from a month ago.
"Heir of the Sun Family," Mirabella muttered under her breath.
CRACK.
The invisible chains on her body and mind shattered like glass. The gray world regained its vibrant color instantly.
"Huh?"
Hayatobi was visibly stunned. Mirabella had broken the skill without even moving a muscle, let alone possessing the Absolute Will skill that was the standard counter.
"Impressive," he nodded, a competitive glint entering his eyes. He didn't stop.
"Tri-pupil Future Sight!"
The world grayed out again. This time, Mirabella froze. She didn't look afraid; she simply raised an eyebrow, staring back at him with an expression of mild annoyance.
"Hmm... It seems the skill you have to counter this has a cooldown... Once you use it, you have to wait for it to recharge," Hayatobi observed, slowly nodding his head as he analyzed her.
"You must have upgraded the Sun Family title to gain that active resistance..." He looked into her steady blue eyes and finally undid the skill, letting the world return to normal.
"Collective, calm, and emotionless... I see you aren't the same kid I met months back."
"It's only been a month and some weeks," Mirabella finally uttered, her voice as cold as the night dew. "You are correct about my skills... But if I may ask, when do you plan to give me that power? I am sure my level will more than suffice."
"So impatient... Well, first you have to learn how to be respectful. Even if you become the strongest on the planet, you shouldn't let arrogance get to you," Hayatobi lectured, though there was a hint of admiration in his tone.
"Of course I know that. I am not stupid. I am someone who never underestimates their enemies, no matter how weak they seem," Mirabella said as she finally stood up. She stood tall.
"What do you say?"
"You will get that skill, but there are two conditions," Hayatobi said, his expression turning grave.
"Which are?" Mirabella asked with a slight tilt of her head.
"First, become my student. And second... Become a pillar of the Dragon Empire, meaning; graduate with our flag. One day, you might even reach levels you don't dare dream to reach."
Mirabella's brow furrowed. "First of all, why should I be your student?"
'I have the system with me, a 90% discount on the entire world's resources, and an Imperial Bloodline. I am already becoming invincible. Why tether myself to an old man and this empire?' she thought.
"Because with me, you have an unshakable status," Hayatobi countered, his voice growing passionate:
"As you know, I am a Master Teacher, and there is only one in each of the three empires. Becoming a student of such a person will take you further than raw power ever could. It makes life easier—diplomacy, access, immunity. Not only that, you will have the chance to see the Academy Vault in the future." He finished with a bright, predatory smile.
'Hahaha... all of these, no one can refuse them,' Hayatobi thought mischievously. 'The vault alone has items that can change the fate of lands.'
'It seems Lord Hayatobi is going all out,' Elizabeth thought, her eyes wide. 'Even I can't refuse this. Only the opportunity to see the vault would get anyone hooked.'
Mirabella blinked once. "Sorry, I don't need all this."
"AHHH?!!"
The two exclaimed in shock, the sound echoing through the quiet garden.
"What happened? Your vault is old, and nothing there interests me," she said.
'I have Sunder. I have the Divine Fairy cocoon. I don't need your dusty treasures... and a title like "Pillar" will only lead to more headaches and paperwork,' Mirabella thought.
"You actually refused all that?" Hayatobi's smile vanished. "If you can't accept these terms, you won't get the Absolute Will skill."
Mirabella paused.
'True... I need that skill. I have a feeling the Future Sight isn't the only ability that can bypass the system's protections. AGH! I really don't want to become anyone's student.'
Hayatobi watched the micro-expressions on her face, seeing the cracks in her resolve. 'I can still confuse her into this...'
"YES!" he suddenly yelled with theatrical intensity.
Mirabella, Cupcake, and Elizabeth all stared at him as if he had finally lost his mind.