Quota

“So, after dragging us this far, where exactly are you taking my lady?” Ceris’s voice cut through the quiet corridor, her grip tightening on Selina’s hand, her deep green eyes warily fixed on the black-clad figure ahead.

Helos stopped abruptly, turning to face the trio—Selina, Ceris, and Eir—her silence heavy.

“Indeed, miss, I’m grateful you helped me escape the mixer, but I know nothing of this so-called invitation. Who sent you?” Selina’s voice was cool, her dark gem-like eyes gleaming with clarity even in the dim light.

“Don’t you two truly not know me?” Helos asked, brushing a strand of hair from her ear.

The corridor, emptied by the student council’s mixer, amplified the eerie quiet. Her blood-red eyes stood out starkly, her low voice stirring unease.

“You’re the one who’s been stalking my lady!” Ceris snapped, pulling Selina behind her.

A faint green magical glow pulsed over her skin, like surging seawater. “Miss, stay back—this vampire’s dangerous!”

Elves naturally recoiled from the blood-scent of death or injury, a trait that fueled their discord with vampires.

Elves loathed the metallic tang of vampire bloodlust, while vampires craved the sweet purity of elven blood. “No need for such hostility,” Helos said calmly. “I admit I tracked you before, but I bear no ill intent and have never attacked you.”

“Who’s to say?” Ceris retorted, eyes narrowing. “Vampires are cunning and ruthless for blood. Not acting before doesn’t mean you won’t now.” As Selina’s first line of defense outside elven protection, Ceris stood resolute, her vow to the Elven Queen and ancestral gods binding her as Selina’s shield and sword.

“This is Tianqi Academy,” Helos countered. “Every corner, every moment is under that person’s watch.

If I meant harm, I wouldn’t wait until now.” Seeing Ceris’s unrelenting guard, she sighed. “I’m here with sincere intent to invite your lady. As for who sent me, I can tell you to ease your doubts.”

Ceris opened her mouth to argue, but Selina gently tugged her hand, shaking her head.

Stepping forward, Selina met Helos’s gaze evenly. “You’re right. Tianqi’s every move is monitored by the Four Knights. I’ll trust your words for now. Tell me—who is your lady?”

Tianqi Academy’s might stemmed not just from its demigod-tier principals but from its elite ranks, including the Four Knights—Death, War, Famine, and Plague.

Unlike the approachable Principal Melianne, these knights embodied the academy’s raw power, answering only to the principal, not the board. They were Tianqi’s true guardians.

Helos studied Selina briefly, then nodded. “My lady is Avia Aemiya, princess of the Blood Empire. This invitation is her will.”

The name Avia meant little, but the surname Aemiya sent a jolt through Selina, her dark pupils contracting. Ceris’s vigilance spiked—she recalled being bitten by an Aemiya ancestor in the Themis Secret Realm.

For vampires, taking their god’s name as a surname was a mark of honor.

“Be cautious, Your Highness,” Ceris whispered. “A Blood Empire royal’s invitation is no trifling matter.” As a maid, she couldn’t decide for Selina but could advise.

Selina took a deep breath, weighing her options. “I accept.”

Though the invitation reeked of trouble, Helos’s persistent tracking suggested Avia wanted something from her.

Fleeing was an option—Ceris, a high-tier elven mage, was a formidable protector—but avoidance wouldn’t solve the problem.

Tianqi’s Four Knights ensured safety within the academy, but outside? If a volatile vampire princess grew desperate, who knew what she’d do?

Better to face the issue head-on. Selina wasn’t defenseless—her skills and the two divine artifacts around her neck, tied to godly backing, gave her confidence.

“Thank you for understanding,” Helos said. “Follow me.”

The trio walked in tense silence through the quiet corridor, entering an unfamiliar building and a dimly lit hall.

Ceris paused at a closed door, bowing. “My lady awaits inside, Miss Selina.”

The door opened to a brighter hall, revealing a long table draped in white silk, adorned with dishes and flanked by dozens of white candles.

At the table’s head sat a silver-haired, red-eyed girl radiating noble grace—Avia Aemiya.

Her porcelain face broke into a textbook lady’s smile as she saw Selina, a smile eerily familiar to Selina’s own practiced poise.

No surprise from a Blood Empire princess, she thought, returning a gentle smile tinged with elven warmth.

Their mirrored elegance seemed to draw the room’s light to them. Avia, expecting to overwhelm a fallen noble’s daughter with her royal aura, was surprised when Selina matched her poise effortlessly.

She thought I’d crumble under her presence? Selina smirked inwardly.

I’m a princess too. She bought my disguise as a disgraced noble, but I’m not falling for her act.

“You must be Miss Selina,” Avia said, rising gracefully, curtsying with flawless precision, her gothic dress a stark contrast to Selina’s school uniform. “I’m Avia Aemiya, the one who invited you. Thank you for coming.”

“The honor’s mine,” Selina replied, nearly mirroring Avia’s curtsy but stopping short—her short uniform skirt risked exposure. She opted for a simple noble bow, inwardly cursing the tedious aristocratic etiquette.

As an elven princess, she’d endured learning these rituals, now second nature despite her distaste.

They sat, Ceris and Helos standing guard at the door. Avia studied Selina, probing for clues in her demeanor, sensing her identity might not be as simple as her intel suggested. Selina, unfazed, felt a flicker of pride at holding her own.

Avia’s beauty was striking—her pale skin carried a sickly allure, her features delicate yet predatory, a vampire’s refined, almost unnatural charm.

Elves radiated natural warmth; vampires exuded a fragile, dangerous elegance. “What brings you to invite me, Your Highness?” Selina asked, seizing the initiative to glean more from Avia’s words.

“Miss Selina, no need for distance,” Avia said, her voice soft and inviting. “At Tianqi, all identities fade—we’re equals. Call me Senior Avia.”

The familiar tactic to build rapport reminded Selina of Lydia’s similar request. “An honor, then. I’ll call you Senior Avia,” Selina said sweetly, playing along.

“I invited you because I saw your impressive combat through the training ground’s magical projection,” Avia continued. “If my information’s correct, you ranked second in the freshman exam, yes?”

“Just luck,” Selina demurred. “I stumbled on opportunities in the Secret Realm, barely edging out third place. My score’s far below the top.”

“Rankings aren’t everything,” Avia said. “I see your potential. The freshman rewards include a semester-long mentorship from a senior. As second place, you qualify. From the moment I saw you, I felt we’d get along. This invitation is to meet you and foster familiarity.”

“You want me to choose you as my mentor?” Selina asked, catching on.

“Exactly,” Avia said. “It’s more than it seems. The mentorship is a chance to align with a faction.

Tianqi’s not just a school—it’s a web of groups, human and otherwise, vying for resources.

The student council, alchemy guild, magic society, martial guard—each has influence.

As a Blood Empire princess, I represent the vampire faction. I admire you, Selina, and invite you to join us.”

Avia extended her hand, smiling, her plan’s first step laid bare, awaiting Selina’s response.