–Chapter 84–

Dean made his way toward Thomas’s office, still recalling Olsen’s words.

Apparently Marcus had been looking for him since yesterday. According to Olsen, the wolf boy genuinely thought Dean had disappeared after entering the Flux zone.

’The idiot actually lives under a rock. Or was that Rogue?’ Dean shook his head.

Olsen himself had eventually left for the workshop. He kept rambling about preparing some "special gift" while also taking Dean’s challenge to find a betting hall willing to honour Liam’s rigged odds.

By the time Dean arrived outside Thomas’s office, most of the morning traffic across the academy had already settled down.

He knocked once before stepping inside.

Thomas looked up from behind his desk. Unlike before, his expression no longer carried the sharp hostility Dean remembered from the Marcus incident.

"Dean," he greeted calmly. "Take a seat."

That alone almost made Dean suspicious. It was like the first time they met all over again.

Still, he complied quietly and sat across from the man.

"I heard Mr Richard cancelled history lectures for today," Dean said.

Thomas nodded once while arranging several files on his desk.

"He did. The academy is still reorganising after yesterday’s events."

Dean could only imagine why..

Thomas leaned back slightly. "So..?’

"I wanted to discuss your Flux Exploration mentorship," Dean leaned forward.

Thomas adjusted his new pair of glasses calmly.

"You’ve already done the impossible and passed her practical exams."

He reached for something in the drawer of his desk. "This is the easy part."

A piece of paper slid across the desk towards Dean’s side.

"Normally, I’m to choose for you. However, considering your recent... circumstances, I was told to allow you make the final decision yourself."

Dean stared at him for a moment.

That was new! Privileges already... ’Sweet.’

Only just last week, he was about to be kicked out and now, he felt like the Top boy of the academy.

Dean lowered his gaze toward the list. Most of the names meant absolutely nothing to him.

He couldn’t recognize them or actually tried to.

Then he paused. When he saw her name. Ymir Argent.

That actually made a lot of sense. She was already his archery instructor, and unlike most students, she practically lived inside Flux Zones already.

Being a werewolf only made her even more suited for it.

Dean looked back up with a small smile on his lips.

"I’ll go with Ymir Argent."

Thomas nodded immediately, almost like he expected that answer.

"A reasonable choice. I’ll handle the official arrangement later today."

Dean gave a small nod.

"I’ve already met her before anyway."

"Yes, I’m aware," Thomas replied calmly.

Dean’s eyes narrowed. This people were actually tracking all of the students somehow.

The room became quiet for a moment before Thomas folded his hands together.

"My offer still stands, Dean."

Dean shifted back. This better not be what he was thinking about.."What offer?"

"Private counselling," Thomas clarified. "After what you experienced inside that zone, it would not be unusual to require support."

Dean stared at him silently for a few seconds. Therapy!

That word almost made him laugh and also gave him the creeps.

The version of himself from Earth probably needed enough therapy to bankrupt entire countries.

Still, hearing Thomas offer it sincerely felt strange.

Dean slowly leaned back into his chair.

"Tell me where Saint Leona is," he replied calmly, "and I’ll consider it."

Thomas stared at him over his glasses for a brief second. Then he sighed and took off the glasses.

"She’s at the eastern training grounds."

Dean stood immediately he got an answer to his question.

"Thank you, Doctor."

Thomas nodded once.

"Try not to destroy academy property please."

"She’ll pay," Dean joked.

That earned the faintest twitch near Thomas’s mouth as Dean left the office.

***

The eastern training grounds were far less crowded than the central combat arenas. Dean was used to.

Most students avoided this section because instructors used it for advanced sparring and live demonstrations. Which was academy language for: someone important might accidentally vaporise you.

Dean arrived just in time to see Leona and a vampire instructor exchanging blows across the metallic arena.

The fight was absurdly efficient. It was like watching two pro fighters locked in a cage together.

But in this case, there was no taunting, posing or screaming. Just pure hands.

Their speed, precision and overwhelming pressure had in entranced.

The vampire instructor moved first, her body turning into a red blur as several star like projectiles formed around her.

And blitzed forward.

Leona sidestepped smoothly and raised one hand. A wall of flames exploded upward and swallowed the incoming attacks instantly.

The vampire woman clicked her tongue.

"You’re still annoyingly hard to hit. Stay put dragon."

Leona answered by appearing directly in front of her and driving a punch toward her ribs.

The vampire instructor barely blocked in time before getting launched backward across the training yard.

Dean watched quietly from the side.

Honestly, this was less of a spar and more of two monsters politely threatening each other.

A few seconds later, the vampire instructor landed lightly and brushed dust off her skirt.

"I’m done," she sighed dramatically. "You hit too hard for a lady."

Leona lowered her hand calmly.

"That sounds like a personal problem."

The vampire woman snorted before finally noticing Dean nearby. Her crimson eyes narrowed playfully.

"Well now," she mused. "There’s the famous little first-year."

Dean immediately felt danger. The alarms in his head blaring loud. That woman was dangerous and he wasn’t just talking about powers.

The vampire instructor seductively walked past Leona while eyeing Dean openly.

"You know," she said casually, "if she gets bored of you, I don’t mind taking you in."

Dean nearly choked on air while Leona looked completely unbothered.

"Try it," Leona replied flatly.

The vampire woman laughed loudly before waving lazily and left the training grounds.

Dean waited until she disappeared completely before speaking.

"...She’s strange."

Leona folded her arms.

"You’ll get used to it."

Dean doubted that very much.

Leona finally looked toward him properly.

"Why are you here?"

Dean nodded. "I came to fill the W.S.A report as you said"

"Ohh... bout that, Harlequin hasn’t arrived yet."

Dean stood and he was frying through millions of memory cells to recall who Harlequin was.

After a moment. He accepted his fate. His memory really was awful sometimes.

Leona noticed his expression.

"You forgot her name already?"

"...Maybe?"

A faint smile appeared on her face before disappearing again. "She was at the draft."

"Ooh.." Dean murmured.

After a moment, the training grounds became quiet. With both of them just standing there.

Dean turned to back Leona. He brought out the gift that Nessa gave him for good luck and kissed it.

Facing her again he rubbed the back of his neck slightly before speaking.

"There’s actually something else."

Leona raised a brow. "Go ahead."

Dean inhaled once. Then decided to stop overthinking it before his courage took a one way trip and never come back.

"Would you go out with me?"

Leona blinked once. Her expression betraying her totally.

For the first time since meeting her, she genuinely looked surprised.

Dean stood there calmly even while his survival instincts screamed at him internally. He held his ground.

The corner of Leona’s lips slowly curved upward.

"That," she said softly, "is a very frivolous request."

Dean shrugged lightly. "Is it?"

Leona stepped closer slowly until only a small distance remained between them.

"You are still a student," she reminded him calmly. "I’m a faculty member."

Dean nodded once and then smiled. "Technically, I passed your class already. Our student and Teacher relationship is over."

"The practical portion," she corrected immediately. "Your theory examination is still pending."

Dean clicked his tongue quietly. This fine details. Damn he hadn’t thought of that.

Leona studied him for another second before speaking again. "Pass the theory examination."

Dean relaxed and waited. It was now or never. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Score within the top ten percent of your year."

Dean blinked. "That’s the condition?"

"That’s the condition," she repeated.

She leaned slightly closer, her red eyes fixed directly on his.

"Prove you’re more than just a sword and bravery" she said calmly. "Then we can discuss everything else afterward."

Dean slowly smirked.

"I’ll take that bet."

Leona turned and began walking away. Her hips swaying sensually from left to right without a care in the world.

Going from left to right.

But before leaving the training grounds completely, she glanced back over her shoulder.

"Good luck, Gray."

Dean watched her leave before exhaling deeply.

"Piece of cake..."

--End of Chapter--

A/N: Done and Dusted...

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