35: A Vampire In The Academy (2)

After getting his demons under control, Steve stood up from his bed. He was now an utter contrast to the bloodthirsty boy who had staggered into the room just a few minutes ago.

"I really should be grateful that I am a pureblood and can control my bloodthirst for a few days. And I was blessed with a shadow variant that helps protect me from the sun... Even though those demons gave me an artifact that saves me from the burning effect of the sun, I still feel like my shadow plays a greater role in helping me stay under the sun for more than three hours. Although my vampire abilities are halved under the sun, even with the Sun-Protecting Bracelet and my Invisible Shadow Cape. But it's fine, I'm not going to use my vampire abilities anytime soon.

"Anyway, it's time to hunt for some fresh blood. I can't wait until night because there is a risk of me transforming into my berserk form if I'm not careful... I would only spare two people if I were to encounter them — Coy and Evelyn."

It made sense that he didn't want to involve Coy in all of this. Coy was his roommate and somewhat of a friend. He was kind and had helped him adapt to life in the human world of Zitherland.

While Evelyn was an entirely different case. He had vowed not to taste her blood after the incident at the library. Not to mention, her blood didn't smell like something he could drink the first time he almost sank his fangs into her neck. What's more, she has become one of his closest acquaintances, and he was even willing to teach her archery.

"It's not like I have a thing for Evelyn. Just that whenever I'm with her, I feel comfortable, and she reminds me of my sister, Geraldine. So, for that reason, I will spare her."

After getting out of bed, he tapped on the gleaming bracelet adorning his left wrist, and the empty bottle he had just drunk from was instantly sucked into the bracelet. The bracelet was a spatial artifact!

Leaving the room, he headed towards the library of the academy. It was pretty obvious that he wasn't going to attend the auxiliary classes that come after the two main morning classes.

[Shadow Step]

His shadow moved downward, wrapping and shrouding itself around his legs before he zoomed off with a speed that defied comprehension, leaving behind traces of blurry, distorted air.

***

Stealthily, Steve creaked open the door of the library before stepping inside.

There were still traces of lingering shadow around his legs, indicating the use of Shadow Step. A skill that enables him to cover long distances in the shortest time without leaving a footprint. When utilizing this skill, any sounds that would have been produced by his footsteps are nullified by the shadow enveloping his feet. It was one of Steve's most frequently utilized shadow skills and abilities.

Back to the scene. As expected, there were next to no students in the library at this time, perhaps because it coincided with the schedule for alchemy and blacksmithing classes. The first-year students are currently in those classes.

Steve walked into the library and headed straight for his usual spot. It was the exact spot where he had met Evelyn on her first day at the academy. When he arrived, he sat down and placed his head on the table to rest. Probably thinking about his next course of action.

Just as his head touched the polished surface of the table, his ears perked up as if they had caught a sound. Steve heightened his senses instantly. After confirming what he had heard earlier, he turned around in the direction from which the sound had come.

And lo! Passion was in the air in a corner concealed by bookshelves. His gaze met two students - a boy and a girl - cuddling each other and passionately engaged in a heated kiss. Oh my!

Steve shifted his gaze upon seeing them, his face flushed with embarrassment, but there were some hints of mischief written all over it. These types of scenes are the last thing you would want a vampire to witness, as it awakens a lustful demon within them. However, Steve wasn't your regular vampire, he had undergone training that helped him resist such temptations.

'What a nice duo to feast on and refill my blood flask!'

'This is why I always choose the library. Let's teach these two some sense of morality and remind them not to distract me in the library, which is meant to be tranquil.'

An evil smirk played on his face as he tapped his bracelet once more. He retrieved a stout, translucent vial from it, containing a black powder.

'It is better to play it safe here. I can't activate my mind control now, especially since I don't know their ranks. If they rank higher than me, then the probability of mind control working will be minimal.'

[Shadow Step]

Steve activated his Shadow Step once again before moving closer to where those two were. The reason he chose this skill was that he would be able to walk around the duo without them noticing him. When he got close to the bookshelf just in front of them, he hid himself there. Steve blew the powder towards the two students, who were still savoring their kiss.

Both of them instantly fell asleep, their bodies slumping as they teetered on the edge of their seats. Steve swiftly moved his legs, and in the blink of an eye, he was already behind them, firmly grasping their two heads.

He also sent out his shadow clone to keep watch for him near the library door.

Then, using his index fingernail, which now resembles a claw, he made a slight cut on their hands, one after the other. Blood dripped from their hands into the blood flask he was holding.

After a minute or two, the flask was filled. He quickly gulped down the contents before returning the flask to gather more blood.

After five minutes, Steve is seen leaving the library once his shadow clone has merged with him. Before stepping out, however, he glanced at the two students who were now lying on the table. Then, he hid the flask inside the pocket of his uniform. Since it now contains blood, he can no longer store it in his spatial bracelet.

He left the library, grinning, as he headed back towards his dorm room. But as he was walking, his eyes caught sight of a girl heading towards the woods. Another opportunity has presented itself once again. He smiled and followed her after activating his Shadow Step.

—— — ——

Evelyn walked out of the alchemy class, clutching a small vial filled with a greenish liquid. The greenish liquid was actually a potion she had brewed at the Alchemy Laboratory after their first practical alchemical class today. Evelyn made her way to her dorm room. There were no more classes for her to take today.

Twenty minutes later. Evelyn was sitting cross-legged on her bed inside her room.

"Let me see how effective this potion and Mr. Leo's method will be. Perhaps I will finally have a breakthrough."

Eagerly, she opened the vial and drank the potion within. She closed her eyes, feeling a comforting sensation envelop her entire being. It must be the potion taking effect. Not wanting the effect of the potion to wear off, she began to practice her newly acquired mana control.

For a brief moment, she felt the surge of mana within her and the refined spiritual energy circulating, slowly erupting through her bottleneck. But this pivotal moment made her endure a pain she had never felt before.

All the muscles in her body seemed to have shifted and taken another position, leaving her in the jaws of excruciating pain.

Finally, she broke through as the spiritual energy within her surged even more violently, and her mana core seemed to enlarge. She got out of bed and stood, examining her body.

"So, this is really how painful breaking into another level can be. It is nothing like moving from a 2-star to a 3-star rating. I can't believe I made this potion myself, and this new mana control works too."

She smiled, satisfied with the result.

"Now that I am at the intermediate level, I may be able to execute more elemental skills that were previously beyond my ability."

[Inferno Shield]

Summoning her flames, she decided to try the skill that had been taught during the pyrokinesis class earlier. She was unable to conjure a barrier of flames before, but now it was right before her eyes. A thick wall of golden-red flames surrounded her.

'I need to think things through now. I will practice the other skills in the training grounds.' Evelyn extinguished her flames and went to sit back on her bed.

"I need to connect some dots regarding the most confusing things I have encountered recently. First, about what Troy told me... Second, about that mysterious voice…"