12: Negotiation

Having to wake up early, I twisted and stretched without much desire to get up.

Reluctantly getting out of bed, I dressed in a black shirt and black pants with red stripes on the sides and left my room.

As I headed to the dining room, I remembered that I had to go to Mr. Ethan's office to finish negotiating about the private combat instructor.

While leaving the hallway that led to the cafeteria, I was very surprised to encounter someone I had forgotten existed, or at least hadn't remembered to talk to or even think about.

There, entering the hallway that leads to the cafeteria, was Isac, the boy from the outskirts with whom I arrived at the academy. It's really strange that I hadn't remembered him, so I'll go greet him.

"Hi Isac, it's been a while, huh? How was your first day here? I was really busy in combat class."

Isac looked up and stared directly into my eyes for a few seconds.

"Yes, it has been a while. And my day, well, it could have been better. And yes, I also heard about your fight with that guy Ludwin. I can't believe you beat someone who defeated two legacies and scored 25 strength points."

I didn't expect him to talk so much, but I'm glad to see him excited about something. However, what surprised me the most was that his soul core was slightly different from the last time we saw each other.

His core today seemed a bit, how to put it... unfathomable? I couldn't quite make it out. It was as if it escaped my sight. Anyway, I won't give it too much importance. Everyone's appearance is different, and their cores might vary depending on their appearance.

"Oh, that, yes, it was unexpected for me too. But well, I still have to meet with Mr.—instructor Ethan, and I won't be able to eat in the cafeteria today. See you another time, goodbye Isac."

"Sure, good luck with that. See you later."

...

Here I was, in Mr. Ethan's office, but I wasn't alone. Apparently, he came with another ascended, as the cores of sleepers are a bright white and those of an awakened are a pale silver with a shine, but the cores of the ascended are pure silver.

I entered the office and found myself under the gaze of Mr. Ethan and a beautiful lady dressed in a black formal suit, with soft red hair cascading from her head and beautiful yellow eyes adorning her splendid face.

Shaking off my amazement, I bowed and greeted the lady and Mr. Ethan.

"Greetings and good morning, Mr. Ethan. Good morning to you too, beautiful lady."

"Good morning, sleeper Jonathan. Please take a seat. This is Miss Bibian. If she convinces us with her proposal, she will be your personal instructor and will teach you everything she can to keep you alive in the realm of dreams."

"Hello Jony, I'm Bibian. Nice to meet you. Now, we can hear your proposals."

Straight to the point, I like that. Not that I like it in a romantic sense, but I like it in a pleasing way, not—ugh, why am I even clarifying this to myself, I seem like an idiot.

Clearing any stupid thoughts from my head, I began to speak.

"Well, I'll get straight to the point. I'm from the outskirts and I don't think I can survive on my own in the realm of dreams without training made especially for me. So I decided to reveal things about myself and agree to cooperate with the government in the future to receive special treatment for the rest of the month."

They seem to want to keep listening, so I continued speaking.

"I can promise to cooperate with the government whenever possible as long as it doesn't directly affect me or my loved ones. I will also tell you that this can be a good investment for you since I am someone with a true name after his first nightmare and..."

Ha, this will become annoying in the future, but I'll leave it to my future self.

"I have a higher-ranked aspect that allows me to control a person or any being with a soul core."

The instructor slightly opened his eyes, and Miss Bibian didn't seem to react to my words, so I continued.

"I can also control anyone I want and use them as if they were an echo. My innate ability also allows me to sense what will happen in the future if it is potentially dangerous for me."

Mr. Ethan leaned back, and Miss Bibian slightly arched an eyebrow, then asked after letting me speak for so long.

"Alright, let's say that's enough to get everything you asked for in exchange for cooperating with the government in the future. But I want you to prove that it's true, that you can control anyone as long as they have a soul core."

"That's easy. You can ask Mr. Ethan about my fight against Ludwin and you'll see that when he fought with me, he started behaving strangely. That was because I was taking control of his soul, and I stopped doing it just before making it mine."

Ethan looked at me and nodded at my words, confirming that I was telling the truth. Then Miss Bibian spoke again.

"Then tell me, why haven't you controlled either of us, who are ascended and you could get a good soul for yourself, or are you afraid of what might happen? Can you even control us? Can you prove it?"

I was expecting something like this, so...

"Well, yes, I can. In fact, to prove it, I've been controlling Ethan's soul since I entered this room. But I didn't expect the soul of an ascended to be so vast. My control will take at least another two minutes to fully form."

Both of them looked at me, and Ethan seemed offended by such audacity, but Bibian spoke before he could say anything in return.

"Alright, we grant you the right to a private instructor. We will also provide cores, but in return, you must cooperate with the government whenever they call you. You can refuse, but there will be consequences. Also, you are forbidden to join any clan."

Bibian was still glancing sideways at Ethan, who was supposedly being controlled by me.

"Alright, I can accept those conditions. So, when do we start the classes, Miss Bibian?"

She looked at me for a second and said,

"I will teach you from 1 PM to 6 PM every day except Sunday. You will rest to recover your body and mind, and we will start again. I will also need you to inform me about your abilities to adjust the study plan and help you master the sword and your skills. See you at 1 in room 7 in the third building."

I nodded and was allowed to leave. After that, I went to Professor Julius's class and learned more about some nightmare creatures, and finally, it was time to eat. Now I would go to the cafeteria and devour several dishes.

While looking for a seat with two plates of food in my hands, I saw a beautiful girl with pink hair sitting in a quiet, secluded corner. And as a teenager who likes pretty girls, I headed and sat in that spot.

When I sat down, she turned to look at me and I finally saw her face.

She had bangs covering part of her forehead and one of her eyes. The other was green like the brightest emerald in the world. Her soft facial features were so beautiful they could compete with the protagonist Nephis.

Then she just turned away again and continued eating as if nothing had happened. I decided not to bother her and also began to eat.

When I finished eating and was picking up my plates to take them where they should go, I noticed that the girl was also finishing and heading where I was, so we basically walked a few steps away from each other and then separated, but not before seeing that she gave me one last look and left through the door opposite mine.

'Strangest, but pretty girl.'

After spending time eating and thinking about nonsense, it was time for training, so I headed to building 3, room 7.

When I entered, my eyes widened in surprise at what awaited me, or should I say, who awaited me.