Liam stepped closer to Teacher Simon as the last of the students trickled back from the backyard forest.
The test was done, but his mind was already on the next move.
He cleared his throat and said, "Teacher Simon.
I want the sa red jewel that was used in the test."
Simon tilted his head, one eyebrow raised like he’d heard sothing weird.
He stared at Liam for a second.
Clearly thrown off by the request right after everything that had just happened.
Liam’s thoughts spun fast. In his previous life.
The monster race had used that exact kind of jewel to track down the strongest human warriors and take them out.
But it had another side to it too, it could soak up mana and make whoever used it stronger.
He needed that edge, but right now his eyes drifted over to Beatrix standing a few feet away.
I didn’t give her the rope back then, he thought.
The least I can do is make her stronger with this jewel.
She deserved that much after all the crap she’d been through.
Simon let out a short laugh and shrugged. "I don’t know, kid, what you see in this thing, but here, take it."
He tossed the red jewel across the short distance. Liam caught it cleanly.
The stone felt warm in his palm, like it had a faint pulse running through it.
Simon turned away then.
Looking at the rest of the students who were still brushing leaves and dirt off their clothes as they ca out of the trees.
He raised his voice so it carried across the yard.
"Alright, test is over! I need to take you all back or they’ll put the responsibility on ."
The group fell in line behind him. Simon led them back through the academy grounds and into the classroom.
Once everyone had taken their seats, he clapped his hands once. "That’s it. Lecture’s ended for today."
A minute later the door opened and the second female teacher walked in.
Smiling politely as she took over. Liam let his shoulders drop, the tension easing out of him.
He really hated having Teacher Simon working here now.
The guy always left a bad feeling in the air.
Liam sat there, staring at the desk, his mind already moving ahead. Simon was an enemy, plain and simple.
He’d made Beatrix’s life hell for who knew how long.
Liam knew he had to find a way to help her get rid of him for good.
His gaze slid over to Beatrix again.
Those beautiful lips... they had sucked him off countless tis before.
Of course he’d want to help her.
But the question of how and when to give her the jewel and show her how to absorb it kept circling in the back of his head.
Beatrix caught him looking. She turned her head and asked, "What’s wrong?"
Liam shook his head quickly. "Nothing. But once class is over, let’s go together alone to the rooftops."
She nodded, and for a second her eyes lit up with excitent.
Inside her own head she was thinking, Does he want to apologize for giving Pyra the rope and not ?
She pressed a hand to her chest, steadying herself. Hold yourself, Beatrix.
You need to keep the sa act. Rember, don’t fold easily for him.
The rest of class dragged on, but finally the bell rang and everyone started packing up.
Liam and Beatrix slipped out together and headed up the stairs.
The hallway was quiet, just the sound of their footsteps and the faint noise of other students leaving below.
They pushed open the rooftop door and stepped outside.
The place was empty, no one else around, just the open sky and a light breeze.
Beatrix turned her back to him, letting the wind catch her violet hair so it drifted across her shoulders.
"What do you want?" she asked, voice calm but direct.
Right then Liam pulled the red jewel out of his pocket and held it up.
"Beatrix, I want to give this to you."
Her heart picked up speed the mont the words left his mouth.
Oh my god, did he fall for ? What should I tell him? But I still have the mission of killing my dad.
A mix of emotions flashed across her face, surprise, hope, sothing else he couldn’t quite read.
Liam watched her, confused. Did I say it wrong? he wondered.
He kept going before the silence stretched too long.
"This is a jewel full of mana. Absorbing it would help a half-succubus like yourself get stronger."
Beatrix shot him a quick glare. How dense is this guy?
Then she reached out, took the jewel from his hand, and turned it over in her fingers.
"Anyway, how can I absorb this?" she asked.
Liam warned her straight. "It has a special thod.
I need to be there to show you how it works."
She studied the jewel for a mont, then looked back at him.
"Anyway, I feel the monster race energy from it. How do you know this?"
Liam cursed inside. He needed an excuse, fast.
"I just read too many articles on the internet," he said, keeping his tone casual.
She nodded, accepting it. "Okay, we can go to my house after the day is over."
They started back down the stairs together, the echo of their steps filling the stairwell.
Halfway down they ran into Crya and Pyra hurrying up toward them, both looking a little out of breath.
"Where were you guys?" Crya asked, eyes wide.
"Another demon showed up in the classrooms, destroying things.
But Director Elena killed him easily. Now she wants to et you."
Liam’s heart hamred hard in his chest. Why does she want to et ?
Does it have sothing to do with being the chosen one?
The four of them turned and headed straight for Director Elena’s office.
They knocked once and stepped inside.
Elena was sitting behind her desk, her face serious, hands folded in front of her.
"I want to talk to you," she said to Liam, then added, "and the rest can enter too."
She leaned forward a little. "Since you’re the so-called chosen one by the demons.
And since you already answered Pyra and joined the team that specializes in searching for demons inside Ark Academy, I want your help."
Liam gave a wry smile. He had been through a lot lately, and only now was the full weight of his task coming back to him.
He glanced at Pyra and saw the sa guilty look on her face.
At least I’m not alone in this, he thought.
Liam nodded. "We would search for the demons.
And this ti with two more people, Beatrix and Crya."
Beatrix leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "Are you sure you want Crya to join?"
Liam shook his head slightly.
He rembered how she and her brother were orphans whose parents had been killed by demons.
She was the last person who would ever side with them.
Then Liam walked with the three girls out of Director Elena’s office.
Once they were in the hallway, he opened his system panel and got surprised by how much SP he had accumulated until now.
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A/N: Sorry for the late update 🥲
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