After the Principal ran off, Aether disguised himself as Victor once again and walked through the Academy corridors, his sharp eyes observing the bustling activity. The students were deeply engrossed in their written exams, heads bent over their papers.
He knew Selene and the others had already completed their exams and left for the two-month vacation. While he didn’t entirely agree with the idea of taking time off—especially with
The Beginning
looming only six months away—he decided to let it slide.
Since everyone deserved rest!
Anyway, the reason he came here was that he was looking for someone….
After his recent growth spurt and the changes to his aura, his appearance had shifted significantly. He no longer looked exactly like the Aether of old. Even without the disguise, his face had grown more refined, more mature—a stark departure from the Servant he once was.
‘Heh, ruler of an empire and yet… still a servant to a child. My life is truly ironic,’ Victor mused wryly, shaking his head at the thought.
Kai and Selene had returned home along with… his clone. While the clone was more than sufficient to handle mundane tasks, there were certain matters that only the real Aether could deal.
For those, he needed a flawless illusion…. one so convincing it could even deceive him.
An illusion like the one that once brought him to his knees. The Head of Aurelia, a masterpiece of deception that had manipulated Aether to the point of losing control and killing Jack Sparrow.
And the creator of that illusion?
Ashara Nightfire! Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
Ashara wasn’t exactly the most bright of students. As Victor made his way to the library, he found her slumped over a desk, her face buried in an open book. Drool pooled on the pages, creating a rather unbecoming sight.
Victor sighed, shaking his head, ‘How did someone this lazy manage to rank third in the admissions?’
He approached her quietly, taking a seat beside her. For a moment, he simply watched her peaceful, if somewhat undignified, slumber.
‘A half-succubus, huh?’ he recalled Nightfire’s words about herself, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Unable to resist teasing her, Victor reached out and pinched her nose gently. He watched her serene expression morph into discomfort as her breathing became laboured.
“Mmm… arrmmm…” she groaned, her mouth opening instinctively to gulp for air.
Victor leaned in close, his voice a low whisper in her pointed ear, “Wake up, or I might just stuff your mouth with something~”
“W-WHAT?!” she shrieked, her eyes snapping open in alarm.
SSHHH!
The librarian hissed at her, glaring pointedly.
“Sorry!” Ashara squeaked, bowing her head in embarrassment. She quickly sat up straight, her face flushed as she shot Victor a glare. “W-What the hell are you doing here?!”
Victor shrugged nonchalantly. “I should be the one asking you, Ashara. What’s a third-ranker like you doing, still struggling with your exam prep?”
Ashara’s initial indignation melted away at the seriousness in his tone. Still, she couldn’t help but glance at him warily, her mind lingering on his earlier threat, ‘What he gonna stuff in my mouth?’ she wondered…. but She sighed and muttered, “It’s not like that, Victor… or, uh, E-Emper—”
“There’s no need for titles between us,” Victor interrupted smoothly, flashing her a wink.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly at his casual tone, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Fine, Victor,” she said softly. “But it’s not what you think. I’m just… a slow learner, that’s all. I need more time to process things.”
Victor’s brow lifted in surprise before he nodded thoughtfully. “I see. Well, that explains a lot.”
Ashara stared at him, her expression incredulous. “D-Do you trust me? Just like that?”
Victor frowned, puzzled by her reaction, “Why wouldn’t I? You’re my friend. Of course, I trust you.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.
[+300AP]
Victor’s sharp gaze swept the library, noting a few students whispering and casting curious glances their way. ‘What’s going on here?’ he wondered, sensing their quiet scrutiny.
Ashara, seemingly oblivious, broke the silence. “Don’t you have an exam to write?” she asked while flipping through her book, her tone casual.
“Of course I do,” Victor replied, just as casually.
“Hmm?” Ashara frowned at his nonchalance. “Then why aren’t you studying?”
“Because I’ve already studied everything,” he said with a smirk. “Unlike someone who’s been slacking off.”
Her cheeks burned, and she punched his shoulder lightly. “I wasn’t slacking off, you jerk!”
Victor chuckled softly as his eyes scanned Ashara’s notes, noticing several markings and errors. He pointed to one of her corrections and said, “This one isn’t wrong, but you’ve missed a few key details. Here’s what you should do…” He leaned closer, explaining her mistakes while demonstrating the right approach with a clear and straightforward tone.
Ashara blinked, stunned as she followed his instructions. For the first time, the concepts clicked effortlessly in her mind. She stared at the book, then back at him, astonished, ‘What in the…?’
She was a self-proclaimed slow learner, often struggling to keep up with the professors’ lessons.
But Victor?
His explanations were so simple, so tailored, that it felt as though he knew exactly how to teach someone like her.
“V-Victor…” she stammered, her voice filled with genuine awe. “You’re really good at this… Have you ever thought about becoming a teacher for people like me?”
Victor smirked, a smug expression spreading across his face as he leaned back and ran a hand through his hair. “What can I say? I’m good at everything,” he said with arrogance, his confidence radiating effortlessly.
Several girls nearby, who had been subtly watching him, giggled and exchanged starry-eyed glances.
[+1 AP]
[+10 AP]
[+1000]
[+1000]
[+1 AP]
[+1000]
[+1000]
….
…
Victor noticed their reactions and smirked inwardly, the corners of his lips twitching in amusement. ‘Haha… Being handsome does come with its perks, doesn’t it?’ he mused, the thought filling him with a mixture of humour and exasperation.
But his internal sigh came with a tinge of wistfulness. If only his actual targets were this easy to handle.
‘Sigh…’
He shook off the thought and turned his attention back to Ashara, who was now staring at him with wide, sparkling eyes, completely oblivious to her surroundings.
“What?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at her intense gaze.
Ashara suddenly leaned closer, her enthusiasm spilling over, “Can you teach me more, Victor? Pretty please~?” she said, her tone playful but with an undertone of genuine pleading.
Victor smirked inwardly….. This was exactly what he’d anticipated, but he couldn’t make it too easy for her.
“Well, I’m pretty busy right n—”
“Please, Victor! I’ll buy you chocolate! Pretty please!!!” Ashara all but shouted, clasping her hands together in a dramatic plea.
Victor glanced at her with deliberation before leaning dangerously close. Their faces were mere inches apart as his voice dropped to a smooth, velvety tone. “I don’t need chocolate…”
Ashara froze, her breath hitching as her heart thudded wildly. “W-What do you want then?” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Victor’s smirk widened as he added teasingly, “Why don’t we discuss it… in your room?” as he licked his lips.
Anyone seeing this would surely think ‘That’ so she did…. Her face turned beet red. “N-No! I-I’m not going to slee—”
Before her panicked words could spiral further, Victor cut her off as he held up a bag brimming with snacks, ” I brought plenty of snacks as a souvenir. We can eat while I teach you. I figured it’d be more comfortable at your place.”
He tilted his head innocently. “hmm… What were you saying just now?”
[+400 AP]
Ashara’s face turned an even deeper shade of crimson, and she sputtered, “N-N-No! I-I didn’t mean anything! Y-Yeah… W-We can eat together!” Her voice wavered so much it sounded as if she’d swallowed a live wire.
Victor fought to suppress his laughter, his shoulders shaking ever so slightly. Outwardly, he maintained a composed expression, simply nodding as he stood. “Good. Shall we then?”
Ashara nodded fervently, grabbing her things as they prepared to leave, but then she remembered something her face turned instant red and just about to say something when, Victor’s gaze fell on someone moving hurriedly down the corridor.
It was Helena.
Victor’s playful demeanour vanished, his brows knitting together in a frown, ‘What’s she doing here?’ he thought.
Helena already told him telepathically, just like the others, that she’d gone back to the temple in her empire. And yet, here she was, rushing through the Academy halls with a harried expression.
Patting Ashara’s shoulder lightly, Victor said, “Wait for me in front of your dorm. I’ll be right back.”
“W-Wait! W-Why don’t we go somewhere else…..” Her words trailed off as Victor left her without hearing her, Ashara bite her nails with red face, ‘W-What should I do now?’ she screamed inwardly suddenly,
“Just let him see what you are…..”
A voice echoed in her mind.
Meanwhile Victor quietly trailing Helena.
Her hurried steps suggested she was avoiding someone—or perhaps running from something. Victor’s frown deepened as he slipped through the shadows.
Helena’s behaviour was uncharacteristic, almost frantic. She glanced over her shoulder frequently, as though fearing pursuit.
Victor’s curiosity grew sharper.
And then, suddenly, she stopped.
Victor ducked behind a corner, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for anything. But what he saw next made his jaw slacken slightly in disbelief.
A soft, high-pitched sound echoed in the air.
“Meeeooowwwwww!”
‘What in the…?’