Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 221 - 208: The Deal in the Shadows

After Mr. Dragon uttered such a sigh, he walked straight into the labyrinth, leaving Lyle to stand outside by himself next to the platform set up by Mr. Dragon.

About thirty minutes later, after Nia ate all the cheese in Lyle’s pockets with munching sounds, the Skeleton Labyrinth collapsed with a rumble, spilling out like a landslide across the plains. The other students and Mr. Dragon came out together. Their expressions were starkly different—Mr. Dragon’s face was filled with pleasure, while the others were still immersed in the humiliation of being less than human.

Lyle saw his friends.

"How did your test go?"

"We passed, everyone passed. But the feeling of being wronged is even worse than failing."

"Look on the bright side, at least it’s better than streaking."

"No, my experience was probably even worse," Shiny said with a suppressed look on his face, as if he had something embarrassing to say.

Magic Control and Transformation burst into laughter.

"After Mr. Dragon got there, he had Shiny imitate the behavior of a Fire Lizard, and to reenact the mating scene of Fire Lizards with another student. Oh, my bones, Shiny’s performance when he finally broke free at the last moment was truly laughable. Hahaha."

Listening to his companions’ teasing, Shiny muttered under his breath, "It only happened to me; the Dragon instructor must be taking revenge for the time I peeled the scales off live lizards. He’s really petty."

I think the student who was arbitrarily paired with you is even more pitiable.

"I thought Mr. Dragon entered the labyrinth to put an end to this farce, but he turned the farce into my nightmare."

"He was having a good laugh with the skeletons in the walls, it was really creepy."

Mr. Dragon stepped onto the wooden podium, looking at his students who had just recovered from the control of the skeletons.

"What an unforgettable experience, my students. You barely maintained your sense of self, and you have accomplished the most basic task of a White Bone Spirit Summoner. Now, you must learn the basics, using Skeleton Manipulation on other objects."

Mr. Dragon gestured with his hand, and from the paused sea of skeletons nearby, three skeletons were spat out. They looked at each other and walked up to the podium.

"These three are my avatars, also the ones who were toying with your bodies earlier. I think the grudge you hold against them might accelerate your learning, so they will be the targets for your magic. Use Skeleton Manipulation on them."

Like a spark igniting dry hay, the students’ enthusiasm for learning was lit in an instant.

Students eager to try sprang up like bamboo shoots after the rain.

One by one, they went up on the stage to use their abilities on the three calm skeletons, then returned disappointed.

Mr. Dragon’s three avatars stood immobile as boulders, and the cold soul flames in their eyes were the most blunt mockery every time the students’ magic failed to take effect.

Lyle shook his head, how could Mr. Dragon possibly be kind enough to give you a chance for revenge?

"The Skeleton Sea is my forbidden creation, my avatars, my tribe. Every individual in my tribe is myself."

"Don’t be discouraged. These avatars have the same strength as I, Six Locks, which is why they are unmoved by your magic. The reason I used them as targets is to personally gauge your abilities for easier evaluation. Overall, your strength is very..."

"Very disappointing," said Dragon Avatar One.

"Utterly disappointing," said Dragon Avatar Two.

"That’s it?" said Dragon Avatar Three.

"..."

After the class ended, all the students felt a bit dejected. Not one received a positive evaluation from the Dragon avatars, and even Lyle was no exception.

"Plague Doctor, you still need to work harder."

"You have to keep at it."

"Keep going."

Shiny was still complaining about Mr. Dragon’s shortcomings.

"Today’s lesson completely surpassed the syllabus. Having a Six Locks Spirit Summoner as a sparring partner is less effective than when we practiced curse sparring."

"Am I right, boss?"

Shiny turned his head towards Lyle, but Lyle always felt there was a hidden meaning in his words.

"Yes, I..."

"Skeleton Manipulation!" Seizing the moment Lyle spoke, Shiny whipped out his wand towards him.

Lyle took the spell without any reaction, unaltered. Compared to the tug he felt in the labyrinth, Shiny’s force was too weak. Mr. Dragon must have gone easy on him before with his Skeleton Manipulation, because this level of disparity wasn’t unattainable.

"Skeleton Manipulation!" With a delicate shout, Nia extended tentacles from behind Lyle. Shiny started tap-dancing in place; he had lost to Nia once again.

————————

In a corner dominated by mud and darkness, two figures in black robes were whispering to each other.

Under one black cloak were arms etched with purple demon tattoos, his voice hoarse, and steam escaped his mouth with every word.

"Brought the money?"

The other’s arms were more delicate, but the magic power flowing like water on his light grey robe indicated he wasn’t as frail as his skinny frame suggested. He pulled out a small cloth bag from his cloak, and the coins inside clinked as it moved.

"Brought it. Where’s my item?"

The larger figure looked around cautiously, then took out a small iron piece that appeared very petite in his massive dark hand.

The mage looked at the iron piece displayed and frowned.

"What I want to trade for is a Light Five District identification card, and you, Fas Trece, gave me a Light and Shadow Zone ID?"

The tall Demon Race member tore off the hood covering his head, revealing a broken horn with just a stump left, his eyes bulging like cowbells, staring intently at the shorter figure.

"Human, don’t push it too far. I’ve done enough to smuggle this proof for you - I am Demon Race! How the hell am I supposed to get you a Light Five District pass, you idiot human going to the Elf Zone!"

White frost began to form around the Demon Race member, the bone-chilling cold making him long to return to his hellish homeland.

The shorter figure stepped closer, his large sleeves extending a wand with an icy tip, pressing its ice blade against Fas Trece’s neck.

A tuft of blond hair peeked out from the black hood; the youth began to speak.

"Watch your tone, Mr. Fas Trece. You are my friend, and one of the few members of the Demon Race I can handle in a fight. Perhaps you didn’t consider the harm a mere human can do. Now, let me remind you of our deal. I’m trading a hundred Oliou for a temporary human resident ID for the Light Five District, and I’ve brought enough Gold Coins. So please honor the Devil’s spirit of contract and fulfill our agreement to the letter."

The usually imposing Demon Race figure cowered, his disguised hoarse voice becoming shrill, like a comical imp.

"Very, very sorry, esteemed sir. But we from the chaos side can’t possibly get an ID from the order side. I tried to honor the contract, but the most I could do was get you a Light and Shadow Zone ID. Sir, the Light and Shadow Zone is pretty good as it is. I paid a lot for it, maybe there you can communicate well with some folks on the order side and accomplish your goals."

The mage looked at the Light and Shadow Zone ID in his hand, better than nothing.

"Cromandy Wayne?"

"A name I made up, Cromandy is my uncle’s name," Fas Trece said with a sycophantic expression.

The mage was unimpressed, snatched the name card, and threw the money bag to the Demon Race member.

"This is not a hundred Oliou! This is not the same as the contract!"

The mage shrugged. "Do you think the Light and Shadow Zone is on par with the Light Five District? I doubt your work is even worth fifty Oliou."

"Goodbye, dear nephew." The mage disappeared onto the rooftops of the Dark Third District with the help of a gust of wind.