Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Whispers of the ObsidianCourt

The evening sun hung low over Aurelius Academy, painting the white towers in shades of gold and orange.

Students filled the pathways between buildings as the final classes of the day ended. The tense atmosphere caused by the lockdown had finally started to ease after the Principal’s announcement. Conversations echoed through the courtyards, and rumors spread faster than wildfire.

Most of those rumors centered around one thing.

The upcoming Grand Tournament.

Outside the Class A dormitory sector, Lina walked slowly along the stone path while holding Qhuin against her chest, beside her, Chloe and Mei chatted excitedly.

Neither girl seemed capable of staying quiet for more than a few seconds.

"Did you hear?" Chloe asked, hugging her Frost-Whiskered Otter tightly. "The tournament brackets are supposed to be announced in a few days!"

Her otter squeaked happily.

Mei nodded enthusiastically. "My cousin said second-years and third years will be watching this year!"

"That’s terrifying," Lina admitted honestly.

"It’ll be fine!" Chloe said immediately. "Besides, the Principal personally summoned you today."

She pointed dramatically at Lina. "That means you’re officially a genius now."

Lina nearly choked.

"A genius?"

"Obviously!"

Chloe nodded with complete confidence.

"You beat Marcus. You’re in Class A. The Principal inspected you personally. That’s basically the academy announcing you’re important."

Mei giggled.

"Just don’t let Marcus intimidate you before the tournament."

Lina’s expression became strange.

Marcus intimidate her?

The same Marcus who looked ready to faint whenever he saw her rabbit?, The memory almost made her laugh.

Instead, she simply forced a weak smile.

"I’ll try."

The girls continued chatting until they reached a crossroads in the corridor.

Chloe waved cheerfully.

"Rest well tonight!"

Mei nodded.

"And don’t forget tomorrow’s class!"

"We’ll see you in the morning!"

Lina waved back.

"Goodnight."

Soon the two girls disappeared around a corner, the moment they vanished from sight, the smile on Lina’s face crumbled.

The exhaustion she had been hiding all day returned immediately, as her shoulders slumped and her steps slowed.

By the time she reached her room, she felt completely drained.

Click.

The newly repaired door locked behind her, then silence filled the room.

Lina walked toward her bed and collapsed face-first onto the soft mattress, the pink duvet swallowed her whole.

For several moments, she didn’t move, then she buried her face into a pillow.

"What am I doing..."

The Principal’s words continued replaying inside her mind.

Perform well, or lose your Class A position, your rabbit will be confiscated and everything disappears.

Lina groaned into the pillow, her life had changed completely in less than a week.

A few days ago she had been worrying about tuition payments and academy rankings.

Now she was hiding impossible strength, mysterious powers, and a talking rabbit that might secretly be the most dangerous creature in the academy.

A soft thump sounded beside her, as Qhuin had hopped onto the bed.

The fluffy rabbit sat calmly on the pillow beside her head, his ruby eyes observing her silently.

Then his voice echoed inside her mind.

"Stop trembling, brat."

Lina lifted her head slightly.

"The Principal said—"

"I heard him."

Qhuin cleaned one paw. "The Principal does not care about dissecting a rabbit."

Lina blinked.

"He doesn’t?"

"No."

Qhuin’s eyes turned.

"He cares about appearances."

Lina slowly sat up, and Qhuin continued.

"The academy is preparing for a major tournament. Noble families, government officials, military recruiters, and powerful factions will be watching."

His voice remained calm.

"Creating panic over an unusual rabbit would cause unnecessary trouble."

Lina frowned.

"So we’re safe?"

Qhuin immediately snorted.

"Did I say that?"

"...No."

"Then stop putting words in this master’s mouth."

Lina rolled her eyes.

Qhuin ignored her.

"If you wish to keep your rabbit, your status, and your head attached to your shoulders, focus on winning."

He pointed a paw toward her.

"Conquer the brackets."

Lina sighed. Sometimes, she forgot she was talking to a self-proclaimed vampire king.

__________\\\___________

Beyond the walls of the academy, the city districts, and the brightly lit streets of the capital.

Deep within the oldest noble quarter stood a manor few people knew existed.

From the outside, it appeared abandoned and ancient, yet countless illusion arrays covered every inch of the property.

Invisible barriers twisted perception itself, anyone approaching the estate would unconsciously turn away.

Anyone searching for it would find nothing, hidden behind those layers of deception stood a massive obsidian manor.

Dark towers stretched toward the night sky, and moonlight reflected from black stone walls.

Gothic windows overlooked carefully maintained gardens filled with silver roses.

This was the Obsidian Court.

One of the oldest vampire factions still operating within the Empire, for three centuries they had hidden among humanity as politicians, merchants, nobles, and Generals.

They existed everywhere, and almost nobody knew.

Inside the manor’s council chamber, dozens of crystal chandeliers illuminated a vast hall.

A massive mahogany table dominated the center of the room, and at its head sat a man whose presence commanded immediate respect.

Duke Kenneth Von Obsidian;Grand Progenitor of the Obsidian Court, and also the advisor to the Emperor, a master of countless hidden schemes, his appearance seemed no older than thirty.

Black hair tied neatly behind his back, his crimson eyes glowed faintly beneath the moonlight.

An untouched crystal goblet rested near his hand.

The chamber remained silent, until the doors opened.

A young noble entered, and the student immediately dropped to one knee, as his body trembled, and sweat dripped down his forehead.

Kenneth didn’t glance at him.

"Speak."

The simple word carried enormous pressure, making the student lower his head further.

"My Lord Duke."

His voice shook.

"I bring urgent news from Aurelius Academy."

Only then did Kenneth glance toward him, the temperature inside the room seemed to drop.

"Continue."

"The academy entered a full martial lockdown today."

Kenneth’s eyes tightened.

That was unusual.

The student swallowed.

"A violent mana disturbance was detected in the Whispering Ravine."

Several vampires around the table exchanged glances but Kenneth remained silent.

"The investigation was led by Professor Valerius."

That name immediately caught the Duke’s attention, as the room grew noticeably quieter.

Everyone present knew that name.

Valerius.

The mysterious instructor who appeared from nowhere several months ago. A man who somehow gained the Principal’s trust.

A man whose combat record was terrifying.

The student continued.

"During the investigation, a Rank C Gore-Boar was discovered in one of the lower caverns."

Kenneth slowly picked up his goblet.

"And?"

The student hesitated.

Then forced himself to continue.

"The carcass had been completely drained of blood."

Crack.

The crystal goblet shattered, as red liquid splashed across the table and silence exploded through the chamber.

Kenneth’s crimson eyes flashed dangerously.

The pressure rolling off him became suffocating, the kneeling student nearly collapsed.

"A drained carcass?"

His voice was calm, which made it more terrifying.

The student nodded rapidly.

"Y-Yes, my Lord."

Kenneth slowly stood, and every vampire in the room immediately lowered their heads.

"The feeding pattern?"

The student’s throat tightened.

"Professor Valerius identified similarities to vampire feeding methods."

Boom.

A crack spread across the stone floor beneath Kenneth’s feet, pure killing intent filled the room.

Several lesser vampires visibly flinched, for three hundred years the Obsidian Court had hidden successfully.

Three centuries.

Three hundred years of secrecy.

Three hundred years of manipulation.

Three hundred years spent avoiding another crusade.

And now someone was leaving blood-drained corpses near the most prestigious academy in the Empire.

Kenneth’s expression darkened.

"Idiot."

The single word echoed through the chamber, his crimson eyes burned.

"An absolute fool."

The student pressed his forehead against the floor. Kenneth began walking slowly around the table, his cloak dragged behind him like living darkness.

"Do you understand what happens if humanity discovers us again?"

Nobody answered, nobody dared to.

The Duke continued.

"The last crusade exterminated entire bloodlines."

His voice carried ancient hatred.

"Cities burned, clans vanished and Millions died."

Every vampire remained silent, Kenneth stopped near a window and Moonlight illuminated his face.

"Three centuries."

He stared into the darkness outside.

"Three centuries of perfect concealment."

Slowly, he turned.

"And now some reckless newborn parasite decides to announce their existence to the world."

His crimson eyes blazed, the pressure became overwhelming.

The spy could barely breathe, Kenneth extended one hand and dark shadows gathered around him.

Several hidden figures emerged from the corners of the chamber.

Assassins; elite members of the Obsidian Court.

Each one possessed terrifying strength, Kenneth’s gaze swept across them.

"The human hunters cannot find this creature first."

His voice carried absolute authority.

"If Valerius traces that feeding pattern back to us, questions will start."

The assassins knelt immediately.

Kenneth continued.

"The Inter-Class Grand Tournament approaches."

His eyes narrowed.

"The academy will soon welcome students, nobles, military officers, and recruiters from across the Empire."

"Use the tournament."

The shadows listened carefully.

"Infiltrate the event, Investigate every unusual person, track every abnormal mana signature."

His voice grew colder.

"Find this wild leech."

The temperature in the room dropped further.

"Strip its core and destroy its existence."

"Bring me proof."

Every assassin bowed deeply.

"As you command, Lord Duke."

Kenneth returned to his seat, and the spilled crimson liquid slowly dripped across the white marble floor.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then the Duke looked toward the kneeling student.

"You’ve done well."

The student nearly cried from relief.

"Thank you, my Lord."

"Leave."

The student immediately obeyed, as the massive doors closed behind him.

Silence returned.

Kenneth stared at the spreading red stain on the marble, something about the situation bothered him, a feeling he couldn’t explain.

———-/////———-/

Far away, inside Aurelius Academy, another pair of crimson eyes reflected the moonlight.

Qhuin sat on Lina’s pink duvet, his rabbit ears jolted.

The vampire king knew nothing about the meeting taking place beyond the city walls, he knew nothing about the assassins.

Nothing about the hunt now targeting him, at that very moment, he was focused on something far more important.

Evolution and blood energy, he needs to become strong, he needs power.

His ruby eyes observe the surroundings thoughtfully.

The academy tournament would gather countless talented students.

Countless rare beasts, countless opportunities.

A faint smile appeared in his mind, Let the humans compete for glory, fight for status, and let the teachers chase shadows.

While everyone was distracted, the true predator would continue feeding, and somewhere beyond the academy walls, another predator was searching for him.

Neither side knew it yet, but the hunt had officially begun.