*Neigh!*
After Adrian fed the black steed another one of the black petals, it jumped in ecstasy before galloping around him. Adrian's uniform and skin were still besmirched by blood, yet to be washed away by the lake water. There was now only an empty stalk in his hand; there were no petals.
Adrian sighed as he dropped the black stalk on the ground before beckoning the horse to come to him with his hand.
The horse followed and approached his 'generous' employers. Adrian reached out his right hand, aiming for its head. The horses did not decline as it complied to his wishes; it bowed down its head a bit.
Adrian caressed and patted the head of the horse. "Are you sure you are going to stay here?"
The dark creature looked into his eyes and neighed.
Adrian looked into its pitch black eyes and heaved another sigh. "Ok. Go on." He moved back his hand.
*Neigh!*
It almost stood up upright as a show of respect and got its hoofs on the ground again. It gave Adrian one last glance before galloping away to the South at full speed. Adrian followed the running horse which was getting smaller and smaller every moment until it reached out the sight of his supreme eyes.
Cornelia, who was standing a few meters away from Adrian with the chest of her uniform ripped and bra removed, finally dared to make a move. She approached him and stood beside him.
"What was that beast? And how were you able to tame it?" She asked. She was looking South, right where he was staring.
"A night-mare. A top of the class demonic beast which originates from the culmination of nightmares of the mass. It feeds on people's dreams and nightmares." He answered. His eyes had yet to leave the South.
"Feed on people's dreams and nightmares?" She squinted. "Isn't that the same as Sleepeater flower? No wonder you were able to tame it that easily? And what's a demonic beast? And how come I've never heard of it before?" His answer only made her more curious.
"What's a demonic beast? You do not need to know. How come you've never heard of it before? What do you know to begin with?" He finally removed his gaze from the distant North and looked at her. "Stop asking these silly questions and do your job."
"Ah. One last question- do you like it that much? And why did it want to leave?" She came second at the entrance test for a reason- her endless desire to learn.
Adrian sighed as he again gazed to the South. "It's just that I pity her. And she pities herself. She was born from the dreams and nightmares of this place, the memories- of this land. She can't leave here- whether she wants it or not."
She had never witnessed melancholy on his face, until now. Was this maniac a human after all?
He suddenly looked at her. "Besides, that was two questions. Await your punishment."
'Nope, I was wrong.'
******
A week passed. Eight days left until the event ends and the Fleeting Lands close down yet again.
Every one of the participants- be they from the Confederation or be they from the Institute- were heading towards their own teleportation magic circles. Because they might permanently lose the opportunity to return back to Ervilia if they miss their chance to teleport away during the lunar eclipse eight days from now.
Adrian and Cornelia were also no exceptions. They headed West- towards the Sandy Deaths. At the end of the scorching horizon, lied the teleportation circle designated for them.
Adrian was casually walking through the scorching sands. But Cornelia- she was limping on her shaky legs. Two of her thighs were clenched together while she was walking with slow steps.
"Ouch!" The moment she unclenched them, a striking pain hit her lower abdomen. She looked at the monster walking before him with teary eyes as she bit her lips and clenched her fists.
She was wrong! She thought that he would not possibly hurt her since they had already made a deal. But what he did to her for the last seven days- a shiver ran down her spine just from thinking about it.
He banged her again and again and again. The whole cottage was flooded with her juices. He told her to stop many times- but it was futile. She had used all of her healing and recovery potion; he still did not stop. And for the last three days, she had to live through constant pain and suffering.
The poor girl had eaten barely anything but his fluids for the last few days. She could not complain though. It was not that… bad.
And what was with that monster? Though she had the same question hundreds of time to her self, she could not help but ask again- was he really a human? She almost died last week, but he kept going again and again and again. And he did not show any sign of tiredness at all. Heck! He did not even break a sweat.
She looked down at her breasts. She touched them and her eyes became even blurrier. Her assets were already not that big to begin with. And he made them even smaller by kneading them hard all day.
"Ouch!" She stepped on another uneven spot, separating her thighs. A tear escaped her eye.
"You're so mean!" She stopped and sniffed.
But he did not turn back at all. "Slow me down and I will screw your behind."
She subconsciously clenched her butt just from his statement and gulped. She took some huge steps and caught up with him.
"Aaaaah!" But the sudden movement caused pain to erupt on her crotch.
******
Five hours later. On the blazing desert, lied a ruin of huge bronze stones. Some students from the Confederation set up a camp there. They were chilling and gossiping. Guards were rotated among them.
Adrian and Cornelia soon approached the camp. None of the guards stationed were from the Academy. After all, who would dare to impose that upon them? They were alerted by the duo's sudden arrival. But once they recognised the uniform, they relaxed. Their eyes betrayed a trace of respect and envy.
The duo faced no resistance whatsoever as they entered the camp. Cornelia scanned the surroundings. Forty or so Confederation students had already gathered at the camp.
"Adrian Darkheart, Cornelia De Recruz." A masculine and strong voice attracted their attention.
A tall young man who had a scar on his right cheek approached them. He was wearing a white shirt with purple linings- the uniform of fourth year students of the Academy.
"Welcome. Did you get any nameplates?" He stopped before them.
Just before Cornelia could answer with a 'no'-
"Yes. We have." Adrian casually answered.
She could only sigh internally.
"Not bad!" A smile formed on the fourth-year's face. The smile gave Cornelia a sense of foreboding.
"What do you want?" Adrian nonchalantly asked.
"Hehe. You are not that dumb after all." The scar faced student laughed. "Come to my tent. We will talk there."
He turned back and began walking. Adrian followed. Cornelia could only smile wryly. Just what was he thinking?
On the way, Adrian whispered something to her, making her squint. Once they got into the tent, the tall youth sat down on a mat on the ground and gestured Adrian to sit before him.
"Show me what you got." The youth asked.
Adrian looked at Cornelia and nodded. She nodded back and brought out two nameplates from her bag. Both of them had male names written on it. They belonged to none other than the two male students chasing Cornelia at the beginning of the event.
Adrian took them from her and placed them on the mat right in front of him.
The youth looked at the two names and smiled. "I want them…"
Cornelia sighed. 'I knew it!'
He took out two nameplates from his pocket. "In exchange for these."
Cornelia gasped at the scene; her mouth and eyes opened wide.
Adrian checked the nameplates and shook his head. "You are giving me two with female names. Do you think it's a fair deal? We both know that the Empire is heavily patriarchal and the male students are stronger because they get better resources and training. The worth in magic crystals might be same but reputation? Not worth it."
The young man did not mind at all. "I will add a 100 high grade magic crystals into the fray."
"500."
"200."
"300. I am not going any lower than that."
"Okay. Deal!" The youth snatched the two nameplates before Adrian and dropped his own two before him.
"Nice doing business with you." Adrian reached out his hand.
"Likewise." He reached out his own.
They ended the deal with a firm handshake. Cornelia had calmed down by the time. Soon, both of them left the tent.
Adrian looked at Cornelia and smiled, sending chills down her spine.
"We also need a place to live, don't we?"
She gulped.
An hour later, she sighed in relief.
Thankfully, there were no woods around here. And even more so, he probably had forgotten to pluck out some mahogany trees and stuff them into his bag.
So, she was able to arrange a tent with clothes. Actually, she bought it from some commoners from a random Confederation institution. She promised high grade crystals after the event was over. She was a princess after all.
Adrian entered the tent, making her gulp. But not in front of him.
Adrian took some magic paint on a brush and began to draw a magic circle on the tent wall.
She recognised the magic circle and panicked. "Wha… why?"
"What? Do you want everyone to listen to you moaning and screaming like a bitch?"
She slumped down on her butt.. It was over.
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