The best time to train with Midnight was in the recovery rooms where the Live Combat Practice usually took place. The problem was that while Zaroth was in Class-A, Midnight was in Class-C, meaning that they had different schedules and wouldn't be able to train together under normal circumstances.
Thankfully, Zaroth had a way to bypass the rules of the academy...
"So you want me to permit you to enter the recovery rooms with that girl that I previously warned you to keep an eye on?" Elysia spoke coldly as she took a sip of the nice-smelling coffee.
"Yeah, I recently found a way to get stronger, so I think it will benefit me massively, considering that I have to win the tournament. I'm not arrogant enough to miss the chance for getting stronger," he replied.
Elysia sighed as she leaned back in her chair.
"Just so we're on the same page here, you do understand that she is a..."
It seemed that Elysia was aware that Midnight was a vampire, yet had permitted her to remain in the academy. Zaroth didn't know the reason, but if he were to question the actions of every individual, then he wouldn't get anywhere.
"Yes, I do know about that," he answered with a smile.
Elysia raised an eyebrow as she studied him silently for a few moments.
"After academy hours, you have an hour at most to train with her. Anything after that is prohibited," she spoke.
Zaroth smiled widely as he bowed a little, "Thank you."
She scoffed as she showed him the door, "If that is all, leave. I am busy."
He nodded and quietly made his exit.
Watching his back as he left the office, Elysia shifted her attention to a bottle containing a few pills.
Picking up the one that was much redder than the others, she grimaced.
"If my gut is right... then these pills... will cause a very big problem in the future."
*****
Zaroth quickly messaged Midnight to inform her when they would be able to train, then returned to the lectures.
"So how did the party go without me?" he asked as he shifted his attention to his friends, who were sitting at the table having their lunch.
"Honestly? A bit boring. No one wanted to compete with me in who will drink more," Roran complained.
"That's because you have a high resistance to alcohol, Roran," Lily nudged him with her elbow.
"I'm not sure why or how, but for some reason, I ended up getting dragged into another fight. It's like drunkards can't resist picking a fight when they see me," Zack grumbled.
"I see... Actually, I'm not going to be able to go with you to the bars for a few more days because I'm going to be busy," Zaroth spoke.
"Thank God!" Lily said as she shifted her gaze to Zack and Roran, "You both said that we will not go again without him, right?! Then this means that for the next few days, you will take a rest from the bars."
Zack leaned back in his chair, "Sure, I will have my battle in the tournament tomorrow anyway, so I wasn't planning on going."
Roran scoffed but didn't say anything.
He would have to stay sober for the next few days—a truly grand tragedy!
*****
"So you want me to teach you skills that only vampires are able to use?" The time for training had come, and now Zaroth was standing face to face with Midnight.
"Yes, preferably some kind of defense skills," he replied.
She scratched the back of her head.
"Sure, but there is something that you have to understand before we begin," she spoke.
Raising an eyebrow, Zaroth replied, "Sure, what is it?"
"I am referring to the fundamental difference between humans and vampires. While humans get blessed by the gods to acquire their powers, demons and vampires do not. As such, they learn skills and get stronger in a different way from humans," she explained. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire
"Yes, I do know that," He replied, "but what I don't know is how a demon... or a vampire gets stronger and how you actually acquire your skills."
She scoffed at his words. "The answer is very simple. Think about it—if you aren't gifted strength, then what other way is there to achieve strength? You take it. You murder somebody and consume their being, making them a part of yourself and gaining a portion of their strength."
'So this is why vampires drink human blood. It is not just a way for them to kill, but they absorb a part of the human's being,' he thought but didn't speak out loud, not wanting to interrupt her.
"You may now be wondering, sure, it makes sense for vampires, but I am not one. So drinking blood will not make me stronger. So, what other method should I use to get stronger? Well, it's up to you to figure it out."
Zaroth raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean it's up to me to figure it out? How does that help me in any way?"
Midnight sighed in disappointment. "We vampires hear a voice—a voice that tells us to drink human blood. Of course, it is rare that we hear it, but we do. What about you? Have you ever heard a voice that wanted you to do something? We are connected with the symbol, so you must have surely experienced something like this. That voice will tell you how to acquire more power."
"A voice?" He repeated her words.
No matter how much he thought, nothing came to mind. The only voice that he was able to hear in his head was Luna, but she wasn't connected to the symbol that he had gotten after making the deal with Midnight in any way.
"Wait a moment," his eyes narrowed in realization. He had actually heard a voice once. It was in one of the fights in the tournament.
'What was it again?' He massaged his forehead, trying to recall what the voice had said.
A moment later, he trembled. The voice had instructed him with a few words, 'Kill her.' Then it meant that to get stronger, he would have to...
"So to get stronger, I will have to... kill?"