The Prince's Secret

Episode XI

The Magistrate cannot believe the humiliation he and his party is receiving right now. He looked very angry but he could do nothing. He himself is a high-ranked noble vampire who have lived for more than 300 years now. But he cannot fight Cloud. He was tested earlier, and he failed. Cloud is right, they are not worthy to be his escorts when he can’t even break through the pressure from his aura. It was also an insult to an ancient one who have been to several great wars to offer him security. He has his own family, his servants, who have lived longer than regular vampire servants. All the servants of his estate are over 200 years old. But he cannot also believed that the rumors are true; Lord Ehrensvard may not be a pureblood but surely not even the young generation of the Vampire Queen’s family would want to deal with him.

He stood there listening while his companion, Clarisse was reading the whole papers. As soon as it was done, he issued the clearance with his seal on it. He and his party went back to the main hall where the rest of their details are waiting. Zeke took Clarisse’s head and attach it back to her body.

“Ohhh!!! Thank you my Lor-” Clarisse wasn’t able to finish her sentence because Zeke caused her body to twist all over. “Maaa---maaahh Lo-rd!!!”

Zeke eyes turned red once again and he faced Clarisse. “What have you done to make the ancient one angry?”

“I--- I only tried talking to a male student…then that female human interrupted and tried to stand up against me.” Clarisse said as her body returned back to normal.

“Did you attack her?”

“Uhh, in impulse yeah. But I didn’t hurt her.” She said as she tried to keep pace with the Magistrate. “Actually, I wasn’t able to hurt her. She’s got this charm with a static field that kept on grinding my nails into dust.”

Zeke stopped from his tracks and looked at Clarisse. “Protective charms cannot do that much. It’s most likely a protective spell casted on it.” Zeke chuckled. “It is in that floor earlier, right?”

“Yes my Lord.”

“Let’s head back there.”

***

“Cloud, you can let me go now. They’re gone right?” Sayaka said to Cloud.

“Hmmmm…they might still be lurking somewhere outside the room.”

Sayaka looked sharply into Cloud’s eyes, he chuckled and finally let go of Sayaka.

“Aren’t you going into trouble with what you did?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“What?!” she said in disbelief.

“You don’t have to worry about that. The Magistrate will be a laughing stock to the court if words get out. They won’t talk to anyone about what happened here. However, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Is this another secret?”

“What secret? I don’t have secrets. It’s just that people do not ask about it.” He chuckled. “The charm that we gave you, you need to hand it over to me for a while.”

“That is something I don’t think I will allow.”

“I know. What Henri said that the charm will protect you is true…however, that is only applicable if he is not hiding. He can sense if you are in danger because he is connected to the blood and can teleport to wherever you are. But the static field that the charm is releasing is not because of the blood inside it. It was because of the spell I casted on it. You’ve already been attacked twice and the spell is breaking down, the spell I casted on it is not strong enough to handle multiple attacks from noble vampires, because of the limited time I was able to hold it.”

“Still, what you are asking is too much Cloud.” Sayaka said as she stand up from the chair. “As you said, I was already attacked, even my classmates. I am thankful for you and Henri for this because I’ve seen how it can release humans from the mind controls of noble vampires. But you know what, I thought this school is relatively safe, but with what’s been happening I realized that you vampires seem to have no regard with the rules-”

“Hmmm… that is another topic to be discussed but that isn’t our priority. You’re safety is our priority. I would like to go with you to your manor.”

“What?! Are you insane? You even need a lot of authorizations before you can get out of this school property and you want to go to our manor? You may have been underestimating us the whole time but the Tachibana Household isn’t some place where you can just step on. Even if it’s you or Henri.”

“Hmmm… I have already got a permission from your Father. He will be meeting me there.”

“My…Father? How??? When???” she said stammering.

“I can’t answer that. You should ask your Father. You can call your household to check. We will meet him tomorrow at midnight. You don’t have to worry, I will go alone. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Sayaka creased her eyebrows. The fact that he is going is actually the problem. She might be proud of her family but she has seen Cloud’s overwhelming power and what she saw might be just a tip of the iceberg. But her Father, he is not naïve. He surely have taken precautions in meeting an ancient one.

“One more thing Sayaka. As the headmaster of the school, I allow you to carry your tanto at all times in the school property and the whole estate of Anjou.” Cloud said with his eyes in red.

“Did you just lifted a restriction on me inside your territory?” Sayaka said dumbfounded. “How can you be so trusting of me?!”

“Hmmm…mm.” Cloud just chuckled and teleported Sayaka to the back door of the main hall.

***

 Later in the afternoon at Henri’s personal chamber

“That was quite a disappointment Cloud. Did your standards gone so low now?” Henri said laughing.

“Hmmm..mm” Cloud chuckled. “Young Master, I have lived long enough to know how to measure people. He actually have some useful information now.”

“What information?”

“Tell me, as you said you were watching, why is he called the Magician?”

“Like I said, he’s a clown.”

“Think. This is a good mind exercise for you Henri.”

“Henri?”

“Yes, you are Henri when you are being an i***t. I have no student as an idiot.” Cloud said with his eyes in glaring red.

“Ha!” Henri said. “I can’t believe how highly you regard this Zeke.”

“Henri. I have been teaching you for more than a century now. I have been reminding you and will remind you again, not to underestimate your enemy.”

“What to be weary of? He can’t even break through the pressure of your aura. Such a lowly vampire.”

“Haaa….” Cloud took a deep breath and faced Henri with a stern face. “Do you want to win this war? Don’t be cocky. You are just a Young Master. You are not a Master of this household.”

Cloud crossed his arms and sat on top of the study table of Henri.

“Didn’t you notice something with Zeke and his companions?” Cloud asked in a calmer voice.

“The vampire court seems to have taken into custody some pestering type of vampires; a puppeteer and a ghoul type.” Henri answered as he avoided Cloud’s eyes.

“Anything else?”

“Hm? That they’re weak?” Henri said looking sarcastically at Cloud.

“Haaaa…” Cloud sighed shaking his head. “Of course, they are weaker than you. Your blood is special. However, our house how strong it might be has only limited numbers.”

“We prefer quality over quantity.” Henri said smirking.

“Zeke, has four companions with him, but there are actually only three. The other one is an illusion. His illusions have deceived your eyes. Deception, he is good at it. Also, do you remember what you said in the first day of class? Numbers is one of the decisive factor in war. With the puppeteer and ghoul vampire they can multiply their number several folds. We on the other hand, don’t have many foot soldiers, what we have are captains and commanders. They are all strong, no question. But a persistent assault of overwhelming numbers will result to us losing the battle.”

“You’re so gloomy Cloud. We don’t lose battles in our territory.” Henri answered arrogantly.

“We did.” Cloud answered softly and looked on the ground.

Henri looked up to Cloud, his eyes are glaring red and somewhat teary, his fangs are out and gritting. He unleashed his aura with great anger. His anger however isn’t directed to Cloud.  He clenched his fists and started to calm down.

“Ha….” He looked at Cloud with a pained look. “I…”

“You have so much to learn that what you think. Studying, researching and making simulated battles is different from actual experience, Young Master.” Cloud said as he pet his head. “And don’t worry, I will never take in a student again in my lifetime.” He said as he brushed on Henri’s hair.