Ascendant Path of a Lustful Vampire

The class approached Lea with slow steps. So slow that Caius basically had to lead the pack. Maybe the few times he had been there already made him less cautious than his classmates. Or maybe it was because he knew what was coming. Either way, he didn't even realize he was walking fast until Eloise pulled his arm that she was still gripping.

"Slow down," she said in a bit of a hiss.

"Yeah," Kaya said by his other side, "Just 'cause you've been there a few times doesn't mean you just charge right on and drag us with you."

While they had no idea of the actual details of Caius's time in the Lochxen Forest, they did know he had stayed back after class twice to help Professor Gilligan in returning the Magical Beasts she brought to class for demonstrations.

"Doesn't matter how slow we walk though," Caius said, "We'll get there eventually."

"At least tell us what we can expect," Eloise said.

"I didn't go there to face off against magical beasts. It was pretty tame actually," Caius said, "Don't worry."

A 'tame' assessment might not actually hold true for this visit in the long run but Caius saw no reason to instill any more panic in his classmates than there already was. Besides, there was nothing he could tell them that they didn't already know; They were entering the Lochxen and they were definitely going to run into Magical Beasts.

"Welcome," Professor Lea Gilligan said with a grin on her beautiful face and wild look in her eyes,

"And finally, too. That took forever. Had you dragged your feet any more than that and we might not have gotten anything done today."

The class shifted from foot to foot but said nothing. Lea eyed them all still with a smile and then she got back to talking.

"Your education with Magical Beasts continues. However, today, you will be studying them in their natural habitat.

That's right, dear students of mine, you finally get to enter the Lochxen Forest."

Instinctively, everyone in class took a single step back. Eloise even transitioned her hold on Caius to just grabbing his hand because he didn't step back as she had.

He wasn't the only one.

Aurelius hadn't stepped back either. He had been as cautious as the rest of the class in his approach but now that they were here, there was a studiousness to him. There was a spark of seriousness in his eyes.

Lea looked at Caius and Aurelius and nodded, appreciating their bravery in not moving away and then she looked at the class as a whole and chuckled.

"Don't run," she said and began waving her hand at them to gesture as she urged,

"Come on, come on, get closer."

There were many shared looks and then a few students took half steps toward. Among them were Kaya and Delia. Aylin took a full step forward and got herself standing side by side with Caius. It wasn't about bravery for her. It was about taking a position that had been left empty.

Kaya frowned at that. And much as Eloise somewhat shared the sentiment, she stayed right where she was. In fact, she looked like she was contemplating taking another step back and only stopped herself from doing so because it would cause her to release Caius's hand.

Lea was still smiling but she shook her head, looking disappointed that more of the class was not taking those half or full steps forward. Still, she soldiered on.

"The Lochxen Forest will be the location for your Mid-Semester Tests. As far as the Study of Magical Beasts is concerned, that will always be the case for any standardized Assessment. Otherwise, I'd just be feeding you information that you've never had the chance to make work.

There is a vast difference between holding down a fire-cracking Lizard in an environment that has basically been prepared to make it easier for you and you actually facing them here… in the wild.

The Lochxen Forest is still a very curated location but it has been made to mimic the actual wilds as best as possible. Whatever implementation you can successfully make here with what you have learned in class will be useful for you out there.

Which is why the Forest will always be the best spot to test your knowledge.

But your Mid-semester tests will be about more than the Study of Magical Beasts. It will also include Combat Magic and Mage-Knight Training, as such there will likely be battles between yourselves as much as you will have to contend against Magical Beasts in nature."

Lea paused and there were grudge stares being shared. They had all known that Combat Magic Mid-Semester Tests would definitely be about facing off against each other long before today's class but hearing it being brought up, brought it back to the forefront of many minds.

Caius was mostly just surprised by how many grudge stares there were. Basically, everyone in class had someone they were hoping to get at during the Mid-Semester Tests.

There were the ones he knew of such as;

Kaya and Aylin who would like to take that chance to have a sectioned battle which—at least as far as Aylin was concerned—would not affect the agreement Aylin had with Caius to make peace.

There was also Delia who was staring at Aurelius whose eyes were still on the Forest ahead. She could still remember that Combat Magic two-ring duel where neither she nor Caius, even when acting together, had been able to defeat Aurelius. She still wanted another chance at it and would like to take it with the Mid-Semester Tests. Aurelius seemed mostly oblivious to this though.

Besides Aurelius though, Delia also grudgingly stared at Caius whom she still wanted to beat. That hadn't changed with the development between them.

Baler stared at Caius hoping to settle the grudge between them with yet another attempt at a sanctioned battle. Maybe even get back his Winter's Tear by winning. Caius paid him no mind though even though he could feel the stare basically boring a hole through the back of his head.

Anyway, those were all the grudge pairings Caius had known about. But now he felt like the whole class was exchanging those stares. Some were reciprocated. Some were one-sided but animosity was so clear and so was the urge to settle them.

Lea didn't seem at all oblivious to this. There was a way that her feline blue eyes sparkled as she felt it all which told Caius she would be all too happy to watch it all happen.

"In preparation for those tests, it is vital that you are all made familiar with the Forest terrain. You need to know your way through it. And maybe even know what to expect… Know when you've wondered too deep into a Beast's territory and know which of them will leap out at you for such a crime."

The grudge staring took a pause now and looks of worry were back.

"Relax," Lea said, "I'll be with you. I will only lead you to parts of the Forest that I have selected for your learning of the day. There might be a tousle or two here and there but ultimately, you'll be fine.

Now, come on. Let us begin."

Lea stepped even closer to the Forest then and waved her hand causing the veil of partition to shimmer and give way so she could walk in with the students close behind.

Caius saw Aurelius furrow his brow but then take the first steps into the Forest. He saw Baler gulp and then throw him a hateful look before following close behind. Next was Doran before Caius decided it was about time he stopped watching and went in himself.

He laughed when Eloise tugged at his hand which she was still holding while refusing to move. He gripped her hand tighter and with an urge, got her to take the steps to walk in with him.

Aylin bounded right after them, having been standing by Caius's side. Kaya followed with a frown directed at Aylin and Delia was not far behind.

And then came the rest of the class.