It didn't take long for him to reach his destination. As soon as he crossed the threshold of the academy, his gaze fell on a drakon a short distance away.
When their eyes met, the drakon approached with light steps and asked, "Taylor, would you like a coffee?"
He stared at her coldly, his voice tense with impatience "Tell me immediately, what's so urgent?"
But the drakon didn't answer. She had already started walking toward the café.
Taylor sighed, raising his hand to trace runes in the air, but stopped midway when he heard her order a certain dessert. He dismissed the floating energy with a wave and followed her.
Sitting across from each other, the drakon looked at him seriously "The director was wondering if you could take on the role of examiner," she said, going straight to the point.
Taylor didn't respond; his expression remained impassive.
After a brief silence, the drakon sighed and added with a faint smile, "In return, we can offer you a VIP ticket for the auction happening tomorrow, nearby."
"Continue," Taylor said indifferently, as if she were talking about nothing at all.
The drakon was taken aback for a moment but quickly regained her composure "That's all," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
Taylor stared at her, eyes cold "Do you really expect me to waste my time for a ticket I could get with a simple connection?"
The arrogant tone of his voice triggered something in the drakon. Without hesitation, she unleashed her energy, Essence Crush.
The air trembled for a moment, but the attack had no effect on him. A heartbeat later, luminous runes appeared on the drakon's skin. Her face went pale instantly, a shiver running down her spine.
Taylor watched her pale and said, "Your superior, by any chance, is underestimating me by sending you to negotiate?"
The drakon, panicking, stammered, "I-I have nothing to do with this! The director told me to treat you harshly!"
Suddenly, the drakon felt the runes on her skin burn. She screamed in pain, yet it seemed no one noticed any difference.
The waiter arrived with the dessert and coffee, smiled, and returned to work as if nothing had happened.
Taylor began eating the dessert. When he finished, he noticed that the drakon was still alive. Her body trembled slightly, but the pain seemed to have subsided.
Taylor's eyes widened slightly. "This is unexpected, a drakon with the constitution to adapt."
Rising from his chair, Taylor approached the drakon's trembling body. In a disappointed tone, he said, "She's fainted, she can't control this advantage of hers."
The runes on the drakon's skin began to shift, healing the inflicted wounds.
Taylor raised his hand. A flame materialized in his palm, surged toward the drakon, and absorbed her, making her vanish.
Taylor left the café and the building, entering the carriage waiting for him outside. Flames automatically formed on the seat opposite him, and there appeared the drakon.
The carriage began to move. After a while, the drakon woke up. Looking around and seeing a familiar boy gazing out the window, she said in shock, "I'm alive?".
Taylor turned to her with a cold gaze. He made her pale again, but his words were unexpected: "I want you to work for me from today onward."
The drakon, confused, asked cautiously, "You mean me?".
Taylor didn't hesitate and used Essence Crush. The drakon immediately fell to her knees. With uneven breaths, she said, "Sir, if you allow me, I wish to serve you with my life in line."
Canceling Essence Crush, Taylor turned back to look outside. The drakon stood up and sat down. A cold voice asked, "So, what's your name?"
The drakon answered without hesitation, "Nyssa, sir."
Not long after, they reached their destination. As she stepped out, Nyssa realized that the building in front of her was the one where the director resided. She followed Taylor without asking or saying a word.
At the entrance, they were stopped by several guards who asked for permission to enter. Nyssa stepped forward and showed her badge.
But the guards' response was unexpected. "Sorry, but it seems you're not registered and your badge is fake."
Nyssa, visibly shocked, asked them to check again, but they refused. Behind her, Taylor said coldly, "Did you really think she'd send you away expecting you to come back alive?"
Nyssa trembled at Taylor's icy expression and tried to explain herself "I didn't think she'd strip me of my role so quickly"
Taylor sighed and ordered, "Stay behind me."
He wrote runes in the air, added a trace of his Essence, and said, "Fire."
A flame ignited in his palm. At that same instant, a hysterical scream echoed through the air, and the alert guards rushed inside.
Taylor turned and, walking toward the exit, said, "Let's go. I'm done here."
Nyssa followed him to the carriage.
Soon after they set off, they arrived at the wing dedicated to the classes.
Taylor noticed people from the Nine Continents wandering around the academy. He walked inside, arms crossed, scanning the surroundings to figure out where Jessica was.
Suddenly, a calm voice called out, "Taylor, I'm here."
Following the sound, he saw Jessica sitting alone under a tree with a book in her hand.
As he approached and finally laid eyes on the person he had been waiting to see, he instinctively took her hand gently.
Their eyes met, and slowly, he brought his forehead close to hers. Jessica took a deep breath, almost holding it, and their gazes remained locked in a moment of quiet intimacy.
Jessica saw a smile appear on Taylor's handsome face and, as if enchanted, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Taylor, with both hands on her waist, immediately responded, pulling her closer to him.
The kiss lasted for a long time until Jessica began to run out of breath. With a small gesture, she pushed lightly against his chest, silently asking him to stop.
Taylor, his expression dissatisfied, asked, "Do you want to stay at my villa?"
Jessica blushed and looked away. "Aren't we rushing things a bit?" she murmured softly.
Taylor said nothing. Releasing her from his embrace, he turned and walked toward the exit without another word.
Jessica watched him go, her heart tightening. She thought she might have said something wrong. Hurrying after him, she reached out and took his hand.
Looking straight into his eyes, she asked hesitantly, "Are you angry?"
Taylor said, "No, I was hoping you'd come with me to see the island."
Hearing those words, Jessica couldn't contain her joy. Her eyes lit up, and on a genuine impulse, she hugged him tightly, as if afraid the moment might vanish too quickly.
Meanwhile, Nyssa, who had stepped away to give the couple some space, returned to check if they were done.
She was shocked to see them still embracing. She wanted to approach, but suddenly, runes appeared in the air before her, reading "Go to the auction you mentioned and get a VIP ticket".
The runes merged, transforming into a red card. Nyssa grabbed it and headed toward the auction.