Chapter 72-Collecting trophies

Chapter 72: 72-Collecting trophies

Professor Primrose did not allow the courtyard to remain frozen in confusion for more than a few seconds.

The moment the last flame disappeared from Addessa’s hand, she stepped forward with the authority of someone who had spent years keeping supernatural teenagers from turning minor inconveniences into catastrophes.

Her voice cut cleanly through the murmuring crowd. "Everyone back into formation."

Nobody moved. They were frozen in place with fear. They had never seen a blackblood bend fire that big and were taking time to come back to normal.

Primrose’s eyes narrowed."I said formation," her voice left no room for negotiation or delays.

The students reluctantly returned to their groups, though their attention remained fixed on Addessa, who was walking away angrily.

Whispers passed through the crowd like ripples across dark water. Some students were trying to explain what they had seen, others were already exaggerating it, and more than a few kept stealing glances at Maisa as though she was responsible for the entire spectacle and in ways they didn’t understand, she was.

Professor Suzyanne approached Addessa before the girl could walk away. "Come with me, lady Addessa," her tone remained respectful. Despite the fact that she was a professor, by rank, Addessa surpassed her in standing.

"I’m fine," Addessa said immediately.

"You just lost control of your elemental magic. I would hardly call that fine, Miss Addessa."

"I said I’m fine."

"And I heard you." Suzyanne’s expression remained patient but firm. "That doesn’t mean I’m taking your word for it."

Addessa’s jaw tightened. She clearly wanted to argue, but the professor’s look told her that the discussion was already over.

As Suzyanne led her toward the hotel entrance, Addessa looked back once. Her cold black eyes found Maisa.

There was something unsettled in that gaze, something Maisa couldn’t quite name. It wasn’t the usual cold disdain, and it wasn’t the sharp hostility she’d come to expect from the blackblood heiress. It looked almost like fear.

Addessa, being a control freak as she was, couldn’t handle the fact that Maisa made her lose control of her magic. It was embarrassing and infuriating to remember that moment when her fire refused to listen to her. It made her want to snap Maisa’s neck and be done with it before the girl continued to interfere with her.

Maisa lowered her eyes. She didn’t want to think about it. She had already caused enough trouble.

Professor Primrose waited until Suzyanne and Addessa disappeared inside before addressing the remaining students.

"Now that everyone has remembered how to behave," she said dryly, "we are continuing with the late night’s route."

A few nervous chuckles escaped from the students. They hadn’t come to terms with what they had seen yet. It was the soon to say if they ever will. But for the moment, under Professor Primrose, none of them caused any problems.

Primrose ignored them. "Old Scaris is not merely a tourist destination. It is one of the oldest surviving settlements in vampire history. Some of the oldest families trace their earliest records to this region. You will, therefore, treat the town and its history with respect."

She paused, allowing her gaze to travel across the students.

"And because you are here, we will begin by paying respects to those who came before us and those we have lost through various wars." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

A few assigned students moved forward, carrying several large wooden cases. Primrose opened one and began distributing small white candles, each resting inside a simple glass holder.

"You will receive several candles each. We will carry them to the cemetery. Once there, every student will light their candles for the fallen."

Maisa accepted hers carefully. The candle was plain with no jewels, no elaborate carvings, and just white wax and a tiny wick. Yet something about holding it made her chest tighten.

She had grown up among hunters. Her family had taught her that vampires were enemies, and now she was being asked to light a candle in remembrance of them. The irony wasn’t lost on her.

She slipped the candle into the small pouch attached to her bag and followed the others.

The procession soon began moving through the old streets of Scaris.

Old Scaris was nothing like the modern city Maisa had imagined. Its streets were narrow and winding, paved with dark stone that had been polished smooth by centuries of footsteps.

Ancient buildings leaned over the roads, their upper floors connected by arched walkways. Tall windows glowed with warm enchanted lamps, while Ivy plants climbed the sides of old towers and disappeared into ornate balconies.

There were no modern signs screaming for attention or any bright advertisements or traffic. Instead, everything seemed preserved in another age.

Stone gargoyles watched from rooftops. Old fountains sat in the middle of quiet courtyards. Bridges crossed narrow canals beneath which black water flowed silently. Some buildings were so ancient that Maisa could barely imagine the hands that had constructed them.

"This place is beautiful," she whispered. "I have never once visited a place like this before."

"It is," Lumi answered beside her. "Human worlds and modernisation can’t hold a candle to this place. But you’re one of us now, so you get the privilege of experiencing a place like old Scaris," she added.

Maisa turned around sharply. She hadn’t even noticed Lumi approaching. The blueblood had fallen into step beside her, her book tucked beneath one arm.

"Walk with us," Lumi invited her. Lumi nodded toward Luan, and he didn’t raise any objections.

Maisa hesitated at first. She didn’t wish to be a burden to them during the trip, and she could already feel eyes turning toward them. Those eyes were anything but kind.

Sophia Thornheart, who had been walking with several students, a few feet away, practically stopped in her tracks when she saw Lumi invite Maisa over. Her expression changed immediately.

She looked from Lumi to Maisa, then back again. ’Seriously?’ She thought angrily.

Sophia had been Lumi’s closest friend for years. They had studied together, eaten together, travelled together, and spent countless nights discussing books and academy gossip, yet now Lumi had chosen Maisa to the by her side again while overlooking her.

Sophia’s lips pressed into a thin line. She was growing to hate Maisa more and more. It made no sense to her why an outcast was getting so much special treatment.

Across the street, Kriza’s reaction was even less subtle. The blackblood girl watched Maisa with barely concealed irritation.

First Maisa made a move on Varitreya and Addessa, then she went for Zolani, and now even Lumi couldn’t get away from her clutches. It seemed that wherever Maisa went, someone important followed.

"Is she collecting trophies or something?" She asked bitterly, her bitterness towards Maisa taking a huge leap and growing rapidly.

Maisa noticed neither of them. She was too relieved to have someone beside her who wasn’t asking about the fire.

"Well, are you walking with us or not?"

"Sure," she said quietly.