Nightmare Mythos

"Nice demonstration."

"Right?"

Aaliyah then brought down the top hat above her head before adding, "As per the contract, I'll give you lessons that might be able to save your life when the time comes. We'll be having a lots of fun while we engineer the machines that will grow their own life."

Cesar knew he was going to have a lot of fun. After all, this subject was an entirely different kind of aspect that he would have to learn since not everything about fighting is having a clear head in a fight or being able to wield using two hands.

It's about setting up traps before even the battle begins.

Some of the Nightmares might not even anticipate these kinds of traps which will increase the chance of winning the battle. But not everything revolves around the Nightmares, even if that's what humans should be concerned with.

There are some people as well. Heretics, Criminals Shaded, and just a bad line of people that means harm.

Learning to be a trapper, Cesar could see the limitless potential of what he could do. Aaliyah can provide it to him which she was very confident about doing.

He was just worried about himself, that's all.

'Man, I hope my body will be able to keep up learning all of these things…'

With that wishful thinking inside his head which will surely not happen as he will definitely struggle, Cesar began to listen like a little kid to Aaliyah who was teaching him a lot of stuff on their first day of class.

…

For one specific reason, his seventh class, another specialized class, was canceled due to an emergency that happened in the selection some of the teachers that were available at that time needed to rush to a location where it was being held.

Hence he continued his search for the location of the terrain he needed to find the Soul Scholar that still bore no results.

After the time allotted for that particular class diminished, Cesar went for his eighth and last class for the day which was a regular class he needed to attend.

Hence he attended four out of the five special classes, one canceled, and three regular glasses since he still had to keep his attendance clean.

Academy is not all about connections but also about raising one's value in it. To do that, students must attend their given classes and excel in them.

The regular class is located inside the Academy.

Cesar wasn't really expecting anything out of it as long as it was all about theoretical. There are only a few physical classes in the regular classes that Arnold arranged for him but it's not as extreme as he had inputted through the special ones.

Upon reaching the room, Cesar slid the door open, only to find it empty. His eyes then darted to the side, where he noticed someone seated in the teacher's chair.

However, it wasn't really the instructor he was expecting to see.

"Is there any problem, Headmaster?"

Arnold was reading a bunch of papers in his hands before replying, still not looking at Cesar, "There's no problem. It's just a request that you really have no choice but to accept."

Arnold couldn't help but chuckle, "Do you remember the mission from the City of Wheels?"

Cesar nodded, remembering it as if yesterday and how it got to the point of the day they were in right now. He then saw Arnold continuing.

"Well, the Academy is holding a huge banquet for you. A week duration. The rewards that you haven't received yet will be rightfully given to you at that date and time. It has been decided and is already being developed,"

Feeling something off about his words, Cesar had some doubts and didn't even pry any longer and just shrugged it off since the rewards that were given at that time were absolutely humungous if he thought about it.

Well, he was remembering it now since he totally forgot it.

But holding a banquet just for a student to receive his rewards from his endeavors? Just outright suspicious that's all.

Cesar then replied, "If the Academy is holding the banquet, will it happen inside?"

"Of course not. It will happen outside in the City of Lights, Dawn Breaker. Important people, figures, influential powerhouses, and Mayors all across the world will come to this event to meet you, Hero of Wheels," Arnold paused, "There's no way I will expose the Academy to danger,"

Cesar nodded, "So instead of the Academy, you chose me as a scapegoat. It's all right. I would do the same thing if I was in your position. When is it?"

Arnold really liked the fact that Cesar was a smart person to deal with rather than a man who would keep asking questions when they already knew the answer. After glancing at Cesar for a bit, he replied.

"Next month hence you have three weeks left to train before you depart again from the Academy. Who knows what might change since then but the Banquet will continue, no matter what."

'No matter what… huh,'

Arnold sounded like they were forced to attend this banquet since that's what the higher people from above ordered them to do. Like a dog, all they needed was a bone and be done with it.

Cesar sat down and stated, "When are we leaving? How far is City of Lights?"

Arnold replied very fast as if he already prepared an answer to this question, "In the second of the last week of the month, we'll leave. Obviously, I'm coming with you,"

Cesar found that reassurance comforting, knowing that Arnold was a force to be reckoned with. Even if someone decided to take action against him, they might hesitate with Arnold around.

Yet, this very thought put Cesar in a predicament of his own.

"Are we expecting trouble?"

Arnold remained motionless in his seat, lowering the paper he was holding. He reached for a cigarette from his stash, pulled a lighter from his pocket, and lit it with a practiced flick.

"Pheww..."

Taking a slow drag, he exhaled a cloud of smoke into the air.

Arnold's eyes lingered on the ceiling and replied, "Definitely. Right from the start, creating this banquet is suspicious enough,"