Nightmare Mythos

"It is suspicious, all right,"

Cesar repeated with a sigh before asking, "Are you searching for whoever arranged this or already discovered it?"

Arnold answered discreetly, "Nah, we're still under the ropes of who has made it but we have suspicions. I just came to discover this after Nas had told me that an official document has been handled out throughout different parts of the cities, Army officials, Academy officials, and the Association's officials."

Arnold paused after puffing out smoke, "Anyways, this regular class has been canceled as well. They are needed on the selection since something bad came up. And bad news relating to the selection mostly results in one thing; corruption."

Arnold stood up as he gathered the papers in his hand and commented on the same subject, "However, the Academy this year has a very impressive record. This is just one casualty throughout the ongoing selection. I heard they built a Class System and it is one of the things that made this result possible… Students really never failed to surprise me,"

Cesar understood what he was trying to say having zero casualties up to this day is a feat on its own.

Now that they finished talking about the important one, Arnold seemed to not have anything to talk about any longer as his business with him was finished.

That was until Arnold grabbed something out from his pocket and tossed a card at Cesar, who managed to catch it without trouble.

It was a heavily plated diamond card with his name on the front and status on the back.

"What's this?"

"License card for VVIP," Arnold paused, "Those buildings and places that are mostly restricted to students like you and some of the teachers that didn't have higher positions or influence, a license is needed to allow your pass. I'm giving you one,"

Already receiving an abundant amount of privileges from Arnold, Cesar also started to get suspicious about it. There's no way, he, amongst exceptional students he had taught, wasn't able to achieve what he accomplished to receive such treatment.

This made him come to lingering doubts entered his doubts, finding an objective to Arnold's actions now that Aaliyah had inflicted him with her thoughts.

But Arnold immediately cleared these misgiving benefits as he stated calmly.

"It wasn't me who had given the order but Nas," Arnold clarified, "He clearly stated that you met him earlier and quoted "Give a VVIP license to Cesar. Also, begin creating a license for him that he will start using in the future once the banquet begins" and that,"

'Nas again…?'

Cesar mused inwardly before nodding once.

"How do I thank him?"

Arnold approached the room's exit before waving his hand, "You don't need to. Just do whatever you're doing right and get ready. The moment we go out again, it'll become another trouble,"

Arnold left the room as Cesar watched his back disappearing from its doorstep. When no additional surprises were added, he also left the room and proceeded to go back to the teacher's buildings where he was currently staying.

He needed some time alone to process everything he'd absorbed today.

…

On the weekends, Cesar decided to practice his artificial fire. Since it was rough workings for now, mastering it to a degree of perfection is still far-fetched. Unless Cedeit was willing to teach him which wasn't happening for now.

For now, the only guidance he had in crafting the fire came from his own trial and error.

When he was taking a break, he practiced Iso's teaching to calm his Soul since practicing the artificial fire requires an essence to pull off.

He had to calm himself down since every time he used a bit of his soul, he felt really dizziness taking over him which he had to abruptly stop.

It was slightly hurting, and it was starting to become apparent.

This is what makes Iso's teaching exceptional.

Even if the method was using essence to perform such a state, the return of cleansing the soul returned twice the amount. Hence even if he was losing one, the return was two. It was a simple math which he will garner no loss.

'Ugh, if I can strike another deal with Cedeit in exchange for information or knowledge of whatever he knew, I would do it. However, nothing is coming in my mind…'

Cesar already made a deal with Cedeit that he'll be retrieving some of Deceit's consciousness if he ever sees one, whatever that meant. After all, he didn't describe what its appearance is.

Will it be another dying eyeball?

The next thing he knew after the weekends passed, Monday came.

Cesar found himself riding a cab as he appreciated the view of the academy while students walking around its streets. With the selection coming to its end, it wouldn't take long till the fourth years filled those same roads again.

However, it wouldn't take long till they are going to their given expeditions.

Not like Cesar actually cared about it.

Finally, the cab driver delivered Cesar from the location where he intended to go.

"Kanto Street, Seventh Third District"

Cesar nodded once, and said his thanks, before leaving the cab with a determined expression. Finding a weaponry workshop at the end of the street, he was finally able to find his next class.

[Kanto Blacksmith]

It is a workshop where students can buy weapons made by the blacksmiths inside using their contribution points. This will be where his first class every Monday will be held. Fortunately, this specialized class will only happen once every week.

It didn't involve sharpening one's combat after all.

Cling—!

Cesar entered the workshop with some of the students roaming around the place to find a weapon that suited them. He remembered that the daggers he used inside the Mansion had been bought in one of the workshops of the Academy as well.

'Right… daggers. I need to find something suitable for myself soon,'

Soon, Cesar moved to the very back of the room and was finally able to spot a tall, buffed man wearing a workshop apron, thick black gloves, and a long hammer which he continued hammering down at his silver anvil.

"Hello—"

Tang—!

"My name—"

Tang—!

"Is Cesar Sparrow—"

Tang—!

"I—"

Tang—!

After his failed attempt at introducing himself, Cesar chose not to disturb the instructor who was supposed to teach him. Instead, he waited patiently for the instructor to finish whatever he was doing.

However, he had waited for too long.

Almost an hour passed, and his instructor didn't let go of his hammer and continued hitting it down to his anvil to shape the weapon he was doing.