"It never matters what others think as long as you accomplish your goal."

Azar looked at the old man with contempt when, suddenly a brilliant idea entered his mind.

"Go and treat your wounds, then you will escort me to the dean of your academy to decide the price you have to pay as a consequence," Azar said as he went a little further to meditate and wait for the medical team to do their job.

The healing they were capable however, was far inferior than what the old man needed. Azar could go and help them since he could do better, but he needed to keep his secrets. Openly revealing his capabilities wasn't a good idea. But because he didn't intervene, Horthia was carried by his two pupils to a specialized medical center.

It would pass at least a few hours, if the healers were good enough, for the old man to be able to walk without endangering his life. Azar didn't wait for so long at the arena, but returned to Five Leaves and waited patiently at a table on the seventh floor.

The seventh floor could be reserved just by the cream of society. Here, only exceptional people could enjoy the spectacular view and the most delicious foods. Most of the time, this floor was empty and used for the private meetings of Midnight and people associated with them. But that was a secret.

This was Azar's first time at this floor, and he took the opportunity to test the tasty foods while being accompanied by the singing of the tamed birds. The birds weren't some common species found in Lefeer kingdom, but some exotic ones, brought from distant lands near the deep forests.

Because the floor was empty, after eating his full, Azar went near the balcony and sat down in a lotus position. The energy around him started to enter his body through the pores of his skin and the air inhaled in his nostrils.

His energy gathering technique, used for training, was a Supreme ranked one. This allowed him to have a faster cultivation speed and a purer energy that entered his body.

All the energy that entered in his body was gathered with an inhale in the first chakra at the base of the spine. Then, with the exhale, the energy would climb through his spine meridian up to the crown chakra, expanding its energy field.

Then, together with another inhale, the energy traveled back to the sacrum and entered the first chakra, expanding it and remaining there. The process would be repeated for five times, for all the 7 chakras of the body.

The cycle could not be stooped once it was started. Otherwise, the imbalance between the chakras could damage the meridians and energy fields. The effects could be treated, but it required a lot of work for nothing.

One needed to be aware of the fact that diseases, pain, and health issues, all were caused by the damaged energetic fields of the chakras and organs.

The same training technique was then applied in a second cycle for all the 12 chakras of the energetic body. Storing and expanding every major energy center of the body's energetic structure.

Time passed without knowing when someone trained. And when Azar opened his eyes, the sun was already preparing to fade away. Deciding to wait a little longer, Azar ordered his favorite snack. And not long after, he stood at a table, munching joyfully on his grilled corn.

This was one of his favorite snacks; grilled corn with salt. As simple as it could get. He was a simple man as he usually described himself. Only that, this simple man wasn't gifted with too much patience. He became restless as the moon cast her bright shadow over the city. The night fell over the city, yet the old man didn't appear.

"You try to sneak on me?" Asked Azar all of a sudden. There was no one near, but his feeling never betrayed him. A black shadow emerged from behind the table.

It was Eno.

Wearing a bright smile on his dark face, his black hole like eyes intersected with Azar's gaze in mid air.

"It is a great night, master!" he said making a short bow. "I was thinking of paying you a visit since Evedo is unwilling to disturb you. He said you are a little angry perhaps, and only the smell of blood can calm your spirit."

Azar finished his snack, and after cleaning his fingers, he replied, amused by the words of his friend. "Are you perhaps aware that I can discern and understand your fancy words?"

Eno pulled a chair without moving his hands and took a sit. "I am aware, but playing is in my nature, master. I am somewhat unable to change that."

Azar nodded his head, aware of the matter. Eno liked to sometimes wrap all he said in fancy words. It was really difficult for someone unaccustomed with him to discern the true meaning of what he said, yet not once had he spoken lies.

An evil spirit who manipulated others all his existence had some clear habits integrated into his being. "Good news can indeed improve my mood, but I have no desire to go hunting in this beautiful night. It will be a shame to ruin it and wash it in blood, don't you think? I have other plans in my mind, and since Evedo has gone to do his things . . . Will you accompany me to visit someone?"

"But of course!" Eno replied joyfully at his master's invitation. He always desired and liked to be understood. When someone was capable to understand the meaning of his words, he felt a good sensation, with shivers that traveled all his body and dark places.

Without waiting, Azar got up and arranged his chair before stepping into the void and disappearing. Eno mirrored his master's gesture and turned into a black mist as well, leaving behind only a few remnants of black smoke that disintegrated the moment they touched the wooden floor.

The streets were filled with youths and agitation. It was a common thing for this hour as many people went out to socialize. Most of the shops were closed, but the medical centers and bars remained open.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Inside Wede Baro, the best medical center in the kingdom, Horthia relaxed on his bed. With no intention for leaving anytime soon. The lovely faces and gorgeous curvatures of the women who took care of him remained impregnated on his pupils. The old man kept his eyes closed, afraid that the image would disappear.

Fantasizing about the caretakers and remembering his old times, Horthia lived in his imagination. A coughing sound woke him up from his dream land and he opened his eyes in excitement. Expecting to see the girls who came to visit him again. The two women in front of him however, were two men with sober expressions and terrifying presence.

Azar used his spiritual perception to scan Horthia's body before opening his mouth. "I can help you stay here for at least a few months, if that's what you wish for." He said coldly. Then, activating his illusion through the eye contact, and altering the old man's perception, Azar approach unnoticed.

His left hand grabbed the man's neck, squeezing it. Being under the illusion, the old man didn't notice that Azar actually disrupted his energy flow and sealed his ability to use energy.

"I thought that we had a deal and you were supposed to come and take me to your dean. Did I misunderstood?"

Horthia felt a terrifying oppression coming from the younger generation in front of him. And as the hand on his neck increased its strength, Horthia realized he was powerless and unable to retaliate in any way.

He hoped that someone would notice the pressure released by Azar and come to help him. However, no one came even after a long time. Little did he know that his reality was altered and most of the things he experienced were just inside his head.

"You will take us to your dean right now!" Azar ordered, gazing straight into the old man's eyes.

With a desperate desire to keep his life, Horthia tried to open his mouth to speak. But no words could came out. He signaled his clear intention with his eyes a few times until the grip on his neck loosened.

"Get dressed and let's go!" Azar said, not showing any respect for the age difference.

He wasn't as furious as he seemed to be, but he didn't like to waste time on waiting either. Time was his most precious resource, and he needed to make good use of it.

In less then five minutes, the wounded man got dressed without making a sound. He was treated by the best healers in the kingdom, but he wasn't fully recovered. For almost six hours he was under the continuous treatment of three healers, and the results could be said to be exceptional as his damaged organs regained their functions.

Not willing to let Horthia experience his [Void Step] and see its dynamics, Azar let Eno take care of him. With a touch of his hand, Eno took the man and both transformed in puffs of black smoke that got absorbed by Azar's shadow. In a world full of darkness, the old man remained a levitating smoke as only Eno was able to regain his form and see the other four unmoving silhouettes.

Azar stepped forward and vanished from the room. Next time he appeared, it was a few hundred meters away, and after just a few steps, he arrived at Jonikc Academy. Without waiting at the gates, he bypassed the protective barriers and headed towards the dean's office.

Dean Sholev was an [Aikyam] about forty years old. He and the old man Horthia were the only people with their cultivation reaching the level of an [Aikyam]. He usually worked until late in night since he didn't need to sleep that much. As such, he was still awake when the three people knocked on his door. Horthia and Eno were already out since the former needed to lead the group to the dean's office.

"Greetings, Dean Sholev, forgive us for our late visit." Azar saluted before gesturing to Horthia to hurry and explain the situation.

"Dean! Forgive us for arriving at this hour, and in such manner, but these people have an important matter to discuss with you," Horthia said rapidly.

He felt somewhat embarrassed as the discussion will most likely be about his wrong deeds. It was difficult to accept, but it was better to deal with the matter as fast as possible and cut ties with the people who could enter even the academy's building without alarming the dean.

Sholev inspected his uninvited guests for a while before calming himself and inviting the people in his office. He didn't truly let his guard down, only acted in that manner. What kind of business could be so important for someone to visit him at such an hour. Sholev's eyes stopped on Horthia for a few seconds, signaling him to speak.

"Dean, you see, I . . ." The teacher explained most of the story, even if he lost his words a few times when seeing the angered expression of the dean.

Immediately after Horthia finished his story, Azar introduced himself and told the remaining key points while Eno remained relaxing on the sofa.

Dean Sholev listened carefully. And with each word that came out of the youth's mouth, he seemed to get older. At the end, he gazed back at Horthia, silently asking for a confirmation. The fact that people from his academy went to cause trouble with the Five Leaves wasn't a light matter. As Azar said, if this matter was to be spread among the high circles, the academy would lose a lot of face, donations, and be ridiculed at the upcoming competition.

Against Sholev hopes, the head teacher nodded his head and approved everything said by Azar. Taking a sit, the dean massaged his temples before gesturing the people to sit back on the couch. His gaze falling back on Horthia, before changing the message and landing on Azar.

"Mister Azar, how can I apologise for the matter regarding my people?" Sholev asked.

This was the moment that Azar was waiting for. "Dean Sholev, I came here to make you an offer," Azar said exuding confidence.

"In the past years, your academy always ended up second, with no chance to content for the first place. For years, you were unable to win a single time against the first ranked academy, Fadim. This year however, it happens that I got tempted by the artifact rewarded for the first place. As such, I am willing to forget the mistakes made by your people and also help your Jonikc Academy to win the first place. In return for the glory that I'll win for you, you must give me the artifact. What do you think of my offer?"

Sholev remained thinking for a few seconds. Stunned at first, and really considering the offer at last, yet in the end he still shook his head.

"Unfortunately, even if you meet all the conditions, I would be breaking the rules if I were accept you as a student with just a few weeks before the competition." The dean tried to refuse the offer.

The rules for entering the competition, as well as for graduating and academy, were quite strict. Prohibiting the acceptance of any students in the last year of studies. With the exception of transferred students of course, but even those transferred were unable to join the competition.

Azar looked straight at the dean, with a not so friendly expression anymore. This may be the best chance for him to open a path for the artifact, and the coward in front of him tried to slam the door on his face.

"Dean Sholev it seems that your resolution is lacking," Azar said straightforward, his words making the old man tremble unconsciously. Insulting the dean of the second academy in the kingdom was a great sin, and the strength of this dean wasn't a trivial matter either.

But without giving time for interpretations, Azar continued with his line of thinking. "If you really wanted to have me, I'm sure that you could find an opening. But since you don't want my help, I'll find another academy who is willing to take me in. I can assure you that I can change my appearance in a way that not even Marshall Tiberus can see through. As for the stupidity of your men, you will have to pay 500.000 gold coins as compensation."

Azar was a decisive man, not willing to spend time on meaningless things and with people with no ambition. He gestured Eno and got up to leave. With his skills, Azar was confident that he could find an academy willing to bend the rules for a great prize. Who wouldn't want to win the prestigious first place in the competition and enjoy the title of the first academy of the kingdom.

What kind of dean would refuse to give birth to a monstrous genius and take credit for his success. Only . . . by picking a weaker academy, Azar chances of winning declined considerably.