The principal led Arlo's group back to the southern region of the Darkblood academy.

"Why would you make such a declaration? No matter how I look at it, you are no match for a second-year student let alone one in the top ten." Joe asked in wonder.

Arlo didn't hesitate to reply, "He needs to pay for hurting Arianne."

"But it was a duel. It is normal for her to get hurt." Joe countered.

Not receiving a reply, Joe snorted and looked at the silent Arianne whose face was flushed red.

'It's certainly because the other party had dirty thoughts toward her.'

Joe remembered vividly how Arlo clenched his hands in anger when he saw Jude's lecherous gaze on Arianne.

It's just that he didn't want to point it out.

The attention of the trio was soon drawn away from the matter, as they came across several vampire nobles on the way.

Principal Stanley bowed and greeted a lot of unknown faces several times.

"What is going on?" Joe voiced out in wonder.

The same was true for Arlo. He kept observing the people they came across

Some came alone, and some came in groups, while some moved in carriages.

Principal Stanley stopped once again before a carriage.

A middle-aged man and woman stepped down from the carriage, followed by a boy who seemed to be just past his teen.

"Greetings!" Principal Martins bowed his head slightly in respect.

"Haha!" The man laughed amicably and greeted him with a slight nod.

Then he shifted his attention to Arlo's group, specifically to Arianne.

Arlo noticed the gaze of the boy who followed them had been on Arianne since he came down the carriage, causing a light frown to appear on his face.

"Greetings princess!" The middle-aged man and woman bowed respectfully toward Arianne.

Arianne ignored the two and met eyes with the boy who was older than her by at least eight years.

"Son, won't you greet Her Highness?" The middle-aged woman rebuked in a low voice.

The boy quickly came to and bowed respectfully at Arianne.

Even though she did not have any goodwill toward the other party, she still had to reciprocate the respect.

Feeling Arianne's cold attitude, the group was put in a difficult situation. They wanted to use this opportunity to associate with their princess, but it seemed they weren't welcomed.

Principal Stanley also didn't know what to do. He didn't dare to ignore the other party, as he was lower in status compared to them.

An awkward silence ensued.

The silence didn't last long, as Joe looked at Arlo and sighed in defeat, before holding Arianne's soft hand...

"Why don't we head back now?"

Without waiting for her to reply, he pulled her along and walked away. Arlo quickly followed after the two, while Principal Stanley smiled awkwardly.

In the end, he bowed once more and followed after them.

When Arlo's group left their sight, the middle-aged woman frowned and turned toward her son who was still glaring in Joe's direction.

"Do you know that boy?"

The boy shook his head slightly and asked a question himself:

"Since when did the academy accept beasts?"

"That is not important." The middle-aged man turned toward his son and warned with a chilly voice, "Control yourself. No matter what, she is the princess!"

Under his father's piercing gaze, the boy trembled.

"Yes!"

.....

Immediately when they left the family of three's sight, Joe who was about to let go of Arianne's hand was suddenly sent flying.

Arianne's body trembled slightly as she glared at Joe, "Who said you could touch me?"

"Jeez, I just wanted to help you," said Joe as he dusted his clothes.

Arianne asked doubtfully, "And why would I need your help?"

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"You seem to have a lot of admirers. Wouldn't you agree, Arlo?"

"This bastard..." Arianne flashed before Joe and grabbed him.

"Hey hey...There is no need for violence."

*BAM!*

"Hey Arlo, won't you help me?"

*BAM!*

Those who wanted to approach Arianne quickly turned aside after seeing her attitude which was unbecoming of a princess.

While Principal Stanley was grateful that he wouldn't have to greet the nobles who turned away, he still couldn't allow the situation to continue on the road.

"Okay, stop!" he tried to separate the two but was soon stopped by Arianne's glare whose eyes shone a red light.

"Don't touch me!"

She freed Joe and turned to look at Arlo who watched the scene with an indifferent look.

"It isn't as you think..."

"It doesn't matter." Arlo cut her words short with a calm look. He really didn't look affected in the least, which caused a stifling feeling to fill Arianne's heart.

'Tsk." Joe looked at Arlo like he was gazing at a fool. There was even a look of contempt on his face.

'It is just as I thought.' Principal Stanley looked between Arlo and Arianne with a conflicting expression. Then he opened his mouth:

"Princess Arianne is a special existence. Just like our Liege, she is a progenitor for a new line of vampires. So a lot of the vampire nobles have their eyes on them. They don't want a repeat of what happened the last time."

"A repeat?" Joe asked.

"That is right."

"The nobles believe King Nathan marrying the queen is a mistake. And they use the prince to back their claim. So they won't allow anyone without a noble bloodline to marry the princess, not to mention another race."

While it seemed as if he was answering Joe, he was actually subtly warning Arianne and Arlo.

After that, the group headed back to the southern region.

The principal took his leave, as he had to prepare for the event tonight. Without another word, Arianne also left.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Joe asked as he looked at Arianne's retreating figure.

"I am heading to the training center."

'I honestly don't know what is going on in that small head of his.' left with no choice, Joe chased after him.

.....

Arlo and Joe spent the rest of their time training.

Arlo practiced martial arts while Joe immersed himself in creating new formations.

Both of them were oblivious to the tense atmosphere that permeated the entire academy.

Late at night.

The door suddenly swung open, causing Arlo who was shadow-fighting to stop.

Rosaline, Bon, and Judi walked toward the two.

A brief silence engulfed the center as both parties gazed at each other.

Bon was the first to break the silence as he looked at Joe.

"What is that snake?"

"I don't know."

Bon frowned as he didn't expect that answer. But seeing the sincere look on Joe's face, he couldn't help but ask:

"Then why is it with you?"

Even Arlo stared at Joe as he was also curious about the snake.

Under the stare of his mates, Joe fidgeted a little before scratching the back of his head.

"I really don't know."

Seeing that Bon and the others were displeased with his answer, Joe quickly added:

"I don't know anything about the snake. It's just that I felt my bloodline react to it in the forest which was why I decided to save it. Since then I have tried communicating with it, but it was no success. All it does is sleep. It doesn't even eat."

Even at that moment, the snake had its eyes closed, which supported his claim.

Arlo became lost in his thoughts.

What Joe didn't add is that no matter where he went, the snake always followed him without a fail even if it was sleeping.

Also, Arlo noticed the snake study him from time to time and Joe wasn't aware of it.

Rosaline opened her mouth for the first time since entering the center, "Since it is coiled around your neck, it means it's very close to you. Is it your life beast?"

"Life beast?" Joe asked unsure. Even Arlo did not know of life beasts.

Rosaline noticed the look on both their faces and explained, "There are techniques to make a spiritual beast submit to you. Some techniques are more oppressive than others while some enforce a mutual relationship between both parties. It is just that a person can only have a life beast in their entire life, as the technique is closely tied to the mana core."

'It must be like the second-year student ranked first with the dark wolf and also...' Arlo thought silently as he recalled the bat-like creature Arianne hung around with before they entered the academy.

"It is just that..." A sweet voice escaped Judi's pink lips as she gazed at Joe with an uncertain look, "Shouldn't a spiritual beast not be able to contract with another beast?"

That was what Rosaline also didn't understand.

Only beast tamers should be able to contract with beast, but over the years the humans were able to develop a technique that allowed those who had no affinity with laws associated with beast taming to suppress a beast and make them their pets. It was just that the technique had a limit. Only one beast could be tamed, and trying to forcefully tame another would put one's mana core in danger.

"I don't know..." Joe whispered. He was starting to get scared after learning about such information. Initially, he felt close to the snake because of some sort of connection between the two. But now he realized, the snake being with him was a strange thing.

The same was true for the others. They didn't dare to investigate the snake who seemed to be asleep. They could still remember the gigantic image it had summoned to devour the firebird's last attack.

Rosaline quickly changed the topic when she noticed they were heading nowhere. She was also afraid the snake was conscious of their presence.

"What about the slime?" Bon and Judi also shifted their gaze toward Arlo.

A deep look of fear covered their faces. Anita's existence scared them more than the terrifying snake. Just the thought that they were near two terrifying monsters sent shivers around their bodies.

Arlo gazed at the trio. He could see the fear on their faces, yet they mustered the courage to confront him about it and also didn't spread the information. He decided to be honest with them.

Well, half honest.

After almost fifteen minutes of explanation, Rosaline, Judi, and Bon visibly relaxed.

"So it...she is your summon, and she can only absorb beasts?"

"Yes!" Arlo answered without any hesitation.

Rosaline turned to study Joe, but seeing no change in his expression she decided to believe Arlo.

"Can you please not speak about her to anyone?" Arlo asked with a pleading look.

Not even a second later, Judi answered, "Yes!"

Feeling the strange gazes on her, Judi blushed and hurriedly lowered her head.

Bon sighed at his sister before turning back to Arlo, "No problem. I also wish you would forgive us for how we treated you before."

Judi quickly raised her head to look at him.

Arlo smiled before extending a handshake, "Done!"

Bon shook it, while Judi had a wide smile on her face.

"I will always watch you." the friendly mood was suddenly broken by Rosaline.

She warned Arlo and then left the hall.

Arlo took her reply as a silent agreement and finally relaxed his tense nerves.

"Whew!" he had always been afraid of revealing Anita's existence after receiving Old Bro's warning.

He didn't dare to imagine what would happen if any information about her was leaked out, especially with only vampires surrounding him.

"Would you like to accompany us to the awakening ritual?" Bon suddenly asked.

Everything finally clicked in Arlo's head. Now he knew why they had encountered several vampires during the day.

'Today is the first-year students awakening ritual.'

AN: Thanks to all those who are following the novel.