The Shahid, frowning, tilted his head slightly while keeping his cold and sullen expression.
— Stop him? Stop who, or what?
I had managed to capture his attention and delay my execution; that was all I needed. Now I had to go all in, or death itself would take over. So, I activated the skill I had secretly sharpened all the way up to level 999.
— I've put everything in writing. I asked one of your students to read my thoughts and take note of what he saw. He promised me that at the slightest sign of trouble, he would be more than happy to destroy you. However… if we reach an agreement, I can still stop him. Because if, hmmm, in five minutes I don't give him a signal, he'll drag you straight to hell—along with your stupid reputation. I threw those words at him with the most serious face of my life.
The Shahid looked me up and down, then started circling me, never taking his eyes off me. He frequently tapped his wand in his hand—and I really mean his magic wand, not a metaphor.
— Hmm, he said in an amused tone. Nice try. But you forgot one tiny detail: who exactly was supposed to teach your friend how to read minds? he asked, stretching his mouth into a comical grin. Well? he pressed.
And that's when I realized I had never been a good liar. Honestly, it was almost stupid. Instead, I should have said I had been summoned here for some grand purpose, destined to fight and defeat the Demon King, or some other cliché garbage that mangaka churn out endlessly. But no… I was screwed.
— Besides, I've been reading your thoughts from the moment you stepped foot in this place. This is my special chamber. It's filled with spells, he informed me, mocking my ignorance.
If that was true, then it meant he had been messing with me since the beginning. The realization filled me with shame and rage all at once.
— Tch, I spat in disgust.
— Still, he suddenly said, it's unfair.
I lifted my gaze. He had turned his back to me before continuing.
— You never asked to come into this world, and you seem so very young… it's unfair to snuff out your life just for that. I'd rather we reach an agreement, you and I, he said, rekindling the flame of life that had stopped beating in my chest for the last ten minutes. Sending you back home is no longer an option.
— Oh really? Why? I asked, curious.
— Time. One of our researchers proved and tested the theory that time doesn't flow the same between our two worlds. One month here equals ten years over there, he declared.
I had no way of knowing if he was telling the truth or just messing with me again. And I wasn't about to play amateur psychologist to read his intentions. But if it was true… then ten years had already slipped away in my original world.
Ten damn years… My girlfriend, the one I should have lost my virginity with, was probably married by now. My family? They must have searched, then given up, maybe even put up a nice gravestone to move on. My friends? Not many, but enough that the thought hurt. Ten years… that's a long time.
— So I've lost almost ten years of my life?
— Among other things, but only if you go back home. So? Will you return anyway, or stay here? If you choose to stay, I'll let you join the academy.
— Cool, then I'm staying, I cut in.
The Shahid gave me a surprised look.
— Honestly, I thought I was going to die, so I'd already accepted never going back. Besides… I don't really want to. It's not like I mattered that much to them anyway.
— I see, he said before letting me drop onto my butt.
He walked over to his desk. I stood back up.
— So it's decided—you won't kill me? I can learn magic and throw fireballs? I asked.
— No. I never intended to kill you—otherwise you'd already be dead. But that doesn't mean I trust you, he replied, stopping me in my tracks.
Clearly, you could never let your guard down around this old man.
— Still, your earlier idea wasn't so bad.
— Which idea?
— The contract. We'll make a pact, and whoever breaks it will die.
Gulp.
---
I swallowed hard at the mere mention of death. The Shahid conjured a piece of paper from nowhere and set it on the table. It was covered with inscriptions I couldn't understand: gibberish to me. But the whole thing radiated magic, like an official contract.
— Sign it, he ordered, handing me a Bic pen.
— I don't sign what I don't understand, I replied.
— You don't have a choice, he shot back. If you sign this and later tell anyone what you saw tonight, you'll face a cruel fate.
I didn't take the threat lightly. In his eyes, I could see the malice and violence he was capable of unleashing to protect his secret. So I quickly signed. Scribbled my name where indicated.
— There. That's it? Because usually, contracts like this should glow, float, or fuse into my chest or something.
— That's it. From now on, you're bound by oath, and your life depends on it. As for your admission to the academy, you'll be accepted under Nemour's recommendation. My name must never be mentioned, or I'll make your life hell.
He snapped his fingers, and a cape, pants, and a t-shirt fell onto my head. As I pulled them off, he slid a document across the desk.
— This certifies your acceptance. You'll have access to all classes, lodging, and meals. Supplies? Covered—you're a scholarship student. Now, avoid me as much as possible and shut your big mouth, he finished.
I held my new clothes, glancing at the document. A small smile crept onto my face as I looked up at my illustrious new teacher.
— Thanks. That's very kind, I murmured.
— Why are you smiling? he asked, puzzled.
— Oh, nothing. Just that if I die after exposing you, it'll make my words even more believable, I said casually.
The Shahid frowned, glaring like someone who'd just been outwitted by someone beneath him. The kind of look that screamed, I'm going to kill you, bastard. But I didn't care. I'd already gotten what I wanted. Hahahahahaha.
— Anyway…
— Sit down. I'm not done with you, brat.
I ended up staying another half hour in his office, clarifying details and asking questions about my training.
From then on, I was officially allowed to live in one of the academy dorms. No more barns or hay. A real bed.
I left his office whistling down the halls, overjoyed. He had dropped me off at the entrance of one of the towers, then left me to figure it out on my own.
Two staircases. I knew the right one led to the dorms, so I hurried up. Third floor. Down the hall. Sixth door.
— This is it, I muttered, standing before the wooden door.
An apartment all to myself. My very first possession in this world. I can't even describe the joy of finally owning something that was mine and mine alone.
— At last, it's over. I can start a new life. But first, I declared as I opened the door, I'm going to sleep like my life depends on it…
And then, shock.
There, on my bed, was a girl.
The room was spacious, bathed in sunlight filtered through long, sheer white curtains. Beautiful. But she… she eclipsed everything.
Her skin was pale, her legs smooth, her thighs visible beneath the sheets. She raised her hips, crouching on the bed, wearing nothing but a long white shirt that barely covered her divine curves. Her cheek stayed pressed against the pillow, lazy and unwilling to move.
Her hair was white—not pure, but a dusty, dirty kind of white. Frizzy, voluminous, zigzagging like an untamed afro. Her skin glowed faintly, surrounded by an inhuman aura.
Even more beautiful than Paradox… as if carved by a perverted angel.
And then I noticed… she was drooling on my bed.
And me… I was hard as hell.