I stared at the double wooden doors for a while, it was then that an unfocused blob phased through it, that the unsettling feeling returned. This thing was the one watching me, all this time. As I focused into seeing it more quickly I found a pop-up greeting me.

Skill Upgrade

Spirit Manipulation II: Dealings with spirits cost less, requiring less to see them.

The dark swirling mist blob started to take shape, but it still much to difficult to see, I think I saw a limp body within the mist, but I guess it noticed me staring at it and it vanished without the feeling of being watched actually leaving. It's still present, I wonder if I can hurt these spirits.

I force myself to live with the fact that I now have a stalker. I turn my back on the invisible presence and I immediately go to find a few books. Since I had little time, I decided to grab the remaining beginner's guides to the schools, I had yet to start. I hurriedly ran from one shelf to another, quickly finding the books, 'A Beginner's Guide: Swamp Spells', 'A Beginner's Guide: Dark Spells', and 'A Beginner's Guide: Curse Spells'. I opened each one before setting them in their respective shelves.

A Beginner's Guide: Swamp Spells

Slip, Bug Horde, Sicken

A Beginner's Guide: Dark Spells

Weaken Resolve, Shift, Hide Presence

A Beginner's Guide: Curse Spells

Venomous Spit, Toxic Needle, Toxic Dart

Skills Acquired

Swamp Magic Mastery II: Knowledge absorption in Swamp Magic is increased

Swamp Magical Arts II: Able to learn some Beginner Swamp Spells

Dark Magic Mastery II: Knowledge absorption in Dark Magic is increased

Dark Magical Arts II: Able to learn some Beginner Dark Spells

Curse Magic Mastery II: Knowledge absorption in Curse Magic is increased

Curse Magical Arts II: Able to learn some Beginner Curse Spells

That went as well as I thought it would, now I must hurry to the Arena and watch the Elite battles.

…

Making my way toward Life Aid Arena, I was greeted with the same pop-up that greets me every time I enter here. I quickly find my seat in the already populated seats. I sat as close to the match as I could, not that I was excited for the match, but I wanted to at least see everything.

On the field I see a dark robed figure with a familiar scaly face, Fic. And on the other side, I see a dopey faced man in gray robes with a white cross on the front. He had a horrible squint in his eyes. The light seem to shine off his bald head. I wonder how this will play out.

“I will smite you where you stand, filthy demon!” the bald man spat. Usually it was hard to hear things from so far away, but this strange man definitely said these things for the crowd to hear. “Beg for forgiveness and I may let you give up quietly!” What was this strange development? I get that the Xernurochs were openly hated, but this was a strange thing to do to a fellow student.

“Begin!” The announcement came from a feminine voice, my guess is that Mr. Announcer is on break or something.

The gray robed man looked toward his palm which emitted a brilliant light, he then lobed this light toward Fic. Right at impact, the luminous orb exploded in great brilliance. Blinding me for a few seconds, I had to blink the dots out of my vision a few times before I saw the gray robed man kneeling under the foot of Fic, while repeatedly shouting, “I GIVE, I GIVE, I GIVE!” What made the scene rather bizarre however, was that the entire time the bald man shouted these things, he was staring deeply into the eyes of Fic, who held him in his stare. Dark Magic for sure, but I wondered if it was affecting the bald man's mind, or if it was intense fear that led him to giving up instantly.

“Xerfic'mion is the victor, Shantus will remain in an Advanced courses. Next.”

As Fic lifted his boot off the shoulder of Shantus, he broke eye contact by turning around. At the moment the eye contact broke, Shantus looked part dazed, part terrified, and very confused at the same time. He hobbled off the field with some help of the professors.

“Next Battle; Yumari Lunari of the Elite Course, and new student, Corvinus. Begin.” This announcement lady really isn't taking her time with these announcements. In a way, I missed Mr. Announcer, he filled his voice with emotion. I looked on to the fight and I noticed many Ice Nymphs gathering toward Yumari. Curious.

I noticed the Earth mage, Corvinus mutter something under his breath, but because of the distance, I could not discern what he had said. At that instant, the entire ground became covered in Permafrost, which had caused Corvinus to be stuck in place. Ice then surrounded the Princess in a bulb like shape. Corvinus tried firing little pebbles and of different sizes at her, in a desperate attempt as the ice started to advance up his legs. The bulb like structure different look like it had sustained any damage, but instead started rise on a thick pillar. I noticed that the ice covered ground how taken on a different look, the ground was no longer flat, but instead the ice began making smaller versions of the gigantic structure that surrounded the Princess. It was then that I realized what it reminded me of, flowers.

Not long after the ice that was creeping up the legs of the trapped Corvinus, did the ice reach his abdomen. He seemed to care about the fight no longer, but instead focused on smashing the his with his hands. The third time he uselessly hit his hands against the unrelenting ice, did all of the Ice Flowers bloom. I could feel the temperature of the field drop from where I was sitting, and knowing how the field was suppose to operate, that should been almost impossible with the Magic nullification around the audience.

I looked back at the Princess smiling at her own victory while atop a flower of ice. I switched my gaze from the smiling Princess to that of the man completely encased in ice. It was then the announcer made her statements, “Yumari Lunari is the Victor, Corvinus will remain in the Advanced courses. Next.” A team of people went on to the field to clean up the mess and recover the frozen body of Corvinus. The entire process took some time, but the audience around me were more than eager for the next fight.

After the field was considered good enough for the next round, the announcer called out the next contestants as they walked out onto the field. “Next Battle; Litavia Solaeum of the Elite Course, and new student, Ashley Smith. Begin.” This Princess walked out with a stride that wasn't as refined as Yumari's, but had a enough dignity to mark her of Royal Descent. Ashley greeted everyone with a smile and wave with an occasional air-kiss to the crowd. I have no doubt that she is definitely a Player. However the crowd had taken a keen interest in her and responded to her just as well as they responded to the Princess of Solaeum.

At the start Ashley tried summoning a tree to hide in, just she did in her previous rounds. Though instead of going straight for the tree, like most people would. I saw a very familiar tactic being pulled by the fiery Princess. She dashed for the tree at insane speeds leaving fire in her wake, she then diverted from the path and ran around the tree that Ashley hid in. I have no idea what Ashley was up to, as she was hidden to the audience, but the Princess throwing fire left and right while running at incredible speeds, it was clear what was on the mind of Solaeum's celebrity.

It wasn't long before the arena was cast in a sea of yellow fire, even the tree looked withered and had start to catch aflame. It looked as though Ashley's plan was to ensnare Litavia in vines and roots on several occasions, but because of the speed of which she ran, that proved difficult. The exposed roots and dangling vines fed the flames that bathed the area. It wasn't long until the hands of Ashley Smith rose from the tree in defeat. It was at that moment that the entire tree was engulfed and we heard the screams of poor Ashley Smith. The Life Aid Arena protected her body from the flames by robbing her consciousness, but that didn't take away the unsettling screams.

“Litavia Solaeum is the Victor, Ashley Smith will remain in the Advanced courses. Next.” It looks like I inspired the fiery princess to learn a few tricks, either that or she just stole the idea from me because it ended up besting her. Either way, she does appear to hold her self in a slightly different way, even though it is a very subtle difference. She even dismissed the flames her self, making the efforts of the clean up team moot.

“Next Battle; Toruva Flarespearae of the Elite Course, and new student, Jason Blud. Begin.” The two figures walked out onto the arena, one being the incredibly recognizable dark figure that hangs around the bright and cheery Ashley Smith, his name was Jason Blud? I have a feeling that he is a Player from the brief abilities displayed yesterday. I watched him intently, he seem to have conflicting emotions. I decided to see Toruva was up to, given she was the only one moving. She brandished a sword, one that looked of superior design, and even had symbols engraved on it that gave it a stunning look, even from a distance. The sword appear to glow in her hands as she dashed forward. She ran very quickly with her posed to strike, with Jason Blud remained statue like until the last second, when Toruva brought down her sword.

In an instant my jaw dropped, he turned to mist. This mist brushed by Toruva Flarespearae until he reappeared behind her and he grabbed both sides of her head and twisted with brute force, enough force for the violent cracking sound to be heard from the audience, which turned silent. The loud crack meant the neck had been broken, but the Life Aid effect was quick at work and mended the broken neck. The was collective sigh of relief when someone announced that she was still breathing. How much power did this man have? He almost broke the Life Aid Arena's effects.

With a loud voice, probably with the help of a voice projection spell, he spoke in the same volume as the announcer, “I renounce my Victory.” With that being the only words he spoke with his gravelly voice, he strode off the field.

“Toruva Flarespearae is the Victor, Jason Blud will remain in the Advanced courses. There will be an hour long intermission before the next event, the Entertainment Bout. I will explain the rules shortly after. Dismissed.” With that, the audience left the stands in a mass exodus, but the scenes from the last few battles had left everyone mostly silent. While there were no deaths, or even any real consequences, the scenes were brutal to behold. I think after the break, everyone will still look forward to the entertainment bout. There was one thought on my mind though: I was not the only Vampire at this school.