I could feel a cold sweat break out from the pressure she was beginning to exert. As much as I reassured myself that I was an elder dragon, a higher being than her, I couldn’t avert my eyes from the truth that I was in a disadvantageous position. If a fight were to ensue, I couldn’t imagine myself lasting long. In my current weakened state, the only weapons left to me were my wits and words.
Coming clean about my true goal of traveling to the past was most likely not a wise option. However, it was possible that as a fellow being at the top of the food chain, and a predatory one at that, she wouldn’t even bat an eye. Perhaps she’d even take my side if I told her the exact circumstances. Vampires had been allies of elder dragons in the war, so it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to seek out a similar relationship with this one.
That being said, this was a different realm with a different culture, set of circumstances, and status quo entirely. It’d be foolish of me to apply logic from my realm directly to this one. So that was why, for the time being, I continued to stay silent, waiting to see where she was taking this line of questioning before reacting.
“Now, there are several reasons that come to mind at this point in time. Would you like to hear?” she asked, tilting her head.
I stayed silent, quickly simulating all the different kinds of scenarios on how this situation could play out. I’m dead, aren’t I? I’m going to die without even being able to put up a fight. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me, no doubt a memento from my brush with death owing to that accursed Blade Saint. My neck began to ache where his steel had met my flesh. I felt paralyzed. My body wouldn’t even allow me the slightest of movements. Though I wasn’t very fond of the idea, if fighting wasn’t possible, fleeing into the sunlight might give me a chance of survival.
Noticing my reticence, she sighed and continued, “First”—she held up her pinkie—“you truly are seeking asylum, and you’ve narrowly evaded certain death by using the hourglass.” Then she put up her ring finger. “Your world faced complete and utter destruction, and you were forced to return to the past to warn your people of it.” Then, she put up her middle finger. “Your people faced extinction for a different reason, and you have to return to the past to correct it.” Then, she put up her index finger. “This one’s my favorite theory. You were fighting an opponent stronger than you could handle and were forced to retreat to the past to either warn your people or kill them in a weaker state. I find it amusing to imagine an opponent who can overpower an elder dragon.”
I made sure to not react whatsoever, but even so, she grinned and put her hand down.
“Of course, it’s possible that I didn’t deduce the true reason; however, these are certainly the most likely scenarios. In which case, this school could approve asylum for only three out of these four situations. That being said, I get the feeling that the reason you’re here is the fourth scenario I mentioned.”
This vampire was incredibly astute. I had to make sure that nothing I did gave any unnecessary information to her. This is why I detest dealing with greater vampire lords. They’re arrogant, but they actually have the skill and intelligence to back it up. As much as it pained me to admit, in terms of pure intelligence, they were either on or above the level of elder dragons. Her effortless deductions put this on full display.
“Still giving me the silent treatment?” she sighed. “Well, how about this: I’ll run through each of the scenarios and how they’ll play out with you. If you’re fleeing from certain death, of course, you’ll receive asylum. If your world faced destruction, then you’ll receive asylum too. If your species was facing extinction, same thing. Though, in all three scenarios, I’d need to consult a certain individual who’s more knowledgeable about time travel, but that’s for another discussion.”
I kept a straight face and continued to stare right into her eyes. Despite the almost frightening amount of pressure she was exerting, her expression didn’t show it whatsoever; she seemed perfectly calm and collected. But as soon as she began getting into the remaining scenario, I felt as if the temperature in the room had dropped to an uncomfortable chill.
“If, however, you seek to harm someone in this world for the sake of self-preservation, well, that’s where things get a little tricky. You see, if your objective is indeed violence, the fact that you showed up here gives me the impression that the target will be someone at this school. It’d be one thing if you’re seeking the life of myself or a professor; however, if your objective is to do a student harm...”
I blinked, and suddenly, she’d disappeared—no, not disappeared but moved so quickly that in my debilitated state, I hadn’t been able to react the way I wanted to.
No sooner had I moved my arm than I felt sharp, almost knifelike nails over my heart. They easily pierced through the fabric of the uniform I was wearing, threatening to puncture even my tough scales. I feared even taking the smallest of breaths, lest I push the nails deeper into my chest.
“As student council president, I have a duty to protect the students. The only thing keeping me from promptly ripping you to shreds is that, as of right now, you, too, are a student of the school. However, I’m not one to issue repeated warnings. If your goal is indeed to harm a student, it’d be in your best interests to at least recover your strength before you can do that. Although...” She lightly chuckled. “It’s impressive that even in your debilitated state, you were able to react somewhat. But I doubt you’ll ever be in a position to actually fight me on an even level.”