Chapter 103

The amount of money

one owns ultimately decides the victor.

This doesn't stop within the walls of a casino,

or it's cash flow.

It's the rule that forms

the basis of a capitalist society.

- Yumeko Jabami (Kakegurui)

None of the students complain about me skipping the line. This place runs on hierarchy, the more connections you have the more comfortable your stay here will be, that is just the way it is. Those left behind can only grit their teeth, with nowhere to vent their anger.

From the way that girl from earlier is glaring at me, I can tell that she is going to try and create trouble for me. She believes that because I am new here, I do not have as many people to protect me.

I will just think of her as an extra training buddy.

The food here tastes amazing. It melts inside of my mouth and the flavor is umami. Yum.

In my peripheral vision, Sebastian's chopsticks pause in mid air to stare at me. My bulging chipmunk like cheeks turn a light pink from his stare.

"Whaf are oo lookin at." It comes out weird because my mouth is full.

"Nothing, you just look adorable when you eat like that." Stuffing my mouth with food is attractive? Does he have a fever?

I ignore him and go back to eating my meal, but what I can not disregard is the buŧŧerflies pooling in my stomach.

"When you're done, I want to show you some place, are you free after this?" I do not even know why he even bothers to ask me, because I know he has memorized my class schedule.

"Yes I am free, and where are we going?" I question.

"I can't tell you, it's a secret." His eyes do not give away any information. I guess I will have to wait until we get there to see what the big deal is about.

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Sebastian leads me through a secret passage way hidden behind a wall adjacent a staircase. He encases my hand in his, My mind can not help but remember the details of his palm. Callouses cover it, no doubt from the laborious sword training his Father forces him to do. His grip is strong, yet soft at the same time.

The passageway is dark, bȧrėly any light passes through here. Sebastian stumbles a few times on the steep stairs, I could not help but to chuckle a few times at him. He glares at me a little bit, but I can see the tenderness in his eyes directed at me. He then turns around and passes a hand through his hair to ruffle it, Aw he gets embarrassed so easily around me sometimes.

Finally we make it to the end. In our way stands a large door made out of a strange material. I notice a few hidden stones that have character's written on them. If it were not for my special training in this area back when I was a student under my master Shan Chao, I would not have noticed anything out of the ordinary at all.

"S-," I am about to tell him that it is an illusion ray, before I realize how stupid that is. How could he not know that? He is the one that brought me to this place.

He does a series of movements with the stones, and then the door finally opens.

It is red.....

Everywhere there are flames. Is this hell? I am hit with a blast of heat, but I circulate the qi within myself to cool down my body's temperature. "Why are we here?"

The flames reflect on his face. It makes him look detached, almost as though he is a supreme being reborn from hell.

"We're here to practice. Did you forget that I promised to help you reach the pinnacle of your cultivation all those years to go?"

"What....that's p-preposterous. I could never forget something like that." He gives me the side-eye noticing my weird reaction, but I turn my face away from him so he does not see that I almost shit myself.

Living away for two hundred years is enough time for me to forget some information. You can not blame me.

"Okay, well let's get on with it shall we. I want to see how far you have progressed while I was away."

He had better be prepared to face some of my new combos, they are very intense. I hope he can keep up with me.

"Since I brought you here, that means I want to see how comfortable you are using your fire element. Remember to use the bracelet."

The oncoming spar makes my blood rush. I can feel the adrenaline pumping everywhere, my muscles multiplying in ability.

"You ready Mel Bel?"

"Y-", He does not even wait for my response before attacking.

He uses his dark powers to spar with me, I guess he wants to get dirty then. I use the Coiling dragon technique and combine it with my fire element to hit with aside hook. It hits him on his side and he goes flying. My dragon disintegrates when I coil it back, residing inside my dantian.

Sebastian recovers, his shirt would have had damage had it not ben of supreme quality. "Okay, I guess it is time for me to go all out then Melia."

He uses some kind of martial arts footwork because the next second he disappears, I sense him behind me and turn around to side step him. I avoid being thrown over his shoulder at the last minute.

We are completely invested in the fight. The bracelet on my arm glows a bright scarlet, it circulates my fire element, making it ten times more potent.

I focus all of my training into this fight. His fits connects with my face, but it doesn't hurt. He has a protective shadow barrier covering his fits to keep me from feeling any pain.

I do a flip to get off the floor, I land on Sebastian's neck and twist my legs to get him on the ground under me. My hands pin his arms above his head. He gives me a little smirk before reversing my move so that I am the one under him instead. Dang it how did he do that. I thought I had him for sure.

He must have noticed my disappointed look because he lowers his head to my left ear and whispers, [1] "If Gods block, kill the Gods; if Buddhas block, kill the Buddhas." I nod my head weakly.

His warm breath tickles my ear. My body goes soft like jelly. He pulls back to look at me. I can see myself in his golden orbs. My eyes drift towards his soft pink lips, I am only focused on one thing. The sound of the flames ablaze is drowned out. His eyes are focused on my mouth, and I can not help but lick my bottom lip. My throat feels so dry. Sebastian's face come's closer to mine and I think for a moment that it is about to happen.

Then, he removes himself from on top of me. "I-I um, I won't be able to control myself. If we continue. I don't want to hurt you." Why did I have to be a two hundred thirty eight year old vɨrġɨn. Do I repulse him? Are my spinster ways showing?

"Mel, it's not you. I just don't want to start something I know you won't be able to finish. Let's wait for our marriage night. Then we can have some real fun, eh?" It is like he knows everything that goes on inside my mind. how is he able to read me so clearly?

"Yeah, let's go back. I think my free period is almost over."

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It was going to be longer, but then I felt it would be best to leave it as a cliff hanger. I can't put all the juicy stuff inside of one chapter, now can I? Guys I have decided to update on the four days of the week but take friday, saturday, and sunday off.

[1] It means : you have to overcome every obstacle.