章節 36: New Steps

"Let's go somewhere warm" Valery aware of the cold and that the temperature can harm Victor. So she prefers to change the place to talk about the things she has to do next.

Because Valery was very clear about what he wanted to do and what were the best steps to achieve what he wanted to do.

"Yes ma'am" Artur said without hesitation.

Valery nodded and took Katerin's arm tightly making her stand next to him and not behind his back like an underlord. It was to make his status clear to Artur.

Victor followed, but stood in the middle, as the weak link.

Katerin more than once tried to change her position out of discomfort, Stelle did not give this special treatment and felt a little uncomfortable with this position. But her attempts ceased when Valery looked at her in a stern and authoritative manner.

Katerin stopped trying to let go. At that Valery's grip became stronger on her arm, she looked at Valery again but did not ask why she increased the strength of her grip, she noticed that she was trembling slightly.

Katerin quickly understood, it was too fast for Valery to change. She had been getting used to everything changing so fast, Valery may have changed from Baroness to Viscountess, but she was still Valery.

Valery will always be Valery.

And in the future Katerin will also have to change.

Why not next to Valery? Her best friend.

They walked in silence, most of the vampires were in their rooms, few were in meetings with their companions at this point. Exhaustion was evident for many and Valery was no exception. She felt exhausted even though her blood frenzy was calmer and she was not hurt, her journey in that strange place was more than exhausting, those terrifying chains were enough for an adventure.

Still she couldn't stop because while the rest of the vampires were in the academy Valery had to take advantage of it.

'I can do this... and this... maybe this is better than that' Valery looked back at Victor and Artur before thinking many things over. Valery is not a strategist nor is she a genius at manipulating situations or people, maybe she should start learning to be like that.

"What about Stelle?"

Valery remained silent, thinking what would be the next best thing to do with Stelle.

'I don't really hold any grudges'.

"We have to make her leave the academy."

"Why?"

Valery, didn't answer and Katerin didn't insist.

"How are we going to make him leave?"

"The only way we can, by drawing the line between her and us. By asking her to leave so she's not in danger, if you insist on staying it would be to subdue her." Valery spoke slowly, so that the whole group could hear her, including Victor.

Katerin thought about Valery's words, Valery was right, maybe this is the only way for Stelle to leave the academy without any conflict. Then they could also thank Stelle for her care during this time.

"Alright, what shall we do now then?"

The 4 arrived at Valery's room, entering carefully each one and stood around the room Artur and Victor on the bed Valery and Katerin on the chairs at the table.

Valery told her plans for the future, ideas that came to her mind and what she wanted to achieve at the end of the tasks they had to prepare. Katerin and Artur contributed their knowledge.

Katerin and Artur contributed with their knowledge, knowledge that helped them to structure the plan better and better, each idea became part of Valery's objective.

"We still lack a means of communication".

Valery looked at Victor, not speaking for a few seconds.

"You want to help?"

"Can I help?"

"Yes, I think from what you have heard you understand what your role would be, I also think we would have a hard time getting "it", you are the best option."

"Let's do it."

Valery smiled happily at the idea of Victor helping them.

"Then Artur and Victor, go to the mountains and look for the rebel humans".

x-x-x-x-x

A few hours later the students gathered in their respective classrooms. Of course the atmosphere was tense, it has been a long time since such a meeting has been held as the teachers have been in the classroom since before.

Professor Coin was there watching the students, in Valery's class before 25 students. Now there are 28 students. 8 students did not make it through the blood frenzy.

The teacher reported that 53 students had died. She did not mention the names of each one simply out of respect for their deaths, but even so they all acted indifferently.

Vampires are not human.

Although they fear death and resent it when loved ones die, they have no empathy for the death of strangers.

Rather than saying their names out of respect, it was to inform the other participants if any of them had an acquaintance.