As the professors rushed away with the card, Hazel approached Aizel with eagerness. The formerly shy twins also took a step forward, their interest sparked by the odd item.
"What did you show Aizel? Do you know someone from the upper ranks?" Hazel asked.
"It was just a card given to me by a woman I know; she told me to show them after the test. That's all I know so far, sorry." Aizel let out a weak laugh and scratched his head as he spoke.
"I should not tell anyone about her for now; I don't know who she is, but it seems like someone important. Huh, why do I always get entangled in this kind of situation?" he thought while letting out a weak sigh.
"I think it's good since we're all now able to join the high class." Jareth, one of the twins, said.
"Isn't that great? We will be able to learn more advanced magic and will be able to earn some merits directly from the royal family." Hazel's eyes lit up with excitement as she spoke, and her voice was filled with the anticipation of being part of the high class.
The woman with silver hair walked away from the group without saying anything.
"I guess we will see each other tomorrow; goodbye." With a polite farewell, Hazel also parted ways with the rest of the group and went on her way.
Aizel also said his farewells to the twins before heading to the potion shop. He was excited to get his hands on those mind potions at a discounted price.
"Those guys don't seem bad, but I won't make the same mistake from now on. I have to be like that silver-haired lady.
"And in this high-class system, I am sure that class will be the special class of mages from the noble family." He thought on his way.
As he entered the potion shop, he found it empty except for the lady.
"So you pass the test pretty easily...not bad."
"You already knew I would pass. Why are you helping me?"
The woman closed the distance towards Aizel with a giggle.
"You know Aizel; I know who you really are, what you did, and who is searching for you now."
Aizel's hand moved swiftly as he summoned Sekki, the sword appearing in a flash of light. He took a quick step back, putting a safe distance between himself and the approaching woman.
"Now, now, aren't you scared, pretty boy? But don't worry; I don't care who you really are or what you have done.
"Even if you go ahead and kill the royal family or become the next ruler, I simply don't care. What I want from you is a mutual exchange of partnership."
"What do you mean by mutual partnership?" As he spoke, Aizel's grip on his sword tightened, ready to go all out if the situation required it.
"You will do some of my requests without asking for the reason, and in return, I will give you the reward, portions, or even help you get artifacts and upper-grade weapons or potions that can only be provided by the nobles or the royals."
"But I am already part of the magic institute now; I can easily get that by earning some merits for them," Aizel responded.
The woman's laughter echoed throughout the room as she gracefully settled herself onto her seat behind the counter.
"So, will you swear loyalty to the nobles and the royals then? You know they won't provide a single thing if you don't become a part of them.
"You don't belong to any family; you have no one backing you; you will be played like a fool like that pretty blonde lady played you back in the town.
Aizel remained silent, his gaze fixed on the woman, without uttering a single word.
"What makes you different from them?" he finally asked.
"See, Aizel, when they realize how talented and unique you are, they will do everything in their power either to make you one of them or to destroy you.
"What makes me different is that I don't need any reason or cowardly methods to get what I want.
"I can kill everyone with just a flip of my palm." The woman's words faded, and the air in the room became dense with mana. Aizel found it difficult to breathe as the pressure rose.
"Then…why…did you say you could get killed…by giving me the mind potion?" Aizel spoke in a hushed whisper, his chest constrained by the heavy mana in the air.
"Oh, that was just a joke." The woman smiled as the mana around them returned to normal.
"And why do you think I am unique?"
"I can see straight in your soul Aizel, It's different from others. It is so deep like it is hiding another world itself in it."
Aizel's expression remained stoic and he remained silent, but his mind raced with fear. Did she know about his power of imagination?
"So will you become my partner?"
"Don't ask like that; it sounds weird," Aizel said after coughing a little.
"Wierd?"
"Never mind, so if I do what you want, you will provide me with rewards and stuff, right? So give me a mind potion on discount as I have already passed the test now."
"About that, I can't provide you with that from the portion of my stock; it will cause problems for me, but don't worry, I will give you a list of the ingredients that are needed to brew.
"You will get plenty of missions, and you will be traveling quite often, so you can pick them up on your way, and I will brew the potion for you."
"And one more thing I would like you to warn about, things are going to get messy in a few months. Make sure to keep your guard up every time."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't worry, you will know everything about it in the institute."
"How did you come to know about me, and are there any others who know too?" Aizel asked.
"Don't worry, no one knows about it for now. Make sure to keep a low profile in the institute."
"Go now; don't waste my time. Here, take the list." She handed Aizel a list that had weird plant names and herbs that Aizel didn't recognize.
"When you have collected everything, stop by the shop to give me the items."
Aizel left the shop and headed back to his inn.
