Chapter 86 Dangerous Game
"An Echo Locket!" the Divine Priest exclaimed, pointing at the powerful Item.
Aeric looked down at him. "Good, you know what it is."
Headmistress Lysandra was completely frozen, her usual bountiful features were rather uncharacteristically pale now. Her eyes had diluted with both anger and shock and Aeric could see her fingers trembling as her eyes darted between him and the locket.
"That is a Gold Ranked Item!" she finally opened her mouth to hiss. "H— How could you get in possession of it? You've not even begun your quests."
Aeric leaned against the cold stone wall, a smug grin curling his lips. He flipped the Echo Locket open with a theatrical flourish, letting the faint echo of their recorded voices spill into the sanctum.
"Uhh! Ughhh! Ohhh! Oh, Priest! Yes! Give me your Divine shaft! Push it into me! Fill my aged sheath with your priestly pump meat!"
Headmistress Lysandra's eyes widened with fear. The Divine Priest mumbled, "Oh the Divinity's punishment befalls upon me."
The recording continued.
"You have no other proof beside the allegation that you saw us here with your own eyes. And who would believe such an allegation like that?"
"They hold me and the Divine Priest at a much higher esteem than they hold you, Son of Starlight. Keep this secret, anything else is a waste of time because no one would believe you."
Lysandra took her defeated face down, ashamed and dumbfounded.
Aeric snapped the locket shut, silencing the recording. "Well, well," he drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. "This is quite the treasure, isn't it? Your words, loud and clear. And not just your words but those intense, desperate moans of pleasure, Headmistress. You are quite the passionate woman."
He smirked at her, while she frowned cornerdly.
"I am truly curious to know just how long this has been going on but..." he shrugged, "I wonder what the rest of the Institution and the Realm itself would think if they heard their illustrious leaders fucking like dogs in the dark?"
"What do you think?" he cocked his head at the Headmistress. "Do you think they'll believe me then?"
Lysandra's eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening as fury replaced fear. She adjusted the thin purple glasses on her nose, finally meeting Aeric eye to eye. "You're playing a dangerous game, Son of Starlight."
"But it's still a game, isn't it?" he chuckled handsomely. "A very fun one too. Look at you. Cornered. Furious. Almost helpless." He pointed a thinking finger at her. "Almost."
He shrugged. Lysandra raised a brow. "I said almost because you're not completely helpless, Headmistress. Because I think I can help you. But that's up to you."
Aeric narrowed his eyes at her and smiled. "What do you think?"
Headmistress Lysandra narrowed her eyes, understanding where Aeric was going with this.
But they heard the Divine Priest scramble to his feet, his hands trembling as he raised his hands up and began to summon a purple-like magic. "Do you dare try to bribe us, boy! You don't know what you're meddling with! Hand over that artifact now, or—"
"Enough!" Lysandra demanded, her voice cracking like a whip and silencing the priest instantly. She barely even glanced at him, her focus entirely on Aeric. "Shut up and bring down your arms before you make this worse," she hissed.
Aeric looked at the Priest, showing an expression of disgust. "Seriously, mister. First impressions truly are lies."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Lysandra stepped forward, her giant breasts swinging alongside her as her half naked body came closer, her heels clicking against the stone.
Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes burned with a mixture of frustration and calculation. "Fine then," she said, her tone softer now, almost coaxing. "Why don't we discuss this in my office? I underestimated you the first day I saw you and I have underestimated you again. We are both intelligent people. I'm sure we can come to... an understanding."
Aeric tilted his head, pretending to consider her words.
He watched her, watched as the frustration of waiting began to anger her while his crimson eyes glinted. Then, with a lazy smile, he said, "I'm sure we can. I knew you would catch on quickly."
Right in front of them, to make sure they understand he forever held the evidence that could destroy them, he retracted the Echo Locket into his item interface with a flick of his wrist, and the device vanished into shimmering light.
Lysandra watched it disappear then looked at Aeric with expressionless eyes.
Before turning to leave, Aeric glanced at the Divine Priest, his smirk turning icy. "Don't worry. We'll talk later. You and I."
The priest glared at him but said nothing, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Then, Aeric climbed up the narrow spiralling stairs until he was out of the inner sanctum and then out of the temple itself.
He walked with anticipation through the fielded grounds and then into the corridors of the Institution which were quieter now.
Aeric could hear the hum of distant voices which reminded him that Divine Quests lessons were still in session. He frowned, glancing at the grand clock mounted on the wall.
'Turtlebear's bladder! I almost forgot.'
He wanted to move, but then instantly stopped, remembering something. If he headed to Lysandra's office now, he'd miss Regional Studies as well — a lesson he'd been eagerly anticipating as he needed the knowledge in his personal quest.
But not just that only, he'd also wanted to spend some time with Celestia, and she wanted the same as well.
However, this was more important. Undeniably. The leverage he held over the headmistress was too valuable to squander. If played correctly, if he could use holding her and the Priest's secret over her, he could set the stage for his larger ambitions: [Claiming] the Moonlight Daughters' powers and extending his influence across the Regions.
His father was presently setting obstructions in that moment — all those so called disciples and loyal Players. Aeric had to get people on his side, watching his back as well, whether by friendship like Delva and Celestia, or by blackmail.
The Headmistress and the Divine Priest were invaluable additions. He knew this.
Aeric thought of Celestia. She'd be upset, no doubt. She'd never understand why he had to miss their lessons, why he had to keep making these choices that had kept them from spending as much time as he wanted to.
In fact, Aeric was starting to wonder if he was ever going to eventually tell anyone about this. If he was going to, she would have to be the first. But for now, he was leaving her out of it, and he had something important to do.
"I'll apologize," he muttered under his breath. "She'll understand. She'll get over it."
Squaring his shoulders, he ignored the door to the lesson room and made his way toward the Institution's grand staircase.