Chapter 272: 272: An Offer Between Enemies III

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They entered a quieter corridor. John's expression became serious again.

The attention was becoming dangerous. People wanted to know about his family, his magic, and Fizz Holdings. Some were only curious. Others wanted something.

John had learned that the people who smiled first were not always safer than the people who attacked openly.

At the end of the corridor, a first-year student waited near a window. He bowed when John approached.

"Headmaster Snake asked to see you."

John stopped.

"Now?"

"Yes."

Fizz whispered, "Maybe he wants to congratulate you for punching a duke's son."

John looked at him. "That is not something people congratulate."

Fizz nodded. "Then nobles are strange."

John followed the messenger toward the headmaster's tower.

The academy became quieter as they climbed. Fewer students were allowed in the upper floors, and the walls carried stronger protective runes. By the time John reached Snake's office, he could feel several barriers watching his mana.

The messenger opened the door and stepped aside.

Snake sat behind his desk. His legendary hat rested on his head, its pointed end bent slightly toward the window. Several papers were spread before him, but Snake moved them aside when John entered.

"Sit."

John sat in the chair across from the desk. Fizz floated down and landed on the back of it.

Snake looked at John's face for several seconds.

"You have become popular."

John answered carefully. "I did not ask for it."

"No one ever asks for the dangerous kind."

Snake leaned back.

"I heard what happened in the courtyard."

John did not know whether Snake meant the fight or the words spoken during it.

Snake continued. "Now the entire academy knows you were connected to House White. That changes things."

John's jaw tightened. "I am not part of that family."

"You know that. I know that. Your enemies will not care."

Snake's voice remained calm and almost gentle.

"A rejected noble son with rare magic attracts many types of attention. Some people will want to use you against the White family. Others will want to return you to them. A few will decide you are easier to kill before you become stronger."

Fizz crossed his paws.

"They can try."

Snake looked at him. "They will."

Fizz's expression became more serious.

John asked, "Did you call me here only to warn me?"

"No."

Snake opened one drawer and removed a small round token. It was made from dark silver and carried the academy symbol on one side. The other side held a tiny blue stone surrounded by several thin runes.

Snake placed it on the desk.

"Take this."

John did not touch it immediately.

"What does it do?"

"It sends a distress signal to the academy if you feed mana into it. The signal works inside the capital and several miles beyond the walls."

John studied the token.

"Why give this to me?"

Snake's brows lifted slightly. "Because someone may attack you."

"That does not answer why you are helping."

Fizz turned toward John. "He helps because you are his favorite student."

Snake smiled.

John did not.

Snake folded his hands together.

"You are my student," he said. "You have rare power, difficult enemies, and almost no family protection. Helping you is not strange."

John watched his face.

Snake's voice remained warm.

"You also remind me of people I failed to protect in the past."

For one moment, sadness appeared in his eyes. It looked real.

John's suspicion weakened slightly.

He picked up the token.

The metal felt cold against his fingers.

Snake explained how to activate it. John only needed to send a short burst of mana into the blue stone. Once activated, the token would carry his location to the academy's protective network.

"There is one limit," Snake said. "It cannot break sealing formations. If someone traps you inside a strong barrier, the signal may be delayed."

John turned the token over in his hand.

"Then it is not perfect."

"Nothing useful is."

Fizz leaned closer to the token.

"Can it call food?"

"No," Snake said.

Fizz lost interest immediately.

Snake looked at John again.

"Enemies often become more dangerous after they begin working together."

John's eyes narrowed.

"Do you know something?"

Snake shook his head. "Nothing clear. But I know how frightened nobles behave. One enemy fails, so he finds another. Hatred creates alliances faster than friendship."

John thought about Fartray.

Then Ned.

Both had reasons to hate him.

"Do not leave the academy alone for several days," Snake said. "If Fizz Holdings needs you, tell me first."

John placed the token inside his coat.

"I cannot remain here forever."

"I did not ask forever."

Snake's expression became firmer.

"I asked for several days. Let your enemies become impatient. Impatient people make mistakes."

John understood the advice. Still, he did not like depending on another person's protection.

Snake noticed his hesitation.

"You believe accepting help makes you weak."

John said nothing.

Snake smiled faintly.

"It does not. Refusing every hand only makes your enemies' work easier."

Fizz nodded with great wisdom.

"Yes. Accept hands. Especially hands holding cake."

John ignored him.

Snake changed the subject.

"How is your small creature?"

John's body became still.

Fizz's ears lifted.

Snake continued as if he had asked about the weather.

"The void ant."

John answered after a short pause. "Hidden."

"Good."

Snake's eyes remained on him.

"Has she changed?"

John did not like how quickly Snake noticed things.

"A little."

"Void creatures often grow through exposure. Be careful how much energy she consumes. Growth without control can damage both beast and master."

"She is not my contracted beast."

"No," Snake said. "She is something more unusual."

The hat on Snake's head moved slightly.

Its pointed end turned toward John's chest.

John noticed.

Snake lifted one hand and adjusted the hat.

"It is curious," he said. "The hat senses strange mana."

Fizz stared at it.

"Your hat is rude."

The hat bent toward Fizz.

Fizz moved behind John's shoulder.

Snake laughed quietly.

John did not fully relax.

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