Witch Rebirth: Strike The Vampire Chapter 16 - A Letter Of Invitation (3)

Not long after, Yoona stirred up awake once again. She blinked slowly as the hazy image of the man in front of her became clearer and clearer. It was Wicked, and he was standing by her table with his usual blank look.

“Uh, when did you come in?” she asked, awkwardly sitting up in a slow manner, embarra.s.sed to have been caught in that state.

“Just now.” He answered nonchalantly…

“Oh, but what are you doing here. . . ?"

“I stopped by to make sure you are doing well.”

It was embarra.s.sing. She was certain she had been drooling like an idiot and Wicked had seen all of it. Ah! The shame after such sweet slumber!She must have looked ridiculous. She could feel her face beginning to flush in embarra.s.sment all the more.

“You look like you've been sleeping the entire day instead of what Tomovoy told you." he said dryly, looking at the barely opened books. She was still trapped in the first page."Keep it up, and the more I will only make you study."

Yoona smiled sheepishly at Wicked's words. She bowed her head in shame and then murmured in a small voice…

“I-I don't really like studying." She said, looking anywhere else but him, "I guess I'm naturally stupid. Hehe…" she trailed off, laughing awkwardly, but Wicked only stared, much like glared at her.

“On the contrary, you're a natural genius." He said, raising an eyebrow."That's why you've completed the curriculum at the top of your cla.s.s after all."

“Wow, really?" Blinking in surprise, feeling good all of a sudden at the prospect of being the top of the cla.s.s!"I must have been very smart.” She said, smiling widely

But the smile was quickly wiped away by her own musings.

"Too bad. I can't remember anything." She grumbled.

Idly, Wicked sat and fingered the book nearest to him. He flipped the cover open and recognized it, and recalled its contents.

"I could teach, or rather, reteach you everything you need to know by heart." He offered her.

Yoona was taken aback at the kind gesture. She hadn't expected him to offer her beyond his guardians.h.i.+p duties.

“That's very kind of you.” she said, in a grateful manner.

“I am not kind.” He snapped in irritation. The prospect of being referred to as someone kind, it irked him to no end.

“But I never thought you'd teach me how to study.” She said, fidgeting in her seat.

"It wouldn't benefit me if you look like an idiot after all." He stated plainly, dampening Yoona's spirits.

Oh, is that it? She thought to herself. Sighing in resignation, Yoona nodded in acquiescence to him, before straightening up in her seat. Scanning the books laid out in front of them, Wicked picked up the oldest, and most worn out book of the bunch.

She was frustrated at herself. Of course she couldn't always rely on asking people about stuff in this world. She should at least make some sort of effort. It was how she began to listen in rapt attention to Wicked, who began his lesson…

"Here we are, in the Marzanna Continent." He said, and set the book down, showing her the map of the continent, "The lands are divided into five states, surrounding the capital, Odora."

"That's here, where we live right now." She exclaimed, recognizing the name, Wicked nodded…

“This is the northern outskirts of Odora.”

"Yes, but we're located here," he pointed to a portion of the map, near the edges of Odora, "By the northern outskirts of Odora."

“I see.”

"This is where the king also lives, along with over two hundred different species that live together. While the other five lands surrounding the capital, consists of five races each."
Wicked pointed towards a land near the southern end on the map.

"You came from this." He began, "A witch from Sabat."

"It's, pretty far." She noticed, wondering what the place Ribbon grew up in was like.

"Witches fancy isolated environments. Sabat, especially, is very difficult to get to, even for the Pagans."

"Oh, I see."

“In your case, after graduating from school at the top of your cla.s.s here in the capital, you acted as a mercenary attached to the royal family.”

"As for you," he straightened up and Yoona looked at him, "When you graduated from school at the top of your cla.s.s, you became the royal family's well-known mercenary." Blinking at the revelation, Yoona felt her jaw drop…

“Wow," she mumbled in awe, "Me? That's a tough act to follow.” It was a lot of pressure, she suddenly realized. Ribbon was an amazing person from what she was hearing, and here she was, a b.u.mbling buffoon of n.o.body.

“Anyway, you were one of the king's most trusted confidants.” Wicked continued, "Some might even say you two were close. Being his most trusted confidant, and a genius of a mercenary with millions of years of experience, yes, you were quite formidable before you died and lost your memories."

The more Yoona knew, the more she could feel her chest begin to tighten. She wasn't Ribbon. She wasn't cut out for what this was… whatever this is. How did she get into such body of a prestigious person?! This is not something an average high school student can handle!

"Formidable as you were, it wasn't all suns.h.i.+ne and rainbow." Wicked pointed out to Yoona, who seemed a little distracted.

“I guess there were a lot who envied her, me, I mean..?”

"Yes, I understand what you mean." He said, easing her concern, before he cleared his throat,

"I'm sure plenty wanted you dead, but one particular person I know who was indeed envious of you."

That's why Ribbon was killed.

Wicked hadn't realized he trailed off. The question brought back memories he wanted gone, but he shook them from his thoughts and proceeded nonchalantly…

"There were forces working against our king."

"You mean like rebel rousers?"

“No, a little different.”

"They're a little different." He said. When Ribbon looked confused, he opted to elaborate to allow her better understanding. "Though the meaning's the same, inherent nature distinguishes them from each other."

“What? Like… different in character?”

"This was a rebellion born not of the will of the people, but the will of one man alone." He finished. He then pointed northwards onto the map, near the edge…

"Therein lies the estate of Pagan."

"Pagan?"

“Land of the heathens.”

“The ones who attacked us that time?”

"Yes. There lies their dwellings." He answered, "And leading them, is a man named Plague."