"How is this possible? She defeated me in three clashes without even moving from her spot. Moreover, I could feel that she was not using her full strength!" As the blood drained from Max's pale face, his handsome appearance contorted, making him seem like a dead corpse.
He could not accept such a shameful outcome.
Especially, when he was the one to issue the challenge.
Not only did he get defeated, but he was also crushed in such a way, where he could not even raise his head.
Sailles looked at the pale-faced vampire with amusement.
Who was it that was asking for a beating just a little while ago? Now that he got what he desired, he could not even raise his head?
Feeling funny inside, she turned her gaze away, afraid that she would not be able to control herself and let loose the laugh building in her stomach from seeing his miserable appearance.
"Well, you are defeated. What are you going to do now? Ask for a rematch?" She playfully asked, glancing at the youth from the corner of her eye.
"No. I accept my defeat and request for your instructions." Immediately kneeling on his knees, the request the young vampire made did not only catch Sailles by surprise but all of the spectating vampires were surprised by his sudden action and request.
"He wants her to train him? Did I just hear Max asking for the girl to train him?" The vampire girl who admired the young vampire screamed in shout, her voice startling awake the other dazed vampires.
"I heard the same thing! Max really asked for the girl to train him!"
"Is he really going to train under her?"
There were many raising the same question as they looked in shock and disbelief, not able to come to terms with the fact that their most admired packmate was kneeling before a stranger, requesting mentorship.
But there were also many who felt that the young vampire's step was reasonable and even quite beneficial.
"But if you look at it, it is actually not a bad idea. Max will not only grow stronger, but in the future, no one would be able to challenge him as his master would be someone close with the supreme elder. Moreover, being defeated by his own master would not be as shameful"
"Yes. That is not a bad idea. He could grow strong, build connection with the Supreme Elder, and wash his shame of being defeated by claiming the one to defeat him as his master."
"Only Max would be able to come up with such a solid method."
However, there were also others who were thinking from a different perspective.
"Hey, do you think we could also ask the girl to train us as well? I actually think that she is not worse than the official instructors in the vampire academy training hall. And besides, we would only be benefiting ourselves by growing stronger. If someone as proud as Max can get her to instruct him, then why can we not?"
"I also think that we should seek her as an instructor. After all, we could only grow stronger with a strong instructor. And if we even fail to grow any stronger after taking her tutorship, it is not like we would be losing out on anything."
"You are absolutely correct! Since we are not losing out on anything, why can we not ask her to instruct us as well? After all, we need to be strong in order to stand firm in the world of the strong."
"Yes, let's go!"
Without hesitation, the other young vampires in Max's group gathered behind Max in front of Sailles and kneeled without hesitation.
"We humble fledglings request you to please give us your guidance as well!" They all chorused at the same time, further astonishing the already surprised vampires.
Luke watched everything unfold with an indifferent expression. However, his heart rate was rapidly beating in nervous excitement.
If Sailles accepted to teach the young vampires, she would be making a new identity for herself in the Bloodsucking clan as an instructor.
This would not only facilitate her integration into the clan, but it would also anchor her to the Bloodsucking clan as she developed feelings and grew attached to it.
The more attached she became to the Bloodsucking clan, the easier it would be for him to keep her in the clan.
As such, he would no longer have to be afraid of the werewolf king suddenly appearing and snatching her away.
Smiling, Luke moved forward, standing by her side.
"Since they are begging on their knees, you might as well accept them. It would also give you something to do as we wait for the next Battle of Wars to begin. Who knows, you might even be able to recall something as you train them." He softly whispered, his words reaching only her ears.
"Accept being their instructor? I am not from the Bloodsucking clan and after the Battle of Wars, I plan to return to the Snake clan. I want to live in the place where I would be the most comfortable. Even though I am aware that you care for me and would not hurt me, I do not want to stay with someone that I have no recollection of. If I am going to live with you, I want to do so in my full senses with my memory intact, otherwise, not at all." Sailles replied without hesitation.
Even though she decided to play along with the vampire's game and act obediently, she did not want to be too involved with him until she regained all of her memories.
She could feel that his feelings were genuine, but she could also feel his intention to deceive her. As such, she would never take any decision without being completely certain of herself both in mind and heart.
At the moment, even though her mind told her that the vampire would not hurt her even though he would deceive, would protect her even if he would keep her in the dark, and was probably only lying to her to keep her with him, she could not bring herself to relax her guard.
As such, she could not follow her mind, as she could not ignore the voice or lack of it in her heart.
Because, in many situations, the heart saw things a lot clearer than the mind.
And there was nothing in her heart for the man.
"Let's talk about instructing them after I regain my memories and come here to live for life." She ended with a slight smile, her eyes firm and unshakable.
Luke was surprised at Sailles still firm attitude. He thought that after strolling through the vampire city together and seeing her unconscious acceptance of her new name, he could easily persuade her to train the young vampires.
However, it seemed like he was going to need a lot of patience and time to gain her heart.
"Okay. You do not have to be their instructor. But you can give them little pointers, right? The Battle of Wars this decade is not going to be simple, as all the various races are going to be joining together to attack you. However, these guys might be able to provide you a little bit of assistance during the rush from one stage to another." Luke did not try to force her to accept the position of instructor.
He had learned from his previous defeats that using force on her was not the way to her heart. It only pushed her away further.
She was one of those beasts that erupted the instant her scales scratched the wrong way.
So, instead of forcing her to become an instructor, he changed tactics, asking her to only give them a few pointers instead.
This way, she would still be interacting with the Bloodsucking clan, laying down the foundation necessary to get her planted into the clan for good.
However, he was badly prepared for the question that followed his impulsive proposal.
"Why did I challenge the entire race of the Nar realm to a duel to the death? It does not seem like something that I would do without having a very strong reason." Sailles voice sounded like an erupting volcano in his mind, filtering out all of the kneeling vampires and spectators' voices, leaving only the question repeatedly ringing.
How should he respond now?
Should he say that in his bid to prevent her from leaving with the werewolf king, he had tried to force her to make a choice between the Snake clan and the Werewolf clan?
That in order to keep the two away, he had tried to manipulate her into choosing the Snake clan?
That in order to keep her for himself, he tried to use the break time between the Battles of Wars to find a way to break their bond?
And because he pushed her so far, she lost her temper, challenging all the races to a duel to the death?
He was not worried about her not winning the battles, because she would do so without much struggle.
He was confident in her ability after their three encounters. But he did not want to give her a bad impression of himself through his previous actions.
So, obviously, he could not say any of the things he had done before. That is, if he did not wish to see all his efforts and the pain she suffered to severe the bond going to waste.
And he definitely did not want to see all his planning and scheming coming to light.
Even though their mate bond was not as strong as the one she shared with the werewolf, at least they had a bond now.
Moreover, she no longer shared any bond or relationship with the werewolf.
As such, he said what he deemed to be the perfect ending to her and the werewolf's tale.
"The wolf king was against our bond, so he instigated the other clans against us, forcing you to challenge them all in order to not be controlled by their wishes.." He deeply sighed with sorrow, the pain flashing in his dark eyes heart wrenching enough to gain any cold-blooded beast's sympathy.