3 days later
Aurora Argant was relaxing in her office, she was stressed, she had to organize the festival, sign around 22% of the academy's financial papers, and help clean the classrooms. She sighed, the Toxodile incident is still causing a toll on this school's finances even though the beast has died.
"You wanted to see me? I brought the head of the Toxodile, as you requested." Albert said. He whistled, and 2 mannequins brought over a giant head, the Toxodile's. He looked tired.
"Thank you Albert, I just need to send this to some of the royal mages to analyze it, perhaps we can find out where it's from." Aurora replied eying the Toxodile's decapitated head.
"Well, I think I know an answer to where it came from, princess." Albert said, grinning. Aurora smirked.
'Oh sure, even if he did kill it. He probably just has a theory as to where it came from, because it sure as hell didn't come from the nearby forest.' She thought, chuckling to herself.
"But I need you to come with me, it's best you not make this public." Albert replied, voice laced with concern. Aurora raised an eyebrow. Perhaps he's trying to assassinate her or something. But she is the strongest student in the academy. Would he really be that dumb?
"Ok, show me." Aurora sighed.
Albert led her to his room, which only made her more suspicious. Although they had to walk up one floor, and Aurora hated stairs.
"Please don't get tired, you are the princess." Albert said, amusement present in his voice. Aurora growled.
"Don't insult me. My authority can ruin your life if you piss me off. So treat me with respect." Aurora grumbled. Albert shrugged as they finally reached his room.
"Ok, aren't you going to open the door for me?" Aurora teased. Albert quickly flinched, bowed, then opened his door. Aurora was amused at his instant change of attitude.
Inside Albert's room was identical to the other student rooms, except for a few unique objects. There was a lamp with a bright, blue flame. There was a large axe that was clearly a powerful magic item, as Aurora's skill magic sense, sensed a powerful magic coming from it. Lastly, there was a small girl, looked 8 years old.
"Albert, why is there a child in your room! Are you a pedophile?" Aurora asked, preparing to cast a tier 3 spell that would surely kill him.
"No! No I am not. This little angel, who is actually older than me, is the reason for the Toxodile incidents. This is Molly, she is actually a 22 year old vampire." Albert yelled, the mannequins quickly closed the door to not let the sound escape. Aurora rolled her eyes, she needed proof.
"I'm hungry big brother Albert." Molly said. Aurora gasped. How could someone have such a cute and innocent voice? Aurora, then shaked her head and went back to her usual serious expression.
She watched as Albert sighed and held out his arm, rolling up his sleeve. Molly then walked up to his arm, opened her mouth, and bit down. Aurora nodded her head, she was starting to lose her composure, a vampire is in the academy, and also apparently the source of the Toxodile.
"Ok, little girl, are you the reason for the Toxodile incidents?" She said. Molly nodded.
"Yeah, I was sent here with the Toxodile by the Empire, I used my Greater Hypnosis to mind control it and make it attack all those people, I was supposed to capture Lucine Nocturne, but I was captured, to be honest I like this place more." Molly replied, giggling. Aurora stomped down.
"How could you be laughing!? Over 13 students suffered severe injuries. And 1 student is currently disfigured and is going through surgery through the week! Is this funny to you!?" Aurora yelled, losing her composure. Molly stepped and hid behind Albert, hyperventilating. Albert however just raised his eyebrow and frowned.
"Wow, the princess, and the student council president is getting pissed off at a little girl. Truly, model student behavior. Please, I'm actually planning to interrogate her now. Would you help me!?" Albert asked, reaching his arm out to her, offering information for her cooperation. Aurora sighed, she really doesn't have much of a choice, and took his hand.
---
"Are you ready, Molly?" Albert asked her. He was finally willing to find out their motivations of the Empire. And why they apparently are targeting him and Lucine. And best of all, he has the princess listening in on the conversation, with her support, dealing with the Empire should be a breeze.
"Ok, first question, do you know the current motivations of the Empire!?" Albert asked Molly.
"The Empire has taken an interest with your fiancee, one of the prophecies foretold by our priest is that there is an angel that will rewrite the authority of the Empire. My sister is the princess, and she really doesn't want the authority to change." Molly said, looking up at Albert and Aurora. Albert growled, because now he knows Lucine is the one specifically in danger.
"Ok, and what is your sister like?" Aurora asked.
"I'm not comfortable with explaining more." Molly defensively blurted. Albert was surprised, this has been the most worried that Molly had been as far as he remembers.
"But, if you should know one thing, her highest level magic is tier 4, so you should train far more intensely, and the princess here should probably be more worried than she looks now." Molly said, looking down.
"Excuse me? I don't think I could be worried, I am the strongest student here!" Aurora said, haughty. But then, Albert got an idea to speed up his training.
"Hey, I need you to teach me some more powerful magic. As a favor, I allowed you information, and you owe me one." Albert said, face strict and staring.
"Of course I already have a powerful student training me, but I would like another mentor, please?" Albert asked. He knows Aurora's character, she is not the type of person who wouldn't give people the rewards they deserve if they do favors for her.
Though in the game, her quests are notoriously very hard, though you do get a lot of gold and even occasional magic items, they are time consuming and most speedrunners skip them. Though Albert (even back when he was Winston), viewed her as someone who's trying to do her best to help the kingdom, even if the developers messed up the execution.
"Ok, I accept. Meet me tomorrow, I will only train you once, so you have my permission to skip your class tomorrow, because my training will act as your replacement class. So don't pussy out if it's too tough on you. I will shape you into a brighter form, one who will serve this kingdom well." Aurora said, leaning down as if to intimidate Albert. But he just smiled.
'Time to become even more powerful.' He thought, biting his lip in joy it bled.
---
The next day
Albert woke up to a loud knock on the door.
"Who is it?" He asked.
"It's me, time for our training." Ringed Aurora's voice.
"Oh joy!" Albert shouted. Miriam jumped out of her bed, holding Molly like a stuffed animal.
"God! Don't scare me." Miriam said, before then immediately getting on her knees.
"Oh sorry. I was shocked." Miriam said. Albert immediately tapped her on the nose.
"Rise, Miriam. Come on, you are doing so good. Lilac and Steven are finally eating together, you can't stop now! Don't worry, I will even give you some gold if you do a good job!" Albert reassured her.
"Mmkay" Miriam replied. Albert then walked out of the room, walking to the field where Princess Aurora was waiting, wearing a white battle dress and carrying a marble staff.
"Oh, so you are ready? Start!" Aurora said, rushing towards Albert, casting fireball, Albert immediately dodged before slashing with Nihil, which Aurora nearly dodged. This is going to be his hardest fight yet, even if he can't die, the loss will weigh on him.
Aurora Argant is the strongest student in the game so strong (and the fact the developers probably didn't want to pay her voice actor so much.) That she can cast spells without even speaking their names. An experience of fireball spamming in her boss fight left a bad taste in Albert's mouth.
Albert immediately created Afterimages and Earthslashed, knocking her back as she floats up and casts lightning bolt. Albert immediately dodged and whistled, summoning the mannequins.
"Uno, Dos, fight her." He said, commanding the 2 dolls as they jump and flexibly attack her. Though she is clearly holding back, they can only provide distractions for her.
"Detonate Object" Albert yelled, throwing some rocks as they all detonated in Aurora's face. She managed to shield, of course, but she looked a little tired.
"Oh wow, even if you are holding back just a tiny bit, you are losing? Come on, hold back less!" Albert encouraged, Aurora spat on the ground. Aurora then started to float in the air, doing something Albert hasn't seen in the game.
Her hands were covered in runes as she chanted and prayed in an unknown language. Before she grown the large, blue prismatic wings of a dragon.
She then raised her Staff high and immediately, a swarm of violet fireballs rained down, Albert had to dance very violently, he told the mannequins to return since the fireballs were traveling about 2/3 as fast as the ordinary ones. He didn't want to risk losing assets.
Albert then twisted his grip on Nihil before creating Afterimages.
"Induce hesitation." He declared, and the princess hesitated for just a tiny bit, but that was all he needed. He then jumped, the Afterimages moving in ways that distracted her, and slashed her on the back. She immediately grunted and her wings disappeared, she then grabbed Albert and smiled.
"Nicely done, you made me use my contract with the Blue Dragon king." Aurora chuckled, then Albert widened his eyes. Contract? Blue Dragon King!?
"Um, contract?" He asked Aurora. Aurora immediately chuckled and spoke.
"Ah, you don't know. Let me explain since you done so well. You can make a contract with an intelligent monster, absorbing said monster in exchange for a favor of the monster. Here, let me just do THIS!!" Aurora yelled, before grabbing Albert's hand and squeezing tight. Soon, a glowing red rune appeared.
"Now you can make a contract, choose wisely. I don't have time to teach you spells, so let me give you a blessing, it took 5 years to make and allow me copy it to you. Bless!" She said.
Bless: A tier 5 spell that copies a skill you have and gives it to the target. Unique only to NPCs.
You have acquired the skill, non-verbal casting.
"Thank you so much princess! I look forward seeing you in the next student council meeting." Albert said, hugging the princess in pure joy. Her chest pressed against his own.
"Hmm, interesting. I suppose it was right training with you. Will-will-will you participate in the tournament during the festival!?" Aurora asked, covering her clearly flushed face.
"No, I only want entertainment. But I will however be watching the entire thing."
Albert then walked back inside, but he didn't go to his room, he didn't even go to class or the cafeteria. He instead walked down the hallway, exited through a back door and up to a building.
"There it is. The next step of my plan." He said, staring at the abandoned building covered in cobwebs.
"Oh boy I remember this post game quest, I'm sure the hidden boss would LOVE to make a contract with me." Albert chuckled, staring at the infested building.