Chapter 31: Selene Frost
Her hair, which had been perfectly fine before, now seemed to glow with health and vitality.
The scent that preceded her into the room was like a summer dream, fresh, clean, and subtly floral without being cloying.
But more importantly, when she moved, her hair flowed with a softness that was visibly different from before. The individual strands shone under the light beautifully, and even from across the room, both men could see that the texture had been improved.
The 2-in-1 formula is working perfectly, Draco thought with satisfaction. Shampoo and conditioning effects in a single product.
He had deliberately designed this initial version to combine cleansing and conditioning properties, knowing it would create a more dramatic demonstration than shampoo alone.
Eventually, he planned to expand the product line with separate conditioners and other hair care items, but for now, this comprehensive approach was exactly what he needed to capture merchant interest.
Marcus stood up and walked around his desk to examine his daughter’s hair more closely. "It seems good. Lyra, how does it feel?" Marcus said.
Despite feeling geniene amazement at the effects of the product, Marcus still kept his emotions in check. He was a businessman, and he knew that despite feeling impressed, he had to keep a level in his attitude.
"Incredibly soft," she replied, running her fingers through her hair. "And the scent is beautiful without being overpowering. I can see why this would appeal to both men and women."
Marcus returned to his seat, his expression now showing the keen interest of a merchant who had just seen a golden opportunity.
"Mr. Draco," he said, leaning forward slightly, "Although more tests should be conducted, like checking on its long-term effects, or any side effects, I believe that you are confident that your product doesnt’ contain any of these."
Draco nodded. "Certainly, this product was tested for years before it came to this point. I can assure you that there is no side effects or any hidden long-term effects."
...
After negotiating with Marcus for about two hours, they finally reached a mutually beneficial conclusion. The merchant had proven to be every bit as shrewd as his reputation suggested, but also fair and practical in his approach to the deal.
"Alright, Mr. Draco," Marcus said, reviewing the terms they had discussed one final time. "Let me summarise our agreement to ensure we’re both clear on the details."
He pulled out a clean piece of parchment and began writing as he spoke. "You will receive an immediate payment of fifteen hundred gold coins as an upfront licensing fee. This represents our commitment to the partnership and provides you with immediate capital."
"Additionally, you will retain full ownership of the shampoo formula and any future improvements or variations you develop. We are purchasing exclusive licensing rights for one year, with the option to renew through a new contract if both parties are satisfied with the arrangement."
Draco nodded approvingly. Maintaining ownership while licensing distribution rights was exactly what he had hoped to achieve.
"For ongoing compensation, you will receive fifty percent of all net profits from sales," Marcus said, setting down his quill. "This ensures that your interests align with ours, the more successful the product becomes, the more we both benefit."
Fifty percent royalties was nearly unheard of. Most would offer less. However, the uniqueness of the product, coupled with its demand, Marcus had decided to accept the price.
"The Brightwind Trading Company will handle all aspects of production, distribution, marketing, and sales," Marcus explained. "You won’t need to worry about ingredient sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, or establishing retail partnerships. We’ll manage everything."
Lyra, who had been quietly observing the negotiations, smiled with obvious satisfaction at the arrangement. "This seems fair to both sides. Father gets access to a revolutionary product, and Draco gets financial freedom without operational headaches."
Marcus extended his hand across the desk. "Do we have an agreement, Mr. Draco?"
Draco shook the offered hand firmly. "We have an agreement, Mr. Brightwind."
[Master, we’re rich!] Zephyr celebrated quietly from his position.
"Excellent," Marcus said with genuine satisfaction. "I’ll have the contract drawn up now, and you’ll receive your upfront payment upon signing. I expect we’ll have the first production run ready within a week."
As they concluded their business agreement, Marcus reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a small, elegant ring made of polished silver with engravings around its band.
"Before you leave, Mr. Draco, I have something for you. Consider it a gesture of good faith and a tool for our future partnership." Marcus said, extending the ring toward him.
Draco examined the ring carefully, immediately recognizing what it was. "A storage ring?"
"Indeed. One cubic meter of storage space," Marcus confirmed his words with a pleased expression. "You’ll likely need secure storage for samples, prototypes, and other business materials as our partnership develops. This should prove quite useful to you."
A storage ring. These typically cost around one hundred gold coins, that’s a generous gift.
Marcus’s gesture was obvious to Draco. The sly merchant was clearly trying to get into Draco’s good books. Hence, he decided to invest in him when he was still weak and without status.
Still, Draco accepted the gift without any ceremony. He needed a storage ring, and since the merchant was saving him a hundred golden coins, he wasn’t going to act polite.
"That’s very thoughtful of you, Mr. Brightwind. Thank you," Draco said, slipping the ring onto his finger. The magical item immediately bonded with his mana signature, creating a mental connection that would allow him to access the storage space at will.
As Draco prepared to leave, he carefully transferred his most valuable possessions into the storage ring, the remaining shampoo samples, the elite-ranked core, and of course, the substantial pouch containing fifteen hundred gold coins that Marcus had provided as the upfront payment.
Between the immediate payment and this storage ring, I’m walking away with roughly sixteen hundred gold coins worth of value, plus fifty percent ongoing royalties.
Lyra walked him to the door, Aurelius trotting alongside them. "Congratulations on the deal. Father was genuinely impressed, which doesn’t happen often."
...
The next day arrived, and Draco wasn’t able to complete his daily mission as classes started unusually early in the morning. He made a mental note to adjust his schedule, knowing that maintaining his training routine was crucial to keep his progress steady.
Inside E-Class, Instructor Thorne began speaking as everyone settled into their seats, her expression more serious than usual.
"Before we start our lesson today, there’s an important announcement that was made this morning: your first practical examination will be held in one week’s time. In this examination, you will enter a common-rank gate and demonstrate your ability to survive."
Immediate gasps erupted throughout the classroom. Several students looked genuinely terrified, while others began whispering anxiously among themselves.
"I can’t do this, I’ve never been in a real gate before. Isn’t it too early for us? It’s only our second week, and we are already being prepared to enter the gates?" one girl whispered to her friend, her face pale with fear.
"What if we encounter something stronger than expected?" another student asked nervously.
"My beast isn’t ready for actual combat," someone else muttered, panic evident in their voice.
Instructor Thorne raised her hand for silence, before continuing her words. "Some of you might die. That’s the reality of this profession. Naturally, the academy won’t abandon you by allowing you to enter alone. Several instructors will accompany your group into the gate." Her blunt words sent a chills through the room.
She pulled out a small, crystalline device and held it up for everyone to see. "Each of you will be given an emergency crystal like this one. When you are in mortal danger, crush it. After activation, the instructors will sense your exact location and make their way toward you."
Her expression grew even more severe. "Despite this safety measure, this doesnt mean that your safety is ensured, if you cannot ensure your own survival during the time it takes the instructors to reach your position, you will die. The crystal is a last resort, not a safety net for cowardice."
The classroom fell into silence.
"You can choose to exit the examination at any time before the examination," Instructor Thorne continued coldly, "but doing so will result in immediate expulsion from the academy. We are training warriors and fighters who will enter gates to clear them for the safety of our kingdom. If you lack the basic survival instincts to know when to crush that crystal, then this profession is not for you."
Most of the students in E-Class possessed weak talents and looked genuinely frightened for their lives. The reality of their chosen path was hitting them like a punch to the gut.
Except for one anomaly, Draco.
He maintained a passive, almost bored expression as he listened to the announcement. Having already survived a solo expedition into the Swift Gate and defeated an elite-rank beast even if he was somewhat lucky.
The prospect of a supervised group examination seemed like child play to him. Besides, the examination was in a week, which meant that by then he would have gained eight attribute points since he didn’t complete today’s mission. Which meant that combined with his two stat point that are free to be allocated, he would have gained ten attribute points that he could freely use.
Although Draco would have wished that he reached the elite-rank before entering to ensure his safety against any random variables. However, it was unfortunately not possible. He had already calculated it, and he was off by a day.
Still, with Zephyr’s new evolved talent, and a week of practising his mistakes with Zephyr, he believed that even if he encountered that same elite-rank fox again, he would be able to defeat it without getting injured seriously.
Truth be told that fox had cause him some horrible damage, he could still feel the pain in his arm despite taking the three potions. Draco estimated that the pain would be gone in about three days.
After the class finished, Draco made his way toward the training grounds to complete his delayed daily mission during the gap before his next class.
Inside the training ground, he was surprised to spot a familiar figure. Glade was there, engaged in conversation with a girl that Draco immediately recognised despite having never spoken to her personally.
Selene Frost.
The possessor of an A-Rank Ice talent and daughter of Marchioness Alina Frost, who wielded influence and power comparable to Lucas Von Ashblade. Her family controlled the northern territories.
Selene lived up to her reputation for having an ice-cold personality. Even from a distance, Draco could see the detachment that many spoke about; it was as if she wasn’t interested in anything around her.
Her platinum blonde hair and pale blue eyes gave her an ethereal, almost untouchable appearance that discouraged people from talking to her.