The Extra Wants Control

Her smile returned, warm and genuine. " A dream, Ray," she corrected gently. "A possibility. And from you, I want a partnership. Someone who understands the value of cooperation. Someone who is of as much benefit as I am to him."

Ray met her gaze, they looked at each other with smiles but they were still testing the waters, " what kind of person is he/she? And can I use him/her?" A single thought passing between them.

For Ray he knew what kind of manipulative woman she was. "Cooperation, huh?" he mused.

"Well, Seraphina, I do love a good challenge. But you are offering a partnership to someone who has deep pockets alone?"

A slow smile spread across Seraphina's face. " As you said this is a challenge from me to you. Ray... I don't want a partnership with the now you but what you will become. I am giving you a challenge to make your business empire a symbol of unity, not just commerce. Spread it on all continents so that the races will have something in common...

Its a first step."

Ray raised his glass in a silent toast as he simply smiled.

Seraphina leaned back in her chair, the firelight casting a warm glow on her face. A playful glint danced in her eyes as she met Ray's gaze. "So, Ray," she drawled, her voice taking on a seductively sweet tone, "tell me more about this 'empire' of yours. Sounds like you have quite the fascinating story to tell. How did you grow and why the human continent and what's the source of your innovations?"

Ray chuckled, a hint of warmth creeping into his usually stoic demeanor.

Underneath her fiery exterior, Seraphina possessed a surprising allure. "It's a secret," he mused, "but I'd like to think of it as luck and a bit of shrewdness on my part."

"Hoohhh," Seraphina countered, her smile widening.

" So you won't tell me? That's too bad."

Ray couldn't help but grin as he shook his head. "But tell me, Seraphina, wouldn't it be a tad… scandalous? A saint working with a creature of darkness like myself?"

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Seraphina's laughter filled the room it was so pure and full of amusement. "Scandalous?" she echoed, wiping a playful tear from her eye.

" Damn... She's quite the actor." Thought Neveah.

"Ray, darling, we already caused a stir by collaborating on the graduation. A little more scandal wouldn't hurt, would it? Besides not many know what you are... Right?"

"Hehh...." Ray smiled...

The way she said his name, the easy intimacy that had bloomed between them – it was intoxicating. "Perhaps not," he admitted, a low chuckle escaping his lips.

Seraphina's smile widened. "Not all darkness is bad Ray. Darkness sometimes is good. Cause without darkness we wouldn't value light. Without pain we wouldn't value joy. Without bad we wouldn't value good." She reached out, her hand brushing against his for a fleeting moment before retracting.

"But enough talk about empires and scandal for one night. Tell me, Ray, are you free sometime next week? Perhaps we could… continue this conversation in a less formal setting when we are not sorrounded by students?"

"Next week sounds perfect, Seraphina. Name the time and place."

A triumphant smile lit up Seraphina's face.

The playful banter faded, replaced by a more serious undercurrent. The crackling fire seemed to cast longer shadows as Seraphina's brow furrowed. "You know, Ray," she began, her voice a touch wistful, "things have changed. Seeing those graduates today, filled with hope and camaraderie… it gives me a flicker of optimism."

"Optimism?" Ray echoed, his voice losing its playful edge. "About what, exactly?"

"About the relationships between races," Seraphina replied, her gaze flickering towards the window where the last glow of twilight bled into night. "There's still friction, of course, but the distrust and wariness isn't as deep. We're slowly breaking down walls, forming alliances."

Ray made a surprise face and nodded with an appreciative smile.

"And then there's the demon war," he continued, his voice low. "It's been quite for three years now but it suddenly started and it's only going to get worse."

Seraphina let out a heavy sigh and her face looked pained as if she was sad, guilty and full of pity to those affected. "The demons… they're a constant threat maybe we could do some negotiations."

Ray raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on his lips. "Negotiating with demons? Now that's a dream even you, Seraphina, might find unrealistic."

Her gaze met his, a flicker of steel in their depths. "Perhaps. But wouldn't it be wonderful, Ray? A world where humans, elves, dwarves… even demons, could co-exist?"

" How will that happen... You want these world unification but do you think you'll have it peacefully? You'll have to shed blood..." Ray said.

Ray leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful silence settling between them. " But... wven demons, huh? That's a bold vision, Seraphina."

"Maybe," Seraphina admitted, her voice soft.

"Maybe it's naive. Maybe it's a fool's dream. But wouldn't it be worth striving for?"

The fire crackled, casting dancing shadows on the walls. Ray 'contemplated' her words, the weight of their conversation 'settling upon him'.

Amd finally he said....

"Perhaps," he finally said, his voice tinged with a newfound respect. "Perhaps it is a dream worth chasing after, Seraphina. But a dream needs a foundation, something to build upon."

A spark of understanding flickered in Seraphina's eyes. "And that's where we come in, wouldn't you say, Ray? Babel and the Academy, me and the Blessed it is still doable."

" Seraphina I don't understand you? You are telling a person you clearly don't trust about your plans... This whole conversation I've been playing with you... It's confusing, doesn't have any flow and how you are acting like a pure maiden but saying things like world unification and not calling it for what it is, war. Honestly why are you telling me this?

Is it cause you want to show vulnerability for me to trust you. But you know that this conversation isn't enough to bring you down if it was ever leaked. You are very dangerous I don't know what you are thinking and I can feel the people in here... So you have a plan in mind and there's no way I'm taking in anything here the drinks the air... For all I know you might have poisoned them...

Sigh it's hard keeping this up... But I don't have a choice."

So they sat in silence...

They'd discussed everything from the changing racial dynamics to the latest fashion trends among the students - basically everything except the elephant in the room.

What is going on in this woman's mind?

Finally, Ray, frustration edging into his voice, broke the silence.

"Seraphina," he began, his gaze steady, "this has been… pleasant. But I think it's time we dispense with the pleasantries. Tell me, what exactly do you want from me?"

Seraphina met his gaze, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her features. "The question could just as easily be turned on you, Mr. Ray," she countered, her voice carefully neutral.

"What are your ambitions in all of this? What can I offer you that would make this 'partnership' so appealing?"

Ray leaned back in his chair, a predatory glint in his eyes. "What can I offer? That's a good question."

"Name it," Seraphina said.

" caused I can offer... Political influence, access to magical resources… whatever it is, consider it done."

" What about the throne?" Said Ray.

A tense silence followed. Seraphina's smile, if it could ever be called that, vanished completely. "The throne?" she finally said, her voice laced with a hint of steel.

Ray's lips curved into a knowing smirk. "Yes," he admitted, a playful edge creeping into his voice. He watched her closely, gauging her reaction.

Seraphina's composure remained impressive, but a flicker of something akin to alarm flickered in her eyes. "The throne," she repeated slowly, "is not something bestowed lightly. To even be considered, one needs to prove their worth, their ability to lead."

"Are you questioning my competence, Seraphina?" Ray asked, raising an eyebrow. "Surely Babel, with its reach and influence, stands as a testament to my capabilities."

"Money, Mr. Ray," she countered, her voice turning colder, "while a powerful tool, doesn't automatically translate to the qualities required of a ruler. Leadership demands more than just a fat purse."

Ray chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "But money can buy anything, can't it? Influence, loyalty… if it can't it means it's probably not enough right?"

Her eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger simmering beneath the surface. "Confident, aren't we?" she said, her voice laced with a dangerous edge. "But confidence doesn't equal entitlement, Ray. But then again the throne is more than just a prize to be claimed by the one with the deepest pockets."

" Damn... I thought I was good at talking but it turns out I'm not... Tell me what do you want? This is getting annoying... Seriously what's wrong with this woman?"