The northern region of the continent was cold, but Vampire Knight Sterben didn't feel it.

He stood at the edge of the Summoning Arts Faction's Holy Land, watching the ritual grounds from a distance.

At this time, his vampiric cloak was layered with concealment spells, but he wasn't hiding. Everyone already knew he was here.

He had arrived two days ago, sent by Lisa through telepathic command.

The message given to him was brief. To spread the news, then recruit students.

He had done the first part.

The Grand Summoners had already received the report. The Elemental Arts Faction had survived the Chaos Immortal assault. Thirty Immortals had fought back. The Holy Land was destroyed, but the Chaos forces failed to secure anything.

The news had spread quickly.

Summoners were already discussing it in their halls as the defense of the Elemental Arts Faction got various reactions.

Some praised the desperation, while others questioned the cost. After all, they heard the Chaos Immortals don't want war either. They wanted a peaceful takeover…

They believed that if the Elemental Arts Faction was smart, they wouldn't let their Holy Land be destroyed.

Nonetheless, all agreed that the Chaos Immortals had been forced to retreat after suffering damage on their side.

Now, Vampire Knight Sterben focused on the second part of his mission.

Recruitment.

'Will they even agree to leave this place and study in the Academy?' Sterben thought as he believed that everyone knew that this land was the best place to learn Summoning Arts.

Vale had always wanted a proper Summoning Arts Branch within his Marshall Academy.

The Academy currently teaches Dark Arts, Elemental Arts, Mystic Arts, and Psychic Arts. But Summoning Arts required credibility. It required instructors. It required students.

Lisa had already secured two Master Summoners to teach. That part was done.

But they had no students.

That was why the Vampire Knight was here to recruit students who might want to student in their academy instead.

Thankfully, he was right on time…

Today was the Grimoire's Election.

If the Dark Arts had Darkness Possession, Elemental Arts had Elemental Baptism, Mystic Arts had Mystic Law's Trial, and many others, the Summoning Arts had Grimoire's Election.

It was an event held once a year, where all ten-year-olds in the region gathered to perform the Grimoire Ritual.

If successful, they would summon their personal Grimoire, an artifact that would bind them to the Summoning Path.

The Vampire Knight walked toward the outer plaza.

Hundreds of children were gathered.

He saw that some were nervous while others were excited.

He also noticed that their families stood nearby, watching the ritual circles being prepared.

Of course, Vampire Knight Sterben didn't need to speak but his presence was enough to draw attention.

A few Grand Summoners noticed him and nodded. They had already been informed. He wasn't here to interfere. He was here to observe and recruit…

They had agreed with Lisa and didn't mind it at all since they were also obtaining help from the Shadow Domain, especially with the production of airships.

Sterben then moved toward the registration tent.

The Elder who was at the tent nodded. "You're from the Shadow Domain."

"Yes. Marshall Academy."

The Elder didn't ask questions. He simply handed over a list. "These are the ones who failed to attract faction interest last year. Some are here again. Some are new."

The Vampire Knight scanned the names.

He wasn't looking for prodigies…

After all, those prodigies or talented Summoners wouldn't ever leave this Holy Land of Summoners.

There was no way they would miss the opportunity to become powerful here. Furthermore, the Faction itself wouldn't want its prodigies to leave this place and study elsewhere.s

Sterben was just looking for potential students to increase the number of Summoning Arts Students.

They could be mid-tier talents or even bottom-tier stragglers. The ones who wouldn't be accepted by the Faction's main groups. He needed the ones who would be left behind.

Those were the ones he could recruit.

"Hmm… I can recruit a lot with this." Sterben muttered as he was already thinking how to entice these children to study in the academy.

Well, he was allowed to make some promises as long as it was within the limit, after all.

For now, he waited until the rituals began.

One by one, the children stepped into the ritual circles.

Most of them succeeded in just one try...

Their Grimoires appeared as floating books with glowing runes and elemental bindings in front of them.

"Hahah! I got the strongest type of Grimoire! A Fire Grimoire!"

"Mhmm… That might be the best offensive type, but you might as well become a Fire Elementalist. Look at mine! I got Winged Grimoire! Kekeke. Fairies… Pegasus… Here I come!"

"Look! My Grimoire looked like a tree bark with an eye! Isn't this similar to Grand Summoner Felix if the eye color was changed from gray to gold?"

"Haa… It's all just a Grimoire… It still depends on your ability to summon." Of course, this was said by someone bitter.

After all, some others failed for the first time and the second time. Thankfully, they were allowed to have three tries…

These are the ones who were deemed as bottom-tiers, even without checking the Grimoire, they were able to summon at the third try.

Most of their Grimoires were plain…

Almost with no design, just like a hardcover book sold in the store.

'So they're the ones who will surely fail without the Philosopher's Elixir.' Sterben mused as he knew that they were also the ones he needed to recruit.

He knew that with the existence of that Elixir, everyone would be able to practice Arcane Arts…

Still, some may not be compatible with this specific Arcane Arts, but it was hard to tell…

The Vampire Knight watched silently.

When the rituals ended, he moved.

He approached the ones who had summoned Grimoires but hadn't been approached by any groups aside from their proud parents…

"You summoned a Grimoire…" He said to a boy with a cracked tome…

The boy nodded, eyes downcast. His mother held his hand to comfort him before looking expectantly at Sterben…

"Come to the Shadow Domain," the Vampire Knight said.

"We have the best instructors. We have resources. We don't care about rankings... You will have a chance to learn under an Immortal… Do you want to try?"

The boy hesitated. "But… I'm not strong."

"You summoned a Grimoire. That's enough."

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