Canonically, today was the day when William would sneak into the dormitory and try to enter Lizel's room.
Naturally, he gets caught right after entering the room and then, as one could expect, he gets abused to no end.
I can't let that happen.
Why? Well, for one, I know he doesn't want to do it, but he has to.
And second, this incident would pave the way for him to accept Nyx.
Nexis was the negative energy ever since the underworld was released.
What we possess is called Aether.
The two energies are positive and negative, whichever is stronger and can overwhelm the other.
While being exposed to Nexis, or Nyx, a person must uphold their mental fortitude in order to retain their sanity and to prevent their core from becoming corrupted.
William's core was already weak. He was evaluated as D-class during the assessment. And after facing so many insults and having the person he loved turn her back against him, he would fall prey to Nyx.
And once he gets corrupted, Kevin would get all the reasons and the right to execute him.
That's why, I can't let the incident flow as it was supposed to.
"Emma?" Hearing the voice, I turned towards the one who called me.
I noticed the other four were looking at me.
We were in the strategy room, discussing...what felt like our next mission?
"Are you okay?" Lizel asked with a tilt of her head.
I sighed, "Yes, I am. What is this all about?" I asked as I looked at the map before me.
The violet-haired girl, Natalie, sitting across from me asked, "You have been pretty absent-minded recently."
The last person in the room, Laila Astarock, added, "Ever since the ceremony, you have been quite distant. Are you perhaps thinking of changing teams?"
Kevin stiffened...he couldn't even hide his apprehension as he said, "Emma is a Saint-class magician, someone ranked in the top three. There is no other team worth her time."
He was right about that. Despite how much the male lead annoys me, I don't have a single team to join.
The instructors also wouldn't allow it since only this team receives missions where we could utilise our real strength.
"I am just curious about something. Anyway, about this mission, I think I won't be able to join."
Lizel instantly objected, "But without our healer, how will we survive?"
I frowned, "This mission just required clearing a mine. All the miners spotted in that mine were split-faced hounds. I believe you all would be enough for that."
I calmly told them before turning towards the team leader, "If you want I can submit an official request."
He shook his head, a smile still on his face but I could tell he was no longer smiling, "No, it's okay."
I didn't linger there for long and left the room.
...
[Third Person POV:]
Once Emma left, a long silence fell upon the room.
Then, Natalie asked in a hesitant voice, "Does anyone know what is wrong with her?"
Laila scoffed, "Wasn't she always like that? Full of herself?" It was clear from her tone and words that she didn't like Emma much.
Lizel argued, "But she appears so distant now. She is not even joining us at dinner."
Yes, Emma was distant but recently her behavior could be regarded as indifferent, as if her team members were just like the other people. As if they were just strangers.
Kevin bit his lip as his gaze drifted toward the seat where she was sitting until a few moments ago
He would be lying to say that he didn't know where her focus was these days
He has seen her glancing at that bastard, burden on humanity, William quite frequently. And she doesn't even appear in the common hall as well, just like William never comes to the common hall.
'If you have done something to my Emma...' his fists were clenched, knuckles white as he muttered under his breath, 'I will skin you alive, Delimore.'
....
[Emma's POV:]
I returned to the dormitory.
Why didn't I go talk to William and try stopping him? Well, I have tried a few times to start a casual conversation with him but as if I carried some sort of disease, he always kept his distance, and conversation short.
I never exchanged more than three sentences with him before he took his leave.
He is avoiding me for sure. However, only when I am alone. When with Kevin, he doesn't fail to call me a slut or a show-off.
In the past, I have used a few spells on him, to punish him as well. However, looking at his condition now, I feel guilty.
'I can't lose focus here.' I was sitting on the dormitory's rooftop.
It was quite dark, and every girl had returned to their room.
I was waiting for him and just when it was close to midnight, the figure of a certain blond appeared in the distance.
His face was cold, his eyes emotionless as he moved toward the female dormitory.
But just when he grew closer, I chanted a barrier around the dorm.
*TING*
I saw him frowning as he tried to move. But he couldn't move past a Three-star barrier I have mastered over the years.
Maybe it was because of the curse, he was too weak at the moment. And that's why, I knew he wouldn't be able to-
"...!" My eyes widened as I saw my barrier shattering when he just lifted his hand and used an invisible force.
A spell I take pride in. Something that can take over thirty punches from a minotaur without cracking. A skill which even my father praised....was shattered just like that?
...is he just simply hiding his strength?
°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading.