After a rough and restless night, birds could be heard singing. The sun rose again, and a warm, comforting heat enveloped the awakened bodies of Adriel and Amara.
"It's time to go." Adriel stood up, then looked for the path to leave, but something made him stop.
"Yesterday... we killed a succubus, which means the corpse is there, motionless... rotting." Adriel stood still, staring at the now illuminated path.
Amara got up and saw the path. "Since that day, I'm not so afraid anymore... Why did I choose that?" Her thoughts began to wander as she walked steadily forward.
Behind her was Adriel, who was surprised by her courage. As they walked, they realized they had already passed the place where she had been killed, but there was nothing there.
"Scavengers, how many of these are there? I must say, their speed is impressive," Adriel thought to himself as he looked around.
Time flew by, and thanks to this, they were able to see the lake. As Adriel followed Amara, he realized that she had stopped behind the last row of bushes that separated them from the lake.
Without hesitation, he followed her gaze and saw a scene that disgusted him like nothing else. Elena and Steven, she was hugging him completely naked, while Steven was only wearing his underwear.
Adriel felt the urge to take out his scythe and slice Elena right there. Fortunately, he restrained himself. When he looked away, he saw his companions still asleep.
"We have to wake them up." His tone made it clear to Amara that he would not take no for an answer.
In any case, Amara simply nodded her head up and down as a way of agreeing. They both came out of the bushes.
"We have to kick them and then shut their mouths so we don't wake the others. Okay?" As he spoke, he mimicked the movements they were going to make.
Amara remained silent, but nodded again in agreement. With the plan in place, Adriel kicked them both.
He felt his own kick when he kicked Elena, but his anger helped him endure it. Then he put his hand over Steven's mouth, while Amara did the same to Elena, who woke up without making a sound.
After the two of them stood up, Adriel pointed at Steven. "Let's talk away from the others." Adriel's tone was more authoritative than ever, and even Amara felt a chill when she heard him speak.
"Aww, why? Didn't you and Amara do the same thing when you left?" Elena approached Adriel, her bare chest touching his.
Without hesitation, Adriel grabbed Elena by the neck and slammed her to the ground. "Put on your 'clothes' and walk, bitch." Adriel, as such, exuded an aura of authority never before seen by his companions, an aura so powerful that Elena summoned her slime out of sheer instinct for survival.
Adriel then looked Steven straight in the eye. He was full of contempt and fury. Steven lowered his face and followed Elena into the forest.
Once the four were far from the lake, Adriel ordered Elena and Steven. They both leaned against a huge oak tree behind them and looked directly at Adriel.
"Now your trial begins." Adriel's gaze fixed on the two adults, then he looked at Amara.
With a slight nod, Adriel gave Amara the first word. "Why did you accept it?" He didn't mention any names, but the only person who had consented to something he shouldn't have done was Steven.
"I..." Steven looked away, then an idea came to him. "She seduced me , too much. Besides, it's her fault. They don't see me as a partner, and that's why she was able to do it."
Adriel didn't think that was true. He grabbed his own chin as he thought, "How could Elena do that to him? The contract was supposed to protect us, besides... I think she tried to seduce me so I would remove the contract and she could do it to us." Adriel fixed his gaze on Elena and remembered their contract. "She can't hurt us or rape us... Rape! That's the catchphrase. When someone accepts and gives consent, it's no longer considered coercion, which nullifies the contract."
Adriel's skin bristled as he realized the flaw. "That bitch... she's smarter than I thought."
"It's your fault. No matter how, at some point you gave consent, so it's not considered rape according to the system." Adriel not only highlighted the flaw in the system but also Steven's incompetence in that area.
"You're guilty too," Amara pointed at Elena, but everyone else knew that was unnecessary.
"Anyway, how will they punish me? They can't hurt me because of the contract, so what then?" Elena's tone oscillated between playful and defiant.
Adriel approached her, so close that their heads almost collided. "Easy. Although we can't hurt you, we can detain you. I'll do it until you starve to death. That's not violence, and according to the system, it's not my fault." Elena backed away when Adriel approached her. Her instinct told her that his murderous intent would suffocate her with the pressure he exerted.
'Tsk... it's the same logic I used.' Elena turned to the right where there were only trees and bushes.
Adriel grabbed Steven by the shoulder.
"Let's go, you and I will talk. Amara, you talk to that bitch." After saying that, Adriel took Steven to another place while holding his shoulder.
After losing sight of them, Elena widened her eyes as she looked at Amara. "You have a latent class, or am I wrong?"
Amara didn't flinch, she looked back at her, but the contempt in her eyes was latent. "So what if I do?"
"Does your dear Adriel know?" Elena spoke in a mocking and provocative tone.
"You are well aware that there is nothing between Adriel and me. Those cheap provocations don't work." Amara's expression and tone revealed the contempt she felt for Elena.
Elena stared at the girl in front of her. Although she had noticed that she had changed before, it seemed only slightly, but now she was standing in front of Elena with immense confidence. "What do you know? Don't you feel very safe with me?"
"Everything you say will be ignored because of who you are. Besides, I've seen things. I don't understand my ability or why it is that way, but I know that Adriel is different, and we should fear him. In this world, it's a good idea to be someone precious to him. Too bad for you..." Amara mocked Elena slightly, who was becoming frustrated by the girl's attitude.
"Tell me, what is the name of your class? I can help you understand it." Elena had a nervous smile. Within that group of kids, she and Steven were not leaders, not even close. In just one night, they were both reduced to mere lapdogs.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha... ha. Do you really think I'll tell you? Keep in mind that it's not just the contract that protects me. Adriel already killed a succubus. I doubt he'll hesitate to kill another one, or even a human." Elena turned red as a tomato. She had been humiliated and put in a place that she felt she didn't deserve.
Outraged, she simply turned her head away and refused to speak to Amara or even look at her.
...
Two men stood above a cave. The entrance was covered in scratches, and the aura emanating from it was impressive.
"What do you think? The creature that lives in the cave below us is the reason we know each other." Adriel pointed to the ground below them, then fixed his gaze on Steven.
"In this, and in any situation, we are all somewhat to blame, okay? I won't put all the blame on you, it's also mine for leaving you alone with her, but we learn from our mistakes. I'll try not to leave you alone with her, but I need you to learn and resist if there is no other option." Unlike before, Adriel's voice showed calm and understanding, a good place to take refuge.
"I guess... haaaaa, will you help me not to fall for her?" Steven scratched the back of his head nervously.
Adriel smiled slightly. "Of course, whenever you have a problem, you can count on me." He held out his hand to Steven, who grabbed it and shook it.
"Okay, let's go where we left the girls and then go back to the lake," Adriel said as he glanced at the cave with the werewolf inside.
"Sure." Steven started walking, and Adriel followed, copying his steps and pace.