pjbooks Chapter 179: Did you know?
Chapter 179: Did you know?
The truth is, I’ve been feeling a little scared these past few days. At first, I didn’t want to admit it, but it’s the truth.
Chaos and carnage loomed on the horizon, drawing closer with each passing day.
We were already deep into the first year, roughly in the last stretch. And once the final exams are over, the second arc will begin. Am I even ready for it? For the death and destruction that will come following the second arc?
"It’s alright," I whispered to myself. "I’ve done everything in my power to prepare."
And I truly did.
I had trained to hone my skills, secured, and tried to make influential allies. Okay maybe ’tried’ was a strong word. But I did put in some effort. It wasn’t my fault the so called influential allies were had redundancy running in their veins.
Also whether intentionally or not, my intention had pushed other characters to grow stronger to the best of their abilities.
I’d say I did a great job.
"Yes, everything will be alright."
Not that I was actually alright at the moment. Every cell in my body ached like there was no tomorrow. "This is ridiculous." I muttered as I dragged my feet across the floor.
I looked... battered and worn.
My uniform was impeccable but my hair was tousled, and baggy purple bruises were visible on my face and under my storm grey eyes.
"This is your fault you know." I said to Dion who looked equally as haggard as I did.
"How is it my fault? You were the one who had said ’I fear no man’, not me." He argued, and he was kind of right, but I’ll be damned if I agree.
"Who was asking useless questions in the first place?" I retorted. After all, if he hadn’t been asking useless questions, I wouldn’t have opened my mouth, and Instructor Black wouldn’t have heard my words. Still much as I complained, the hellish punishment was more like hellish training.
I was hunching and walking with a slight limp but my presence was heavier and sharper than ever, reminiscent of a newly forged sword.
As I was about to complain one more time, someone suddenly pounced on me from behind, wrapping their arm around my shoulder. Of course, I saw it coming from a mile away, but I made no effort to dodge it.
"What’s up with you two?" The person said wrapping their other arm around Dion’s shoulder.
"Okay! Okay! Calm down, Aric!"
A scowl crept onto my face as I nudged his arm aside and pulled him around in front of me.
Aric had started hanging out with both Dion and myself after the Ivos Gala, unlike in the novel where he, Levi and Sasha were supposed to join the main casts.
Aric had said something about me was inspiring. To be honest I didn’t understand what he meant by me being inspiring or anything. But I could somewhat understand his point, It probably meant I was just that charismatic. And also, he was a fun guy, even though his family had a weird name, but that was besides the point.
"Whoa! What happened to you two?" Aric’s eyes widened. "I didn’t notice from behind, but you two look drained."
"No shit." I muttered.
"What happened?" Aric asked.
Dion and I relayed what happened to Aric as we walked back to class and Aric... Aric couldn’t stop his laughter.
"Heh, serves you both right." he chuckled.
"Hey, whose side are you on?" Dion asked with faux anger.
We continued to banter as we headed for the exit of the dome. We had unanimously decided not to attend the last class today.
After leaving the dome, we happened to collide into a horde of students by chance. All of them were centered at one place, alternating their glances between two certain directions.
"What are they doing?" I muttered, glancing in the direction they were currently looking.
Tilting my head, I saw Calum standing sullenly, and looking at another direction. I returned my attention to Dion before looking at Aric.
"What’s up with him?" I whispered.
"What, you don’t know?" Dion gasped.
I frowned. Was I supposed to? All I saw was that idiot sulking by the side of the walkway.
"No, I do not." I said.
Aric barred his teeth and hesitated for a few seconds before whispering back. "He was rejected."
"...."
Calum? Rejected? On one hand it was music to my ears, and on the other hand, I felt sorry for a brother even though I kind of disliked him.
But wait, rejected by whom?!
My eyes instinctively flickered to the direction Calum was looking.
Wait, what? No way!
’Sasha?!’ My eyes widened.
When did this happen? And why?
Calum was supposed to fall for Rose. And Sasha was supposed to be one of the lesser harem members of Alistair! In fact things would have already started to develop in that direction if not for my and Sia’s intervention.
I blinked in confusion. "How did it happen?"
Seeing my puzzled expression, Aric chuckled. "Teens fall in love all the time, Damon. Why do you look so confused?"
"What do you know about love?" Dion smacked the back of Aric’s head.
But I wasn’t paying attention to their banter. My mind was occupied elsewhere. This was... not a favorable development.
I didn’t care who Sasha was in a relationship with, but Calum falling in love was a distraction. I mean how did it even happen? I thought he hated Sasha. Was this a hatred turning into love story?
Whatever it was, I didn’t care. How would his envy of the main casts grow to the point of making him choose to be a heretic. Not that I wanted him to become a heretic, but foolish as he was, him becoming a heretic had a significant purpose in the plot.
Biting on my thumbnail, I couldn’t help but curse inwardly. It wasn’t a big deal. I could still handle the situation.
Why did I not see it coming? I should have predicted something like this!
Whether I’m actively changing the fates of characters or not, their relationship with each other was bound to change!
I should’ve calculated this. Damn it, I’m such an idiot!
Just as I was in the midst of self-reproach, a voice interjected, pulling me back from my thoughts.
"Damon," Aric’s hand lightly tapped on my shoulder. "What are you thinking so hard about? Are you perhaps puzzled on something so simple as love?" His eyes twinkled.
My eyes twitched. It seemed hanging out with Dion had started to affect this guy.
Meeting his eyes, I paused briefly, letting out a sigh before shaking my head once more.
"Nothing," I replied.
I couldn’t do anything about the matters beyond my control.
All I could do was accept the unexpected developments and deal with whatever challenges that may come my way.
After that ordeal, we left and arrived at the dorm. Even though Dion practically begged me to accompany him to a meet a girl, I didn’t dare to. We had made a bet once, which I lost, and had to accompany him. That was probably the most embarrassing day in both my entire lives. Worse thing was he failed to rizz the girl as he always claimed.
So this time, I respectfully declined and ran away until he stopped chasing me with a sword in hand and gave up.
Finally returning to my dorm, I slumped on my bed and fell into a sweet slumber without even bothering to change my clothes or appreciate my features while checking myself out in a mirror.
No, no, today I was too tired for even my narcissism. By the time I woke up, my natural regeneration as a Theta ranked would have dealt with all the fatigue and bruises. I’d be as good as new, or so I thought.
It wasn’t around a few hours later when my sleep was disturbed by the continuous ringing of the doorbell.
"Arghh!"
With a low grunt, I got up and opened the main door to confront the person who was incessantly ringing my doorbell.
"Who is–"
But to my surprise, it was Sia.
For the past six months, I had been shifted to the hydra dorm. Now, my dorm room was number 2, just below Sia’s. But this was the first time in six months she actually visited my dorm. Not that I wanted her to come, but you get it.
"What?" I frowned. I didn’t enjoy anyone waking me up from my beauty sleep even if they were unfairly beautiful.
After pausing for a brief moment, she frowned. "Damon, I want to ask you something."
"Yes?" I cocked my head.
Sia hesitated for a moment or two before asking, "The attack during the Ivos Gala ... Did you know it would happen that day?"
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