Chapter 152: Barns Company: A Better Deal
In the sterile quiet of the infirmary, three figures with flowing blue hair lingered beside him, their expressions a mix of contrition and unease. Among them was Wills Lindell, the man Baines had bested to claim his current position. The air was thick with unspoken tension.
"Why are you here?" Baines asked, his voice flat.
Quintelle stepped forward, her tone smooth but calculated. "We came to apologize for our past actions," she said, nudging her brothers subtly.
Diphus scratched the back of his head, his sincerity evident despite his awkward delivery. "I-I’m sorry for shaming you," he mumbled, his eyes darting to the floor.
Wills, however, offered only a curt nod, his pride barely allowing even that small gesture. "Sorry," he muttered, the word clipped, as if forced from him. Maybe the reason he was even nodding was because Baines had entered the grandmaster before he, "I hope we can work together in the future."
Quintelle’s smile was diplomatic, her words carefully chosen. "With all grudges now settled, I hope we can communicate better moving forward. But I know apologies aren’t enough, so I’d like to invite you—"
"No," Baines interrupted, his voice devoid of warmth. He turned away, dismissing them without a second glance.
The room fell into a stunned silence.
The siblings exchanged frowns, their composure fraying. A polite refusal would have sufficed, but Baines’ blunt rejection felt like a slap.
"You’re arrogant," he spat, breaking the quiet.
Baines didn’t even acknowledge him. Instead, he climbed out of the infirmary bed. Wills’ eyes narrowed, his hand twitching toward the hilt of his sword. In case anything happened.
However, Baines, standing in his full height, felt a subtle shift in his body, a newfound strength, and a slight increase in height. He crossed the room to a mirror, inspecting his reflection.