Chapter 53: Inner Court Disciple Examination
’Hm? This guy looks familiar...’
Tilting his head, Seraph finally realized it was the inner court disciple that had tried picking on him on his first day here.
’Oh.’
A hint of recognition passed through his eyes, and then he ignored him.
"You..."
The disciple called out to him, suppressed rage in his voice.
Seraph paused, turned his head, and pointed at himself innocently.
"Me?"
The inner court disciple stood up, a brief look of confusion on his face. Then it was replaced with intense hatred in his eyes.
["Wow, unbelievable. You’ve made a great enemy."] Halo joked, enjoying the situation.
Meanwhile, Seraph sighed tiredly. ’I just want a meal.’
The disciple stepped closer to Seraph, then said in a dark tone.
"Do you have any idea what you’ve done?"
Eh?
Seraph blinked, caught off guard. What had he done? Light up his own room? Finished a mission? What exactly did he do that made this guy agitated?
Gritting his teeth with suppressed anger, the disciple continued.
"Because of you—you lowly outer court disciple. My aunt was locked in the Phoenix dungeon! Do you have any idea what you did?!"
Seraph paused, his confusion cooling into a frown.
"How is that my fault? Or could it be that her mistake was intentional and caused by you?"
The disciple froze, unable to retort immediately.
All around, the other disciples present in the cafeteria were already whispering about the matter.
Elder Layla’s punishment had spread, and everyone had heard about her unfair treatment towards Seraph.
Some even felt pity for the young boy.
The disciple’s relationship with Elder Layla quickly made him an outcast, with no one wanting to have close ties with him anymore.
This further fueled his annoyance towards Seraph, twisting the little displeasure into hatred.
"W-what do you mean? I have nothing to do with your case."
He stuttered, stepping back cautiously.
More gazes turned to them, curious.
"Oh?"
Seraph gave a sardonic smile and took a step forward.
"I’m sure Elder Layla does not know me from anywhere. Why would she do such a wicked thing, then?"
The disciple growled. "What? Maybe she found you annoying just like you are. And hey! It was a mistake."
Trying to use his bigger frame to pressure Seraph, he stepped forward threateningly.
The white-haired boy met his gaze calmly.
"Is that so? Perhaps she really found me annoying—just like you do."
Putting on a helpless expression, Seraph shrugged.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if the two of you colluded to create a shady situation where I’d die. Anyway, who’d really care about the death of an annoying outer court disciple?"
The disciple’s face darkened in shame and anger, and he coughed up blood.
"You... you..."
Wiping the blood off his lips, he stomped his foot and stormed out of the cafeteria.
Looking at the red mess on the ground, Seraph shook his head.
’Internal injury just from anger? Such a mob.’
Ignoring it as a staff came to clean, he picked a tray and served himself.
Whispers about his speculation continued to fly around, but Seraph paid no attention to them. Instead, he carefully enjoyed his meal until he was satisfied.
After dining, he left quietly and returned to his room. Turning on the lights, he rolled his shoulders and laid on the bed, silently staring at the ceiling.
’It has merely been a week yet a lot has happened.’
He wondered how his parents fared at home. His sister too. He missed her cuddles and comforting words whenever he was tired.
There was also his friend, Toma. His assigned guards too, and the blacksmiths he had worked with.
’I really miss them all...’
["You do?"] Halo asked expressionlessly. ["Don’t delude yourself. You haven’t gotten to that stage yet. You are merely dissatisfied with the absence of their emotions which would be easy for you to replicate."]
Instead of getting angry, Seraph smiled.
"Perhaps you’re right. Perhaps you’re not."
His eyelids covered his eyes peacefully.
"However, I do cherish being in their presence. They bring me warmth."
Hearing this, Halo fell silent and no longer said anything.
Still smiling peacefully, Seraph fell asleep.
..................
The next morning, Seraph woke up very early. Illuminating his room with the light bulb, he took his bath and changed into his washed disciple robes.
Then, he headed to the cafeteria.
To no one’s surprise, he met Sylvia at her usual corner wolfing down a large amount of food content.
’What’s with her and her gluttonous appetite?’
Sitting opposite her, he placed his tray on the table and said.
"Good morning, Senior Sister. I hope I’m not too late."
The girl paused eating, looked at him, then shook her head.
"No, you’re not." She took another large bite of the meat. "Don’t you dare say anything about what you’re seeing right now."
Seraph rolled his eyes and nodded.
"Of course. I’m the only person eating here right now. I’m merely talking to myself."
Sylvia lowered her head and nodded, a small hint of gratitude in her eyes.
Minutes later, the two finished their meals, then left the cafeteria.
"Senior Sister, where am I going to take the examination?"
Seraph asked curiously, following behind her as she ventured up the mountain.
"Stop asking questions and concentrate. You should be preparing yourself instead."
Seraph rolled his eyes playfully. "Sheesh, you’re so strict."
They finally arrived at a building not far from the Punishment Hall.
Looking at that familiar white building in the distance, Seraph was reminded of Elder Lan.
’That woman, tsk.’
Shaking his head, he focused on the place Sylvia had brought him to.
"Hm. This looks like a mini-arena?"
Stepping inside, it was indeed a small arena with a stage at the centre.
Two sect elders stood rigidly at the side, their expressions cold.
The instant they walked in, the elders turned to them curiously.
They both smiled at the same time and said.
"Sylvia, it’s been a while."
Seraph shivered instinctively, feeling unnerved. The two elders had an uncanny resemblance to each other, and their synched speech made him feel uneasy.
Meanwhile, Sylvia smiled and cupped her fists.
"Greetings, Elder Mash."