Chapter 154 154: Stay Away!
"Keith uses the Lightning Element, Reginald. If I'm a little worried, it is for you." Killian said, even if he knew Reginald wouldn't like it.
Reginald scoffed, turning away from him.
"Lightning?" he said slowly, looking upwards. "I really didn't remember that one."
Killian said nothing, letting him absorb the realization and think of his next course of action.
"You're right," Reginald agreed after a while. "Lightning does have the threat of Light, Sound, and Fire all mixed up. Does he have good precision with it?"
"I don't think so," Killian replied, looking towards the door. "But he has great range. Precision doesn't matter before a wide range. You should focus on wide range skills that will blow his Lightning element away. To an extent, at least."
He paused when he realized he sounded like he was lecturing Reginald. He cleared his throat, turning to the boy. "Well, I'm still sure you'll be fine—"
"Why are you telling me that? Do you want me to win against your brother or what?"
"I don't really care." Killian's reply came quickly.
He didn't have to think hard about it on because it was the truth. If anything, he wanted Keith to face a reality where being handed things on a silver platter didn't always mean the end results would be favorable.
"I am just saying because you could get badly hurt if you have no idea and he traps you. He also has a high affinity to Lightning so he wouldn't get tired easily."
Reginald's frown deepened as he nodded. "So you are kinda looking out for me?" He scoffed again, and slowly raised his hand, pointing at the door. "I have to train then. Leave me alone."
Raising both hands in surrender, Killian stepped backward. He had expected as much. "Good luck."
No reply came. The training room door slid shut behind Killian as he shoved his hands into his pockets.
Outside the training room, he shoved his hands into his pockets. "I should've just stayed neutral," he murmured. "But it's only fair that he has an idea what he's getting to."
To suddenly find a three-in-one element created for nothing but destruction coming his way would be too much of a whiplash.
"And he doesn't seem to like Keith so that might help him…" the moment Killian raised his head, he made contact with his brother walking down the hallway.
He threw his head back, biting his lower lip. 'I hope he's here to see Theodore or anyone else.'
But Keith stopped a few steps away from him, making Killian heave a sigh.
"Didn't you see my message?" Keith blocked the way.
Killian's thumb pressed into his temple when a sharp throb ached behind his eye. He stretched his palm to take out his dagger to relieve his pain, but decide not to so Keith wouldn't misunderstand.
"I saw your message." He exhaled. "What did you expect me to reply with?"
"Tips," the younger brother replied flatly. "My last fight with a Wind Element user was hectic."
The last fight Killian remembered with any Wind Element User was Evelyn during their training match. He stared at his brother, wondering if he had seriously thought it was hectic when he looked like he was bored.
"I also couldn't attend Evelyn's recent match since I got targeted because of you, so you should—"
"Will you keep pulling this card on me?" Killian cut him off. "And how will I help you? I'm not a Wind Element User either. Do you want me asking Reginald how a Lightning User would beat him or what?"
"You wouldn't do that."
"Exactly. All I'll try to do is attend the match and—"
Keith interrupted. "Are you attending the match to encourage your friend, or for my sake?"
The absurdity of the question made Killian drop his thumb from his temple. There was definitely a personality shift in his younger brother.
He stared at him with lidded eyes, before sighing. "There is no other reason other than for my curiosity," he rubbed his forehead when a single nerve stung in his brain.
He sighed again. The headaches had already arrived. "Ha… you stress me a lot. Now, I wonder if I should even attend."
Killian walked past him, hitting his right shoulder.
"I'll ask Evelyn then."
Silence.
Killian had already halted his steps. He forced his hands into his pockets and spun on his heel, facing Keith. "The fuck did you just say?"
"Can't I ask her for tips?" Keith slowly turned to face him. "You seem too busy to give me any."
Silence.
Killian sighed for the third time, a long one. His hands left his pocket and he rubbed his face roughly. He threw his hands down, and they clenched.
"You are pissing me off, Keith." His red eyes dug into Keith's eyes. "Why are you suddenly clingy with me and my friends? Keep staying away and ignoring my existence like father and mother. I got used to that."
Keith's posture changed, and his hands fell limp at his sides. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again.
"Of course, you'll defend yourself with your excuse that Father made you do it," Killian shook his head. "But I don't give a fuck. Leave me and my friends alone. Ask your patron for whatever you want."
Silence.
"I'll believe you understand me." Killian unclenched his fists and walked away, leaving his brother standing there with slumped shoulders.
Nothing pricked Killian's heart as he walked away, hoping he also walked away from any similar occurrences in the future.
He was making himself proud of his existence and fulfilling the bet those who believed in him placed on him.
That was the only validation he needed.
The child version of him who cried over his parents shifting his room to the farthest part of the house, and the child who wondered why his twin brother stopped playing and speaking to him was no longer him.
Those versions of him were no longer an option. He also wouldn't want the tables to turn or desire any karma. They should all remain as they have been.
He was the only one who needed to change.
And he did.
'It should remain that way.'