The Villian Who Broke The Story

Kael, Verdia, Zion, Felix and Auriella had an odd study session.

It had started normally enough, with everyone bringing out their books and preparing for the upcoming theory examinations. But after the first hour, the atmosphere had become considerably less serious.

Zion was actually studying.

Ausrialla was studying.

Felix was studying, although every now and then he would glance around the classroom as if hoping someone else would get distracted first.

Verdia was studying.

Kael was supposed to be studying.

Instead, his head had gradually lowered toward the pages in front of him.

His eyes closed.

His breathing slowed.

Verdia noticed.

She reached across the desk and tapped his forehead with her pen.

Kael’s eyes opened.

"I’m awake."

"You were sleeping."

"I was thinking."

"With your eyes closed?"

"It’s easier to think that way."

Verdia stared at him.

Kael stared back.

She eventually shook her head and returned to her book.

Five minutes later, Kael’s head dropped again.

This time Verdia didn’t bother using the pen.

She kicked his chair.

Kael immediately sat upright.

"Ow."

"Study."

"I’m studying."

"You’re sleeping."

"Studying with my eyes closed."

"That’s not studying."

Kael sighed.

This happened several more times.

At one point, Felix glanced over and whispered to Zion.

"How does he keep getting away with this?"

Zion didn’t look up from his book.

"He doesn’t."

Felix nodded.

"Fair enough."

Auriella continued reading, occasionally glancing toward Kael whenever Verdia scolded him.

The scene was strangely peaceful.

There were no monsters.

No tournaments.

No dangerous simulations.

No opponents waiting to challenge them.

Just five students preparing for exams.

For Kael, it was almost relaxing.

He knew most of the material already.

The information was buried somewhere in the memories of the countless times he had played through this world.

The questions weren’t truly new to him.

The names weren’t new.

The concepts weren’t new.

Even some of the exam questions he remembered almost word for word.

That made studying feel unnecessary.

But Verdia refused to let him escape.

Eventually, the academy bell rang.

The sound echoed through the classroom.

Students immediately began packing their books.

Some looked relieved.

Others looked exhausted.

The upcoming exams had put most of the academy on edge, and the first-years were no exception.

Kael stretched his arms above his head.

"Finally."

Zion packed his books.

"You barely studied."

"I studied enough."

"You slept enough."

"That too."

Felix laughed.

Auriella simply stood and gathered her things.

Verdia remained beside Kael for a moment.

She had finished packing, but she didn’t leave immediately.

Before leaving Kael’s side Verdia turned to him.

"Do you secretly study midnight?", she asked curiously.

Kael looked at her.

"Why would you be asking me that, do I look like someone who would sacrifice my sleep to study?", Kael asked back prompting Verdia to slowly observe him.

She watched his messy hair, his eyes, that still seemed drowsy, with the tired expression on his face.

"I highly doubt it", she replied.

"There you go", Kael said back.

Verdia smiled faintly.

But the question clearly hadn’t left her mind.

"But, how do you know all this details?", Verdia curiously asked back.

Kael paused.

For a brief moment, his expression became more thoughtful.

There were plenty of answers he could have given.

He could have lied.

He could have claimed he had studied beforehand.

He could have blamed his memory.

Instead, Kael decided to tease her.

"Maybe if you were still my fiancee, I might tell you", Kael replied, causing Verdia’s cheeks to immediately become flushed.

Her green eyes widened.

"Don’t say things like that, there was a reason I broke off the engagement", Verdia replied.

Kael looked at her.

He had heard those words before.

But she had never actually explained what that reason was.

Kael slowly stood.

He began approaching Verdia.

"And you have yet to give me a reason, I can understand", Kael replied.

He closed the distance between them.

His crimson red eyes locked into her emerald eyes.

Verdia’s confidence immediately disappeared.

"Well..."

Her voice became quieter.

She looked away.

The silence between them lasted only a few seconds.

Then—

"COUGH!"

A loud cough echoed through the classroom.

Kael and Verdia both turned.

Charlotte was sitting in the classroom.

She was glaring at Kael as though she wanted to strangle him on the spot.

Kael stared at her.

Charlotte stared back.

Verdia looked between the two.

Kael sighed.

"I guess I’ll be leaving", Verdia said taking her leave.

She quickly gathered the last of her belongings and walked away.

Kael watched her leave.

Then he turned toward Charlotte.

"You seem angry at me for some unknown reasons", Kael asked.

Charlotte folded her arms.

"I don’t know why maybe someone entered Class A and conveniently forgot his dear friend that followed him to the same class", Charlotte said with a scowl.

Kael immediately understood.

"Well in my defense, I was taking the first week to rest, it has a well deserved vacation for my struggle to reach top rank, and you, seemed busy and I didn’t want to interrupt your socialization with the students in class 1A", Kael replied.

Charlotte’s eye twitched.

"You don’t seem to be understanding my position, in this class, I am the only one here who isn’t a noble", she stated.

Kael’s expression became slightly more serious.

"Which is why you worked harder than most to earn your place here", Kael replied.

Charlotte looked away.

"I am considered the weak link in Class A and the only reason why I am not being challenged by duels is because of the upcoming exams and my private lessons with Lyra", Charlotte continued.

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"You got private lessons with Lyra, for a lazy teacher she must really like you", Kael stated causing Charlotte to scowl.

"Says the laziest student in her class", she mocked.

Kael sighed.

"Well what can I say her class lacks energy", Kael said turning to leave with Charlotte following behind.

They walked through the mostly empty hallway.

The academy felt different after classes.

Without hundreds of students filling the corridors, the enormous halls seemed almost peaceful.

Charlotte walked beside Kael.

For a while, neither said anything.

Then Kael glanced at her.

"So what’s the training that you and Lyra have going", Kael asked.

"Well she wants me to master my element and the spells that come with them", Charlotte said.

"I see", Kael muttered, still moving forward.

He thought about Charlotte’s situation.

She had entered Class A without the backing that most of the students possessed.

She wasn’t from one of the great noble families.

She didn’t have generations of inherited techniques.

Everything she had earned had been earned through her own effort.

That was precisely why Kael didn’t want her becoming too dependent on one part of her abilities.

"So do you keep up your weapon training", Kael asked back.

"My weapon, well I do periodically train", Charlotte paused the moment.

Kael stopped.

Charlotte stopped too.

He turned toward her.

"I think I remember telling you that you were destined to be a Warlock", Kael stated.

"You didn’t really ly put it like that, you said that I had the poten....."

Before Charlotte could continue, Kael placed his finger on her lips.

She froze.

Kael’s expression became serious.

"What I want from you, is to not neglect one part of your training to enhance another one", Kael said with a serious expression.

Charlotte stared at him.

Kael removed his finger.

"You have potential in both areas. Don’t throw one away simply because the other is easier to improve."

Charlotte looked down at her hands.

She understood what he meant.

Kael turned around.

"I could have brought you to the Draven’s manor so that we could train after the first semester, but looking at my schedule, I might be kidnapped by a certain psychopath", Kael said feeling dreadful as he turned to leave with Charlotte following closely behind.

"Who are you calling a psychopath?"

Kael stopped.

Charlotte pointed at herself.

"You know him and at the same time don’t know him." Kael replied

He gave her a tired look.

"That’s the problem."

Charlotte laughed.

For a moment, the tension surrounding the exams disappeared.

They continued down the corridor.

Neither of them noticed the figure waiting farther ahead.

Someone was standing in front of them.

He wore the black-and-black uniform of the academy’s Disciplinary Committee.

The emblem marked clearly across his uniform made his identity obvious.

But the insignia on his shoulder distinguished him from ordinary members.

Charlotte immediately recognized him.

Cairo.

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee.

Kael stopped walking.

Cairo looked directly at him.

"Hello there Kael, could I borrow you for a moment", Cairo, the head of the disciplinary committee called, with the following closely behind.

Charlotte looked between them.

She didn’t need to be told twice.

She stepped away.

"I’m going to head back."

Kael glanced at her.

"Already?"

Charlotte gave him a knowing look.

"Good luck."

She walked away.

Kael watched her disappear around the corner before turning back toward Cairo.

Cairo approached.

His expression was calm.

But there was a seriousness behind his eyes.

"I’m not sure if you actually know all the traditions in this school and normally offer the first year tournament, second year students choose their protege", Cairo stated looking at Kael.

Kael nodded.

"I think I got the gist of it", Kael replied.

Cairo continued.

"Yes its basically like that, but since the school has been opened the top ranked student of the first year is usually recruited to be the protege of the Student Council president, while, the immediate rank 2 student is taken as a protege of the head of the Disciplinary committee", Cairo said.

Kael tilted his head.

"So you want to break the tradition?", Kael asked.

Cairo’s expression didn’t change.

"No."

He stepped closer.

"I expected you to lose to Auriella, but you didn’t."

Kael remained silent.

Cairo’s eyes stayed fixed on him.

"But I still remain steadfast in my choice of a protege", Cairo said as he locked his gaze with Kael’s.

Kael’s expression became slightly more serious.

He already understood where this conversation was going.

Cairo extended his hand.

"So, Kael would you be my protege?"