The Villian Who Broke The Story

Kael watched as Auriella made her declaration.

There was no hesitation in her voice. She had already made up her mind. She wasn’t simply talking about becoming stronger; she intended to take the position Kael currently held at the top of the first-year rankings.

Before Kael could respond, the classroom door opened again.

Zion stepped out, followed by Verdia.

Zion had apparently heard the tail end of the conversation.

"Auriella, I think, you’re getting ahead of yourself. I’ll be the one to defeat, Kael," Zion said, with conviction while Verdia just face palmed herself,

"Exams are still ongoing and you guys, are still planning on fighting among yourselves," Verdia said muttered.

Kael looked between the three of them.

He couldn’t help but smile.

Apparently, his position had become quite popular.

"Come on, Verdia, don’t you want the top spot too, maybe if you start seriously training, you could be their equals," Kael stated,

Verdia just frowned.

"I don’t need rankings, I only have one goal," Verdia said,

Kael’s expression became slightly more serious.

"To protect those who can’t protect themselves."

Both Kael and Verdia said at the same time.

Verdia’s eyes widened.

"How did you know?" She asked,

Kael shrugged.

"Sneaked a peak into your dairy once or twice, but that’s a foolish goal," Kael reprimanded.

Verdia’s frown deepened.

"And, who are you, to decide whether my goal is foolish or not," Verdia asked,

Kael looked at her for a moment.

He wasn’t trying to insult her.

At least, not entirely.

"Your goal is circulated around the concept of Noblesse Oblige, which is, naive especially when you don’t have the strength to achieve your goal," Kael said.

Verdia’s expression stiffened.

Kael continued.

"You’re talented Verdia, more so than me, but you don’t put enough zeal into training, your gifts," Kael stated,

His words were blunt.

Perhaps too blunt.

But Kael had never been particularly good at dressing up the truth.

He knew Verdia’s potential.

He had seen it before.

The problem wasn’t her talent.

It was the difference between possessing talent and having the determination necessary to turn that talent into strength.

Verdia wanted to protect people.

That was admirable.

But wanting to protect someone and actually possessing the power to do so were two completely different things.

Kael turned toward Zion and Auriella.

"If you both want my crown, you can come anytime. It’s not like the top ranked student can refuse a duel," Kael stated confidently,

Zion’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Auriella remained composed.

Neither of them backed down.

Verdia, however, looked increasingly displeased.

She had been staring at Kael throughout the entire exchange.

There was something about him that bothered her.

It wasn’t simply his strength.

It was the way he carried himself.

The Kael she remembered was different.

He had always been talented, but he had rarely shown any desire to use that talent.

Now he stood in front of her with confidence she had never seen before.

"You have changed," she stated.

Kael tilted his head.

"For the better I presume," Kael asked.

Verdia didn’t answer.

She simply frowned before turning around and walking away.

Kael watched her leave.

For a brief moment, he wondered whether he had been too harsh.

Then he shrugged.

There wasn’t much he could do about it.

Zion stepped closer.

"I thought you were madly in love with her, this is a drastic change," Zion stated.

Kael looked at him.

"Does everyone really assume that," Kael asked,

Zion gave him a strange look.

"Well she was your fiancee, and it’s already common knowledge that, you were deeply in love with her. So, it’s not hard to piece it together, and rumors are easy to start," Zion said.

Kael sighed.

That was the problem with being a noble.

People knew things about him that he didn’t even remember telling anyone.

"But why are you still here, I expected you to be on your bed," Zion said and Kael left, more hopeless in himself,

Kael stared at his back.

He couldn’t even defend himself against that.

"So much for being the fool upperclassman when the main characters argued," Kael thought silently.

He shook his head.

There was no point dwelling on it.

"I’m waiting for someone, but, I’m more curious about you, which second year chose you to be his protege," Kael asked.

Zion stopped.

"I haven’t accepted any offers, but they are mostly from, the student council," Zion stated.

Kael nodded.

That made sense.

The Student Council had already shown a particular interest in the strongest students of their year.

Auriella had accepted an offer.

Zion was apparently being pursued.

And Kael had already been recruited into the Disciplinary Committee.

The balance between the two organizations was becoming increasingly obvious.

Kael glanced at Zion.

Something immediately caught his attention.

There were weight bands wrapped around Zion’s wrists.

Kael’s eyes moved downward.

There were matching weights around his legs.

Kael stared.

He said nothing.

Zion noticed.

At first, he ignored him.

Then Kael continued staring.

Eventually, Zion turned toward him.

"What are you doing," Zion asked, feeling a bit embarrassed, by the intensity of his scrutiny.

"I’m meant to be asking you that question," Kael said a mischievous smile returning to his face.

Kael pointed at Zion’s wrists.

"Are you copying my training regime, although I’ll implore you not to copy everything down to the boots, it’s a bit too intense," Kael said.

Zion’s expression darkened.

"Of course I know that," Zion said glaring at Kael,

Kael grinned.

"I have, no idea what your body is made off," Zion stated,

Kael looked at him for a moment.

"Well that’s good to know, but, why didn’t you tell me about your, new training regime, we could have been gym bros," Kael said with a smirk.

Zion’s expression became completely blank.

"That sounds gay," Zion said, walking away from Kael,

Kael stood there.

Silent.

Completely dumbfounded.

He watched Zion walk farther down the hallway.

"Did he just call me," Kael, stood frozen,

He didn’t finish the sentence.

There was no point.

Zion was already gone.

Kael slowly turned his head.

Auriella was leaving as well.

She hadn’t said anything.

She simply gave him one final look before walking away.

Kael sighed.

"Everyone is strange."

Not long afterward, the students finally began leaving Class 1-A.

Most of them, if not all, were surprised to still see Kael waiting outside the classroom.

He had been there for most of the examination.

Some students glanced at him curiously.

Others simply assumed he was waiting for someone.

Eventually, Charlotte stepped out.

Her face still held a hint of worry from the examination she had just written.

Kael immediately noticed.

"I guess Lyra, didn’t teach you another thing, just Magic," Kael stated.

Charlotte nodded.

She still looked troubled.

Her eyes wandered toward the classroom.

She was clearly replaying several questions in her head.

Kael sighed.

"Don’t worry, I doubt the exam was that hard," Kael stated,

Charlotte immediately looked at him.

"You’re one to talk, you just gave up after seeing the questions," Charlotte complained,

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"Nope I finished before submitting," Kael replied,

Charlotte squinted her gaze at Kael, clearly not believing him.

There was simply no way.

The same person who slept through lessons had supposedly finished an examination before everyone else?

She wasn’t buying it.

"So who are you waiting for," Charlotte asked,

"You of course," Kael replied,

Charlotte blinked.

"And why would you be waiting for me," Charlotte asked,

"To make you a member of the Disciplinary Committee," Kael said, getting up,

Charlotte’s expression changed instantly.

"What, why?" Charlotte asked stunned.

Kael started walking.

"Don’t talk too much let’s just get going," Kael said,

Charlotte hurried after him.

She had barely managed to process what had happened.

One moment she had been worrying about her exam.

The next, Kael had apparently decided she was joining the Disciplinary Committee.

She wasn’t even sure whether that was how recruitment worked.

"So, who has any one in the second year asked you to, be their protege, yet," Kael asked,

Charlotte shook her head.

"No, not yet," she replied,

Kael nodded.

"I expected as much, but don’t worry, I know a guy," Kael said with a smile,

Charlotte stared at him.

She had no idea who this mysterious "guy" was.

And somehow, that made her even more nervous.

The two continued through the academy halls.

Charlotte kept glancing at Kael.

"Do you even ask people before deciding their future for them?" she wanted to ask.

But she decided against it.

Kael seemed entirely comfortable with his decision.

That was one of the strangest things about him.

He acted as though he had already thought several steps ahead.

They eventually reached the Disciplinary Committee’s headquarters.

The familiar door came into view.

Kael pushed it open.

Inside, several members were already occupied with their own tasks.

Cairo looked up.

His eyes immediately landed on Kael.

Then on Charlotte.

His expression changed.

He already knew Kael well enough to understand that whenever the boy arrived with someone else, trouble usually followed.

Kael walked inside as though nothing unusual had happened.

Charlotte followed closely behind.

Cairo stared at the two of them for several seconds.

Then he finally spoke.

"What is this planning to do this time around."

Kael smiled.

Charlotte immediately had the sinking feeling that whatever happened next, she was probably going to regret following him here.

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