Chapter 21 – Tears
Chapter 21 – Tears
After stepping out of the room, Zane paused just outside the door, letting out a long, steady breath. His lungs filled with the cool air of the corridor, grounding him. When he looked up, several students were already staring his way—eyes wide, filled with curiosity and suspicion, as if waiting for some dramatic revelation.
'...' Zane blinked, face unreadable as silence hung in the air like thick fog. 'Right... I forgot about these idiots.'
Without saying a word, he turned his back on them and began walking away, his steps calm, unhurried. He didn't bother to meet any of their eyes. After today, he doubted he'd ever see any of these faces again. His path was set now—one that would take him far away from this world and all its petty scorn.
"Hmm, why doesn't he look upset?" Emilio muttered under his breath. He stood at the front of the line, brows furrowed, arms crossed. Zane's composed demeanor didn't sit right with him.
'Could it be...?' The thought brushed his mind like a shadow, but he shook it off just as quickly. 'No... no way. That guy would never be accepted, even if he sold his soul. He's probably just in denial.'
"Next!"
The knight's voice boomed, snapping Emilio out of his thoughts. Steeling himself, he turned and walked into the room, certain that fate was about to favor him—just as it always had.
After leaving the academy, Zane didn't stop. He moved fast, weaving through the familiar streets until his house finally came into view.
'It's done. It's finally done! I did it! I really did it!'
The words screamed through his mind, looping again and again, like a melody he couldn't shut off. The world around him felt distant, dreamlike. Even the solid ground beneath his feet felt unreal—like it might dissolve beneath him at any moment.