Chapter 107 Team [2]
"....."
The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the academy grounds as I sat silently on a chair near the stage.
My hands were interlaced, resting on my knees, as I surveyed my so-called 'team.'
All the other students had been sent back to their classes, leaving only the selected ones and the teachers.
'...Why do I have to go through this shit?' I thought, glancing at the silver-haired girl who was smiling sweetly at me.
Her smile didn't match the coldness in her beautiful crimson eyes.
'.....'
Maybe it was because of all the things I had gone through in the last three months that I didn't feel much threat from her.
I didn't avert my gaze from her, but looked directly into her eyes.
'...She didn't seem happy.'
...Come to think of it, she was never happy, no matter what she showed on the outside.
Inside, she was just depressed after Shane died.
[...Why do you care? Don't you hate her?]
'...I hate her, man, more than anything.'
[...More than your mother?]
'...No.'
...I hate my mother more than anything.
...But the hate I have for my mother is overshadowed by the fear I have of her.
Ignoring her personal strength, what terrifies me the most is how much influence she has all over the world.
...She can literally start wars between kingdoms and races without moving from her office.
...Her greatest strength is how she uses everything she knows against her enemies.
"...I don't want to be in a team with him," Tristan grumbled, glaring at me.
"...That's not something for you to decide," a girl with red hair rebuked while glancing at me. "...And that seat is for the leader."
"...Does it matter who the leader is?" I asked mockingly, glancing at her. "...We have already lost the competition."
"...Why are you saying that?" She asked, knitting her brows in confusion.
"...Look at this guy." Gesturing at Chubby, I scoffed as I replied, "...He looks like a busted can of biscuits."
Chubby's shoulders slumped as he slowly started to walk away.
"...Where are you going? To have some snacks?" I asked with a gentle smile, looking at him. "...Come back, Chubby."
"...Then we have him." Gesturing towards Tristan, I continued, "...With his condition, winning the competition won't be possible."
"...I have already healed from my injuries—"
"...No, dipshit, I am saying you are a fucking retard." I interjected, clarifying with a bright smile.
"...You!!"
"...Shut the fuck up, don't be a nagger." I interjected again, making his anger spike to the point he started to take his weapon out.
"...Stand down, Tristan." Athela commanded him with a stern voice, stopping him in his actions.
Shifting my gaze away from him, I looked at the silver-haired girl who was still smiling at me. "...Then we have this craz—"
"...Azariah."
A tingling sensation ran through my nape while I felt goosebumps all over my body as I heard her angelic voice.
...It sounded so good that it made me creep out.
"...Please be gentle with your words," she requested with a soft smile, looking at me.
"...Then we have this beautiful girl," I added quietly, not trying to mock her just to be safe.
Her smile widened as she nodded her head.
...Stop smiling; it's creeping me out.
"...Anyway, like I said, we can't win with a team like this," I concluded, glancing at Athela before looking around.
"...That's the team you have to work with," she rebuked, walking closer to me. "...And stand up from my seat."
"...No, go find another chair or something," I rejected firmly as I looked at Shyamal, only to notice her attention was somewhere else while the smile on her face vanished.
I followed her gaze until it landed on a blue-haired girl whose academic uniform clung close to her body as she walked gracefully towards us.
And behind her was Ethan.
"Oh, I smell drama."
I flinched slightly, hearing a familiar voice echoing to my left.
Shifting my focus, I looked there, only to find Oliver sitting beside me.
"...Where did you get the chair from?" I asked, noticing Aimar also arriving with a chair in his hand.
"...I stole it from Ivan," Oliver replied, grinning as he took out a packet of popcorn.
"...And I stole it from Archie," Aimar added, sitting to my right.
"...You got guts, bro," I praised earnestly.
"...Nah, no one gives a shit about him," Oliver added, starting to eat popcorn.
"...What do you want, Christina?" I shifted my focus as Athela asked, looking at her as she arrived close to us.
"...I want him in my team," Christina replied, pointing at me.
"...I don't want to," I interjected, frowning.
"...Did I ask you?" she questioned softly, glancing at me.
"...No."
"...Then be quiet."
"....."
"...Bro got tamed," Aimar commented mockingly.
...I'll just ignore him.
"..Yo, Ethan, want some?" Oliver asked, passing the popcorn towards him as he arrived.
"...No," he replied solemnly, his eyes drifting towards me.
"...We can't change the team members," Athela informed, rubbing her eyes.
"...Doesn't matter, I will ask for permission—"
"...Why do you even want him?" Athela rebuked, glaring at her. "...Don't tell me you want to protect him or give me an advantage—"
"...That doesn't concern you, Athela," Christina interjected sharply.
"...Come on, what are you, his mom?" Athela taunted, her voice laced with mockery.
"...Don't try to hinder me just because I didn't listen to your advice," Christina replied sharply, making Athela's expression harden.
"...Notice how she didn't refuse the mom part," Oliver mumbled, rubbing his chin and glancing at me. "...You should start calling her mom—"
"...Go fuck yourself."
"...Just go away, Christina," Shyamal chimed in, instructing her.
"Damn, the crazy girl interfered," Oliver commented, making me frown.
"...Don't call her crazy."
"...But she is," he insisted, munching on popcorn. "...Remember, she used to scratch you like a cat."
"...That's only because Azariah is into that shit," Aimar added, glancing at me. "...He likes it rough."
"...You guys are just jealous," I grumbled, frowning.
"...Did that really happen?" All three of us looked back at Ethan as he asked suspiciously.
"...Yeah, Shyamal and Azariah were quite—"
"...Shut up, Oliver."
"Why—"
"...Shyamal." we both flinched slightly as we heard Christina's chilling voice addressing her. "...Don't try to interfere."
"...Why should I not?" Shyamal rebuked, walking closer to her. "...Or do you think you can just order everyone around?"
"...And what makes you think I can't?" Christina asked without a shred of emotion in her voice.
"...Don't act all high and mighty just because you won against me once," Shyamal rebuked, standing just in front of her.
...Wait, what?
They fought?
Why?
And Christina won!?
Even with all the cheats that Shyamal has?
"...What's happened?" I looked back, hearing Ashlyn's voice as she arrived beside us.
"...They are fighting over Azariah," Oliver replied, glancing at her. "...You should join too."
"Huh? Why?" Tilting her head, she asked.
"...Nevermind," shaking his head, he mumbled, "...Just let them fight."
"..Okay, can you guys stop now!" Having had enough of this bickering, I stood up and yelled at both of them.
"...Stay out of this, Azariah," Christina retorted, glaring at me.
"...Can you stop this, Christina?" I asked with a tired sigh, looking at her.
"...What's happening here?" We all quieted down as Lauryn's voice echoed within the training ground.
"...She wants Azariah," Shyamal complained, pointing towards Christina, "...Even when we already told her that's not possible."
"...The team has already been decided, Christina," Lauryn instructed firmly, looking at her. "...You can play husband and wife with him at home; don't try to do that here."
"...Azariah." Shifting her focus towards me, Christina called, "...Come with me."
"...Sigh." With a sigh, I walked towards her before she grabbed my hand and dragged me to a corner.
"...Are you going to be alright?" she asked, her blue eyes looking at me concernedly as we reached a quiet place.
"...Yeah," I replied, confused, looking at her. "Why do you ask?"
"...Have you not seen the hatred in Shyamal's eyes?" she asked, glaring at me. "...She has been like this since the day Shane died."
"...What about it?" I shrugged. "...It's not like she could do anything, even if she hates me."
"...She is a Vessel, Az," her glare intensified as she informed me, "...You don't know what she will do—"
"...Wait, how do you know that she is a Vessel?" I interjected sharply, my brows knitting together in confusion.
...She shouldn't have known this.
"F-Father told me," she replied, stuttering a little.
"...Is your father an idiot?"
"..Hey, don't bad mouth him," she complained, punching my chest lightly.
"...But how can he just tell an empire secret like it's nothing."
"...Wait, you already knew she was a vessel!?" she asked, her eyes widening a little.
"....."
"...Since when?" she asked, glaring at me.
"...Shane told me," I replied softly, "...When I was a child."
"...Why, Az?" she grumbled softly, rubbing her temples.
"....."
I didn't reply because I didn't have any response.
Everyone knows what happens who are close to Vessel.
If the Vessel loses control then those close to them are their first targets.
But that won't happen to me because she hates me to death.
"...Just call me if anything happens," she advised, messing my hair before she walked away.
"...Sigh." I sighed again, rubbing my chest ,which for some reason, felt like burning.
"...."
Come to think of it, three months have passed, right?
"...Fuck."
...Isn't it time for my first spirit to awaken?
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