CHAPTER 30: LUCY’S DILEMMA

Chapter 30: Lucy’s Dilemma

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The night was peaceful—exactly what Arios needed to get his mind off his test score. After a long night of studying, he decided to take a stroll, seeking comfort in the silence. As he neared the bridge that overlooked the rushing stream, he heard a girl arguing with someone under the flickering streetlights.

"But you said you loved me," she started.

"Just take a good look at yourself," a man’s voice replied. "You’re nothing more than a whore."

SLAM!

A slap echoed through the night, even sending a jolt through Arios’s body. The scene was unfolding right beside him, but he refused to turn and look. He had too much on his plate to start meddling in someone else’s business.

Then he heard choking noises as the man’s hands wrapped around the girl’s neck. "You stupid bitch, how dare you hit me."

"Stop!" she cried out. "You’re hurting me!"

"You should have thought about that before hitting me," he sneered.

The sound of her chokes and cries was so persistent that it finally drew Arios’s attention. To his surprise, it was Lucy Nightshade, his study group partner.

What’s she doing out so late, Arios thought, and with someone so shady?

"Hey man, you better leave her alone," Arios said, slowly walking toward them.

"Hey buddy," the man said, still holding Lucy by the neck. "Nothing’s happening here. Just two couples settling a quarrel."

"It doesn’t look that way," Arios said, clenching his fists.

Arios knew his Seven-Winged Physique made him physically stronger than most students at the academy. He felt a surge of confidence; he could handle this.

"Arios," Lucy choked out, her voice barely a whisper.

"Don’t worry," Arios said. "I’m here."

The man released Lucy and rushed at Arios, throwing a wild punch. Arios easily sidestepped it. The man stumbled and threw another, but Arios dodged again, his movements fluid and precise. The man’s frustration grew with each missed strike, his face contorting in rage. He lunged forward with a haymaker, but Arios saw it coming. He ducked under the punch and, in a single motion, drove his fist deep into the man’s gut. A loud thump followed by a gasp of air leaving his lungs was all that was heard. The man doubled over, clutching his stomach, before collapsing to the ground. Arios looked down at the pathetic figure and immediately recognized him. He was a lackey of Regulus, a scum from Class 1-C, who appeared in the anime once during a certain scene.

"Thanks for the help, truly," she said, her hands still at her neck. She began coughing as if to clear something stuck in her throat. "Men," she said, finally catching her breath. "They always do this."

She’s clearly devoid of reason, Arios thought, still looking at her as she clutched her neck, now on her knees. She’s the one slinging around, attracting the worst kind of men, and then she lumps everyone into the same basket.

"Don’t you think you’re at least partly at fault?" Arios asked.

She quickly stood up, grabbing his collar with unexpected force. Her head was lowered as she pulled him close. "Maybe men should learn a thing or two about respecting women’s boundaries," she said, her voice strained. "Everyone thinks I’m a slut."

While she’s not wrong, Arios thought. For one, I do think she’s a slut. Look at how she’s dressed late at night.

"I loved him," she said, tears welling in her eyes. "I really did. But he looked at me as nothing more than just another whore, which I’m not." She started to cry, her body shaking. "When it came time for him to reveal himself, I said no. All he wanted was a blowjob—that was the only reason he went out with me all that time."

Arios felt a pang of guilt. He had been so quick to judge her. She wasn’t just another slutty girl; she was someone who had been hurt while searching for genuine love. She was a victim of a cruel, shallow man, and his assumptions had been completely wrong.

As she continued to weep, Arios did the only thing he could think of. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close in his embrace. "Don’t worry," he whispered. "I’m here."

A jolt of relief coursed through her, as if she had finally found someone who would protect her. Her crying stopped, and she looked up at him. "Why did you say that?"

Why? Why did I say that? Arios thought, unsure of the reason himself. Was it because his new-found physical prowess had given him the confidence to make promises he couldn’t keep? Or was it genuine care? Maybe he just saw someone who was truly vulnerable and felt the need to help. Maybe he saw himself in her—his past self, a life of weakness that cancer had eaten away. It was definitely the latter.

It’s clear to me now, he thought. Ijust can’t stand to see her weep. I just want to do something, anything, to make her safe.

"I don’t know," Arios said, answering her question.

"That’s enough for me," she said, leaning into his embrace.

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They made their way back to his room. As soon as they stepped inside, Lucy had something to say about how messy it was. "What happened in here?" she said, her voice full of mock shock. "You can’t tell me someone actually lives in this mess."

"I’m also surprised I’ve managed to live like this," Arios replied with a slight laugh.

She turned to him, a bright smile on her face. "It’s time to get to work now."

"What?" Arios said.

"You heard me," she continued. "Let’s get this place up and tidy."

Has she lost her mind? Arios thought. It’s super late, and I need to get back to studying. Tomorrow is our last day before the test.

"I need to get back to studying," Arios said, moving toward his desk.

She immediately stood in front of him, blocking his path. "Not so fast, smarty-pants," she said. "What’s this?" She looked down at his study materials, her eyes widening. "Don’t tell me you’re studying civics," she said, a chuckle escaping her lips.

I’m sure she doesn’t even know the capital of this kingdom, Arios thought. Wait, does she?

"Yeah, I’m studying civics," he said. "I promise to stop if you get just one answer right."

"It’s a deal then," she said with a smirk. "Fire away."

"What’s this kingdom’s capital?"

"Uhhh..." she stammered, looking at the ceiling. "That’s definitely not in the text."

How the fuck did she even manage to get into this academy?

House Nightshade, Arios thought, the reason for her entrance into the academy. House Nightshade was one of the three great houses of the kingdom, alongside House Ravencroft and House Weaverake. Its prominence came from its ability to wield dark magic without the use of spirit veins, which were only available to cultivators in the path-building stages. Her family’s influence was the only possible explanation.

"It’s Ostina," Arios said, answering his own question.

"Oh yeah, that’s definitely right," she said, rolling her eyes playfully.

She stopped him from turning to his bed. "Hey," she said, her tone suddenly serious. "You think I’m stupid, right?"

Okay, what’s with the sudden question? Arios thought as he turned to face her.

"I’m sure it’s because of the way I dress," she continued. "But that shouldn’t be the case. To judge someone by the way they look—that way of thinking is extremely archaic." She let out a sigh. "The true reason I dress like this is because..."