CHAPTER 78: THEIR PREDICAMENT

’Of course~.’

Even now, after an entire day of Colosseum Game viewing, Selvara looked... perfect? Yes, ’perfect’ as in symmetrical, from the way she styled her hair to the way she wore her clothes.

And speaking of, she was dressed in an immaculate silver-and-black dress, the crest of the Disciple Chief pinned proudly to her chest, which stood for this stratum’s student council.

This before him was "the perfect daughter," or so his mother liked to call her right in front of him nearly every time she could.

The one person who made the past Xenos inferior by simply existing.

His brother tried to do that, but he wasn’t exactly... smart.

"Congratulations on your victory."

She smiled faintly.

"It’s quite the performance you put on in the Colosseum, matching even its founder."

"Yes, I do my best."

Xenos pocketed the slip into his inventory.

"You didn’t have to come all the way here, though. I know it’s..."

He grinned.

"Awkward."

Selvara exhaled through her nose, the faintest twitch breaking her polished mask.

"It’s tradition."

He nodded, as if accepting her words.

"Are you sure it’s not sibling pride? I know you’re soooo happy for me."

"Tradition."

She repeated, louder this time.

"Please don’t get it confused."

Behind her, the rest of her cohort lingered, six of them, all older disciples, probably of the Shepherd Class as well, smiling like they were posing for a painting.

In all their posing, they didn’t seem to notice how stiff the air between the siblings was.

"Great fight in there, man."

One of them clapped Xenos on the shoulder.

"You took down monsters, faced that thing, annihilated those assassins, and literally stood before Death!"

Another shook his head, while a third punched his side.

"It was an incredible watch! Too incredible that I’m afraid the Gods might not bother with a Game for a while."

"I know, right? Never seen someone fight that messy and win!"

"Messy’s a style."

Xenos’s reply came in annoyance.

’Do these guys have no concept of personal space?’

Another leaned in, this time a curious girl.

"How’d you even do that? You used like ten different elements back to back."

And she wasn’t the only one to ask that.

"Yeah, what kind of Rune Path are you Following?"

Xenos raised both hands and spread them far apart.

"Two opposite paths—do you want to see?"

They laughed, thinking that he was joking.

...Selvara didn’t.

"Alright, enough."

She gave her cohort a sharp look.

"He’s tired. Let’s not smother him."

"I’m fine."

Xenos brushed past them.

"Are you done fulfilling your family duty, Madam Chief?"

Her jaw tightened, but she said nothing.

"You really didn’t have to do this, Sel."

He stopped beside her, lowering his voice.

"I know how it is for you and your ’image.’ Or is that changed now that my name is being cleaned up a little?"

Her lips twitched.

"It wouldn’t end with me..."

She gritted her teeth.

"Even if it’s... incredibly awkward."

"Hey."

Amused, he was the one who invaded personal space this time.

"At least you finally admitted it."

He stepped past her before she could respond, his hands behind his back, still grinning.

Xenos didn’t get far before he noticed two figures waiting near the end of the hall.

One had leaned against the wall while the other stood straight as a spear.

His older brother, Draven Veynar, and his mother, Lyssandra Kharon.

Draven’s smirk was obvious, his chin lifted a tad, as if challenging Xenos, or perhaps reminding him that despite what he did in there, he was not yet anyone important.

If judged by how he acted, many might think that he was some sort of big shot in the Academy like Selvara, but Draven was only the leader of some group that went around and bullied the pitiful Nameless that somehow survived all that the Academy threw at them.

Next to him, Lyssandra stood silent, her eyes looking heavier than usual.

It was almost as if she’d aged ten years since he last saw her.

Xenos slowed, but only for a heartbeat.

They didn’t deserve his attention.

And definitely not his time.

"Xenos."

Lyssandra called, but he didn’t look at her.

Her hand twitched; she wanted to reach out, chase after him, but she couldn’t move.

She knew better, or rather, she felt too...

Guilt-ridden.

After all, she and the rest of his family let him walk into that arena knowing that he’d die.

Her face was the one that turned away when his name was called.

She had no right.

He left them behind without a word.

Draven’s smirk disappeared, and Lyssandra’s hand fell while Xenos kept walking, finally leaving the Academy.

...

A few hours later, Xenos reached a nearby town.

He stood before a massive building under the late evening sky.

It was a Hieron station, where divine bureaucracy reigned supreme.

His eyes seemed locked at the symbol above, the one with three chains interlocked.

Xenos was obviously lost in thought, but that didn’t last for long as eventually he looked down and asked:

’Hey Eris, you’ve been awful silent. Why’s that?’

Because yes, She had been quiet the entire way here and for a time beyond that.

It wasn’t like they always talked, but Eris loved to drop a comment every now and then.

Even that She didn’t do now, so it made him worry a little.

"..."

And that worry increased when he heard no reply.

"Did I make you mad somehow?"

Yes, he did, but he couldn’t know how.

The struggle of most men in every realm.

"..."

She still didn’t answer, making him frown.

Immediately, he felt worried for Her life.

Xenos was extremely practical like that.

"Are you hurt?"

And that finally seemed to stir Her:

’....No. I was just sleeping.’

That question straightened Her up, as She was reminded of Xenos’s thought process.

’Yes... this is who he is... He doesn’t love that girl at all; he only wants her land.’

For a reason She didn’t quite understand, She laughed quietly, somewhat relieved.

’I...’

There was a pause, and then her voice came softer:

’I’m sorry for worrying you.’

Xenos took a moment before shaking his head.

’Don’t worry about it, as long as you’re fine.’

Though he found Her extremely suspicious, he didn’t bother with it.

Everyone had their secrets, and he wouldn’t want to pry.

If She respected his boundaries, he would Hers.

It was only too bad that Her ’secret’ put him top and center.

A fact that She understood, but again, didn’t exactly comprehend why, and thus was the predicament they found themselves in.