CHAPTER 118: SECOND SAVING II

"Aramith," Mozrael hissed. "Don’t do it."

Aramith had already decided. Not out of desire, but because something inside compelled him. A voice urged—Save him.

He lifted his hand.

The crowd turned as one.

"I acknowledge your boldness," Ilthane nodded. "But are you certain of what you have chosen? You wish to accept this boy’s punishment?" He asked.

Mozrael looked from Ilthane to Aramith. "You can still put your hand down. He doesn’t deserve this."

Go! You have to save him!

But Aramith didn’t listen to her. The voices in his mind were stronger

"I accept," Aramith said at last.

Aris couldn’t believe it. Why would he do this? After what I did to him?

He knew he was unworthy, and he knew Aramith was doing this out of pity, but why? He could see Mozrael trying to talk him out of it, but Aramnith still held his hand up high.

"Step forward, young man," Ilthane spoke.

Aramith moved, but Mozrael grabbed his hand and spun him around.

Mozrael grabbed his hand and spun him around."Stop this! Why are you wasting your effort on someone like him? We don’t owe him anything!" Her voice rose, sharp with anger, but beneath the fire was something else...panic.

They’re out in a new place, and this decision he was taking could separate them. What was he thinking of gaining from this?

All eyes were focused on them, and whispers started to spread again. They were being judged.

Step forward.

Save the boy!

Aramith didn’t release her gaze."I know it doesn’t make sense, but I have to do this."

Her grip tightened. "No, you don’t! There’s nothing to gain from this, so stop!"The words sounded furious, but her breath hitched, betraying her. She wasn’t only angry—she was afraid. Afraid of losing him in a place she barely understood.

"I said step forward if you wish to save this boy!" Ilthane’s voice was final, and that pushed Aramith to move, getting out of Mozrael’s grip.

The students parted for him to pass, glancing at Mozrael and him.

Ilthane studied the boy before him. There was this intensity behind those purple eyes of his—a sort of fire that burned with determination. It intrigued him.

"I’ll ask you. What do you hope to accomplish from doing this?" He asked.

"I hope to prevent him from being removed from this academy," Aramith replied.

Ilthane’s voice stayed calm."Do you understand what punishment awaits you? It could be as simple as plucking weeds... until death."The blood drained from her face. Mozrael’s fury wavered, replaced by cold dread. Her eyes blazed, not with rage this time, but with the wildness of someone ready to fight for him, no matter how futile.

Gasps rippled through the students. Aramith faltered back, and Mozrael surged to his side, eyes blazing.

Her frown at Ilthane was sharp, almost reckless. If he tried to follow through on that threat, she would not hesitate, even if it meant breaking herself against him.

Aris looked at Aramith. This was a serious punishment he would be given, but Aris didn’t dare to tell Aramith to stop.

No, the truth was uglier. He wanted to stay—no matter the cost. Even if someone else had to suffer. He was desperate, hoping Aramith would accept.

He thought about the situation at hand.

Ilthane was not going to do anything like that. He was only saying that to put him at unease.

The punishment Ilthane mentioned was going to be given to both him and Aris. He wouldn’t kill them or sack them.

Everyone saw him falter, but he stood tall again, and when he spoke his acceptance, Mozrael’s chest tightened. She hated this; hated how he made her feel powerless, how his stubborn calm forced her into a choice she didn’t want to make.

"I do not know the punishment I will receive, sir. But I am ready to accept it."

Ilthane didn’t smile or frown. Just the same calm, intense look.

"Very well, I shall ask you as well." He turned to Aris. "Will you accept this young man to take the punishment with you?"

Aris looked at Ilthane, then at Aramith. But he couldn’t raise his head to look at Aramith’s face. His eyes were glued to his feet.

This is selfish, but I want to stay here.

He looked at the students. All eyes looked down on him now, except one pair. A pair of blue eyes that burned with hate.

The boss’s partner. She’ll kill me

And yet, he nodded.

Ilthane didn’t push the matter. "You feel ashamed to speak, or even look at this young man’s face. Why is that? Are you two acquainted?" Ilthane asked.

Aris’s eyes darted about uneasily.

Acquainted? How am I supposed to answer that without being a pain?

"Well?" Ilthane asked again. But Aris couldn’t bring himself to speak.

"It seems fear and embarrassment have made speech difficult for you."

He turned to Aramith. "Tell me, where do you know him from that will push you to do this? Do you owe him a favor?"

A favor? I’m the one who owes him a favor, Aris thought. But how could he speak when in shame like this? He couldn’t even get up from the ground.

"We travelled here together," Aramith answered.

Ilthane raised an eyebrow. "Is that all? Even if you say that, I can’t help but notice you are of noble upbringing, whereas he is from a poor place. I find it hard to believe you two came here together."

Aramith nodded. "We only finished the last bit of the journey together. He helped us when we couldn’t find our way."

Aris’s head jerked up, tears falling down his face. He looked directly at Aramith’s face.

Why? I never helped you. You’re the ones who saved me, so why?

Ilthane nodded. "I understand. So you’re repaying him for the help he gave you. Very noble of you, but you may very well regret this decision."

"So be it."

"Very well then. You shall be taking the punishment with this boy."

Aramith nodded. "I understand."

"Tell me, young man. What name did your parents give you? I don’t need your surname; your first name will do."

Before Aramith answered, he noticed the slight change in the other three fathers. They all looked at Ilthane with a strange expression on their faces.

None of the new students were aware of this, but Ilthane never interested himself in students’ personal lives. For names, he would pick on them as he watched them interact with one another.

They all turned to look at Aramith. What’s special about him? They wondered.

"Your name?" Ilthane asked again.

"Aramith, sir. That is my name."

"Very well. Out of pity, I will reduce your punishment."

Ilthane took a step, disappeared, and suddenly he was standing before Mozrael.

"You don’t need to worry too much about him. He won’t be harmed in any way. Only a bit of discomfort is all."

Mozrael was taken aback. She never saw his movement, and how did he know what she was thinking? She froze, but relief didn’t rush in immediately. Instead, suspicion lingered. Her jaw clenched, her body still tense. Could she trust his words? Or was this just another test?

"I saw you with him earlier. What is your name?"

The place was silent, but the expressions of the three fathers were loud.

Another one caught his eye?

Mozrael told him her name, and for the first time since his appearance, Ilthane gave a small, warm smile.

"Mozrael. I see. He did something respectable, so don’t hold it against him or that boy there," Ilthane said and walked back to the front.

Only when he walked away did some of the tension leave her shoulders, though the anger remained, simmering under the surface. She would not forgive Aramith easily for putting himself at risk, not yet. But neither could she ignore the strange, unwanted relief swelling in her chest.

Everyone was silent. And suddenly, all the new students were curious about Aramith and Mozrael.

Who were they and where did they come from?

"Very well then, on your feet, young man."

Aris stood up.

"Now, the two of you, go back to join everyone else. You will be given your punishment later."

There was no mistaking it. Ilthane had taken an interest in Aramith and Mozrael.

And as Aramith bowed and went back to stand beside Mozrael, every other student looked at them with curiosity.

Sylas and his group dissolved into the back. They didn’t want to be near Aris.

They looked at them with displeasure. They didn’t accept the fact that Aris still had his belongings while theirs were burnt. And Ilthane didn’t mention whether Aris stole the items or not.

And while most held such emotions in their hearts, one inconspicuous character looked at Aramith with longing.

Aramith quickly apologized to Mozrael and begged her not to hold it against him.

"I don’t know. I just felt like I had to do it." He looked at his hands, opening and closing them as though they might explain themselves. "Something inside me moved, and my mind was made up."

Mozrael didn’t answer right away. Her eyes flicked from his hands to his face, her frown still firm. She wanted to scold him again, to shake sense into him, but the relief of seeing him unharmed dulled her anger. Against her will, her shoulders loosened, just a little.

As he tried to explain to Mozrael, Aris looked down at his feet in shame.

He wasn’t sure how to respond to their kindness. For the second time, Aramith had saved him. How was he supposed to react to this?

Mozrael frowned at Aris. She still didn’t like the boy. She just felt wary of him somehow, but it seemed Aramith was okay with him.

Aris kept his gaze lowered, burning with shame. For the second time, Aramith had saved him, and still, he couldn’t bring himself to speak gratitude.

When he finally opened his mouth—"B—"—Mozrael’s sharp glare cut him down instantly. He swallowed the rest of the word.

"Don’t let me hear you call him that again," she warned, her tone low and dangerous.

Aramith touched her shoulder gently. "Mozrael, don’t be so harsh. You even scare me when you do that."

Her breath caught. For a heartbeat, she held his gaze—then looked away quickly, heat creeping into her cheeks. It wasn’t softness that made her flush, not exactly, but the sting of being called out. Scary? She didn’t want him to see her that way.

"I just..." She exhaled sharply, struggling to find the words. "I don’t want him causing trouble for us. That’s all."

"I know," Aramith said, his tone warm, almost amused, but not mocking. Then he turned to Aris. "Do us all a favor and stop calling me that. I have a name, you know?"

Aris didn’t understand this. Why is he being kind to me? He spoke like nothing had happened between them.

Aris hesitated, his throat dry. "Yes... A-r-a-mith." The name felt heavy on his tongue, but also strangely reverent. His respect had shifted into something deeper. It was now adoration.

Aramith just couldn’t accept that Aris could be removed so easily. He also wanted to know who that Sylas was.

"Now follow!" Garrun shouted.

Everyone turned to the fathers instantly. They took off, floating above them and leading the students ahead.

Most of them looked forlorn, and others were angry. Their belongings were still burning, and they couldn’t do anything about it.