Into The World That I Made Chapter 30 Chapter 29 - The Change (5)

I intercepted Marnie's attack by raising my left hand, grabbing her wrist and blocking her arm. Surprise crossed her eyes for an instant. She clenched her free hand into a fist, ready to deliver another blow.

I tried to speak, asking her to stop, but only groans came out of my mouth. I felt my jaw bounce around and realised that it had been dislocated from her previous surprise attack. I planted my left foot in Marnie's belly and exerted force, pushing her away from me and interrupting her punch midswing.

I brought my hands to my face and forced my jaw back into place. A shot of pain shot through my face for an instant, before settling down. Since Marnie's previous attack didn't contain any aura, probably due to being carried out with urgency, in a few moments my jaw recovered and I became able to speak once again.

<> I intimated.

Marnie seemed to be taken aback by my threatening tone and froze for a while. She recovered quickly and I saw her grip the mace harder and prepare herself to pounce on me.

At that moment, a loud clap resounded out throughout the area. Both Marnie and I turned towards the source of the sound. The cause of it was revealed to be the man in yellow.

Without me realising it, the man seemed to have taken with him my senior, moving him away from the area of the confrontation. He was lying on the ground groaning, but I knew for a fact he was not badly injured. Our duel had been stopped before I could apply enough pressure to his head, so he would soon recover.

<> Marnie tried to say.

<> Marnie spoke vehemently.

<> the man hissed, with a voice that hid a hint of fear.

Marnie's gaze fixed on me. I could see her eyes being swept by a flurry of different emotions. It seemed that two conflicting thoughts were colliding within her mind.

I remained impassive, fixed where I stood. I had no intention of clashing with Marnie, but I was still ready to defend myself with all my might if worse came to worst. After what appeared to be a long deliberation, Marnie dropped the mace to the ground, turned around with an indecipherable expression and left the training area.

The man in yellow heaved a sigh of relief.

<> he exclaimed.

<> I intervened.

He turned towards me.

<> he curtly spoke.

Having said these words, he slung my senior over his shoulder and left the area, closely followed by the gruff-looking man who had disturbed my sleep earlier in the day.

Silence enveloped me and I was left alone with my thoughts. Marnie's behaviour had caught me off guard. Although I could somewhat understand her urgent reaction in stopping me before I could compress my opponent's head, something didn't add up. I could see in her gaze that something had clicked inside her mind. She had begun to look at me with unbridled hate: in her eyes I could see she wasn't seeing me like a person, but like an aggressive dog, to be shot down as early as convenience allowed.

Incapable of resolving my doubts, I opted to simply head for the exit. There was no one outside waiting for me. Walking across the campus, I reached my home. Erik was absent. After giving myself a wash to get rid of the accumulated dust and blood, I changed my clothes and laid down in bed, where I stayed motionless looking at the ceiling.

An hour later, I heard someone knocking at the door. I got up and left my room. Once I had reached it, I opened the door to the visitor. There stood Faye, with Marnie behind her. My sight immediately focused on the woman that had intended to kill me and I began to closely follow her every movement, without trying to conceal my hostility. She seemed to notice, as a look of regret appeared on her face.

Unlike her, Faye seemed to be at ease.

<> she asked in a cheerful voice.

<> Marnie intervened, trying to dissuade her.