The roar of the crowd swelled, enveloping the arena in a turbulent sea of cheers and whistles as Lilith gingerly supported Daseos, her shoulder firm and unwavering beneath his weight.
Daseos rode the wave of applause, his hand raised high, waving at the spectators who were drunk on the spectacle of their impromptu performance.
"Das!"
With a playful yet stern undertone, Lilith grumbled, her voice striving to rise above the uproar, a mix of annoyance and affection dancing in her eyes.
"Honestly, if you're done playing up this whole 'injured villain' act, could you not use me as a crutch?"
A cheeky grin adorned Daseos's face as he rubbed his nose awkwardly,
"Just giving the crowd a little show, you know…"
Daseos winked, a playful glint in his eyes as he embraced the role of the beloved villain, teasing the crowd with exaggerated limps and wobbly steps.
Beside them, Devian couldn't contain his grin, a testament to the exhilaration bubbling within, stretching from ear to ear, almost splitting his face in joyous triumph.
Principal Stillwater's face morphed into a thunderous cloud of fury, veins pulsating rhythmically at his temples as he struggled to maintain composure, his hand clenched tightly at his side, knuckles whitening.
It was as if he was holding himself back from launching at the trio, his anger palpable in the air around him.
He stood, a volcanic eruption of anger simmering just beneath the surface, eyes shooting daggers at the nonchalant trio that casually exited the arena.
Fiszure calmly stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on the principal's tense shoulder.
"Why don't I have a word with them?" he suggested smoothly, "They may be a bit unorthodox, but remember, they're your best shot."
The principal's rigid posture slouched, his exhale heavy with resignation.
He nodded once, sharply, and with a swift motion, declared the event over and instructed everyone to vacate the gym.
Fiszure, with one last glance at the departing figures, casually exited the gym, blending into the background until he seemed to vanish entirely.
Outside the school gate, laughter broke the tension as Devian burst into unrestrained laughter,
"HAHAHA! That was exhilarating! Fuck Rex! Muahahah!"
He crowed, amusement clear in his voice.
Lilith's vibrant energy slowly receded, replaced by a furrowed brow and tense shoulders as she glanced at Daseos, her eyes filled with simmering concern.
She spoke in a worried undertone, her voice carrying a soft yet serious note.
"You've screwed Rex over twice now, I heard his dad is returning to Darkspire today, be careful Daseos… You never know how far a Greyson is willing to stoop… If you need help… I…"
Daseos interrupted with a casual, dismissive wave, the grin on his face undying, still riding the wave of their victory.
"Hey, being a villain isn't just about brute force, you know… If Rex insists on showering me with money, who am I to say no?"
Daseos grinned, a mischievous light dancing in his eyes as he shrugged, his demeanor carefree yet cunning.
In the midst of their lively chatter, a shadow darted in the corner of Daseos's eye, a faint rustle reaching his ears that had him halting in his tracks, a silent alarm sounding in his head.
The jovial atmosphere seemed to freeze as he stopped abruptly, every muscle tense, his head turning sharply towards a tree they had just passed.
The others followed suit, their expressions changing to one of alert readiness.
The playful atmosphere evaporated instantly, replaced with thick tension.
Every sound seemed to magnify — the rustle of leaves, the distant murmurs, even their own breaths.
The unexpected, yet somehow anticipated appearance of Fiszure defused the mounting pressure, his figure emerging from behind the tree with a relaxed gait.
"Hah! Well said, brat! Villains do need much more than just brute force…"
"Senior Fiszure! What're ya doin' here?" Devian waved cheerfully.
Laughter echoed as Fizsure extended an invitation, his grin teasing,
"I figured the stars of today's… interesting show would enjoy a special outing this Saturday."
Devian practically bounced on his feet, his voice booming with enthusiasm.
"You mean it? I'm a huge fan of [5]! But didn't you mention having just one ticket?"
A smile unfurled on Fizsure's face, a playful spark in his eyes.
"Well, I managed to snag invites to the mayor's VIP box; adding a couple of kids to the guest list should be no big deal,"
Fiszure declared, his chest puffing out slightly, a proud grin illuminating his face.
Lilith couldn't help but roll her eyes at his grandiose words, her tone dry as she remarked,
"Aren't you only a year older than us, 'Senior' Fizsure?"
Before the banter could continue, Daseos interrupted, the hint of embarrassment coloring his cheeks.
"Uh, Senior Fizsure, I have prior engagements that night. Is there a chance I could, um, exchange the invite for cash?"
Fizsure's face contorted briefly before wincing, his thoughts evident,
'This brat is even more shameless than me.'
*Cough…* *Cough…*
With a gesture towards Lilith, he deflected,
"The MVV of the match was her,"
Fizsure said pointing at Lilith,
"You two are just her plus ones…"
Daseos's eyes went flat, his thoughts reflecting his disappointment,
'What a cheapskate!'
Lilith however, didn't even bat an eye at the praise she'd received.
A frown marred her face as she turned sharply towards Daseos,
"What! You're not going? Why??"
Daseos stumbled over his words, the real reason flashing in his mind —
'I will be on the stage, but I can't possibly tell them that!'
Trying to maintain an innocent facade, he stuttered,
"I-I have something, uh, important on that day."
Lilith's eyes narrowed, her eyebrows knit together, suspicion etching her features.
An assumption took form, vivid in her mind —
'Is he planning something for his 16th birthday already? That no good pervert!'
"HMPH!"
Her face heated with annoyance before she spun around, stomping off with loud, angered steps, ignoring the conversation behind her.
"Ey, Lilith!"
Devian shouted, his voice laced with a playful teasing.
"Are you really not coming just because Daseos isn't?"
Without even turning her head, Lilith shouted back,
"HMPH! He can do whatever he wants! I'll see you on Saturday!"
Daseos could only watch her retreating figure, a deep sigh escaping him, as if trying to reach out, to explain, yet finding no words that could bridge the distance.
'Sigh… She must have misunderstood...'
Fiszure ambled closer, throwing a loose arm around Daseos.
"Trouble in paradise?"
Fiszure teased, his voice laced with faux joviality.
"Hah! Word of advice, girls like her… Come with a load of complications, even though us poor folk need to grasp at every opportunity that presents itself, some opportunities… will cost us our lives…"