"Do you think I don't dare attack you right now?" "Are you so bold because we're in the guild house?" Caius's tone dripped over with aggression.
"Hm? What am I thinking? Even I am curious if you're bold enough." Vyn responded provocatively with a smirk.
This situation was just as ideal as he had dreamed of for the past two years. He couldn't forget the relentless taunting and physical intimidation he had endured from this litch when he first set foot in Ravencrest, a period marked by fear and isolation. At that time, he was inexperienced and unaccustomed to hardships, having lived a privileged life as a member of a noble and powerful family before coming to Ravencrest.
As he struggled to recover from the shock of finding himself in this dreaded land filled with countless dungeons and monsters, a large bully suddenly appeared! At that time, this guy was so huge and muscular that he couldn't believe his eyes. He saw Vyn, who was weak in both mind and body, as a perfect stress reliever for himself.
Vyn couldn't imagine the torture and anguish he had to face before he was able to stand up for himself. Although this guy was one of the reasons he had been able to adapt quickly to the harsh conditions of Ravencrest, and with the fact that he seemed to have become less aggressive ever since he started to become like a dried twig, Vyn couldn't ignore the fact that this guy was once his greatest nightmare, so he had to repay him one way or another.
Vyn could see that his own temperament had changed. Was this what it felt like to be powerful? He had recently acquired new abilities thanks to the system, and it felt really itchy to test them out on a real opponent!
Naturally, he desired to avoid portraying himself as the aggressor. For people not to see his action as bullying the weak, a good reputation was important as someone who might ascend to the top soon. He just had to provoke Caius enough to act first, and then he would surprise him with his new abilities.
Just then, Caius's anger reached its peak. It looked like he had enough of Vyn's provocation, as his aura flared up instantly, as if he were going to attack at any moment. Vyn also stared at him in a daunting way, showing no signs of backing down. Just then, Melissa quickly stepped into the midst of both of them, and with a stern look, she scolded.
"What do you guys think you're doing? Fighting in the guild house? Don't you know what that means?"
Although fighting among guild members was an act that was usually condemned by most guilds, the prospect of fighting in the guild house, the heart of their operations, was something that couldn't be taken lightly by any guild. Not only could it tarnish the guild's reputation, but it could also cause irreparable damage to the guild house, a situation that was particularly undesirable given the already challenging circumstances in Ravencrest.
Upon hearing her words, both opponents' eyes immediately tensed as they contemplated the potential consequences of their intended action.
"You can't blame me when he keeps provoking me like that." Do you expect me to just keep shut and take his provocations?" Caius said this in an attempt to justify himself.
"Oh, provocations? Didn't you start it first?" Vyn quickly replied, unrelenting.
Melissa couldn't help sighing; her gaze bore a look of disappointment as she focused her eyes on Vyn and said, "You know, our guild hasn't been doing well lately. How do you expect us to improve if we have no trace of harmony? I expected better from you!"
Vyn quickly darted his face to the side, avoiding eye contact with her.
The guild's low ranking not only affected their performance but also led to a significant decrease in the bonuses received from the union, putting additional strain on the members. However, didn't she know that this guild was nothing but an empty shell?
If the senior members who were supposed to be the head of the guild and lead by example only cared about themselves and their benefits, disregarding the development of the group while leeching them off, was there supposed to be any future for the group?
Why did it seem like everyone was trying to ignore this fact, like they weren't aware? With these thoughts, Vyn strode out of the kitchen and headed to the bathroom.
While he soaked in the wooden tub, he couldn't help reflecting on all that had transpired. It was true that everyone was passing through their fair share of challenges, but in his own case, his challenge was like an insurmountable mountain that awaited him, one that seemed impossible to climb.
Born into the Aethelred family, he bore the weight of upholding his family's reputation and honor from the moment he entered the world. But what a great disappointment he had been all his life; even his family had given up on him.
Ever since he began facing constant ridicule, he had always hoped and wished that he was given even one chance by fate to change his fate, but what seemed like the impossible had become possible as he gained a strange power. A power that had never been heard of before since the history of time, he would be a fool to think it was some mere coincidence.
It was clear that there was some mysterious force behind all these strange events that had happened lately. Although everything seemed unclear at the moment, Vyn couldn't be bothered by it. His main goal now was to change his situation, to prove himself worthy of his family name, and to escape the shadow of his past.
However, he couldn't help feeling a tinge of uncertainty. The mere thought of his family name brought the image of a particular person to his mind, and each time, a feeling of dread washed over him.
'I must commend you for your willpower, my dear brother. If I were in your situation, I would have long since died of shame and guilt, but don't you think all this struggle is pointless? Why don't you just give up? I hate seeing you suffer.'
'Even if we are not related by blood, it does not change the fact that you are still my brother. I can't say I am disappointed in having you as a brother, but who knows what the gods were thinking when they decided to create you this way? We can't really question the will of the gods.
'This is my paring gift to you. I am doing this in the hopes that you make the right decision that is best for you. Both of my gifts will help you, depending on what choice you make.'
Those words lingered as the last echoes of her voice before he was banished from his family. He couldn't forget the cold and expressionless look on her face as she uttered those words; one would wonder if she truly meant them.
Yet he couldn't ignore the fact that she remained an enigma to him, the one person he truly couldn't comprehend. She was just a monster. Even if his fate was different and he was born with an insurmountable talent, she was someone he couldn't even dream of surpassing, and yet, his pathetic life had been a constant comparison to hers as a stark contrast.
With these thoughts weighing heavily on his mind, Vyn gritted his teeth, his hands tightly clamping the wooden bath tub in a display of his intense emotions. It seemed he had lost his focus for a while, but he had to become stronger. He had to utilize his new-found abilities to prove the world wrong.
With these thoughts, Vyn quickly finished up with his bath, got dressed, and headed for the skill library without even waiting for food.