Raena's breath caught in her throat as she met his gaze, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and anger.
Lucius's smile widened, and he gestured to Ivana, Zorina, and Cleagor, who stood by his side, their expressions smug and unapologetic.
"You see, Raena," Lucius continued, his voice laced with venom, "you were never going to succeed. We made sure of that from the very beginning. Every step you took, every little victory you thought you had—it was all part of our plan. We sabotaged you at every turn, and you never even realized it."
Raena looked at Zorina as she remembered that she was the one who tackled her during her fight with Ivana. "And... you? You agreed with his plan?"
Zorina raised her eyebrow, her smile filled with sarcasm. "I mean, what is the point of helping someone who's good as a goner anyway?"
They're all the same.
Everyone's the same.
Raena's heart shattered.
The betrayal was too much to bear. She had fought with everything she had, only to be deceived and manipulated by those she had once considered her peers! It was a team event, for Pete's sake, and yet... "This is horrible..."
The pain was overwhelming, a searing ache that cut through her very soul.
"How could you?" Raena whispered, her voice trembling with hurt.
"How could you do this to me? What did I ever do to deserve this?"
Lucius shrugged, his expression one of casual indifference. "Because it was easy," he said, his tone cold and unfeeling.
"And because it was fun. You were so desperate to prove yourself, so eager to be something more… It made you an easy target."
"Fun?! Am I a game to you all? Of course I... I am desperate! Unlike you, I have something important to do! I'm not here to have fun; I am here to raise my banner, my House!"
She was not even answered. Everyone laughed as if she was just a laughingstock, nothing else!
Raena's gaze snapped to the headmaster, her eyes pleading for some semblance of justice. "Headmaster Zelbus, how... How could you allow this? How could you let them sabotage me like this? It's not fair!"
If anything, this should not be allowed in any school or any institution at all, right? What is even the point of everything if envious people destroy everything she does when she has never done anything wrong in the first place?
Zelbus's face was etched with regret, but his voice was firm.
"Raena, the trials were designed to test more than just your abilities. They were a test of your resolve, your strategy, and your ability to navigate the complex dynamics of this academy. The rules were clear: success in the trials required not only strength but also cunning and collaboration. You were outmaneuvered, and as painful as it is, the rules must be upheld."
Disgust. Raena was disgusted.
Raena's world crumbled around her. The words felt like a death sentence, condemning her to a fate she didn't deserve. The injustice of it all was suffocating, and she could feel herself breaking under the weight of it.
She looked around the hall, her vision blurred with tears.
"Lucius and the others are amazing..."
"At least we did not end up being in the same rank as her!"
"Yeah, right, never!"
The other students were laughing and celebrating, and their faces twisted with triumph and superiority.
This was pure fuckery. They had won, and she had lost everything! The betrayal, the humiliation, the sense of utter failure—it was too much to bear for her originally genuine heart.
Is this it?
Is this really it?
But just as she was about to collapse under the weight of her despair, Vladimir stepped forward!
Raena gulped as her eyes widened in shock. Her knight in dark, shining armor! She could not help but feel a little light seeing Vladimir taking up the stage. She was not alone at all!
Or so she thought.
His face was a mask of fury, his eyes blazing with righteous anger. He stormed toward Lucius, his hand shooting out to grab the other boy by the collar.
"You're a coward, Lucius!" Vladimir growled, his voice low and dangerous.
"You think you're strong because you can tear others down? Do you think sabotaging Raena makes you better than she is? You're nothing but a bully... and a fucking cheat!"
Lucius's smirk faltered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
"And what are you going to do about it, Vladimir?" he sneered. "Challenge me to a duel?"
Vladimir's grip tightened, his knuckles white with the force of his anger.
"Yes," he spat, his voice seething with rage. "I challenge you, you loser! Right here, right now."
The hall fell into a stunned silence, all eyes on the two boys. Light and dark, Mr. number one and Mr. number two! Who could have thought things would escalate this way?
Lucius's smile returned, but this time, it was colder, more calculating.
"Fine, you fake boyfriend," he said, his tone smug.
"But let's make it interesting. If I win, you leave Thornwood Academy. For good."
Raena's heart lurched, panic surging through her.
"No, Vladimir, don't—" she began, but Vladimir silenced her with a look. His expression was hard and determined, but beneath it, Raena could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes.
Vladimir's gaze locked with Lucius's, the tension between them crackling like electricity. But as the reality of the challenge sank in, doubt began to creep into Vladimir's mind.
Was he really ready to risk everything—his place at the academy and his future—for a fight that could cost him everything? The weight of the decision bore down on him like a crushing wave.
Vladimir turned to Raena, his expression torn.
"Raena… I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice thick with regret.
"I can't do it… I can't risk losing you, but I can't leave you here alone, either…"
Raena's heart ached as she saw the conflict in Vladimir's eyes.
Of course.
Of course it would easily end up this way.
What is she even to the young dark knight?
After all, they just met over a week ago.
She was, indeed, nothing.
She understood the impossible choice he faced, and the pain of it made her want to scream. She reached out, her fingers brushing against his, her touch a silent plea for him to stay.
"Vladimir…" she began, her voice trembling with emotion.
But the words caught in her throat, choked by the intensity of her feelings. She wanted to tell him that she believed in him, that she trusted him to win, but the fear of losing him forever was too overwhelming.
Vladimir's gaze softened, and he gently pulled his hand away.
"I'm sorry, Raena," he repeated, his voice breaking. "I'm sorry I couldn't be stronger…"
With that, he turned back to Lucius, his resolve shattered.
"I can't accept your challenge," he said, his voice hollow. "You win, Lucius. I won't fight you."
Lucius's smirk widened, his victory complete. He released Vladimir's collar with a dismissive shove, his eyes gleaming with triumph.
"That's what I thought," he sneered. "You're just as weak as she is."
Raena's heart broke as she watched Vladimir turn away, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
The boy who had stood by her side, who had defended her with such fierce loyalty, was now walking away, leaving her alone in the unforgiving world of Thornwood Academy.
The hall erupted into laughter, the sound echoing in Raena's ears like a cruel mockery of her pain. She wanted to scream, to lash out at the injustice of it all, but the weight of her despair kept her rooted in place, her spirit crushed under the burden of betrayal and loss.
As Vladimir walked away, Raena felt something inside her shatter.
The girl who had once believed in hope, in justice, in the goodness of others—she was gone, replaced by someone colder, someone harder.
"Cruel... you... you're all... YOU'RE ALL CRUEL!"