Mattheos felt a smile tugging at his lips, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment as he reflected on his earlier outburst. He realized how childish he had been in his reaction towards his superior, who had shown genuine concern for his well-being.
The warmth of the dragoness's embrace and the depth of her concern made him acutely aware of the disparity between his own reaction and her thoughtful care.
"The main reason I kept my Guardian and Alter form a secret was because I didn't want to add another burden to your already full plate."
"With you managing the Covert Ops, handling missions, and now dealing with the truce with the Northern Cartel and Zenos, I figured I should be the least of your concerns."
The rabbit paused a bit to take in a steady breath.
"I thought I could handle the Mad King on my own, and I tried to show you that during the battle, but clearly, I was in over my head..."
"Thinking that you can even come close to mastering the ability to control a Guardian as well as the rest of us should be a faraway dream with your current mentality and stamina. You need more than a bit of training to cover that gap," chimed a voice from the door.
The two beings exchanged puzzled glances before Mavislin stepped forward to address their unexpected visitor. The guest, clad in a simple white cotton top and brown pants, had a rifle slung casually across his back.
His rugged appearance and nonchalant demeanor contrasted sharply with the formal setting, adding an air of curiosity to his unannounced arrival. However, Mavislin recognized him instantly and smiled.
"Ah... I nearly forgot I did send the team out to survey Lunaris' domain... How's things, Void?" asked the dragoness, allowing her lackey in the room.
"I wish it could've been better. Sneaking in here wasn't easy but since Abyss did manage to do so, I thought it'd be a good idea to repeat it. And then I am reminded that Abyss shares the same lust for killing as you, Shadow," explained Void, sauntering into the room.
"Ah, that's right. Despite the two of you working so well together, you don't like to use violence when doing mediocre tasks..."
He extended a scroll toward Mavislin with a practiced air of detachment, but his eyes were locked on Mattheos with a deadly intensity. The atmosphere grew tense as Void's gaze seemed to cut through the air, his displeasure palpable.
Without warning, he delivered a sharp slap to Mattheos, leaving everyone, including the dragoness, momentarily stunned. Mavislin's eyebrows shot up in surprise, her expression a mix of shock and confusion.
The unexpected blow reverberated through the room, adding an edge of raw tension to the already fraught situation.
"What the hell was that for, Arashi?!" shouted the rabbit, readying himself for another assault.
Arashi may have been a senior but Mattheos didn't care since he was so spent after dealing with the night's enemies.
"Yes, I would like an explanation as to why you've struck your junior... And you've been with me for half a decade, enough time to know that I don't allow such violence in front of me. Even if you are a tengu," quizzed Mavislin, her tail swishing in anger.
"Isn't it obvious, Lady Shadow? How could you accept such a fool into your ranks, much less travel with him?" exclaimed Void, snapping at his boss.
The tengu then turned back to Mattheos and quickly grabbed the rabbit's collar and held him up. Despite Void being smaller than Matt in height and bulk, the Third Seat had no problem hoisting the rabbit up as if he'd been a child.
Arashi's indigo eyes locked onto Matt's emerald gaze, searching for any hint of why his boss had bothered to take the bunny in. His medium-length chestnut hair, gathered into a small ponytail, was in slight disarray, reflecting the intensity of his frustration.
The agitation in his expression only deepened as he grappled with the question of what could have compelled Mavislin to invest so much in someone he now viewed with such disdain.
"After everything Shadow has done for you... And you still see yourself as 'unworthy' in her eyes? You, who just appeared one morning and was welcomed without so much as a grueling interview or trial—how dare you believe you're the least of her concerns?!"
Void's voice was a seething blend of anger and incredulity, his eyes blazing with a mixture of frustration and disbelief. He advanced, the air around him crackling with the intensity of his emotions.
"Do you have any idea what she's sacrificed, what she's risked, to give you a place among us? And here you are, belittling her generosity and doubting your own worth. It's infuriating!"