The group clustered around Ray, noticing the cuts and bruises visible on his arm and leg from the recent scuffle. Isaki tilted his head, a flicker of worry crossing his face. "Ray, maybe we should clean those up before you head back. They don't look like they're just scratches."
Ray tried to brush it off, waving a hand. "Seriously, it's fine. A few scrapes won't kill me."
Lian, however, raised an eyebrow. "Still, Ray, it's better to cover them up. At least until they heal. You don't want them getting infected, do you?"
Rael nodded, backing him up. "It won't take long. Just a few bandages."
Before Ray could argue, Arya spoke up quietly but firmly. "I have some medical supplies in my room. We can handle it there."
With her plan set, the group started making their way toward Arya's dormitory. When they arrived, Arya stopped them outside her door. "This won't take everyone," she said, her tone more suggestion than instruction. "Isaki and I can handle it."
Rael and Lian exchanged glances before shrugging. "Alright," Rael said, giving Ray a pat on the shoulder. "Don't be too stubborn, alright? Let them patch you up and get some rest."
Lian grinned. "Yeah, just take it easy for once, will you?"
Marie and Sophia added their goodbyes with encouraging smiles, urging Ray to recover quickly before heading to their own dorms. With just the three of them left, Isaki and Ray followed Arya inside.
Arya led them through the dormitory, up the stairs, and into her room. It was a simple space, almost stark, lacking the decorations one might expect. Ray took it in with a quiet curiosity, his eyes lingering on the nightstand, where a small framed photo caught his attention. He tried to make it out, but before he could get a better look, Arya smoothly moved the frame aside, retrieving her medical supplies from the nightstand drawer. Bandages and adhesive plasters in hand, she returned to the center of the room, giving Ray a quick, unreadable glance before getting to work.
"Sit," she said, gesturing to the chair by her desk. Ray obeyed, and as he took a seat, Isaki moved in to help, carefully tending to the gash on Ray's leg. Arya focused on his arm, her hands deft and steady as she wrapped the bandage.
When she noticed a small scrape under his eye, she pressed a plaster there—more firmly than perhaps necessary.
"Ouch! Arya, you could go a bit easier, you know," Ray said, trying to smile through the sting.
Arya's expression remained unchanged. "No," she replied with a curt, deadpan tone.
Isaki chuckled, and even Ray let out a small laugh, despite himself. Once they finished, Isaki and Arya moved toward the door, with Ray following.
Stepping out into the hall, Ray gave Arya a grateful nod. "Thanks, Arya. Really." His voice was calm but sincere.
Isaki grinned, adding, "Good night, Arya. Appreciate the help."
Arya gave them both a slight nod before closing the door without another word. Her quiet departure left Isaki standing there, a strange sense of familiarity settling over him. This felt like a scene from a distant memory—back on the ship, maybe. The thought lingered as they walked down the hallway together.
Once they reached the entrance, Ray turned to Isaki. "You can head back, Isaki. I can make it on my own from here."
Isaki narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure? You took quite a few hits tonight."
Ray rolled his eyes, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. "I'm not a kid, you know."
With a sigh, Isaki relented. "Alright, alright. Just…try to actually rest, will you?"
Ray gave him a nod. "Goodnight," he said, his voice soft but steady as he turned away.
With a parting wave, Isaki walked down the left hall, while Ray headed right. As Ray made his way back toward his dorm, he stretched his arms, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders as though nothing had happened. In truth, he didn't need the bandages Arya and Isaki had fussed over. The blows from Mich had hardly registered; it was as if his body had shrugged off the impact entirely. His indifferent stroll was almost a mockery of the recent confrontation.
He had barely taken a few steps when he noticed two figures approaching him from down the hallway. Gaus, with his smug expression, walked in the lead, followed by Mich, who trailed a few paces behind, keeping the air of a subordinate, even watching his own steps as though Gaus owned the ground he walked on. As soon as Gaus noticed Ray's bandaged arm, a wicked grin stretched across his face, a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes as he approached.
"Well, well," Gaus sneered, his voice dripping with mockery, "did someone already need their little 'mommy' to patch them up?" He chuckled, his gaze flicking up and down Ray. "What's the matter, Ray? Got over the little humiliation earlier, or are you already back for another dose?"
Ray remained calm, an unruffled mask of indifference as Gaus continued, feeding off his own arrogance.
"If you're planning on acting like a smartass around me, you'd better get used to this," Gaus spat, his voice thick with condescension. "Or you could just make things easier for yourself. Forget all this tough-guy stuff and start being useful to me. You could be my little servant, doing exactly what I say… a toy I can use however I like." He laughed, each word laced with malice. "Or," he taunted, "you can keep up with this attitude, and you'll find yourself humiliated every single day."
Gaus's mocking laughter filled the hallway, but Ray remained silent, and then, slowly, he started to laugh, a chuckle that grew into a full-bodied, carefree laughter. His shoulders shook as he wrapped his arms around his midsection, doubling over in apparent amusement. Gaus's laughter faded, replaced by total confusion as he stared, dumbstruck. Even Mich, watching from behind, could only blink, trying to make sense of Ray's reaction.
Straightening up, Ray finally regained his composure, the amusement gone from his face. With a few measured steps, he closed the distance between him and Gaus, stopping just inches from him. In a low, chilling tone, Ray spoke, his words meant solely for Gaus's ears. "I know what you did to your brother," he said, his voice a quiet razor cutting through Gaus's composure.
Gaus's eyes widened, his entire face paling in an instant. His earlier arrogance shattered as Ray continued, his words as cold as steel. "After your brother graduated, you hired assassins to get rid of him, didn't you? You thought you could make his success your own if he was out of the picture. But you failed," Ray said, a mocking edge in his tone. "Now, imagine if people found out what you did—the great Gaus Schick, second son of the Schick family, trying to murder his own brother. What would your family think?"
Ray's voice lowered even further, and he leaned in, his gaze unyielding. "They'd throw you out like yesterday's trash. Strip you of the Schick name, erase your existence from the family. All that status you're so proud of? Gone. And you… you'd be nothing."
Gaus's face twisted with desperation as he stammered, "You… you have no proof."
"Oh, I have proof," Ray replied smoothly, his words cutting into Gaus's remaining sense of control. "After your assassins failed, one of my men got hold of the contract. The proof's all there: the payment, the deal, your seal—everything." Ray's gaze hardened further as he drove the point home. "And if your brother were to find out, well, I doubt he'd give you the mercy I'm showing right now."
Gaus's mind reeled with panic, his thoughts racing, no doubt scheming ways to get rid of Ray before the truth could leak out. But Ray saw it coming. "If you're even thinking about trying to 'silence' me, think again," Ray said coldly. "I have a contact outside the academy who expects to hear from me daily. If he doesn't, this little secret of yours becomes public knowledge. Your family, your reputation—gone. Just. Like. That."
For Gaus, the finality of Ray's words closed in like a prison cell snapping shut. He realized then, fully, how cornered he was. As if to seal his fate, Ray reached forward, straightening Gaus's collar in a way that felt more like a taunt. "See, Gaus, muscle and brute strength can only get you so far. It's the information that's lethal. So, here's a tip—stay out of my way, and don't even think about bothering the people around me." Ray's tone softened slightly, a mock friendliness glinting in his eyes. "And don't worry," he added, "that wasn't a threat. Just friendly advice."
With a smile, Ray turned away from the speechless Gaus and walked past him to Mich, who stood rooted to the spot, his gaze flickering between Ray and Gaus, utterly bewildered by what he'd just witnessed.
Ray stopped before him, giving Mich a cold, assessing look. "You let Gaus use you as a puppet," he said, his tone sharp and biting. "You've followed him blindly out of fear. If you can't even stand up for yourself in something this petty, how are you going to face anything worse?"
Mich's face fell as Ray's words sank in, a guilty recognition dawning on him. Ray's voice grew colder, his eyes hard. "Tomorrow morning, you're going to go to the vice headmistress and tell her you're withdrawing from the academy. This place isn't for someone like you."
Mich felt a shiver run through him, the authority in Ray's voice leaving no room for argument. Ray's stare bore into him, unyielding. "And don't think that just because Gaus used you, you're somehow innocent. You're worse than he is. If you don't do as I say," Ray leaned in, his voice barely a whisper, "I'll make sure you regret it." The venom in his tone left no doubt—this wasn't a suggestion.
Mich's resolve crumbled entirely, and he nodded, too afraid to even meet Ray's gaze.
Meanwhile, Arya, watching from her window, saw the exchange unfold, though the words were out of her earshot. She could see the fear in Gaus and Mich's expressions, the way they seemed shaken down to their very cores. Her gaze shifted to Ray as he walked off, calm and collected, almost casual as he left them behind. The faintest hint of a smirk touched his lips, a spring in his step as he resumed his path, whistling softly as though nothing unusual had happened.
Ray walked away, his mind already calculating how he could use Gaus's weakness to his advantage. And with that thought, he disappeared into the night shadows, leaving a trail of uncertainty and fear in his wake.