'This bastard!!'
For the past ten years of my new life in this world, I've been taunted by Julien, and every single time, I've ignored him and laid low.
It wasn't because I was afraid of him even though I was way weaker than him, it was because I chalked all what he did to his sense of insecurity and his mother's hatred for mine.
But at this moment, I realize that the childish antics that I've ignored could get me killed.
Julien was after my life and he might just very well succeed.
To manipulate people was pretty easy if you could do two things; first was to alter their perspective of something and second was to manipulate their emotions.
The human mind was fickle but most knew how to remain calm. But if the mind was in an unstable state, either due to good emotions or bad, it was easily controlled.
Although the atmosphere within the hall had been pleasant, there was an underlying tension slowly rising at the prospect of enemies being at the corner.
The rupture was a chance coveted by many, the amount of greed directed at it was unimaginable even by the standards of those who owned it.
The thought that someone might be trying to take it away from them was one that could make anyone lose their fuse and yet, Julien has just insinuated such.
All eyes were immediately focused on me and this time, there was no sense of expectation in them, only malice and disdain.
I felt shivers run down my spine.
"What are you doing?" I asked Julien.
"What do you mean?" He asked, feigning ignorance. I felt my heart still.
"This is a sensitive time, your jokes have gone too far, don't you think?"
"Jokes? So you mean to say I'm lying then?" Julien asked.
"I have witnesses." He added.
"Your witness only claimed to have noticed the disappearance of the prime frost orb, nothing else." I rebuked.
"That's true, but there's another way to confirm if you truly used the prime frost orb, don't you think?"
I glanced through them all, my eyes roaming as I scanned the eyes of everyone present. There wasn't even a shred of doubt within, they all believed I did it.
I looked beside me, at the branch family leaders and my father, they were all quiet, not even paying attention to the matter.
It suddenly dawned on me,....
They knew. They knew I didn't do it but they couldn't be bothered to interfere, and the reason was simple,...
I was useless.
The Leonis family was about to go into a rupture to conquer it, everyone would participate, even the younger ones and yet, here I was, a cripple with no battle prowess.
In a world where the strong determined everything, I was simply too weak to even have a say.
'I've lost... no matter what I say, no one will believe me.'
Even if by some miracle, it is found that I didn't steal the prime frost orb, I'll still have lost. My reputation was already destroyed even before now, the doll of House Leonis, a cripple who was worth even less than members of the branch families.
And now, the doubt that I could betray them at any time had been planted by Julien.
"How do you propose we go about this?" I asked Julien.
My voice was low and my fist was as tight as it could be. My heart beat was slow but loud and I could feel something simmering within me.
It was anger.
"Simple, we can just check for any trace of frost energy in you. As a cripple, you have no business possessing another form of energy different from natural mana."
'This…. Haha, everything is truly against me.'
"I awakened a constitution and it has ice properties to it." I started even though I knew what would come after.
And just like I imagined, Julien burst into laughter. The looks of scorn and malice changed to one of hatred and disdain. At this point, I couldn't even look them in the eye anymore.
"Hahahaha, really? You really expect us to believe that a cripple like you just happened to awaken a constitution of the ice attribute when something like this is going on?"
No, of course I wasn't expecting them to believe. If not for the existence of Esfyn, maybe I would have thought I was lying too.
So I remained silent, my head lowered as I was pinned with the crime of committing an offense I had no idea of.
It was funny.
'If I was strong enough… this wouldn't have happened…. Heh, how pathetic.'
I've always known I was weak, but with the little strength I gained these last few days, I began to believe that I was getting somewhere.
It was at this moment I realized that I had gone nowhere. It was all an illusion, all of it was. From the devil's path which was heavily reliant on Reid and the poison, to now, I was nothing more than a disposable factor.
It was truly pathetic.
"Reid and Jenna had nothing to do with it. You know as well as I do that they have no choice but to obey my orders."
I stared into Julien's eyes as I spoke, I was making it clear to him that I've thrown the towel, I've given up. And in return, he had to spear Jenna and Reid.
Julien smirked as he spoke once again, a pleasant look in his eyes.
"Father, I say we kill him but I know you'll oppose it. So instead, let's exile him from the family."
Julien turned to face our father, lord Ashran as he spoke with emotion, like he truly cared.
"He doesn't deserve to share the glory of conquering the rupture with us, instead, he should live the rest of his life in shame."
Lord Ashran stood up, his eyes finally landing on me. They were usually emotionless but now, there was a look in them, one that was peculiar but I couldn't quite put my hands on it.
Most especially, I didn't care.
"Emris, you are hereby exiled from house Leonis. You have no ties with us. You are to leave exactly as you are, with nothing."
He paused for a moment before adding,
"I would have crippled you but…. You are already crippled."
There were a few chuckles from the others but I didn't mind. I stood up from my seat and bowed to him one last time.
Then I began to walk towards the large double doors.
Every step seemed heavier than the last, and with each one I took, I felt my whole body tremble.
I was angry, pained and most especially, I felt betrayed. Although I was nothing but a doll, I still made my fair share of contributions to the household.
And yet, here I was, taking the most shameful walk of my life.
I hated my previous life, it was purposeless and filled with pain, hunger and suffering. But at this moment, I wished I could go back.
As I approached the door, Reid looked up and took a step forward but I shook my head.
'You've been relieved of your position,' I conveyed through my gaze.
'Tell Jenna too….'
The large doors opened and I walked out.
I didn't take anything, just like they asked. I went to a corner, took off all my clothing and jewelry, leaving behind only the storage ring I got from Esfyn.
Then I equipped myself with the [Well-fitted suit]. I dropped the clothes at the door and walked out of the mansion, heading out of the area in general.
My mind was blank for the most part as I just walked aimlessly. I didn't want to think too much, I knew how easy it was for an unstable mind to get consumed by emotion.
So I let my instincts take over.
Bathump~ bathump~
When I came too, it was already nighttime. High above, the full moon hung, bright and brilliant as it bathed the world with its silvery glow.
My heart pounded in my chest but I wasn't scared, I wasn't angry or frustrated. I didn't even know what I was feeling or the reason behind it.
That was until I noticed where I was. Behind me was a large flat plain, but before me was an equally large and deep forest.
I didn't need to go in to smell the thick, foul smell of monster blood. It was pungent and it seemed to want to corrode my innards.
That was when I also noticed I wasn't alone…..
Before me stood a familiar beast, one whose body blended with the darkness of the forest, yet, not even the darkness or the silvery glow of the moon could dim the ominous glow of those crimson eyes.
Six crimson eyes.