Lucien stood still, staring at Alden.
He could hear many murmurs around him. Students were talking about his battle with Alden.
But he didn't care about anything at the mont.
He didn't care about the principal who had just left.
He didn't care about the murmuring students.
None of it mattered.
Because he had lost.
Not just lost.
He was crushed by Alden.
Even with his power-up.
Even with his golden finger.
Even with his Lightning God Physique that had temporarily awakened.
He should have been unstoppable.
So why did I lose?
A single question echoed in his mind.
Seles had always told that Alden was strong—but he was not stronger than .
Then why, couldn't land a decisive blow.
Even when I fought him seriously, even when I pushed myself to the extre… I
Had Seles lied to ?
Or had Alden grown this strong in such a short ti?
Lucien's pride had taken a heavy hit. Not just by losing, but by losing twice.
I need to grow stronger.
I need to—
No.
I will grow stronger.
A fierce determination burned in his eyes.
He would not let this happen again.
Just then, a voice cut through his thoughts.
"Attention, students." Sorin's voice echoed through the hall, silencing the students.
"The virtual combat test has ended. You will receive your results next week on your ManaSync. There will be no classes today. You are dismissed." Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire
With those words, Sorin turned and left.
As soon as he left the hall erupted into chatter once again.
Lucien exhaled, steadying himself.
Before he could move, a familiar voice stopped him.
"Hey, Lucien."
He turned towards the voice as he saw a beautiful blue haired girl standing there.
He knew her.
How could he not?
She was his friend after all.
Aurelia.
But sothing was strange today, her usual shyness was gone, replaced with seriousness.
Lucien understood that Sothing was wrong.
"Aurelia?" His brows furrowed in surprise.
She was an awkward person and rarely spoke. More importantly she never initiated conversations. But here she was, standing alone and with that look.
"What happened?" He asked her.
Aurelia looked at him in hesitation. "...You need to find Seles."
Lucien's body tensed imdiately.
The foreboding sensation in his chest increased.
"W–what happened to her?"
Aurelia's expression darkened. "Her opponent was… Princess Amyra."
This alone was enough for Lucien to understand what might have happened.
He knew how his sister was.
Cold and ruthless.
He connected the dots imdiately, he was a smart person after all (according to him)
"Please tell exactly what happened." Lucien asked her, hoping it was not as bad as he is thinking.
Aurelia whereas was still hesitant, her battles had ended quickly and she had witnessed the whole fight of Amyra and Seles with her own eyes.
Aurelia hesitated again, then whispered in a quiet voice. "The battle was too one-sided ."
No.
That wasn't possible.
Seles was strong.
Not just strong—she was my equal.
She is the only one who ever truly understood .
But now…
"Seles tried to surrender. But Princess didn't let her." Aurelia's voice wavered slightly. "She toyed with her till the very end."
The images of imagination flashed in his mind— Seles, gritting her teeth, refusing to scream, fighting to the bitter end.
Amyra, standing above her with that cold, indifferent expression.
Lucien tried to calm his violent emotions.
But his aura?
His aura was anything but calm.
Amyra.
She had never seen him as family.
To her, he was an insect.
A failure.
A pathetic coward.
He was used to it.
But dragging Seles into it?
That was unforgivable. She shouldn't have done that. That hurt more than anything.
"Seles left the hall. She's in her room now," Aurelia said. "Lucien… you should go."
He turned and walked away without another word.
__
Lucien arrived at Seles's door.
The entire floor was hers.
He knocked.
No response.
His jaw tightened.
"Seles."
Silence.
His fingers curled into a fist.
"If you don't answer, I am going to sit here until you do."
He sat down.
Then with a click the door opened.
Lucien stood up imdiately.
He saw her.
Seles stood there quietly. Her crimson eyes normally so bright and sharp were empty.
Lucien's heart ached.
She wasn't her usual confident self, she looked so… small and fragile.
He expected Sales to think it was his fault. But sothing unexpected happened.
Seles parted her lips—her voice hoarse …and fragile.
"…Sorry."
Lucien's eyes widened.
Why?
Why is she apologizing?
Even now—even now—she thinks she has failed ?
Seles trembled.
"I—I just wanted to talk to Amyra about you," she whispered. "But she—she suddenly started to attack ."
Lucien clenched his jaw.
"She laughed at ." Her voice broke.
"She called pathetic. She said… she said she was just giving a lesson about you."
Lucien's body froze.
"She said…"
Seles's hands shook as she clutched her dress tightly.
"She said you were weak."
Sothing inside him snapped.
Seles lifted her head—her crimson eyes darkening.
She had him.
She knew Lucien better than anyone.
She knew how to break him, how to twist the knife Amyra had stabbed into him.
"Lucien…" her voice trembled.
He flinched.
"She thinks you're a joke," Seles whispered.
Lucien gritted his teeth.
Seles exhaled shakily, lowering her gaze.
"…I didn't want to lose to her after all that she said… but… but I couldn't defeat her."
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry for being weak, Lucien." She couldn't control her tears anymore.
Seles hated Amyra.
That much was clear.
And she wanted him to hate her too.
It would have been so easy to see through it. If he wasn't already falling into the trap himself.
"It is not you who should be sorry… it is .. " Lucien spoke in a controlled voice "I should be sorry for being weaker…"
"…I'm sorry," he whispered.
It was my fault.
It is because I am too weak.
I should've been strong enough to make Amyra never dare lay a finger on her.
His rage twisted into sothing deeper.
Amyra thinks I am weak?
Fine.
Let her think that.
For now.
But one day…
One day, she'd regret it.
Not just Amyra.
Not just Zephyr.
Everyone.
I will beco strong.
Strong enough to never let sothing like this happen again.
Strong enough to make Amyra pay.
And when that day ca—
She'd never dare to hurt Seles again.
No matter the cost.
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