Razeal sighed under his breath. Whether from the absurdity or the relief, even he couldn't tell. his eyes turned toward the distant archway looming ahead.
The Gates of Worth.
Not just a symbolic threshold… but his threshold.
Suddenly, he felt two strong hands resting on his shoulders, pulling him out of his thoughts.
He felt his shoulders being squeezed, but Razeal didn't say anything. Only an arrogant smile remained on his face, as if he couldn't feel the pain or doesn't care whatever this man was trying to do.
Dorn had a crazed smile in his eyes, killing intent clearly visible. He hated the feeling of being used and even more when his duty was treated like an illusion by some naive kid. who thought everything was going according to plan he had made? Dreaming. Arrogance and stupidity, when all the kid was doing… was simply existing.
Dorn leaned his head closer to Razeal's ear.
"I surely do not like that disgusting smile on your face."
"Let me guess!!... Do you think you won, Right kid? That this was all part of your plan? Wake up to reality, kid whatever imaginary illusions you're having. Right now, you're alive only because the Princess is here. If not for the rules or her presence, you'd already be dead meat. You know that?."
Razeal stayed silent, saying nothing only his eyes locked with Dorn's, still smiling.
"You… You... The audacity" The words didn't come out fully, choked by the rage Dorn felt.
The veins on his neck were visibly bulging as he looked at that smile. He felt utterly disgusted. Disrespected.
He leaned even closer to Razeal's ear.
"Don't fly too high. You didn't win. It's just your illusion. And you will die. Just step out of the academy grounds and now even if they don't kill you, I definitely will…" Dorn hissed, the rage climbed higher than it ever had before. Dorn had never felt such a twisted, burning urge to break someone illusions.
But even so enraged, he couldn't touch him now not here atleast. So, without another word, he bit it down, clenching his jaw until it ached, and released the boy's shoulders. Without another word, he turned around started walking away.
Disgusted!! he was feeling Disgusted just seeing the kid.
The sight of that smirking brat… it sickened him. Just moments ago, the kid had been strutting like a peacock, now Didn't even have the guts to speak to his face? Pathetic.
But just as he did
"I won't," Razeal's voice rang out from behind, arrogant and sharp, laced with a wild smile.
Dorn stopped mid step.
He turned slowly, like a man whose patience had just cracked. His eyes locked onto Razeal, who hadn't moved an inch. That damned smile was still plastered across the boy's lips.
A vein twitched at the side of Dorn's neck. "You… what did you say?"
Razeal's black eyes met his, flat and void of fear. "Even if I did... You wouldn't dare."
"You dare?" Dorn turned around, his aura nearly bursting out, staring at that arrogant face.
He felt utterly and extremely furious.
Dorn's eyes narrowed his face twisted in contempt.
"You no longer carry the name of Virelan!! kid," he snarled, venom lacing every word. "Your arrogance is disgusting."
He stepped closer, glaring at Razeal like he were filth beneath his boots.
"I can't even sense a trace of aura from you. No mana. No contract. No sharpness in your stance means you're not even a swordsman. So tell me, on what damn basis are you standing there, smiling like that? On what FUCKING basis this enormous arrogance of yours"
His disgust deepened, as if even breathing the same air as Razeal was offensive.
"Disgraceful. Weak. But worst of all arrogant. That's what I hate the most but even more when a person who acts arrogant with no Fucking abilities."
Dorn leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper, thick with murderous intent.
"Don't die inside the Gates of Worth... because I wanna kill you myself nowwww. You detritus of offal."
"Don't die inside the Gates of Worth... because I want to kill you myself now. You detritus of offal," He said it, then finally walked away with his back turned, no longer willing to fuck with his own mental health.
[Host! Ahem… just a reminder… cough, this time it was really too much. Trying to challenge someone of that level please, kindly, let me remind you, even if you've awakened that system function, there's no way you'll survive in your current state… so please, control yourself. Believe it or not, I really can't take on another host. My soul is already bound to you.]
Razeal heard every word but didn't respond. His gaze remained fixed on Dorn's back as the man walked away.
He knew full well if Dorn wanted to kill him, even a flick of his finger would've been enough. Challenging him wasn't brave. It was suicidal.
But that was the whole point.
That's the fun, Villey. You wouldn't understand.
And remind me, when was the last time I trusted you? I only trust in my plans.
"And when was the last time I trusted you, anyway?" he whispered under his breath, a smirk crawling up his lips. "I trust only my plans."
He didn't do anything wrong. It was that man who challenged him. And who decided he couldn't win just because he was a million times weaker?
Ridiculous.
What was that quote again, Villey?
'Swords and magic are worthless… in front of a villain's plan.'
[ "_" ]
The system didn't reply.
Not even a snarky beep.
---
Across the stone courtyard, Vice Headmistress Selvara remained still, arms folded as Dorn approached.
She smiled faintly, amusement in her eyes.
"Did you feel used?" she asked, voice smooth as silk with a blade underneath.
Dorn's answer was cold. "No. I think he thinks he used everyone." His words weren't spoken aloud, yet Selvara heard them all the same delivered through mana-link. Silent. Precise. Private.
His tone was calm, but laced with contempt. "Maybe the brat doesn't realize… he really would've lost his head if the Princess hadn't been here. Does he actually think anyone here gives a damn about the rules? Rules only matter until they cost more than they're worth."
Selvara's brow arched. "Is that so? What if…" she tilted her head, voice brushing softly into his mind, "…the boy already considered that?"
Dorn frowned, annoyed. "It was just a fluke. Don't read too much into it."
He hated it when people who didn't deserve it got misunderstood and labeled as something special.
Selvara's lips didn't move, but her voice reached him again calm, cryptic. "Even if he no longer carries the Virelan name… that blood runs deep in him. The blood of monsters. Of tacticians. And his is… among the purest."
Dorn said nothing more.
To him, worth could only be judged through strength and ability. Not talk or arrogance.
Words after all were as light as air.
And a plateau full of them was still just wind
---