Chapter 27: Chapter 26
"Haa... Allen brought it upon himself. He deserves to have his flags stolen, but I am not so cruel as to let a classmate go without a single flag. Here, Ivan, take this flag and give it to Allen when he wakes up. It's the payment for breaking a few teeth."
Amazing! Amazing! So this is how victory feels? If I had known this when I was in high school, I would have done something about my bullies. I bet they will not go home with just a swollen face and covered in bruises.
What a great boost in confidence! Winning against a far stronger opponent than me is making me feel really confident.
Oh, don't let the feeling get over your head, or the confidence might turn into arrogance.
[It is the best feeling, right? To be able to trample on your enemies, bullies, in particular, is one of the most satisfying feelings. But do you know what's better than the best? It is when you see people break and shed blood. When you see humans get torn to pieces, it is just on a whole another level.]
"Ah, Ivan, do it as a surprise. Give Allen his flag when the special exam is about to end, got it?"
Actually, I don't know what to do. It hurts, yet I feel numb at the same time. My body feels like I would collapse anytime. That fall earlier must have been really bad.
"C-Clause!"
"Oh, Ira. Did you see it?" I asked excitedly.
But Ira did not smile or showed any sign of relief on his face. He was de facto afraid, for he hesitated to give me a fist bump. I took it as something like disgust towards Allen's blood on my hands.
"Are you okay?"
I was confused when Ira asked me if I was okay. Of course, I am okay, although I was feeling painful quite a bit. What I did not understand was his question.
"I'm in great condition, but why do you ask? It's Allen you should be asking. His face was pretty messed up."
"No, you don't look so good right now."
I totally made sure that Allen would learn his lesson. Hopefully, what I did to him would serve as a lesson to him and learn not to mess with others anymore.
If Allen doesn't ever learn and decides to take revenge on me, I can't imagine what I will do just to make him stop.
[Kekeke, that attitude suits you more, Esecleus. I like it? Keep it up, and I might decide to just sit down on the sidelines and watch!]
I walked up to the two nursing students, picked up one flag from Sean, Robert, and Ivan's bet, and gave the red flag I had with me plus the flag I picked up to compensate them.
The two nursing students got hurt, and their time was wasted on us, so it is only natural to give something to them.
"You are crazy, dude. But thanks to you, we have one flag each."
"I'm just glad that our fight was stopped by them before it could even start. I don't want to imagine. Anyways, that serves the bastard right!"
They told me their names. Bryan and Renren. The two left after I compensated them, and I just stood there, silently observing the bright moon.
I was waiting for Sean, Robert, and Ivan to complain after taking one of the flags from the prize, but I heard nothing from them. Instead, they just picked them up and ran to Allen's aid, quickly helping him up to bring him to the infirmary.
My presence was more terrifying than the looming night, so intimidating that it put everyone in sheer silence.
Slowly... as the captivating elegance of the moon stole my attention, I noticed that I subconsciously raised my hand, trying to reach what was impossible to attain.
The trickling blood on my hand crept down to my arm until it accidentally dropped on my eyes. I immediately closed my eyes, brushing them, and when I opened them, it was still there.
Once again, I saw the moon becoming faintly red, a mix of brightness and vividness combining as one.
"Esecleus seemed so lost..."
Ms. Cristina uttered to Austin. Pity was written on her face.
"If only I could run to his side and hug him. It will ease the pain."
But I don't feel hurt that much. My head is clear, and I can move just fine on my own. Although, I could feel my back aching after my fall.
"It's better to leave him be for a while," Austin suggested. "Ira, we are going now. Do you wanna go with us?"
Ira looked at me, and our eyes met. He was hesitant. I can sense and see it in his eyes under the bright light of the night.
"I'll be fine, Ira. I just need to clear my head and reflect on my actions."
I'm sure of it. Ira is scared of me right now. Staying any longer with me would just put fear in him, and I don't want that. What I just wanted was to take revenge on Allen for being so pathetic and a coward when they were bullying him, but I overdid it.
I just wanted to let Ira know that I am a friend he can rely on, too... not a
a friend he needs to help whenever I am in trouble.
"I'm not scared of you, Clause, if that is what you think! I'm just surprised! That's all."
Wondering minds indulged in theories, lost souls transcended different worlds, while bodies of the dead rot deep within the ground.
Ahhhh... I'm overthinking.
"No need to pretend, Ira. Your hands are shaking."
He saw it himself that his hands were shaking.
"I just want to be alone, Ira, and contemplate about myself, all the thoughts that I have because I feel like losing my mind! So, please go now."
~
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone