章 26: Throw me away

I find Gregory in the House of Shadows' main training room, swinging his huge axe and hammer with ruthless determination. It's not common for students to bring in personal weapons unless they pay a hefty price in merits, Gregory seems to have done so.

I observe him wear himself out, the other students also looking on with curiosity. An hour later, he collapses to the ground, panting heavily.

"Done trying to kill yourself?" I ask as I approach him, my tone light but with a hint of concern. Just a hint.

He looks startled as if he didn't expect me, attempting to get up, but I simply push his shoulder back down and sit on the floor next to him.

I look around me and the training room is bustling with conversation and the clanging of weapons, not exactly the best place for a conversation.

"Follow me," I instruct, standing up. Gregory looks nervous but complies. We make our way up the stairs to my floor, and I notice him taking in the improved living arrangements.

The security here is much tighter too, my room's door only opening to Selene or my mana signature, and in case of emergencies, to a professor or elder.

We arrive at my door, and with a touch of my mana to the handle, it unlocks. Gregory enters cautiously, looking around as if he's stepped into a different world. I motion for him to take a seat on the chair across from my bed, and he does so with an air of apprehension.

I sit on the bed, feeling the weight of the conversation ahead. I massage the space between my eyebrows, trying to gather my thoughts.

"Gregory," I begin softly, and he slowly looks up, his expression a mix of fear and confusion. Calm down buddy.

"I'm sure you've noticed that since we got here, I haven't really been involved with you... and I want to say it wasn't intentional, but it was," I admit, wishing I felt a pang of guilt.

He looks at me, eyes wide with a hint of hurt, and I continue, "It's not you, it's me, really."

Now he looks like he's about to cry, and I mentally cringe at the cliché break-up line.

"Look, it's not that I don't appreciate what you did back at the main house. You took care of me, and for that, I'm thankful. But down the line, I might do some things that you won't be able to handle. Bad things, maybe even evil," I confess, my voice filled with a sense of finality.

Gregory's expression shifts from confusion to disbelief. "But that little Damien guy can handle it?" he asks incredulously.

I hesitate, knowing the truth might hurt. "Damien.. definitely ..." I trail off, realizing there's no need to crush his spirit further.

"In one of our lessons, the instructors said that sometimes weapons are faulty, and sometimes a weapon is just a weapon. It depends on the user, whether they'll use it for bad or evil, to kill or to protect,why are you trying to throw me away I don't think I'm a faulty weapon?" Gregory says with surprising conviction.

We hadn't spent enough time together for him to truly understand my intentions. I don't understand why he is so adamant about this. I don't think we've gone through enough to warrant this reaction honestly.

Those bald-headed instructors and their wisdom, maybe I should pay more attention in class.

"It's not all fun and games, Gregory," I warn, sensing a shift in my aura. "What would you do if I instructed you to set fire to an orphanage? Or to push a child off a cliff? To harm a pregnant woman? To contaminate an entire town's water supply? Can you handle it, Gregory?" I unintentionally reveal a glimpse of my true self.

Back on Earth, I had been apprehended by a vigilant police officer. I escaped from jail and planted a bomb on a bridge in his hometown, causing the deaths of thousands. I slept soundly that night; I'm not a virtuous person, I've come to terms with it.

Gregory doesn't seem to comprehend and I don't think I can make him.

Suddenly, a gentle hand rests on my shoulder. It's Selene, and her presence soothes me as I gaze at Gregory. He remains silent, likely taken aback, as he should be.

"I can do it," Gregory declares, surprising me — a rare occurrence.

Just as I'm about to speak, Selene interjects. "Gregory believes he can handle it. If not, it's as simple as disposing of him. Give him a chance," she suggests, and Gregory looks at me expectantly, unfazed by the fact that he could face consequences if he fails to deliver on his promise. Maybe I misjudged him; perhaps, he's just as insane, because what sane person would want to be around after what I've just told him? Maybe he thinks I'm trying to scare him away, he's in a rude awakening one day.

I relent with a sigh. "Fine," I concede, gesturing for him to depart. Once Gregory leaves, Selene settles in my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck.

"Why did you do that?" I inquire, embracing her waist.

"I'm not sure; I just have a feeling he might surprise you," she responds, kissing my forehead before getting up and leaving.

This morning, it's clear that Gregory has become Nathaniel's very visible, large tail. Nathaniel looks a little exasperated by the situation, and I can't help but laugh at his predicament.

Anyway good for him, he looked like a lost puppy yesterday I had to intervene.

In history class, Elizabeth sits next to me. I find myself watching the professor drone on and on about the history of Arkaria—the nobles, their achievements, and so on. Is knowing all this stuff even necessary?