章節 144: Rachel Creighton II
My brows furrowed in annoyance as I waved my hand, instantly casting a light spell that shattered the incoming mana arrow effortlessly.
I turned my gaze to the intruders, my irritation palpable.
As expected, it was the entirety of Class A, along with my father and sister.
Suddenly, I heard Arthur grunt beside me, collapsing to his knees. My eyes widened, and it didn't take long for me to understand what had happened.
My father. His pressure.
As a Radiant-ranker, his mere presence was more than enough to crush someone like Arthur.
"Father!" I snapped, my voice sharp, causing him to turn toward me in surprise. His mana pressure dissipated immediately.
Kathyln, my sister, took a step forward, concern evident on her face. "Rachel, we heard—"
I cut her off, my tone icy. "You didn't need to come here, any of you."
Arthur was still kneeling, struggling to catch his breath. I knelt beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. He looked up, his face pale, and I gave him a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Arthur. I've got you."
My father's frown deepened, his stern gaze flickering between Arthur and me. "Rachel, what exactly is going on here?" His tone held authority, demanding an explanation.
I rose to my feet, meeting my father's eyes with defiance. "I don't owe you an explanation, Father. This is my private matter."
Kathyln's expression shifted, a mix of confusion and shock. "Rachel... you..."
I sighed, tired of their judgmental stares. "Arthur is my friend, and I will not tolerate anyone trying to harm him. Not even you, Father."
The room fell into an uneasy silence, the tension almost suffocating. My father finally relented, his eyes narrowing. "We'll discuss this later," he said, turning away.
Kathyln gave me a lingering look, her eyes filled with worry, before she followed him out.
However, not everyone left.
Cecilia and Seraphina stayed behind, their crimson and crystalline blue eyes locked on me. It wasn't hard to see the emotions swirling in those gazes. I knew exactly why they lingered.
Cecilia, the one who had shot the mana arrow, had her eyes fixed on me with a sharp intensity, possessiveness radiating from her very stance. Seraphina, on the other hand, was quieter, her teeth gently worrying her lower lip, more nervous than defiant.
Right, I had to deal with these two now.
Unlike Arthur, who seemed oblivious to the emotions swirling around him, I could tell that these two clearly had feelings for him.
Their reasons were similar to mine, yet different enough to set us apart. I found their protectiveness toward Arthur somewhat understandable—but still, it was irritating.
'Annoying,' I thought, letting out a small sigh.
Cecilia's possessiveness was palpable, her stance rigid and unyielding. She looked ready to fight me if necessary. Seraphina, though, seemed caught between her emotions—torn between fear, concern, and the desire to protect the person she cared for.
I finally turned to them, squaring my shoulders as I raised an eyebrow. "Are you both just going to stand there, or do you have something to say?" I asked, my voice firm yet calm.
Cecilia took a step forward, her expression hardening. "Rachel," she began, her voice carrying an edge of tension, "what are you trying to do?"
Seraphina stood back, her gaze flickering between us, clearly uncomfortable with the brewing confrontation.
I crossed my arms, staring back at Cecilia. "What am I trying to do?" I echoed. "I'm trying to take care of someone who means a lot to me."
Cecilia's eyes narrowed, her crimson gaze sharpening. "Arthur isn't just someone you can claim for yourself," she said, her voice laced with jealousy. "He's important to me too."
I couldn't help but let a small smirk play on my lips. "I'm not trying to claim him, Cecilia. But I think it's clear that I'm not stepping aside either."
The intensity in her gaze faltered, her expression flickering with uncertainty. She clenched her fists, looking like she wanted to say more but ultimately remained silent.
Seraphina finally stepped forward, her voice soft and tentative. "Please, let's not fight. We're all friends, right?" she said, her crystalline blue eyes pleading for peace.
I turned my gaze to Seraphina, seeing the sincerity in her eyes. She truly wanted things to remain peaceful, for Arthur's sake more than anyone else's.
I let out a soft sigh, my expression softening slightly. "I don't want to fight either," I said. "But you both need to understand—I care about Arthur, and I'm not going anywhere."
Seraphina looked at me, her expression one of empathy and understanding. She nodded slowly. "I care about him too, Rachel. I just... don't want anyone to get hurt."
There was a moment of silence between us, an unspoken understanding passing among the three of us. We all cared about Arthur, and none of us were willing to back down. But perhaps we didn't have to fight—perhaps we could each find our place beside him.
Cecilia's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes still filled with defiance. After a tense moment, she finally looked away, letting out a reluctant sigh. "Fine," she muttered. "But don't think I'm giving up."
Seraphina's expression relaxed, her tense features softening. "None of us are giving up," she said gently, her gaze flickering to Cecilia and then back to me.
I smiled faintly, feeling a mix of emotions welling up inside me. "Good," I said softly. "Because neither am I."
The tension between us seemed to lessen, the charged atmosphere dissipating as we reached a tentative truce. I knew this wasn't the end—far from it. Our feelings for Arthur weren't something that could be easily resolved. But, for now, we had an understanding. We would all continue to care for him, and none of us would back down.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now.
Arthur, still recovering from the pressure my father had exerted, finally stood up, his breathing more even. He looked between the three of us, confusion evident on his face. "Um, did I miss something?" he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
I turned to him, a gentle smile on my lips. "Don't worry, Arthur," I said softly. "We were just having a little chat."
Cecilia crossed her arms, her expression softening, though her possessiveness remained clear. "Yeah, a little chat," she repeated, her gaze briefly meeting Arthur's.
Seraphina gave a soft smile, her eyes filled with warmth. "Let's just focus on celebrating, okay?" she said, her voice gentle and calming.
Arthur blinked, clearly unsure of what had transpired between us, but he nodded nonetheless. "Alright... if you say so," he replied.
I stepped closer to Arthur, resting my hand on his arm. "Come on," I said, my voice filled with a warmth I hadn't allowed myself to show in a long time. "Let's go back inside."
As we walked away, I knew this was just the beginning. Our feelings for Arthur, the relationships we shared, the complications we faced—all of it was far from resolved. But we were willing to take that journey, no matter how difficult it might be.
Because, in the end, Arthur was worth it.
And none of us were willing to let him go.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票