Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma - Chapter 25.2
But even that relief didn’t last long.
Trying to avoid the constant whispering that followed me everywhere, I had no choice but to take routes I normally didn’t use. What would have taken less than five minutes ended up taking nearly twenty before I finally reached the dormitory.
Because more than half of the classes had been suspended since the very first day due to yesterday’s events, the dorms were noisier than usual. I felt like a monkey in a zoo as I was about to enter the building.
Cassiel, coming from the direction of the main building, hesitated when he saw me. Clearly uncomfortable, he tried to pretend he didn’t see me, but he was the one who approached first.
“How are you feeling?”
“Totally spent. I just want to collapse into my bed.”
“You don’t have to make it so obvious you don’t want to talk to me.”
I only shrugged in response.
I still don’t particularly like Cassiel. Unlike Acteon, who avoided Guides because of trauma, Cassiel’s arrogance came from his high rank and status.
‘And this will probably continue to be a source of conflict and a barrier between us.’
Another reason I disliked him was that he worried about me instead of Acteon.
“Thanks for worrying. But I’m still alive thanks to everyone’s concern.”
After peering into Acteon’s past, I finally understood. Even as half-brothers, Acteon meant nothing to Cassiel. Circumstances forced them together as a family because of the Duke, but there was no law saying they had to accept each other.
Cassiel’s attitude, which occasionally revealed his disregard for Acteon, grated on me, especially now that all my family was gone and only Hyacine remained by my side.
Even if he was concerned about me, the longer we talked, the more likely we’d end up arguing.
“I doubt you’ll die so easily from now on.”
For example, his attitude, as if a higher rank means I’ll be fine, or that he can relax now—just another thing that annoyed me.
“Yeah, maybe an easy life is too much to ask, but I’ll take what I can get.”
So, I made an excuse about being dizzy to cut the conversation short.
Cassiel nodded, though it was clear he wanted to say something more.
‘I guess I do have a lot on my mind right now.’
If not for everything that happened yesterday, I wouldn’t be treating him so coldly. Sorry, but I’m struggling just to take care of myself right now.
The biggest problem I face isn’t Cassiel, but something else…
Acteon Brondearn.
‘They already made it obvious they were disappointed that my rank was below A-Class.’
But now, I was not only A-Class, but S-Class.
And apparently, they have connections in this Estra Academy, so they must have heard the news about me faster than anyone.
There’s only one offer the Duke would make after hearing about my rank: tying me to someone from Brondearn.
If things go as they are, the Duke will try to keep me at all costs. Given my situation, stuck and unable to escape, it won’t be long before I’m trapped exactly as he wants.
Just because I’m an Awakened, it’s clear what kind of fate awaits me, regardless of my wishes. The future, so easy to predict, already disgusted me.
‘The Duke has already ruined the lives of both his wife and mistress in succession.’
I recalled the woman from Acteon’s trauma, the one who fell into ruin because of the Duke. I couldn’t let myself end up the same way.
Suddenly, I wondered if Acteon was thinking the same thing about the Duke’s schemes.
‘Acteon…’
He was currently under isolation. Compared to a Guide, who can only stabilize mana, a Transcendent who manipulates mana becomes more dangerous the higher their rank. Standard control stones couldn’t be used, so he had to be held in a special research chamber until something stronger was ready.
‘If I end up in a similar situation, who knows how he’ll react.’
His biological mother, after all, died while basically being imprisoned by the Duke’s family. If even I, someone he cares for, end up the same way…
‘…Nothing good will come of it. And no matter how high-level an Awakened someone is, if they become too dangerous, they’re destined to be disposed of.’
Unless the system changes, revealing anything prematurely will only lead to Acteon’s misfortune.
I didn’t want him, after all he’d suffered, to go through anything worse.
‘…Is this pity?’
Last night’s image of Acteon was still vivid. From the moment our eyes met after he regained consciousness, to when he learned my rank had changed. Constantly anxious and fearful, yet as if clutching an unfamiliar peace… He kept making me feel strangely protective.
All I cared about was keeping myself and Hyacine safe. That was supposed to be everything.
‘At the very least, maybe we can team up.’
We probably share the same goal: escaping Brondearn. To do that, I needed to break free of these uncomfortable surroundings and shackles.
Finally, when I got back to my room, my strength gave out. I tossed my coat onto the back of a chair and collapsed on the bed, an overwhelming fatigue washing over me.
As I drifted off to sleep, I muttered to myself.
To get out of this situation, first…
‘The control stone bracelet.’
The cold touch of the newly-issued bracelet sent a chill down my spine.
The single biggest reason so many Awakened are helplessly sent off to the battlefield.
Last night, the control stone I’d believed unbreakable had been shattered by the power of a Transcendent’s mana.
‘If it can be broken…’
Maybe, just maybe, I could disable it whenever I needed to.
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