CHAPTER 122: YOU’RE PATHETIC

"And that, everyone, is what the Wind-Puffing Rabbit will do when it’s annoyed," Lea Gilligan said, catching up to the Rabbit quickly enough and scooping it up to stroke its head as she addressed the downed Kaya and Aylin,

"As much as I liked watching this spat of yours and I’m so interested to know the history of it, this exercise is for you to learn to tend to a Wind-Puffing Rabbit.

Put your issues aside at least until the end of class. If you still want to go at each other after that, I’ll gladly referee."

Glaring at each other with an intensity that made it oh so clear this was far from over, Aylin and Kaya let out sighs as they said in almost perfect unison.

"Fine."

...

Those who had been able to pacify their Rabbits and had the good sense to always keep their mouths away from them so they didn’t get blown away, were able to spare their attention and watch the brief spar.

Among them was Doran who didn’t just watch because he found the war of words and a bit of spell play fun, but also because he was mesmerized by the sight of his budding crush.

When the exchange was over and Kaya and Aylin made an uneasy peace to try again at the Rabbit-tending exercise, Doran finally looked away from Aylin’s impossibly beautiful face and caught Caius’s eyes.

"Sorry," he said.

"For what?" Caius asked, like he had no idea what Doran meant.

Doran’s ears turned red.

"I-it’s just I’ve heard about you and Aylin," he said.

"What have you heard?"

"That you’re a thing?" Doran said.

It came out like a question because Doran was actually still seeking confirmation which, he himself knew was silly. Every boy had seen—because of how much time they spent staring at her—that Aylin always had her eyes on him. The exchange that just played out between Kaya and Aylin was also clearly because of him.

Still, Doran couldn’t help but hope...

"Would it make a difference to you if I confirmed the rumors?" Caius asked like he had read Doran’s mind. He hadn’t. He just knew what this was all about and was not deaf to the rumors.

"W-well, it wouldn’t be, you know, cool if I went after your girl," Doran said with a bit of a stammer,

"I think you’re a pretty cool guy. Maybe even a friend. And you don’t do that to a friend."

"Huh," Caius said as he stroked the bunny’s chin.

"Yeah," Doran said slowly, looking awkward.

"So you like Aylin," Caius said.

"Well— I mean, look at her," Doran said with a slightly longing sigh as he looked over at where Aylin and Kaya were now having a more silent argument.

Doran’s eyes snapped back to Caius’s face then and it wasn’t just his ears that were red now. His neck was also starting to redden.

"No offense," he amended and tried to laugh but he was so awkward that it came out like he was being strangled.

"What will you do about Baler?" Caius asked slowly.

"What?" Doran asked, surprised by the question.

"What will you do about Baler?" Caius asked again and then continued in a slow voice so every word he said was clear,

"I mean if your code of Friendship ethics makes you worried about how I’d take your crush and we’re barely friends, I’d assume it would be even more iron-clad when it comes to your actual friend. And the fact that you like his sister."

Doran tried that laugh again. It sounded better. Even if it still sounded like there was a noose around his neck.

"Well, Baler’s my friend. I think I can convince him that I’ll treat his sister right. I mean, I’m sure he would want to see her happy and want to see me happy too?

I don’t know, I don’t see any reason why this would be all that big a deal for him.

Not that I’m planning to break the news right this instant. Haha."

’Oh you poor, poor thing,’ Caius thought sadly.

Baler wanting the best for his sister was so laughable that Caius wondered how Doran would even have that idea. The two siblings hardly ever interacted and when they did, it was always to put each other down. Usually not in favor of Baler as the less magically gifted and more brash of the two. Though, following her recent actions, Aylin was getting up there too.

Anyway, Baler wanted Aylin’s place in the Khione Family. Aylin knew it too and took great pride in holding a position she was sure he would never get close to. The Khione’s Family’s Matriarchy would never allow it.

The internal politics of the Khione family were going to get so messy and were very much a major factor in Doran’s descent into madness. And so, looking at the gentle face of the commoner who had no idea how in too deep he was getting, Caius let out a sigh.

’Time for some tough love I guess,’ he thought.

"You’re pathetic," he said, and was actually surprised at how that was what came out of his mouth. He hadn’t planned to get this ’tough’ from the onset.

His surprise was nothing compared to the shock on Doran’s face though.

"What?" He said and his expression went from awkward but somewhat joyful to completely broken.

That look didn’t make Caius retract his statement though. If anything, it made him realize why those words had come out of his mouth; They were words he had wanted to say to Doran while he read [To Kill A Demon Lord...], so he doubled down on them.

"I said you’re pathetic," Caius said keeping his voice low enough that the conversation stayed between them. It was easier to do since everyone was busy with their Rabbits anyway,

"You spent years working hard, harder than anyone else in this class, because of how much the odds were stacked against you. You went through hell to get to where you are and the moment you arrive, you turn yourself into a lapdog of one of the Nobles you spent all those years hating."

"Lapdog? What?" Doran asked, looking stunned.

"Is that not accurate? Let’s not pretend, Baler is not your friend and you know it. You might act dumb but I know you’re not. To be your friend he’d have to consider you an equal, which he doesn’t."

"Where is all this coming from?" Doran asked, frowning.

"It’s coming from someone who is sick and tired of watching your pathetic display," Caius said with a bit of a sneer,

"I refuse to believe someone as cowardly as you beat the odds to be here. You earned your place, so when will you finally act like it?

Why would you need to convince Baler to let you be with his sister?"

"You asked what I’d do about him!" Doran said and for the first time, the facade of meekness really slipped.

Caius smiled a little but stayed the course,

"I asked that to bait you. I expected you to say ’screw him’ because it wouldn’t be his business. He hasn’t shown you anything to make you think he has your or his sister’s best interest at heart so who gives a shit what he thinks?"

"You don’t know what you’re talking about," Doran said dismissively.

Caius smirked.

"Don’t I? Look me in the eye and tell me any of what I’ve said is a lie."

Doran looked into Caius’s eyes but couldn’t make his mouth work to say a word.

Satisfied, Caius continued,

"You know what pisses me off the most? You have an actually passably good friend to admire. Aurelius. Someone who doesn’t treat you like dirt and actually speaks to you like you’re somebody. But somehow, you gravitate to the piece of shit who trash-talks and belittles you"

"You’re trash-talking me right now," Doran said.

Caius scoffed.

"Oh, figured that out, genius?" He said sarcastically,

"So you can figure it out and speak up against it when it’s me but when it’s Baler, you turn stupid and compliant?

By God, what do you even need him for? Why do you need to cower when you stand by his side? What makes him better than you? His name? His family? He had all that and you’re both still here. We’re all still here. Taking the same fucking lessons!

He’s no better than you are and until you see that and actually act like you deserve your place here, don’t even dare to look at Aylin.

Because I promise you, she’ll quite literally eat you alive."