“There is nothing to worry about.”
“Goddess Khione,” greeted the Emperor and Empress in unison, rising from their thrones as a mark of reverence upon Khione’s entrance.
“As I have stated before, there is no cause for concern regarding Hero Nathan,” Khione reiterated, her voice carrying the weight of authority.
“But Goddess Khione, despite the King’s and your benevolence, he continues to flout our values,” interjected Oscar, his frustration palpable.
“I concur, Goddess Khione. I have personally witnessed his disrespectful conduct on multiple occasions,” added Samuel, Khione’s loyal bodyguard. “He even had the audacity to address you directly and impertinently inquire about your whereabouts.”
Samuel’s distaste for Nathan was evident, and he struggled to comprehend Khione’s apparent leniency towards him. For someone who could be ruthless in her judgments, Nathan’s transgressions seemed deserving of retribution. Yet, Khione remained reticent, seemingly unmoved by his disrespectful behavior.
“Despite his actions, he remains a chosen Hero. As per the agreement with Amelia Carter, he is entitled to protection and exempt from mandatory combat,” Khione reminded them, her gaze piercing. “And it is true, isn’t it, Oscar? You have confirmed his lack of progress and weakness.”
“Yes, indeed! He is unequivocally the weakest among them, often sequestering himself in the library or his quarters,” Oscar affirmed.
“Then let him be,” decreed Khione, her tone indifferent. “The last thing we need is to undermine the trust of our Heroes. Allow him his freedom. We have no need of him, after all.”
Khione’s words masked a deeper concern; she understood the precariousness of Nathan’s situation. To cast him out or worse, condemn him, would only expose him to grave danger beyond the capital’s walls, endangering not only his life but hers as well.
“As you wish, Goddess Khione,” the Emperor fortunately nodded. He couldn’t just refuse a Goddess’ words easily even though truthfully he wanted to get rid of nuisances like Nathan but rather he had better plans to get rid of Nathan and even the Goddess could only accept it.
Khione didn’t miss the Empress’ sigh of relief.
“Are the preparations ready for this training trip?” Khione asked Cecilia.
“Yes, lady Khione. Following a quick morning training we will head to the deeper part of the forest,” Cecilia said.
“Good.” Khione nodded and left.
°°°°°°
Courtney was accustomed to seeing herself as a belle of the upper crust within the microcosm of her school’s social hierarchy. From the days of middle school, she effortlessly glided into the orbit of the popular girls, carefully avoiding any entanglements with the gloomy or less desirable individuals who might besmirch her carefully crafted image.
To Courtney, maintaining this pristine facade was paramount.
But upon entering high school, she encountered Jason.
He embodied every quality she deemed essential in the archetypal high school heartthrob: ruggedly handsome, intellectually gifted, athletically gifted, and universally adored. Not only did he possess an enviable collection of trophies from his exploits in karate, but he also exuded a natural charm that captivated all who crossed his path.
In Courtney’s eyes, Jason was the epitome of perfection, and she resolved to make him hers at any cost.
As she delved deeper into her high school life, Jason’s star only seemed to shine brighter. His charismatic leadership and rare skill set set him apart as the undisputed hero of their class, and Courtney found herself drawn to him like a moth to a flame. With him by her side, she felt invincible, shielded from the uncertainties and insecurities that plagued her peers.
Her infatuation with Jason deepened as she deftly employed her feminine wiles over the course of a year, culminating in the gratifying fruition of her efforts a mere month prior. But just as her dreams began to take shape, Nathan appeared on the scene.
In an instant, Courtney’s carefully constructed reality came crashing down around her.
She found herself the target of threats and unwanted advances, including a disturbingly forceful kiss that left her feeling violated and vulnerable.
Yet why?
Why didn’t she feel completely disgusted?
In the wake of that pivotal moment when Nathan’s locks inexplicably turned a ghostly white, Courtney found herself inexplicably drawn to him, despite his lack of Jason’s striking features or undeniable charm. It was a perplexing conundrum: why did her eyes betray her, fixating on Nathan, when her heart steadfastly belonged to Jason?
When Nathan overstepped boundaries that night, forcing himself upon her with a forceful kiss, Courtney knew that a single outcry would have summoned Jason to her side in a heartbeat, ready to defend her honor with righteous fervor. Yet, she remained silent, allowing Nathan’s touch to linger, experiencing a complex mix of emotions that defied easy explanation.
Since Nathan’s chilling ultimatum to expose a damning video, Courtney found herself avoiding Jason, concocting feeble excuses to maintain her distance. This strategy might have faltered were it not for Jason’s diversionary interest in other girls, particularly the Princess.
However, Jason’s recent heightened pursuit of Courtney left her keenly aware that he would soon demand answers, forcing her to confront uncomfortable truths she was not yet prepared to reveal.
Even now, as she deftly sidestepped Jason’s probing inquiries by agreeing to track down the elusive Nathan, who had once again neglected his training duties, Courtney knew with certainty that he could only be found in one place: the secluded confines of the castle library.
Stepping into the serene sanctuary of the library, Courtney felt a sense of anticipation mingled with trepidation wash over her. She started walking around to look for him.
And soon enough she found him.
His white hair couldn’t be mistaken.
He was seated on a table reading a book.
The title of the book was: [B-Rank Assassins Skills]
As Courtney’s gaze fell upon Nathan engrossed in a tome of skill-related information, she couldn’t help but wonder about his motivations. After all, she had long perceived Nathan as lacking in prowess, both physically and in terms of his training regimen. It seemed improbable, if not outright impossible, for him to acquire new skills without putting in the requisite effort.
Yet, there he sat, his expression serious and focused, delving into the information of skills he clearly didn’t possess. It was just a book of information about various skills.
Reflecting on their initial encounters, Courtney recalled her initial dismissal of Nathan as just another unremarkable classmate. Despite Aiden’s attempts to label him as a nerd, Nathan displayed none of the stereotypical traits associated with such a designation.
He exhibited a confidence that defied easy categorization, engaging with classmates, including girls like herself, without hesitation despite being a mob in every other ways.
In hindsight, Courtney acknowledged her own role in perpetuating the false narrative surrounding Nathan. Her decision to fabricate rumors about his supposed penchant for hentai manga contributed to his ostracization by their peers.
There wasn’t a clear reason for her to do that.
It was just the way he spoke to her like any random girls and one day he even snapped at her even though not harshly. A simple matter of broken pencil. Any boy would have told her to not mind just for her beauty but Nathan asked for another new pencil without even thinking.
A simple matter for Nathan but Courtney as a girl of the high caste of her school, it hurts a bit of her pride so she framed him a bit.
Yet, despite the social stigma attached to him, Nathan didn’t alter his demeanor or attitude towards her, despite her conviction that he was aware of her complicity in his marginalization. It was like he didn’t care about it.
Summoning her courage, Courtney approached Nathan.
“Nathan.”
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