Chapter 302
Clementine:
“It’s true. We weren’t trying to attack you,” Troy explained. “We were just trying to separate the two of you. But then you started attacking us p>
“I didn’t even do anything,” Yorick replied. “I wasn’t even trying to split you two. I just saw the tap open and reached for it. But then you hit me too p>
They had already started complaining. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, to be honest.
I didn’t pay much attention to the attack itself. I guess that shows how distant we’ve become.
So much had happened that I didn’t think much about them attacking me.
It felt normal, like something they would do.
After falling for Oriana, maybe that’s what I expected of them.
“It doesn’t really matter anymore. I’m at peace,” I replied, walking ahead of them while scanning the area for any place an ogre might be hiding.
It was getting frustrating because we still didn’t know where they were.
The thought of them appearing out of nowhere was the frightening part.
When we were first assigned this mission, I thought we’d be stepping into a city full of ogres.
I assumed it would be easy to kill them with their massive size.
Hitting them with a knife or sword seemed simple back then.
But now, we had to find a way to strike the tiny circle on their arm.
The only real chance of killing them was if we caught them sleeping.
I sighed as I kept walking, with the three following behind me.
“Listen, we don’t know what the problem is, okay? The thing is, I can only speak for myself then,” Troy said, quickly changing his words from including the others to referring only to himself.
“As for me, I just know I want to focus on everything. I want to focus on my missions, on you, and on finding the truth about the academy like before p>
As he paused, I slowed down too, then stopped completely in the middle of the road.
When I turned around, I saw him standing there, looking lost.
Haiden and Yorick stood on either side of him, slightly behind.
“I just can’t seem to focus on all that important stuff when Oriana’s around me,” Troy admitted softly, his voice filled with guilt.
“So you’re admitting to having feelings for her?” I asked, staring him down.
He looked away awkwardly.
“I don’t know. I don’t know what these feelings are,” he mumbled.
It wasn’t easy for me to confront them and realize they truly loved her.
“The same thing is wrong with me,” Haiden admitted quietly. “I don’t know what it is, but ever since she came into our room, all I want to do is focus on her p>
He didn’t show his feelings either. He looked away while I clenched my jaw.
I couldn’t blame them for being scum.
That’s just who they were, falling in love with one and already falling for another.
“But that doesn’t mean we don’t love you,” Troy told me.
I rolled my eyes and started walking ahead.
I was so annoyed at this point. I quickened my pace, trying to get away.
That’s when I heard Haiden trying to catch up with me.
“What did you say about Ian? He has an evil brother?” he asked, his question making me stop and turn around to look at him.
The nerve of them to think that saying a few nice things would make me start talking.
The truth was confusing, and it only irritated me more.
“Well, I would rather—” I began, but Troy stepped forward, concern on his face.
“Please, we’re just trying to focus on what’s important,” he said earnestly. “Let us do it. Please. We really want to know what’s going on so we can uncover the truth about the academy p>
As he spoke, I realized that being stubborn and letting personal fights take over would only get us into more trouble.
“Fine. Yes—” I started to speak again, but a loud scream cut through the air.
Their attention shifted away from me as fast as it had turned to me before.
“Isn’t that Oriana’s voice?” Haiden was the first to point out.
The others nodded, and without even looking at me, they sprinted toward the direction of the scream.
I followed behind them out of curiosity, wondering what kind of game she was playing this time.
We reached a narrow street where she was on her knees, crying.
The moment she heard us approach, she looked up from her hands.
“My friends,” she yelled and then lunged forward, hugging each of them one by one while crying hysterically.
“What happened? Are you okay?” Haiden asked, his voice full of worry.
“I was being chased by some monsters,” she explained. “I think it was those things in the sky.” She pointed upward, but when I looked, the sky was clear and she didn’t have a single scratch on her.
“Really? They’re coming out at night too?” I asked, noticing her attention shift toward me.
She looked at me in silence, then turned her gaze to the others.
“Were you all together?” she asked, sounding hurt, as if she had caught her mates with me.
“No,” Troy began, trying to lie. But when she narrowed her eyes at him, he changed his tone, focusing on the ogres instead, “we actually slayed an ogre p>
“How did you do it?” she asked. “And where’s the flag? Did you keep it for me?” she added excitedly.
“No. Why would they give you the flag? I slayed the ogre, so I get to keep it,” I replied with a sharp edge.
“What? You guys didn’t save the flag for me?” she exclaimed, pointing at herself.
She looked so surprised and offended that I almost started to wonder if I’d done something wrong by taking the flag.
“Oriana, did you not hear her? She said she slayed the ogre, and it’s true. She was the one who figured out how to kill it,” Yorick began explaining, but Oriana started shaking her head furiously.
“I’m so disappointed in you. The minute I’m out of your sight, you forget about me. Is that how little I mean to you?” she demanded, making them all look guilty in front of her.
I hated it. I hated how things had turned out.