novelraw Chapter 157: What is your desire?
Chapter 157: What is your desire?
Ariel froze. His green eyes snapped to Master Grey, his mind already running hundreds of calculations.
’Did I make a mistake? I adapted too fast?’
Ariel had been brought up in a facility, so he had no solid definition of the concept ’normal’. He only believed he should act according to the Instructor’s teachings.
’I have to answer like a flustered student.’
He blinked, his lips parting in surprise. "U-uhm, yeah. I think so."
Master Grey’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything. He nodded, then dropped Jose gently.
"I’m training you this way so you won’t be helpless when betrayed. Remember this."
......
After the one and a half hours had passed, the class was dismissed, and the tired students were allowed to go. The boys headed to their changing room, chatting and groaning as they spoke about today’s training.
"Man, you won’t believe it. That Master Iroh is damn strong! His punches and swings are like... damn! I can’t even compare them with anything."
Logan said, describing Master Iroh’s greatness to Eric and Jose. The two were surprised, but didn’t react much.
Logan noticed this and frowned. "What’s with you guys? Got your asses whooped in your class?"
"N-no." Jose shook his head, a fearful look in his eyes.
Logan’s frown deepened, immediately sensing something wrong.
"What the heck happened in your group? You’re shaking." He slapped the boy’s back slightly, making him wince in pain.
"Ugh."
Eric sighed and shook his head. "It’s not how you’re thinking it, Logan. Our instructor seemed nice. Too calm. He rarely complains even when we make mistakes."
Logan’s brows creased in suspicion. "That’s strange."
"Right? But no one really cared. We just listened to him teach us until... until Hazel asked what he was teaching us."
Jose’s expression darkened. "He said he was teaching us how to fight humans. I wonder why he insists on that."
Logan was surprised, but didn’t feel uneasy.
’Well, isn’t it normal to learn how to fight humans too?’
Seeing his unchanging expression, Jose scowled. "You don’t mind learning something like that? What? Shouldn’t it be Nirad Creatures you learn how to fight?"
"What? Do you think it’s only Nirad Creatures you think you’ll fight?" Logan retorted angrily, "Don’t you know there are bad people out there?"
"I can beat normal people! I’m an Awakened! What are they gonna do, huh?!" Jose snapped, standing up to face Logan.
They stood nose-to-nose as if about to get physical.
"Oi, both of you." Eric tried to intervene, but was ignored.
Just then, Liam approached them with a serious expression. "You both shouldn’t start anything here. Apologize to each other."
Logan turned, his red eyes sharp and angry. "What do you mean? Apologize? I didn’t do anything bad at all."
Jose also snorted, not agreeing with Liam.
"You both..." Liam sighed with a helpless expression on his face. "You’re friends. You shouldn’t argue on something meaningless."
"Meaningless?" Jose’s eyes reddened in anger. "That man choked me by the neck and no one said anything. You think I’m supposed to sit with that?"
Liam’s eyes widened, "That happened? When? Why?"
Hearing this, the other boys who weren’t in the Blade Group became interested. Before Jose could start explaining, someone passed by and commented. "You’re noisy."
The changing room immediately became silent. Jose’s expression turned pale, and he swallowed his words instantly.
Kaiser didn’t even glance at him. He straightened his jacket, then left the room calmly.
"Heh! What a bunch of ugly cowards."
Sebastian snickered, then walked out too. With the gossip atmosphere dispersed, no one paid attention to Jose anymore. They all left one by one, leaving Jose, Eric, Logan, and Liam behind.
"Um... I don’t know what made the assistant instructor do that, but I apologize on his behalf."
Liam lowered his head to Jose, patted his shoulder, then left as well. He didn’t want to keep Kiera waiting for too long.
Left alone in the room, the three friends became awkward, especially Logan and Jose. After some time, Logan spoke first.
"Ahem. I’m sorry that happened to you. I didn’t know."
Jose looked away, his expression awkward. "Uh...yeah. Sorry for being hard at you. I expressed my frustration wrongly."
"Yay! You guys are back together." Eric said sarcastically, then snorted. "Let’s get our clothes on and get the hell out of here."
Laughing among themselves, they began changing back into their school uniform.
.........
As soon as Kaiser stepped out of the changing room, Hazel approached him. It seemed she had been waiting for him for some time.
"What is it you want?"
He tilted his head, an indifferent look in his eyes.
Hazel wasn’t affected by the look he gave her. She stood boldly before him and said;
"I want to have a talk with you. A personal one."
Kaiser raised a brow, astonished. "A personal conversation? Do you think I would agree?"
Without flinching, Hazel nodded. "Yes, you will. After all, it might help me understand you more."
Her confidence baffled Kaiser, but he couldn’t deny that she had successfully hooked his interest.
"Where do you want to talk?" He asked, his hands pocketed in a relaxed stance.
"I’ve booked a Karaoke room. Let’s go." The black-haired girl turned around and began walking away.
Kaiser stared blankly for a few seconds, then followed after her. Although his interest in her was low since she hadn’t shown any tendency to gain color, he had to agree that she was smart and intellectual.
’It is slightly better than talking to unintelligent people.’
In just a few minutes, they arrived at the private room Hazel had booked. She ordered orange juice for them both, then asked him to sit on the cushion opposite her.
The colorful lighting in the room was flirty, directly contrasting against the serious atmosphere between them.
"Kaiser." She started, "This is going to be blunt... but tell me. What is it you want?"
Kaiser blinked in surprise. He cocked his head. "What I want?"
Hazel nodded. "Yes. Everyone has a personal desire. What is your personal desire?"