(“This feeling again…”)

Jenyx couldn’t wrap his head around it. It’s only been the second time they’ve spoken to each other, yet she radiated such bloodlust towards him.

(“Why does she hate me so much?”)

Jenyx felt her grip tighten on his collar. But what baffled him the most was the indescribable pressure he felt on his body that seemed to render him unable to move. It was as if he was being held down by a group of invisible people all at once.

“I told you to not to let anything bad happen to her... and yet!”

The pressure grew tighter and tighter, to the point that it became hard for him to breathe.  

"What are you waiting for..."

He wasn't being weighed down anymore, he was slowly being crushed.

"Do you want to die..?"

He could feel his consciousness slowly slipping away. 

"Do it..."

Just a little bit more and it would be the end.

"FIGHT!!!"

Jenyx's body tensed up. He mustered as much of his strength as he could, pushing back against the invisible force that held him. Little by little, his body began to move.

("No... more!")

His hand slowly rose, reaching for his assailant. He tossed all of his worries aside. Whether they retaliate with numbers, or attack with weapons, his mind discarded everything in favor of this one moment in time. The bewildered expression of the person in front of him brought him a mixture of joy, excitement, and nervousness. Just for a brief moment, his lips cracked a slight smile.

“Please, let go of him. Ria.”

Before the situation could escalate further, a voice they both recognized reached their ears. 

“Rose…”

Ria released Jenyx upon seeing Rose. Seeing her, all the tension in Jenyx's body was suddenly lost. It's been 2 days since they last met. Seeing her unharmed made him glad. But despite there being no visible changes, he could see that Rose was simply forcing a smile in front of them.

“Hi, Nyx. I heard that you visited my home a while ago. I’m sorry I wasn’t there at the time.”

“N-no, it’s fine. Besides, you’re not the one who should be apologizing…”

Jenyx’s head drooped as he spoke.

“We’ve been attracting unwanted attention for some time now, How about we discuss this somewhere more suitable?”

Behind them, the people began exchanging whispers with one another while they gazed at the three.

“Let’s go.”

Rose headed to the exit with the two following closely behind her.

**

“Rose, where are we going?”

“Just wait, you’ll see it soon.”

Jenyx worriedly surveyed the surroundings as he continued following Rose and Ria atop the stone staircase. As they continued, the voices of the crowd who should have been just right below them started to grow bleak.

“We’re here!”

“Where exactly is… here?”

Jenyx believed that they were heading somewhere without people, but he didn’t think Rose would bring them deeper into the arena, not to mention to a place as dreary as the room they were currently in. The room was empty as can be and was faintly illuminated by the light that shone through the square-like holes which could have once been windows.

“As I thought. You really brought us here, huh?”

Ria sighed and looked towards Rose.

“Yes! It’s fine, right? Nyx won’t babble about it, don’t worry!"

“What is this? A gladiator’s room?”

“This isn’t the actual place she’s talking about... imbecile.”

Ria uttered the last word silently as she pulled the candelabra affixed at the nearby wall. After a few seconds, rumbling noises started to reverberate around the room they were in as the stone wall slowly parted itself, revealing a hidden staircase.

Rose held Jenyx’s wrist and pulled him inside. The three climbed the staircase and ended up in a garden, adorned with many beautiful flowers. The unobstructed sunlight showered Jenyx, casting a shadow behind him as he walked along the garden.

“What… is this place?”

“This is the place where I first met Ria.”

As she spoke, Rose glanced at Ria and smiled. In response, Ria smiled as well and strolled to the center, lingering her gaze all around the garden.

“Do you know the story of McSeva the bold?”

Unsure of who she’s talking to, Jenyx turned to Rose, only to see that she was admiring the flowers.

“...I do. My father told me that story a lot when I was a child.” Jenyx replied.

“This is his personal garden, provided to him by the seventh king of Visterga.”

Jenyx’s eyes widened as he turned to Ria.

“H-his room? Wait, are you saying he wasn’t just from a made-up story?”

“Oh, I assure you, he was quite real. His real name was Mark Sevian and was famous as a brutal gladiator who survived numerous deathmatches with both beasts and men.”

“He was a gladiator…? But, the stories depicted him as a knight that fought for the peace of Visterga.”

“He did fight for Visterga, but he was no knight. Specifically, he fought for his friend, the Seventh King of Visterga, and him alone.”

“Friend? What are you talking about?”

“I won’t be going into the details, but due to some circumstances, the King and McSeva were apparently good friends. Close enough that the King bought ownership of McSeva and built him this hidden garden with flowers that never decay.”

“A gladiator and a king... friends? No, before that, how do you even know this?”

“...Rose really never told you about me, huh?"

Ria spun around in order to face Jenyx and met his gaze.

"My name is Riandra Zistara, daughter of Marquis Rommard Zistara.”

For the second time today, Jenyx’s mouth was left agape as he stared at Ria once more.

(“Friends...? with a Marquis’ daughter? I mean, it’s not as if it’s impossible to not have noble friends, but- really?That Zistara?”)

One of the most influential families in Visterga; The Zistaras have been a part of Visterga since the third king’s ascension, but rose to prominence during the fifth king’s rule for their valorous efforts in defending Visterga against the kingdom of Phistomia. As a reward, their family head was bestowed with the title of Marquis. To this day, they continue to defend the leftmost part of the kingdom. The family became well-known to all kingdoms as the “Sword of Visterga'' and have sired numerous mighty individuals with each generation, the most recent being Riandra Zistara.

“Nyx?”

Rose waved her hand in front of the seemingly dazed Jenyx.

“Y-yes!?” 

“Something wrong? You’ve just been standing frozen there.”

“Ah, no… I’m fine… it’s just, I was surprised…”

(“I already have a count's son who’s marked me as a toy and now I have to deal with the daughter of a marquis who gets irritated whenever she sees me?”)

Jenyx forced a smile as he replied to Rose, but inside, he was falling apart after learning of Ria’s heritage. For some odd reason, he seemed to have a penchant for upsetting nobles, even though he tries his best not to interact with them. As he was trying to figure out why nobles hate him, he was met with Rose’s expectant gaze. He tilted his head in curiosity and in response, Rose darted a glance at Ria before looking at Jenyx again. 

“O-oh!” Jenyx realized what she meant and immediately turned towards Ria.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Zistara, my name is Jenyx Troan.”

Ria scrutinized him as he slightly bowed. The oddly dreadful sensation his body gets whenever Ria stares at him was back and his heart’s pace quickened with every moment of silence. 

“...I already knew that.” Ria replied thus.

“Great! I’ve always wanted to introduce you guys to each other, but I just couldn’t find the proper timing to do so.” Rose clapped her hands as she watched them from beside. 

(“I wish you didn’t…”)

But alas, he couldn’t say that, and what’s done is done. Besides, he had not forgotten why they moved to a secluded place.

“Will you tell us what you were going to say earlier, Rose?”

“Ah, yes…”

Rose sat down on the grass and patted beside her, urging the two to sit down with her. Jenyx and Ria promptly sat down on the grassy field.

“Right, so… I’m here to tell you guys what happened these past few days. However, please promise me one thing, Ria. Whatever you hear, please don’t do anything rash.”

Rose had a serious look in her eyes as she looked at Ria. Ria reluctantly nodded at Rose's remark. Then, Rose began retelling the events as Ria listened intently. As Rose was in the middle of the story, Jenyx noticed that the air had changed. In response, Rose stopped speaking and stared at Ria.

“...I get it. Okay...”

Ria paced her breathing and the overbearing atmosphere disappeared in an instant. As if it was never there to begin with. 

“I’m fine now.”

Rose nodded and continued on with reiterating the events of the past few days. Throughout the rest of Rose's narration, Ria would occasionally frown like earlier, but this time, he didn't feel any heaviness in the air. Before long, Rose had finally caught them up with the present. Unable to hold back anymore, Jenyx spoke.

“Why didn’t you stick to the plan we made for the discussion?”

Ever since he went home that day, the only thought that plagued him were Rose's actions. Now that she was in front of him, there was no way he was letting the chance slip by.

“That’s been weighing on your mind since then, hasn’t it? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you anything.”

“It’s fine, it already happened anyway. I just want to know why you did it.”

Though she initially had a forlorn expression, her smile returned. As forced as it was to Nyx.

“...It’s actually a pretty simple reason."

"Which is?"

"I just didn’t want you and your family to get in trouble with a noble.”

(“I see...”)

Once he had calmed down, he did figure Rose wouldn’t do something like that for no reason. The thought had passed his mind several times, but he still had to hear it from her to truly believe it. However, he still couldn’t accept it. 

“You didn’t have to, Rose. I know you’re concerned for us. But at the same time, we’re also concerned for you.”

“I get that, really. It’s just… I thought it was the best possible action in order to resolve the matter at the time. Besides, having to lose on purpose one time and be able to keep tabs on him at the institution sounds like a pretty good deal.”

“...Are you truly fine with this?”

“Yes. This way, we can graduate without any complications. After that, we’ll never see them again.”

Though he believed Brad's promise to be just wishful thinking at best, he sensed that she didn’t plan to budge on her decision. Jenyx ashamedly hung his head, unable to face Rose because of his ineptitude. Because of him, Rose now has to spend her life as a student with that poor excuse of a noble. Though the days passed and they grew up, essentially nothing had changed. He failed to protect her again, just like every other time. 

Rose stood up and dusted off the grass that clung to her. 

“We better head back. I think my turn is coming soon. Remember your promise to me, ok, Ria? Also, please watch over Jenyx for me.”

She held her hand out to help the two stand but Nyx didn't budge. Ria silently nodded as she took her hand. 

“Nyx?”

“...I’ll be with you in a second. I just need a moment.” Jenyx weakly replied. Rose felt the urge to hug him, to comfort him, to tell him that none of what's happened was his fault. It never was, and yet, he chooses to blame himself for all the misfortune that's befallen them. However, she chose not to. Nothing she says will ever make him think otherwise. He's always been stubborn in that aspect. 

"...Let's go home together later, Nyx. I'll wait for you, ok?"

"Sure."

Rose then left the room along with Ria. In the end, Jenyx never raised his head till they left. 

**

“Are you here?” 

Now alone, Jenyx spoke out loud in the empty garden. As expected, there was no response. It was only natural as he was the only person left in the room.

His brows furrowed in annoyance as he spoke once more with a frustrated tone. 

"Answer me!"

His voice echoed strongly across the halls behind him. If other people were to see him, they would most probably believe he had gone crazy. No, perhaps he was indeed starting to go crazy. Because every second of silence only served to irritate him further. In a few moments, he heard a low, sinister-sounding growl, akin to the tone of a monster having been disturbed, behind him.

“...What is it?”

"I'll do it. 

"Do what?"

"I want to take the reigns over my own life."

"Hoh... and how will you do that?"

“I need your help.”

“My, my... what might you be on about?”

"I'm not in the mood for games. I felt it earlier. I want it... that power..."

The sudden surge of strength he had earlier as Ria strangled him was not his. He would even go so far as to say that he wasn't entirely in control of his body at the time. His will to fight may have surfaced during the moment, but there was something else. Along with this strength came a foreign emotion he had never experienced before; a beast-like thirst for blood.

“...I don't want to watch helplessly from the side anymore. If I don't do something now, then I'll regret it for the rest of my life.”

The being's laughter crept from behind. Though it sounded mockingly so, Jenyx ignored it.

“I see... very well then.”

Jenyx then opened his eyes.  It felt like he had just opened them for the first time. He stared at the never-ending azure sky and the world that lay beneath. How beautiful and colorful it was. Yet they deny him a part in it. 

"If they won't change, then I will."