SHATTERED REALM: FORGOTTEN ECHOES-Chapter 192: Provocation II
Lynnor's gaze flicked briefly to their hands.
Her lips tugged up slightly as she led them forward.
The two people stood in the courtyard, waiting for them.
One frowned openly, and the other just remained calm, but displeasure burned in his eyes.
His gaze narrowed, eyes focused on Aramith and Mozrael.
Once they were close enough, Lynnor scratched her chin and seemed to be thinking about something, then-
"Did Ilthane send you as cleaners? My floors are filthy."
Her words angered the girl even more.
She shook with rage. "Lynnor you—" but before she could finish, the sharp-eyed boy placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Wait."
Lynnor raised an eyebrow. "Are you?" she asked patiently.
The girl cast her a look, then glanced at the others before looking away.
She rubbed her wrist.
"You know why we're here, Lynnor," the boy spoke calmly.
"Hmmm, I have a few guesses, but I'm not so sure about that. Could you tell me what you want then?" She cupped her ear, waiting for him to speak.
He glared at her—the first crack in his calm facade.
Lynnor waited a moment, then noticed a hidden glance he'd given the others behind her.
She suddenly brightened.
"You should have said so earlier!" She then turned to Aramith. "I know you want to meet the great new student who saved the ugly name of this pathetic Academy, but they're tired. He's stronger than you, but even the strong need their rest."
The boy scoffed in his heart. Stronger? Based on what?
She suddenly sounded extremely tired. "I'll allow you to talk to them a little, then we'll go away."
She moved aside dramatically, as if unveiling a lost treasure.
"I don't like these two." Sylvia didn't lower her tone and didn't care that everyone heard, but she was clearly talking to Aramith. Aramith nodded but didn't reply.
The boy took a step forward, glancing at Sylvia before meeting Aramith's gaze.
"Even flies know where to gather," he stated coolly.
His words jabbed at them, but apart from Mozrael's faint frown, Aramith and Sylvia's expressions remained the same.
Aramith remained cold.
"Filth-eating cockroaches don't get to speak of flies," he replied.
"Know your place."
The boy's expression darkened. He didn't expect Aramith to reply.
Lynnor laughed loudly, grabbing a tree while hugging her stomach with the other hand.
The boy stepped closer. Being slightly taller than Aramith, he looked down on him with a glint in his eyes.
Aramith felt a slight temperature change behind him. He tightened his grip on Mozrael's hand, and the temperature returned to normal.
She already hated these strangers, wanting to blow them away.
If not for Aramith holding her back...
"Purpose?" Aramith asked the boy.
"Leave," the boy replied.
Aramith didn't utter a word.
"You were not supposed to show your face to me again. If you leave now, I won't do anything to harm you, but if you don't..."
A crease appeared in Aramith's brow. "I could say the same about you."
"You!"
He clenched his fists, but didn't move.
Lynnor suddenly exhaled loudly, drawing everyone's attention.
"I'm heading inside. Come in when you're done playing with each other," she waved and left.
"I have more important things to deal with. Step aside," Aramith spoke impatiently after Lynnor closed the door behind her.
Lynnor quickly appeared on a balcony, looking down on them.
Her smile deepened as she observed the two.
"If you can't even deal with little Aramith, then forget asking for anything from me," she said calmly, but the mock in her tone wasn't masked in the slightest.
The boy's shoulders tightened. "Turn back before I force you to."
"I'm not as kind as when we last met. Don't make any foolish mistake," Aramith warned, pulling Mozrael closer behind him.
Mozrael noted his words, realizing they were old acquaintances, yet she didn't recognize them.
"You don't have the ability to make me leave, move aside," Aramith warned him again.
"You know my reasons for telling you to disappear."
Aramith glanced at the girl behind, who glared at him with intense hatred.
"You're too weak to carry that kind of hatred," Aramith dropped a bomb.
"If revenge and blind rage is all you have left, then maybe you should have died then."
"You!"
The boy moved in a flash, arm reaching for Aramith's throat.
In that same second, flames flowed onto Mozrael's arm, and Sylvia prepared to attack, but before they could do anything, Aramith's body flickered, then disappeared.
He reappeared beside the boy.
"I said don't be foolish," Aramith stated coldly, then—
CRACK!
A crisp sound followed by a scream entered their ears.
The boy's arm was twisted in an odd position, bone protruding. A dagger dropped from his hand as he clutched his arm in pain.
"Lydan!" The girl shouted, her eyes reddening with rage.
She shot forward, raising both hands as slices of wind flowed towards Aramith.
A cold glint passed across Sylvia's eyes and she raised a hand.
A huge ice wall several meters high blocked her frantic attack, and she slammed into it.
All air was knocked out of her as pain shot through her body.
Lydan turned to her, then frowned. "Jade..."
He turned to Aramith, stupefied.
Lydan wasn't stupid and didn't dare to attack without knowing how Aramith countered him.
Aramith looked on coldly.
He wasn't sure of his strength or Lydan's strength, but he understood Lynnor's comments. She'd clearly hinted that Lydan wasn't capable of defeating him, which was why he dared to fight back.
Lynnor chuckled. "Fools, how are you supposed to fight three people when you're only one and a half."
Her comment was heard by Jade, the ice wall keeping the others in the dark.
Jade glared at her, then quickly took out a simple gun. Alchemy formations glowed on it as she raised it up, then shot.
The bullet whistled upwards, then exploded in a bright green flash.
Lydan narrowed his eyes, and for the first time, his lips tugged up slightly.
Aramith glanced at the green flash, understanding flashing across his eyes.
"Stay alert," he told Mozrael and Sylvia who were already prepared for any surprise.
