"Yes, that's exactly what happened." Natalie was tired of repeating the same thing to the school staff.
Being asked to confirm it more than three times was exhausting.
Still, she couldn't really blame the man. Hearing that the class loser had gone up against one of the world's strongest was bound to cause doubt.
But she was telling the truth, and Natalie was sure the other two would say the same. Kevin, however, was unconscious, so he wouldn't have seen anything.
"This is quite confusing." The man scratched his head and leaned back in his seat. "We recorded Miss Emma's statement as well, and she never mentioned being stabbed."
Natalie rolled her eyes. "She's just protecting him."
The man hummed, clearly still doubtful.
Natalie let out a long breath. "You want me to go through a trial just to prove I'm not lying."
The man gave her a helpless look before saying, "Well, it's true that Sir Kaizek was present in the academy… ah, forget it." He rose from the stool, folded the report, and said, "Thank you for your time."
Natalie huffed as she watched him leave.
From the bed beside hers, a voice spoke up. "I was inches away from losing it." It was Laila.
Natalie groaned. "This was already hard enough… to be humiliated during a mission that was supposed to be simple."
Laila clicked her tongue. "That Night Demon came out of nowhere."
Night Demons were always stronger in the dark, and that mine was the perfect place for it to hunt them down one by one.
"It's shocking, though, how Emma handled everything on her own," Natalie muttered.
She had long accepted the fact that the gap between her and Emma was wide. But every time she was forced to face that gap, her heart sank.
She had trained for years, spent countless hours honing her skills, and finally become a proper team member—yet she was still nowhere near what Emma could do.
They were the same age, but while Natalie had only reached the fourth-circle, Emma could chant a seven-circle spell—something even many professors at the academy couldn't achieve.
Not to mention, Emma held the rare Light attribute.
And her strange connection with Sir Kaizek… everything pointed to Emma being special. Which meant Natalie still had a long way to go if she ever wanted to catch up.
If… she wanted Kevin to look at her the same way he looked at Emma.
"Where is she going?" Laila suddenly asked.
Natalie's eyes followed the familiar silver-haired figure leaving the infirmary.
"I've got a bad feeling about this…" Laila muttered.
But then added, "Forget her. She's a trouble magnet. We're better off without her."
Natalie bit her lip, hoping her fears were wrong. Hoping that, after being stabbed by that rat William, Emma had finally come back to her senses.
…..
Emma stepped out of the infirmary and headed for the exit.
She knew the guards wouldn't let her through—it was late at night, after all.
That's why she chose a different route.
It was a path she had discovered recently, back when she started keeping an eye on William.
Reaching the western edge of the school grounds, she sent out a pulse of aether to check if anyone was nearby.
Once she was sure the coast was clear, she leapt over the boundary with ease.
She had chosen this side because it was the shortest way to his shelter.
Not once did she stop.
Her steps were firm, her eyes carrying a spark as she walked toward the place where he waited—
the man who owed her answers.
Crunch
A twig snapped under her foot, the sound sharp in the quiet night. But she didn't flinch. She wasn't here to sneak around like before.
She was here to face him.
The man sat by the campfire, silent and alone.
Emma walked up to him and lowered herself onto the ground beside him.
The fire crackled. Insects buzzed in the stillness.
Emma glanced at him.
His eyes were different now. Gone was the bloodlust, the wild excitement. He just stared blankly at the flames.
At last, the silence broke. His voice came first.
"Donating funds to the church… playing with orphanage kids… all of that… was fake."
Further, he added, "Whenever you drew closer to me, I knew it was you…even in your cat form. And knowing your skills, I knew only you can liberate me, that's why, I acted like a sweet, innocent guy who is trapped by that curse."
Taking a deep breath he glanced at her and said, "I fooled you to gain freedom. Do you understand that?"
William has never been honest. He knew since the first day that it was Emma stalking him that's why he pretended to be pitiful so he could gain her sympathy.
Knowing that she is possibly the strongest healer of the continent, he believed she could help him. And he was right. She freed him.
Taking a deep breath, William got up and said, "Go on, curse me. Hate me-"
"I knew." Emma cut in, startling William as he asked,
"What?"
Emma nodded, "I knew that you were faking all that. I knew it all along."
William's lips parted in shock.
For real?
°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading