Rather than what the crowd expected rage, cold threats, or a violent outburst Novaâs reaction was something entirely different.
Instead, she let out a long, deep sigh. The kind of sigh that carried not just frustration, but exhaustion, as if she were tired of all this nonsense. She didnât even try to hide it.
Yes, she was angry. Furious, in fact. His words had stung more than sheâd ever admit, especially the way heâd dismissed her so easily calling her "woman" as if she were some stranger, no trace of respect left. But Nova, ever the master of restraint, controlled herself. She could see it clearly: Razeal wasnât thinking straight. His emotions had overtaken him, and he was flailing in his anger.
Heâs still a kid, she reminded herself. A kid lost in his own storm.
Her voice was firm, no longer biting just direct. Not wanting to accept his mistake.
"Look. Hereâs the thing." She took a step forward, eyes steady on him. "You donât need to go through with all this ridiculous planning for your own death or embarrassment. Whatever it is you think youâre doing stop."
She pointed, finger lowering to Selenaâs feet, guiding his gaze.
"Iâm giving you a chance right now."
Her voice echoed in the hushed coliseum.
"Come. Apologize to Selena. Right now. Call me sister very respectfully. Do that, and I promise you, that no one no one will harm you from this moment forward."
Her words, so clear and direct, sent ripples through the gathered crowd. Eyes widened in shock, mouths parted in disbelief, but no one dared interrupt. The weight of Novaâs authority silenced them more effectively than any threat.
If he canât understand what I was trying to teach him with words... Nova thought grimly, then maybe I just need to be straightforward. Lure him in if I have to. Looking at his intelligence... heâll see this is the smart choice. Heâll agree.
But before Razeal could respond, Selena took a hesitant step forward. Her face was a canvas of tangled emotions: guilt, sorrow, confusion. "Nova... itâs alright," she said quietly, her voice almost pleading. "He doesnât need to apologize. Truly. Remember, you all already apologized on his behalf back then. He received his punishment... you donât need to force this."
She stood close now, close enough that any other person would have been cut down for daring such proximity without invitation. But Selena, perhaps the only one who could, stood there, eyes flicking instinctively toward Razeal, heart pounding.
Novaâs sharp gaze softened. She reached out and took Selenaâs trembling hand, holding it gently, then placed her other hand over it, as if trying to still the shaking. Her strict, almost harsh expression melted for a moment into one of warmth and quiet understanding.
"Selena... you donât have to feel guilty for any of this. Even if I am his sister, that doesnât excuse what he did. And yes, even if weâve apologized on his behalf, even if we punished him you deserve a personal, sincere apology. One just for you."
Her voice wavered slightly not with weakness, but with the emotion she struggled so hard to keep buried beneath her cold exterior. "Maybe Iâm being selfish, trying to still hope for him... to still accept him after everything. Maybe he wonât do it. Maybe he canât. But as his elder sister, itâs my duty to give him at least one last chance."
She squeezed Selenaâs hand gently. "Please, understand that."
Selenaâs hands trembled harder in Novaâs grasp, her body betraying the storm inside her. She wanted to say something anything but the words stuck, lodged behind the weight of everything sheâd endured. She had come so far. What good would it do to say them out now?
Maybe if only... she thought, if only I hadnât... But she stopped herself. It was too late for if-onlys. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to stand silently, letting Novaâs steady presence ground her.
Nova felt the violent tremor in the girlâs hands, her heart aching at the reminder. This girl is still the same as that day... The trauma never left her.
All the while, Razeal watched them both in silence. His eyes, dark and unreadable, flickered between Nova and Selena.
Nova kept her eyes on him, waiting. Waiting for that moment where his fragile pride, his battered ego, would finally give way beneath the weight of survival. She knew it well the struggle of a boy whoâd tasted humiliation and hate, trying so hard to hold on to some scrap of dignity. But when death stood before you, clawing at your throat, even the proudest would consider bowing their head.
And she knew he would. Sooner or later, he would agree.
In his mind, the systemâs voice echoed, calm yet urgent.
[Host, this is our chance.]
The systemâs voice echoed urgently in Razealâs mind, sharper than usual, as if afraid heâd somehow throw this opportunity away. [Agree. Before she changes her mind. Donât fuck it up. Youâll get the perfect chance to develop your power, and you can lay low under her safety. Itâs a golden opportunity. I know itâll be hard for you, after everything theyâve done to you, but donât be idiotic. Weâre not a heroic system. Youâre meant to walk the villainâs path. Do what a villain must. Sometimes, being shameless is acceptable. Pride debts can be paid later.]
The system laid out its reasoning in full, though deep down, it knew Razeal didnât really need the reminder. He was clever.. too clever to throw this chance away. But still... it felt the need to say it. Just in case.
But instead, Razeal let out a low whistle, the sound sharp in the quiet arena. He ran his fingers through his long hairs, a crazy grin spreading across his face. The grin of someone who had nothing left to lose.
His shoulders began to shake, as if holding back deeper laughter, as if the entire situation was one big joke.
Nova watched him closely, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. Heâs struggling with it, she thought. Trying to burn off that arrogance, act cool before he gives in. Thatâs all this is. Honestly its looking painful to break someone ego like this.
[Host...] The systemâs voice cracked with dread. It felt the storm brewing inside him, felt that dangerous spark of defiance rising. [Donât do it. Donât you dare~]
But Razeal wasnât listening.
Apologize? His mind spat the word like poison. Apologize for fucking what? For standing up for himself? He bit the inside of his cheek, fighting the words that clawed at his throat but only barely.
His eyes burned cold and wild, as if heâd already accepted death, as if he welcomed it now. He shook his head slowly, expression darkening, then spat on the ground at their feet literally.
Nora looks down at his motion emotionlessly looking down.
"Forget about me apologizing to anyone in here."
His voice was sharp as steel, his gaze daring them to try. His chest rose and fell with heavy, ragged breaths, like a man ready for execution but refusing to kneel.
"In fact, Iâll give you a challenge." His grin widened, unhinged, as his fingers popped the top button of his shirt, loosening it as if preparing for whatever storm would come. "If by any means you can make me apologize to anyone right now Iâll lick that spit clean off the ground. Come on. I donât fucking care if I die or not. Iâm not fucking begging anyone or living on someoneâs sympathy."
His words echoed like thunder in the silent coliseum.
The temperature seemed to plummet, as if a winter wind had swept through the arena. Gulping noises could be heard people too stunned to speak, too stunned even to move.
This kid... they thought, horror dawning on their faces. Heâs lost his mind.
That thought rippled through the crowd. Utterly mad. He just threw away the one chance to change his life, to claw his way out of hell and reach heavenâs gates and he rejected it. Just like that.
And worse he didnât just reject it. He challenged her. Her. Nova Virelan. The Raven Princess.
No one moved. No one breathed. Today had been a roller coaster an impossible display of insanity, guts, and defiance. They would never forget this day as long as they lived.
Razealâs voice rose again, raw, wild, and bitter.
"And as for calling you sister?" His eyes narrowed, voice like ice venom. "You lost that right the day you first raised your hands against me. Donât fucking bring it up again. You every one of you... this fucking entire world... youâre all dead to me."
His long royal purple hair swung behind him as he lifted his chin, defiant to the end. The blood still streaking his cheek only made him look wilder, more crazy.
"Donât bother playing games, pretending to be sympathetic. I donât remember begging for your help. So mind your own damn business. I never asked for help from any of you."
[Are you fucking crazy?! Have you lost it?! You fucking idiot! We couldâve gotten so far! You want to die fine! But why drag me down with you?! Fuck! FUCK!]
The systemâs voice raged in his mind now, the fury and despair mixing into a storm of expletives. The usual calm, calculated presence had shattered completely.
[Moments ago I laid it out for you! Crystal clear! Just a simple apology thatâs all it wouldâve taken! One word, and youâd be safe! We could have hidden, grown stronger, laid low under there shadows even, and then then, you could have paid back every debt or whatever the Fuck you wanted to be! And now? Now you choose this? You had fucking accepted torture before literally, and yet now you canât even bend your damn pride to say one word? Just one FUCKING work?!]
The systemâs voice trembled in frustration, almost helpless in its anger. [Do you even realize what youâve done? What youâve thrown away? You didnât just doom yourself youâre dragging me into your grave with you! FUCK!] Afterall if host died itâll be system end too thatâs why its reacting like that
Its words echoed in Razealâs mind like a broken chorus, the sound of a plan burned to ash.
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