A cold glint flashed in Julius’s eyes, and just as he opened his mouth to respond, a chilling wave of pressure swept across the hall, freezing them both in place.
Their gazes snapped to the side, narrowing as they landed on Grinner, who was staring coldly at them.
His voice was firm as he spoke,
“Eighth Vein. Ninth Vein. I apologize for my rudeness, but it is against the core rules of the training camp for any form of fights to occur within its premises. The rules are the Sovereign’s words themselves, and it is my duty to enforce them, no matter the perpetrators.”
Malakai clenched his fists tightly before forcing himself to relax. He took a slow breath, steadying his emotions, then nodded once toward Grinner before moving to an empty seat in the hall.
But once again, Julius’s voice echoed across the hall, filled with a coldness that made the other youths stiffen.
“The rules, huh. How unfortunate.”
His gaze was sharp as he stared at Malakai, “Don’t worry. We’ll meet during the Hunt.”
The eyes of the gathered youths shot open in shock. That… that was a direct challenge between Veins.
Neither of them could fight now, not within the training grounds, but during the Hunt… during the Hunt there would be no rules against such battles.
Everyone would be pitted against each other. If there was a time and place for blood to spill, it would be then.
Excitement rippled through the hall. Julius, a Node Formation Stage evolver, had just openly challenged Malakai, who was barely at the Genesis Stage.
They couldn’t wait for the next three months to pass!
Malakai didn’t so much as respond. He simply ignored Julius’s words, lowered himself onto the floor, and sat cross legged.
Grinner’s gaze lingered on Malakai for a long moment, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.
He had no right to release his pressure against two Veins, especially when neither had physically clashed.
But Malakai’s potential was far too great to let it be wasted here. It was clear that if Julius had dared to repeat his insult, Malakai would have cut him down, no matter the consequences, and the aftermath would have been catastrophic.
Grinner turned away at last, nodding once to Livia before stepping out of the hall.
At this point, Julius had returned to his seat, surrounded by other Sanguine youths offering words of praise.
Regardless, Julius only returned a faint smile, one that was clearly rehearsed and fake. His entire focus remained on Malakai, still shaken from their earlier encounter.
‘It should be a fluke,’ Julius thought as he subtly clenched his hand.
As he stopped circulating his blood, he realized his body was still trembling slightly, as though it still remembered the chilling aura from earlier.
‘It has to be the Head Instructor’s aura. Yes… that has to be it.’
He convinced himself Grinner had intervened somehow, that it hadn’t been Malakai’s killing intent he felt. That he had only mistaken it.
‘I’ll show you your place during the Hunt…’
The sharp sound snapped everyone out of their thoughts as Instructor Livia clapped her hands and spoke.
“Alright. Now close your eyes and focus. Feel the vita in the air and the blood moving through your veins.”
The students quickly obeyed, ending their whispers and returning to their training.
Malakai did the same. Though even with his eyes closed, he could still feel the lingering attention of Julius, and the other two Veins, settle firmly on him.
But he ignored them completely, shutting them out of his mind, and instead focused on the instructor’s words.
His heart was still beating fast against his chest. He could still feel the intense anger burning through him, however, alongside it, he also felt a wave of shame.
Malakai was very aware of his actions, and once again, he couldn’t help but admit to himself:
‘I let my emotions get the best of me…’
Valentine heard him, but this time, he chose to remain silent.
He felt… terrible. Bad.
From everything he had witnessed since Malakai’s return to the clan, he couldn’t help but understand why Malakai had turned out the way he had.
The new world he had sacrificed his life to build… was terrible.
And that fact alone made Valentine feel worse than anything.
He hadn’t sacrificed himself for a world where children like Malakai would be mistreated.
And yet, that was exactly what had happened.
‘But does that mean his actions are right?’
Valentine kept his pondering to himself.
If he had been Malakai, trapped within the Sanguine Clan with his naturally kind heart and friendly personality, he would have probably been dead by now.
The only reason Malakai had survived was because of his ingenuity, his coldness, and his ruthlessness.
‘I’ve only been speaking from my perspective… not his.’
What had happened just now had felt so real it was as though it had happened to him personally.
Valentine had felt the sting that came from Malakai’s dead parents being insulted.
He had felt the scornful gazes from all corners of the Sanguine Clan.
He had been preaching goodness all along, but he hadn’t even stopped to truly consider how Malakai, who endured all of this, might be feeling.
In this world… if Malakai showed mercy, it could be used to stab him in the back.
If he started trusting too easily, it would be his death sentence.
Valentine remained silent, thinking, leaving Malakai to his thoughts.
After admitting to himself that he had once more let his emotions dictate his actions,
Malakai slowly calmed the beating of his heart.
‘It’s a weakness I must erase.’
He had determined it now, this weakness was something anyone could exploit.
To lose control the moment his parents were mentioned… it was dangerous.
It was unacceptable.
Malakai exhaled heavily, centering himself, and returned his full focus to the instructor’s voice.
“Feel the vita coursing through your body and the blood moving through your veins,” Instructor Livia said calmly.
Malakai listened closely and, without hesitation, slipped into a trance.
And just like that, time passed in a blur, and it was soon time for the next discipline.