After getting out of the class, I started walking toward the outside of the building. There were some words that I was able to hear and some gazes that were looking at me with contempt, but I ignored them all.
Human beings possess consciousness, and the majority of us, excluding those who are mentally disturbed, have a conscience. Consequently, individuals who lack awareness or knowledge of the potential repercussions I would face if I were to lose the fight might unjustly perceive me as having mercilessly murdered Arden without just cause. They may think it was unnecessary, or there were more optimal choices that could have been made.
And that may be true and may not be. We can't know it; after all, I don't have the ability to see the future and predict the course of events that will take place after my actions to the deepest details.
In the end, isn't this what we call life? The choices we make may not be the most optimal ones out there, and they may contain flaws. But those choices are the ones that make us what we are.
I am someone that wants to stand on top of others, feeling the satisfaction of being better, feeling my ego being satisfied.
Then, I should be ready to step upon the enemies that will come on my way. The ones that are working for my demise.
Was Arden someone bad? Someone that was guilty? Someone that needed to be punished?
When looked at morally, he was not. At least the reason why he fought with me was something worthy of note from the outside. Since he was pursuing justice, right?
However, from my perspective, he was someone that used his heart rather than his brain instead of assessing the situation and making a rational judgment when he needed to. He could confirm my crimes and prove me guilty with evidence, but rather he just believed the rumors that I was someone bad and challenged me to a duel.
If I lost the duel at that time, what do you think would have happened?
I would simply have lost my life over just a baseless rumor that had no evidence to make itself true. My life would have been ruined if I was weak enough to make the enemies give me the opportunity to harm me.
People like Arden are the ones that give liars and manipulators like Alicia power because they are the basic workforce that is used by those people.
The lynch culture is the product of those who don't have enough reasoning ability.
Therefore, I have neither any need to forgive such people nor any desire to do so.
Since, in the end, I am the one that drives this car. So, there is no obligation for me to justify myself, and neither am I willing to.
While those talks filled my head, I reached my dormitory only to see a familiar face.
"Brother." In front of me was a girl with platinum hair waiting while leaning toward the wall. "How are you doing?" She asked as she looked into my eyes with her blue eyes containing blatant anger inside them. "Did anything else happen?"
"Fine," I answered, waving my hands. "Nothing to take note of happened." My posture was relaxed to show her that I was not bothered.
'Sorry, dear sister. But I need you to wait for the time being.' I thought inside my head about the scene I wanted to unfold. 'You are an unexpected variable in this equation; neither have you any use for now.'
"But…. But, how dare they lay rumors like that, just like at that time!" Her shout filled my ears as the anger inside her eyes didn't subside. "Brother, are you not angry?" She asked, looking at me.
"I am not." I simply answered, shrugging my shoulders.
"Why?" Diana asked. "How can you not be angry? They are basically stepping on your pride?" Her voice shaking slightly from anger, she kept talking. "Everyone is talking behind your back…. Saying things that can't be taken to our mouths." She kept accounting for the things she had seen. "They are mocking you, laughing at your back. How can you hold back after seeing those?"
'They can only laugh at my back after all. Let's see if they can laugh at my face.' As I heard her saying those things, a smile bloomed on my face since I knew no one could touch me there. "Because when they talk about themselves, there is nothing interesting," I answered, keeping my smile. "And, the one who laughs last will be the one who wins…."
Seeing me not minding all those things, she grew up restless. "But, broth-" She wanted to refute as she was still angry. I knew she wanted the best for me, as Callius of the past was someone that grew up being isolated thanks to the bad rumors surrounding him.
"Diana." However, at this point, it started becoming annoying. "I have a plan." As my voice turned serious, I brought my face closer to hers. "Do you not trust me?" As the same words left my mouth, I made sure to make the atmosphere serious while leaking my aura slightly.
"Ah….. Sorry." She bowed her head as she answered.
At this point, I was sure she was someone that liked me to pressure herself. Since whenever I grew up serious and showed my oppressive side, her eyes shone brightly.
"Look into my eyes." As I said that, increasing my pressure, she raised her head, as her shiny eyes looked into mine. "Do you not trust me?" As I repeated the same sentence, the anger in her eyes subsided as calmness returned. She now returned being the Diana I knew.
"I trust you with all my heart." She answered back, as she also started spreading her aura unconsciously. "I only have you." She murmured with a low voice, though I was able to hear.
Seeing this, I backed my head as I threw a gaze at her. "Then, just wait. You will see the results soon."