I waited for Nyx to take the lead.
She stepped closer, but just as I expected, she ended up letting me lead instead.
We walked toward the exit of the hall together.
However, before we could leave—
Someone stepped in front of us.
A young man with blond hair and black eyes stood in our path.
His gaze first landed on Nyx.
Then shifted toward me.
A mocking grin appeared on his face.
He deliberately raised his voice so the entire hall could hear.
"Oh, look at this."
"The mighty heiress, Nyx Voidweaver, has already found herself a follower."
Several people nearby turned toward us.
The blond-haired man looked at me with disdain.
"Hey, trash."
"I don’t care how you managed to become second place."
"Remember this."
"We are nobles."
"This place has no room for someone like you."
His gaze shifted toward Nyx.
"And as for that woman..."
His sneer deepened.
"She is nothing more than an empty shell."
"Her precious parents are already dead."
"She is nothing."
Nyx clenched her fists.
Her eyes immediately blazed with anger.
But before she could step forward—
I moved first.
I looked at the blond-haired bastard.
"And who might you be, Big Mouth?"
His eyes narrowed.
"My name is Cassian Moonvail."
"It’s a name someone like you could never hope to reach."
I stared at him for a moment.
Then looked at him like he had just said the stupidest thing I’d ever heard.
"Of course, dumbass."
"I won’t reach you."
"Why would I willingly become weaker?"
His expression twitched.
"You call me trash..."
I pointed toward myself.
"Fine."
"I’m not a noble."
"I didn’t grow up with servants."
"I didn’t have resources handed to me whenever I wanted them."
"I lived in a slum."
"So what?"
I stepped closer.
"And yet..."
"I still defeated you."
His face darkened.
"So what does that make you?"
"A great noble?"
I tilted my head.
"Or maybe..."
"A bigger piece of trash than me."
Cassian’s face turned red.
He opened his mouth.
But I didn’t give him the chance to speak.
"Oh, wait."
"Maybe all those resources your family invested in you only managed to strengthen your mouth."
I paused.
"Did something happen when you were little?"
"Maybe you hit your head..."
I tapped my temple.
"And went brain-dead?"
The surrounding students went silent.
Cassian’s face became completely red.
He finally snapped.
"Hey, trash!"
"Know your place!"
"Don’t become so smug just because you got second place!"
I shrugged.
"Fine."
"Then don’t talk to me."
I looked him straight in the eyes.
"You’re the one with everything."
"A powerful family."
"Resources."
"Training."
"Everything handed to you from birth."
"And yet..."
I smiled.
"You still lost to someone from the slums."
"So tell me..."
"What does that make you?"
Cassian’s expression twisted with rage.
I turned toward Nyx.
"Don’t look at trash like this for too long."
"Your eyes might get hurt."
For a moment, Nyx simply stared at me.
Then—
She smiled.
Not her usual calm smile.
A genuine one.
She looked genuinely amused.
She nodded.
"Let’s go."
We turned to leave.
But Cassian wasn’t finished.
"You bastard!"
His voice echoed through the hall.
"I’ll kill you!"
I stopped.
The moment he drew his sword—
My hands moved.
Both of my swords appeared in my hands.
At the same time, Nyx drew her elegant sword.
But she didn’t even have time to step forward.
Cassian charged.
His sword came straight toward me.
I blocked it with one blade.
CLANG!
Before he could react—
I rotated my second sword and slammed the hilt directly into his stomach.
THUD!
"Guh—!"
His body folded.
Saliva and blood spilled from his mouth as he collapsed onto the floor.
I stepped forward.
Then placed one foot on his head.
I looked down at him coldly.
"I don’t care if you’re a noble."
"Or a prince."
"If you cross me..."
I pressed my foot down slightly.
"I’ll make you pay."
I removed my foot and gave him one final kick before turning away.
Then I walked toward the exit with Nyx.
I didn’t bother looking back.
There was no reason to.
He had already learned his lesson.
Nyx and I walked through the academy halls together.
The academy was enormous.
Even after walking for a while, I still hadn’t seen everything.
Eventually, we arrived at a massive garden.
The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by beautiful flowers, tall trees, and a peaceful atmosphere that was completely different from the noisy halls.
I spotted a bench beneath one of the trees.
Nyx seemed to notice it at the same time.
We walked over and sat down.
Throughout the entire walk, I could feel Nyx studying me.
Her eyes were filled with curiosity.
I didn’t mind.
If she wanted to look, let her look.
The moment we sat down, however, she finally asked the question that had clearly been bothering her.
"Don’t you fear his family?"
I turned my head toward her.
"They have a lot of influence and power."
She paused.
"They won’t just let what happened today go."
"They’ll come after you."
I looked at her calmly.
"What do you think, Nyx?"
She blinked.
"You seem intelligent enough."
"So how about I answer your question by asking you a few of my own?"
She looked surprised.
Then a hint of intrigue appeared in her eyes.
"Alright."
"Ask away."
I leaned back against the bench.
"Then tell me..."
"What do you think would have happened if I had submitted?"
Nyx thought for a moment.
"Perhaps they would have humiliated you and then let you go."
She paused.
"Or..."
"They might have threatened you."
I shook my head.
"No."
"You’re only half right."
Nyx looked at me curiously.
"If I had submitted back there..."
I stared ahead.
"I would never be able to raise my head again."
"They would have seen me as someone they could use whenever they wanted."
"And once they were finished with me..."
"They would discard me."
I turned toward her.
"Do you really think nobles that prideful would simply accept a slum kid taking a higher position than their own children?"
Nyx immediately answered.
"No."
I nodded.
"Exactly."
"They would make my life a living hell."
"So why should I be afraid of them?"
Nyx remained silent.
I continued.
"Fear isn’t always something you should run from."
"Sometimes..."
"It can be a weapon."
I looked directly into her deep blue eyes.
"You just have to use it correctly."
"Do you really think those nobles will come up to me tomorrow and start spouting the same bullshit?"
Nyx thought about it.
I continued before she could answer.
"They’ll think several times before taking action."
"Because I’ve already gotten into their eyes."
"They know my rank."
"They know what I’m capable of."
"And more importantly..."
"They know I’m not afraid of them."
I leaned back again.
"If I want to survive in this academy..."
"I can’t show cowardice."
"I have to establish dominance."
Nyx stared at me for several seconds.
She didn’t respond immediately.
But I could see it in her eyes.
She understood.
I wasn’t trying to provoke the nobles because I enjoyed fighting.
I was making sure they understood one simple thing.
I wasn’t an easy target.
And in a place like this...
That could make all the difference.