The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 289: Chapter 284 — Blaze

”W-what?”

Kaiden’s eyes trembled, unable to believe what had just happened.

”Now you understand.” Kaelion stared at him, slowly shaking his head. ”You didn’t trust yourself. You were so busy trying to fight like someone else that when your own instincts told you to move, you hesitated.

”The Kaiden I knew would’ve taken that opening the instant it appeared. He might’ve done something stupid with it, but he would’ve taken it. Now? You’re too busy doubting every damn thing you do.”

He paused, allowing the words to settle before continuing.

”Zephyrion has plenty of things worth learning from. Hell, I’ve learned from him too. But learning from someone doesn’t mean becoming them. You’re so busy trying to become Zephyrion that you’re forgetting how to be Kaiden.”

Kaelion lowered his blade, fastening it at his waist as he began walking toward the door. He spoke without turning back.

”And in case that thick skull of yours is already coming up with excuses, I didn’t expect the ground to break. If you’d attacked, I would’ve lost.”

Silence filled the room as Kaelion shut the door behind him. Kaiden stared after him, fists clenched and teeth gritted.

’Who the hell does he think he is?’ He huffed, his glare sharp enough to cut steel.

’He doesn’t know shit about me. Zephyrion is strong. Stronger than him. If I want to become stronger, then obviously I should become more like him.’

Kaiden slowly nodded to himself. ’Exactly. I didn’t lose because he was right. I lost because I’m still not good enough.’

He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm down. ’That’s all it is. I just need to work harder. Harder than before.’

...

It was nighttime, and several head cadets of the Northern Fortress were gathered atop the wall, staring into the distance where the Southern Fortress should be. Though with the vast distance and thick forest between them, all they could see was an endless expanse of trees.

They were the top cadets, the strongest in the Northern House, figures revered by the other cadets. Now, though, each wore a wide grin as they stared into the distance.

”Damn, those southern fools are basically fucked already. Their Guardian Pillars are gone, we own the forest, and next is their fortress.”

”I’m more curious to see if they’ll actually betray their Prime. Honestly, that offer was brilliant.”

”What does the Prime do that isn’t brilliant? I still can’t figure out how he pinpointed their Guardian Pillars. That was insane!”

”Right! But forget that. The Lightning Prince, naked and tied up with a bow? I could kill to see that!”

There was a brief silence.

”You... could kill?”

The other head cadets, including Gordon, slowly turned to stare at the boy with suspicious looks. Realizing exactly how his words had sounded, the cadet’s eyes widened, and he immediately began shaking his head.

”No, no, no! That’s not what I meant! I’m not gay, I swear!”

Another head cadet tilted his head, looking thoroughly unconvinced. ”Not that there’s anything wrong with being gay...”

”I said I’m not! I’m not fucking gay!”

When all he received were even more unconvinced looks, the boy looked like he was about to cry. Great. They were never going to let him live this down.

But a moment later, they all burst into laughter.

”We’re only pulling your leg, Busu. Relax.”

Busu, the fifth strongest, released a long sigh of relief, though the glare he sent the others made it clear he wasn’t nearly as amused as they were.

Gordon, who was also chuckling, shook his head. ”I’m sure we’d all enjoy seeing the Lightning Prince humiliated like that. The guy’s been praised as some divine genius sent down from the heavens for so long, it’s about time everyone realized he’s not as untouchable as they think.”

The other head cadets nodded with wide grins. Several more jokes were thrown at Zephyrion’s expense, sending the group into another round of laughter, Gordon included.

But suddenly, Gordon felt a chill.

’This is...’

He turned and froze. Malach was suddenly standing beside him, staring into the distance with an unreadable gaze.

”P-Prime!”

His sudden shout startled the others, who instantly turned. The moment they saw Malach standing there, their faces paled.

”P-Prime! Y-you’re here.”

Malach’s eyes never left the distant forest. ”Carry on like I’m not here.”

Though he said that, no one dared utter another word.

Malach stepped forward, paying the head cadets no further attention. The night wind swept across the wall, whipping his clothes and hair wildly around him.

A slight frown rested on his face, and though the others couldn’t see it, there was also a trace of disappointment in his eyes.

A moment later, he shook his head.

’How disappointing. For a moment, I actually thought I’d found someone interesting.

He had been excited when Zephyrion foiled the first layer of his plan, thinking he had finally found a worthy opponent. In a way, Malach had been happy to find someone who wasn’t as boring as all the other fools he’d faced.

’But now the third layer has unfolded, and this is all you have to show me?’

He’d expected at least an attack, some sort of response. It would’ve been futile, of course, but at least it would’ve shown that Zephyrion was still thinking of a way out.

Yet nothing had happened.

Malach sighed.

’At least you entertained me for a while. That’s more than I can say for the others. I suppose I shouldn’t be too disappointed that it’s ending already.’

The frown on his face slowly gave way to a smile. With the forest in their hands, the Southern Fortress had effectively been cut off from supplies. In a few days, they would begin to starve within their own walls.

Unfortunately, there was no helping it.

It was all over.

’The Lightning Prince... It seems your light is finally about to go out.’

Malach shut his eyes, taking in a deep breath. The cold night air filled his nostrils, carrying with it the earthy scent of the forest and...

’Hm?’

Malach’s eyes snapped open.

He could smell smoke.

There shouldn’t be any smoke at this hour.

His eyes narrowed as he stared toward the distant forest. Amidst the darkness, he barely caught sight of a faint orange glow flickering between the trees.

’What is that?’

His hands moved, carving several runic symbols into the air before him. The runes flashed briefly before surging into his eyes.

[Enhance Sight]

Gordon and the other head cadets immediately straightened, wondering what had caught his attention, but Malach ignored them and peered into the distance.

Then he froze.

”This... he actually did this?”

Catching on, Gordon and the others quickly enhanced their own sights and peered toward the forest. Like Malach, their expressions immediately shifted to shock.

The orange glow Malach had seen was indeed fire. But what he had caught sight of was merely the tip of the iceberg.

Despite how small it appeared from this distance, the fire had already spread across an entire stretch of the forest, forming a blazing line that was steadily burning its way toward their side.