The Return Of The Exiled Villain

”Huff... haah...”

Crackle!

A bolt of lightning tore across the ground, cutting the dirt apart. Gray’s eyes instantly narrowed as he switched positions with a rock on the side.

But just as he did, Lyra burst out of the sparks like a streak of light.

”Got ya!”

She swung her sword in a descending manner, and Gray quickly raised his rapier to block it.

Clang!

The force shoved his arm back, his wrist buzzing from the shock, but he gritted his teeth and held firm.

He twisted on his heel, using the momentum, and snapped his leg at her shins.

Whoosh!

Lyra hopped back just in time, her hair brushing the wind of his kick.

”Slow!” she mocked slighly.

Gray smirked faintly as he followed up with quick slashes, the first one at her shoulder, and another at her ribs.

Clash!

Lyra’s sword whipped left and right, sparks flying each time the blades kissed. She answered with a fast thrust, aiming straight for his chest.

Gray twisted sideways.

Rip...

The blade slid past his jacket, close enough to cut a thin line on the fabric.

”Close,” he muttered.

Before she could pull back, he slashed at her arm.

Swish!

She tilted her wrist and smacked his rapier aside with the flat of her blade, then spun, her lightning-coated heel snapping at his side.

Bang!

The kick cracked against his ribs. Gray hissed, stumbling half a step before planting his feet.

”Not bad,” he said, wiping the corner of his mouth with his thumb.

Lyra grinned, sweat already shining on her cheek.

”I told you, I’m not going easy!”

At her words, Gray’s eyes sharpened as he suddenly threw the sword onto his left hand and raised it in a diagonal manner.

”Shadowless Sword Art...”

A dark yet faint energy corroded his body as he uttered:

”Phantom Sword.”

His body blurred, vanishing like a smear of shadow.

Clang!

His blade came from behind, but Lyra twisted just in time, her sword catching his strike. Sparks burst around them.

”Hah... I finally saw it!” she breathed, teeth gritted as the steel pressed against hers.

However, that wasn’t enough against Gray.

He shoved forward, making their swords screech, and then, with his free leg, he drove his knee upward.

Fwom!

”Ughh—!”

His knee sank into her stomach, knocking the wind out of her. Lyra folded over his leg before falling back, landing hard on the dirt with a dull thud.

”Hagh...”

Gray straightened, breathing steady, a faint smile pulling at his lips. He walked over, lowered his sword, and reached his hand toward her.

”You got careless there.”

Even coughing, Lyra still managed a grin. She grabbed his hand, letting him pull her up.

”I still blocked that move of yours,” she said proudly, her voice shaky but stubborn.

They started training a week ago, and Gray was actually shocked by how Lyra was progressing.

She didn’t seem to have a lot of battle experience, but her senses quickly adjusted her body during battle.

’She’s indeed a terrifying genius, no wonder five gods chose her.’

Just a week before, Gray had met up with Lyra... and resolved the little problems they had, after all, he needed a good training partner.

He could have asked Cassandra... but she was somehow busy every day, hanging out with the girls from the 3rd year.

But well...

Lyra was actually the perfect opponent since what Gray wanted to improve the most was speed, and since Lyra was a lightning user, her speed would naturally be high... along with the fact that she’s the Vessel of Five Gods.

Other than that... the only thing that bothered Gray... was when the other soul would take over his body.

...A week passed, and nothing.

Gray was gradually starting to get anxious about it.

”...But still,” Lyra huffed, her hazel eyes narrowing, ”I haven’t beaten you even once! What’s up with that weird sword technique of yours?”

”Nothing. It’s just a normal technique,” Gray shrugged his shoulders, replying.

He turned away and started walking.

Lyra puffed her cheeks and hurried after him.

”How is that normal? I’ve fought people with all kinds of styles, but yours... It’s different. You’re not even using mana for it, are you? At least... it feels like... something else,” she tried to explain.

Her words made Gray stop in his tracks instantly.

’...I need to kill her.’

The words instantly appeared on my bed.

’If she really noticed ALONE that my technique doesn’t consume mana... she truly needs to die... I can’t let such a terrifying genius live.’

After all, what my sword technique consumes is emotions, and not mana. And every time I use it, the less my emotions will be shown on the surface.

’...It’s practically an emotion-killing technique. However, I don’t care about it. As long as I get my revenge... nothing matters.’

”Pfft...”

Gray’s lips twisted into a faint chuckle.

”You’re dreaming. A sword technique that doesn’t use mana? That’s impossible.” He shook his head, dismissive.

At these words, Lyra gave Gray an annoyed look before trying to punch his shoulder slighly, but the moment she did that, Gray’s lips curled, forming a small smile.

Trip...

He sidestepped, causing her to lean slightly toward him before tripping her foot and catching her in one smooth motion.

Holding her waist, Lyra froze completely, her face flushing faintly, as Gray’s bottomless black eyes locked onto hers.

”Aah...”

Lyra’s breath caught in her throat as she realized how close they were, his hand holding her waist, her face inches from his chest.

Gray tilted his head slightly, a sly grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

”Already falling for me, princess?”

Lyra blinked, her face instantly flaring red.

”Wh-what—?!”

She shoved at his chest with both hands, but he didn’t budge an inch. His grip on her was firm, annoyingly steady, as if he’d planned this from the start.

Her heart hammered in her ears.

”I wasn’t falling for you! You just tripped me on purpose!” he scowled up at him, trying to hide it.

Gray chuckled softly, finally letting her go.

”Mm. Maybe. But you looked pretty good in my arms.”

Lyra’s jaw dropped.

She stomped her foot and spun around, refusing to face him.

”You’re insufferable...” she muttered under her breath, her ears still burning red.

Seeing this, Gray trailed after Lyra, his smile small, almost apologetic.

”Hey, don’t sulk. I was just messing with you.”

Lyra puffed out her cheeks and kept walking, ignoring him completely.

”Haah...,” he sighed quietly.

”You’re really not gonna forgive me that easily, huh?”

But before he could say more...

”Graay~!”

The cheerful call made him turn.

”Jess?” His brows lifted in surprise. ”What are you doing here?”

Jess jogged up to him, beaming. ”My teacher’s gone missing, again, so class was canceled. Obviously, I came to hang out with you!”

Gray tilted his head.

”And what about the triplets?” He glanced behind her, half-expecting the three shadows to appear.

Thud!

Jess smacked his back hard, rolling her eyes.

”Seriously? Are you that interested in them?” she huffed, clearly annoyed.

Gray chuckled faintly but didn’t answer.

His gaze drifted past Jess, catching sight of Lyra.

She was already walking away.

”Lyra? Where are you going?” he called. ”Weren’t we supposed to grab food after training?”

She stopped, her back still to him. After a short pause, she turned with a faint smile.

”I just remembered I’ve got something else to do. Next time!” she waved, then broke into a run before he could reply.

Gray’s eyes narrowed slightly at her actions.

’...That’s surprising.’

Jess crossed her arms, watching Lyra disappear around the corner.

”Who was that?” she asked sharply. ”I saw her when you fought that second-year in the cafeteria.”

Her eyes narrowed as she turned back to him, suspicion all over her face.

”You two don’t look like you’ve got a normal relationship.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. ”Don’t tell me, you’re seducing another innocent girl?!”

Gray only smiled faintly and looked away, already walking.

”I wouldn’t do something like that~”

”You damn liar!” Jess shouted, stomping after him.

”Wait up!”

But deep down... his thoughts fully contradicted his words.

’Why wouldn’t I?’

’I need strong people beside me... if I want my revenge.’

Gray grabbed a tray without a word, stacking it with whatever caught his eye: some stew, bread, and a cut of roasted chicken.

Jess followed right after, filling her plate with almost twice as much food as him.

”You eat like you’re preparing for war,” Gray teased, glancing at her tray.

Jess puffed her cheeks.

”Hey, training burns a lot of energy, okay? Besides, I deserve it.”

They found an open table by the window, sunlight spilling over the wood.

The noise of other students chatting filled the hall, but Jess leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

”Have you heard the latest?” she whispered dramatically, like she was about to reveal a great secret.

Gray raised an eyebrow.

”What now?”

”Leon, the eldest prince...” She paused for effect, her grin widening. ”He confessed to Maelis... your step-sister.”

Gray almost dropped his spoon, his fist clenching slighly.

”Nope. Right in front of everyone in the courtyard.” Jess’s smile turned mischievous. ”And Maelis rejected him, loudly.”

For a moment, Gray just stared at her.

”Pfft.... ahahaha!”

He burst out laughing, covering his face with one hand. Students at the nearby tables glanced over, startled by the sudden noise.

Jess shook her head, though she couldn’t keep her lips from curling.

”You’re terrible. Laughing at the poor guy’s heartbreak.”

”No, no, I’m laughing at the fact that Leon actually thought he had a chance. Maelis? With him? That’s priceless.”

Jess snorted, finally breaking into a laugh herself.

”I mean, you’re not wrong...”

”Right?”

Gray laughed.

’...Ahh, I wonder how shocked his face was, I wanted to see it sooo badlyy... how come I lost such an interesting scene?’

Gray’s body quivered slighly.

’Great...’

His eyes darkened slighly.

’The less happy they are...’

He looked at Jess with a faint smile before poking her cheeks, causing her to slap his hand away with smile.

’The happier I am...’