Free Web NovelChapter 94: Boys from the middle district.
–Chapter 94–
Dean squinted as if to focus better on the view and after a second or two, he finally confirmed that it was definitely Rogue.
The boy in question stood shirtless near the center of the room, his body drenched up as sweat rolled down on the stone floors as droplets.
In front of the blonde boy was a reinforced training dummy. It looked sturdy and perfectly balanced like it was specially built for Elite-tier students like Rogue.
But as much as the dummy looked like it was built for students like Rogue, it seemed far from effective since a good portion was already destroyed.
Its surface was cracked inward while sections of reinforced plating had partially caved from repeated impacts by the blonde boy.
And while this Dummy looked like it was on its last legs. Rogue was still relentless as he kept punching anyway.
At this point, it seemed like he was just punishing the dummy for somebody else’s sins.
With each and every strike carrying sparks of blue lightning that spread across the surface releasing small explosions.
Dean watched carefully, observing Rogue’s movements and the boy wasn’t all that bad.
He didn’t waste stamina for extensive movements, no unnecessary shouting for dramatic flair. Just pure violence tearing through the dummy, again and again and again
Growl!
Dean’s eyes quickly turned to the far side of the room where he noticed one of Rogue’s familiars.
The Blue Streak Dire Wolf laid down quietly on the stone floor. Watching Rogue from the corner with sharp glowing eyes.
Dean remained outside the doorway for nearly a minute without interrupting.
And after a while, he finally came to a conclusion. He’d finally recognized what was actually happening there.
And it wasn’t necessarily training. It was exactly what he had jokingly called it before.
Punishment.. This was punishment.
Dean knew this truth because he had done the exact same thing himself years ago.
After each loss. After those heart wrenching humiliations. And in those moments where anger had nowhere else to go.
All that was left was for him to break himself down before the world gets the chance to do it first...
Rogue’s next punch was about to rip through a new dummy’s head when he stopped mid way. And then slowly turned his head toward the slightly opened door.
His sharp blue eyes immediately locked onto Dean. And instantly he gritted his teeth as hostility burned in the core of his eyes like fire.
"What the fuck do you want, Gray?"
Dean let out a short breath and pushed the door open wide before stepping inside fully.
"Saw the door open," he answered with a shrug.
"Okay... now fucking close it when you leave," Rogue looked back at the dummy when as his summon got on its feet.
Dean ignored the boy’s words and walked further into the room while the door clicked shut behind him.
The Dire Wolf’s gaze had now fully shifted toward Dean and Ash.
Ash slowly peeked upward from Dean’s collar again, while the dire wolf’s yellow eyes followed them but neither summon looked hostile.
If he had to say something, then they looked more tired and curious than anything else.
Noticing that Dean had suddenly turned deaf to his request. Rogue moved to the side and grabbed a nearby towel before wiping sweat from his face roughly.
His breathing was still fast, with his chest rising and falling rapidly.
Dean stood opposite him and couldn’t honestly tell how long the guy had been in here punishing himself.
"You here to gloat?" Rogue finally asked. His voice cracked but very sharp.
Dean stayed quiet before his lips turned into a small frown. What exactly did the boy take him for?
Some petty child that would constantly try to torment him just because he didn’t like his face.
Or maybe he thought he had done all he did because he actually hated him and would stand on that mountain till his last breath just for the sake of it.
If Rogue ever conceived him as any of those things then he was definitely right.
He was so right, that pretending to frown right now was hurting Dean’s face more than he thought ever possible.
"About what exactly?" Dean finally replied in a calm and reserved tone.
"The cafeteria." Rogue tossed the towel aside harshly. "How that you and that bitch made me look stupid."
Dean sighed and did his very best to keep his now unreadable expression as he moved back and leaned casually against a wall.
"You handled that part yourself man.."
Rogue’s jaw tightened immediately. This fucker was still testing his patience.
Dean continued before the other boy could snap back. "She was cheating on you. And all I did was point it out. Those are two different things."
"You think I don’t know that already?" Rogue’s voice rose, snapping back with a low grunt.
Dean raised his head and met his eyes slowly. "Doesn’t seem like it?"
And much to Dean’s surprise there wasn’t an immediate clap back by Rogue, instead, silence filled the room afterward.
Their eyes stayed for a few seconds before Rogue finally looked away.
The boy turned back toward the damaged dummy before raising his fists again for another round.
But after a few seconds, he lowered them slowly. His expression darkened and then surprisingly, he moved back and sat down directly on the training mat.
His breathing remained rough and erratic. "You know they sacrificed almost everything to get me into this academy."
"My family sacrificed everything to get me into this academy," Rogue said with a tone barely audible enough to call a whisper.
Dean leaned further into the wall and stayed silent all through. Listening only.
"They sold everything and burned favors." Rogue laughed bitterly while staring down at his bruised knuckles. "All for one thing."
"Your success," Dean answered knowingly.
Rogue nodded once. "And I thought Vanessa understood that too."
His expression darkened afterward. "I thought we were the same. Turns out she just needed somebody useful."
Dean honestly understood the frustration more than he wanted to admit. They were in different circumstances. But the feeling was the same.
In the end, people would always exploit weakness whenever they found it..
But if he was to look past his own pettiness, and the fact that Vanessa had those frauds jump him.
He understood she did it for Rogue too. She was definitely but that assault on him was for Rogue.
Anyways, none of that mattered now. "So what now?" Dean asked eventually.
Rogue looked up slowly. The immediate anger in his eyes had softened but the resentment for him was definitely not going away any time soon.
"Now I get stronger," He said flatly.
Dean shrugged, snapping his head lightly. Now that was a language he could understand. "At least that part makes sense."
Rogue frowned, raising an eyebrow slightly at the way the answer sounded.
Dean pushed himself away from the wall before continuing. "You know the whole ’I don’t need anybody’ thing is stupid right?"
Rogue’s expression hardened again..Those short and annoying shots from Dean again.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me." freēwēbnovel.com
Dean gestured around the empty room.
"You think isolating yourself suddenly makes you strong?" Dean paused. His voice, low and knowing. "Trust me..that’s not growth. That’s just suffering with extra effort on your part."
Rogue scoffed at the sight of this thief turned motivational speaker. "Says the guy who barely talks to people."
Dean snorted softly before a devious smirk appeared on his face. "That was my first day, now i’m not alone. I’ve got Olsen. Ymir. Even Astrea somehow."
He paused at the last name and his mind drifted for a second. ’Unfortunately.’
Rogue blinked once. He was more surprised about Astrea than the fact, they were still talking without being on each other’s throats yet.
"You’re actually serious about the Vermith girl?"
Dean shrugged. Trying to make it seem lighter than it was. "I’m serious about surviving."
That answer made Rogue stare at him for another long moment. Then slowly, some of the tension left his shoulders.
There was a certain level of understanding between them. Two boys from the middle district now trying to survive nobles and the problems that came with them.
Rogue stood back up afterward before walking toward the damaged dummy again. "Why are you really here, Gray?"
Dean cocked his head even as Ash slipped out and regained its normal form.
"We came to train," Dean answered.
"We came to train," Dean said with all honesty. "i saw you trying to murder academy property and I thought maybe you can channel that energy in the right direction."
Rogue snorted despite himself. There was something about Dean and how he managed to get under his skin.
Dean continued calmly, "So I figured maybe we can spar."
Rogue turned toward him with widened eyes. "You want to spar with me?"
Dean rolled one shoulder loosely. "Unless you’re too tired–"
"--Or afraid." The latter part was definitely a taunt.
And after several minutes of tension, Dean finally noticed the Blondie actually smiled. "I’m never too tired to whoop your ass."
Dean rolled his shoulders once before stepping forward.
"Good. Come at me then."
–End of Chapter–
