The Arrogance of Humility 12

[Flashback: An Angel Who Brings Light 2]

A year later, the same academy arena during a national match, the final battle between the best students.

“And the winner is Luxianne Serafell!!!” the announcer said aloud as he held Lucy’s right arm high.

The loser was Lance; he was defeated in ten minutes. Never in his life he ever felt so humiliated before. He forced himself to stand and run away, leaving the arena in shame despite his wounds.

He ran to the quiet rooftops, but Lucy pursued him.

“Hey!” she called as he saw Lance staring at the arena from afar, but Lance ignored her. Peeved, she stood in front of him.

“Don’t ignore me!” she said aloud as she pouted.

“What—?!!!” he asked angrily.

Lucy pinched his cheeks

“Ouch! H-Hey—!!!”

“Don’t raise your voice on me, ya dummy!”

“This annoying girl…” Lance thought, irritated. “What does she want this time?!”

Lucy stopped and looked at Lance’s wounds. He ran all the way here with open wounds on his body.

“My!” she said as she shook her head. “Look at your wounds!”

Lucy placed a strong vitae magic, healing his wounds without him agreeing.

“Stop it!” Lance said as he moved back. “I don’t need your pity—!”

Lucy pursued and pinched his cheeks, pouting.

“Don’t act tough! You’re dying, dammit!”

After a while, Lance gave up and let her heal the wounds completely.

They both sat down near the edge, looking at the surroundings.

“Hey,” Lucy asked. “Why are you so angry with losing?”

“I’m a noble alchemist. Losing means disgracing my family’s name.”

“I see… But you don’t need to be cruel either in your battle.”

“...”

“You know.” She looked at his face. “You look frustrated.”

“I what?”

“From the way you fight—” She lied on the ground, facing the sky. “—You vented all of your stress and rage there.”

“Really?”

“Yeah!” She sat back down. “I’ve been watching you all of this time after you took the number one spot. You are always alone. You never talked to others… unless necessary.”

Lucy lied on the ground and stretched her arms.

“Sooo…” she asked. “Wanna talk about that problem of yours?”

“You don’t need to—”

Lucy sat and pinched his cheeks again while pouting out of irritation.

“Hey!” she said aloud as she threw a tantrum. “I won, so no complaints!”

“F-Fine! P-Please, release—!”

Lucy stopped and let Lance speak.

“My life, my destiny, my fate…” He looked down with disappointment. “They’re all set.”

“By whom?”

“My parents. They have planned everything ahead for me, and I only have to obey.”

“Even if you don’t like it?”

“I can’t say such a thing. It’s my responsibility as the firstborn of the Orleans family.”

“But… Are you happy living like that?”

“I…” Lance halted, thinking how his parents would scold him dare he said that.

“Don’t worry. No one’s going to hear you. Except for me, obviously.”

“I… I’m not happy. I don’t want a life like this. I’m not a puppet and desire not a puppeteer for me.”

She lied on the ground, looking at the soaring birds in the sky.

“You are a caged bird, hm?” she said. “They forced you to sing every day for their pleasure against your will. You want to soar high with your wings, but they broke them.”

“Yeah. You can put it like that. I guess this is my fate.”

“Who decides that?”

“Sigh…” Lance looked concerned. “My parents.”

“And you just agree with that?!”

“What else could I do?”

“My! Stand up for yourself!” She stood as she explained eagerly. “You live your own life, Lance. Let none control yours!”

“I can’t,” he replied, discouraged.

“Eh? Why?”

“It’s my fate already. This is the weight passed from generations to generations as a noble alchemist of the Orleans family—”

“To hell with that fate!” Lucy pouted as she crossed her arms.

“What—?”

“Your fate is yours!” she said aloud. “It doesn’t and never belongs to anyone else! It’s not your parents’, your ancestors’, your family’s or even God’s; it's all yours! You decide your own fate! You pave your own destiny!”

“But, my parents—!”

“If they truly love their son, then they should support him! If I were your mommy right now, I would be proud of you for making your own decision!”

Lance was speechless from hearing Lucy’s words.

“When you are home, tell them what you feel!” she said aloud. “Let the days of you getting caged end once and for all!!!”

Lance smirked subtly.

“This girl…” he thought as he shook his head.

“All right,” Lance said as he stood. “I’ll tell them.”

“That’s the spirit!” Lucy said with a smile. “You don’t look like a dead fish anymore!”

The next day during the afternoon on the rooftops, Lucy went to the rooftops and noticed Lance sitting all alone at their spot yesterday.

Lucy had a number one medal on her from the medal award ceremony for the national match, but Lance didn’t attend the ceremony, causing her to worry a bit.

“Hey!” Lucy said as she sat next to him. “Why didn’t you come?”

Lance looked away, hiding his face.

“Lance?” Lucy asked as she moved, trying to see his face, but he kept looking away without a word.

Lucy stood and caught him off guard, seeing his face. Lance’s cheeks were swollen with slap marks, causing Lucy unable to hold her laughter.

“What’s with that face?!!!” she said as she laughed out loud, rolling on the floor.

Lance just looked at her with squinted eyes, waiting until she stopped. Lucy laughed for five minutes before calming down.

“So that’s why you didn’t come,” she said as she wiped the tears of joy from her eyes. “So, was it a success?”

“Sort of…”

“Hm?”

“They were so furious that they disowned me,” he said blatantly.

“Eh?”

Lucy was not expecting that to happen, thinking they would accept Lance’s decision. Her plan severely backfired, causing Lance to lose everything.

“Sorry,” she said as she looked down, feeling guilty. “I-I didn’t expect that. Now because of me, you lose your home—”

Lance patted her back.

“What do you mean?” he asked. “This place… It’s my home now.”

“But, you lose everything.”

“That’s the price of freedom,” Lance said as he smiled.

He looked at his right hand and clenched it.

“Finally…” he said, happy. “I’m free.”

“You are fine with that?”

“Never been so fine in my entire life. Thank you, Luxianne.”

“I’m glad you’re okay with that,” she replied as she looked away.

“You know. I wish you confronted me before.”

“That’s impossible.”

“What? Why?”

Lucy lied on the ground, watching the clouds.

“Because you won’t even bother,” she said. “I’m just a pipsqueak in your eyes.”

“Hmph.” He smirked as he closed his eyes for a second. “You’ve got the point there. I was a scum back then.”

“So, to make you listen to me, I have to defeat you and become number one.”

“What?” Lance’s eyes opened wide. “So, you reached number one just to talk with me?”

“Yeah. You said I could only complain when I defeated you and became the best, right?”

“She took it literally,” Lance thought as he shook his head.

“You went for all that trouble, just for a person like me?”

“Yes. Anything wrong with that?”

“But why? Why even bother?”

Lucy sat as she smiled wide sincerely.

“Because, your heart told me to!”

Lance’s heart skipped a beat. For once, he felt a warm sensation in his heart as his face blushed. Lucy’s words touched him; she saved him from a fate he never wanted; a destiny he never prepared; a burden he was forced to carry.

With just that, he fell in love with her. For him, Luxianne Verre Serafell was an angel who brought light into his gloomy days.

***

In the current time, after Lance told her the girl whom he loved.

“So,” Lucy said as she looked down with a smile. “Just because of that? You fell for me because of a silly thing like that?”

“Yes.”

Lucy bursted into laughter.

“You have turned into an annoying and melodramatic person since that day,” she said with a smile. “Now, I know why.”

“Forgive me for bothering you like that,” he said as he looked down. “I just… I took everyone’s advice.”

“What kinds of advice did they give you?”

“They said girls love a romantic man. They said girls will fall for you if you are bold. They said girls love to be praised in every aspect. They said girls love getting kisses. Even if the girl rejected you, she would eventually fall if the man is persistent enough.”

“And you did them all…”

“Yeah… Sorry for annoying you, Luxianne. I’m sorry—”

“No,” Lucy said as she smiled, remembering some stupid overdramatic things Lance did to make her fall for him. “Actually, I’m happy you did those silly things to me. They filled my days with surprises. I don’t hate them… Not a single bit.”

“Really?”

“Yes—”

“Then, I’ll do it more frequently and more amusingly than before!” he exclaimed, full of motivation, surprising Lucy.

“I-I mean, don’t do it crazier than before!!!”

“Don’t worry my beautiful, outstanding, tempting, dazzling, stunning, splendid, wonderful, superb, gorgeous, graceful, grandiose, magnificent, alluring goddess!”

“There he goes again… Even his verbose increased…” she thought, peeved and disgusted even more.

“I, Lancelot myself, surely, absolutely, definitely, certainly, positively shall and will make your days more colorful, beautiful, shining, glimmering, shimmering—!”

Lucy pinched his cheeks hard as she pouted.

“Lance!” she said aloud with her face red. “You dummy!!!”

“L-Lucy! Ouch! H-Hey!!!”

Lucy smiled as she cried, happy that there’s always someone who cared for her, notwithstanding her conditions. But at the same time, she was sad, knowing she would only burden him. She cried as she hugged him tightly with her head on his chest.

“Lux?” Lance said, surprised. “Did I just—?”

“No…” she said as her lips quivered.

“What’s wrong?” Her sudden change in mood surprised and worried him.

“In the end…” she whimpered. “Nothing changes… I’m still a burden to you.”

“Lux. No, you’re not a—!”

Suddenly, a black fireball launched at them.

“What in the—?!” Lance thought as he held Lucy’s waist and jumped back, avoiding it. The fireball hit and burned Lucy’s walking frame.

He placed Lucy down and stood in front of her, looking around anxiously for the attacker.

“Don’t tell me,” he thought, worried as his hands trembled. “It’s from the people targeting Lucy?!”

“Lance!” Lucy said as she tugged his robe. “Don’t worry about me! Run—!”

“No! I’ll protect you!”

Far in front of them, they heard clapping sounds and footsteps from behind the stairs building.

“Show yourself!” Lance uttered as he took two azoth daggers from his pockets.

A person appeared, leaning under the shadows of the stairs building.

“Who’s there?!”

The person pointed forward, and the level 2 sigils appeared, launching arrow-shaped fireballs towards Lucy, but Lance stood in the way and shielded Lucy with his special robe.

The person walked out of the shadows, impressed by their struggle.

“You…!” Lance said, surprised, as he saw the person.

The person was Malus Draco, the person who defeated Lance and made Lucy unconscious. He’s a dangerous and terrifying person with his knowledge in Alchemy and Magic.

“M-Malus?!” Lance said, surprised and terrified as he pointed a dagger on him. “What were those attacks for?!”

“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked coldly. “Move away. My business is with her.”

“I won’t let you lay a finger on her!”

“Tch! You still want to face me with fear in your heart?”

Lance noticed his body was trembling from his defeat before.

“Do I…” he thought as he clenched his fists. “Do I fear him?”

Lance’s instinct told him to run away, but his heart told him not to abandon Lucy. He knew with their condition, Malus could massacre them.

He had but two daggers with him while he had to defend the weakened Lucy. The only logical option was to run and seek for help, but Lance couldn’t leave Lucy alone.

He swallowed his fear as he collected the fire from earlier on his daggers and charged towards Malus.

“I just have to attack him before he could create a sigil!” Lance thought.

Malus moved back and forth, dodging all the attacks. Lance almost hit him, but Malus counterattacked, disarming one dagger.

He picked the dropped fire-charged dagger and attacked Lance. They were even in speed and reflex, things that magi usually lacked.

Malus overpowered Lance and slitted his chest and abdomen with the dagger, but Lance also wounded his right hand, causing him to drop the dagger.

“Heh,” Malus said as he cracked his fists. “Impressive.”

He didn’t even heal his wound, which surprised Lance. In response, Lance threw his dagger away.

“Fair and square, no?” Lance said as he clenched his fists.

Both of them charged at one another bare handed. They exchanged punches on their faces, chests, and abdomens. They fought using their instincts solely without the usage of magic, alchemy, and technology.

Somehow, both of them enjoyed the fight as they grinned, eager to defeat one another. Their last attacks were a powerful punch to one another’s face at the same time, knocking both of them down.

They both stood in their tired condition.

“As expected of the person who almost defeated me,” Malus commented, smirking as he wiped the blood from his mouth and nose.

Lance stood as he fixed his ruffled hair and wiped the sweat and blood from his face.

“But,” Malus said as sigils appeared on his body. “It’s enough.”

Malus healed his wounds, much to Lance’s dismay.

“It’s over,” Malus said as he pointed at Lucy, projecting a level 5 sigil in front of him.

“You bastard—!”

The sigil launched a black cyclone towards Lucy. Lance, with no further thinking, ran towards her. He noticed he couldn’t move Lucy away in time, so he sacrificed himself, taking all the damage with his body far before the cyclone could reach her.

“Lance!!!” Lucy shouted, hysteric as she saw his body and clothes being shredded by the cyclone for twenty seconds.

Lance fell on his knees with cut wounds all over his body and face.

“Lucy…” he said as he writhed in pain. “You… You aren’t wounded, are… you?”

“Even now,” she thought, crying as she clenched her fists, angry and disappointed with her powerlessness. “He only thinks about my safety…”

Malus clapped his hands sarcastically at them both.

“What a sweet couple,” he commented coldly.

“You monster!” Lucy said aloud as she wiped her tears, furious at Malus.

“Oh? So scary.” He ambled towards them both, but Lance won't move as he stretched his arms to the sides, blocking Malus.

“You!” Lance said with fearless eyes, looking into Malus’. “You shall never reach her, even if it costs my life!”

“Sure,” Malus commented as three level six sigils appeared in front of him, summoning black rusted barbed chains constricting Lance’s limbs.

“Agh!!!” Lance shouted in agony from the pain.

“If you agree to move away, I’ll let you go,” Malus offered.

“Over my dead body!” Lance said as he stared at Malus.

“Resolute till the end.” Malus wounded himself on his right arm with the barb, causing blood to drip. “Amaymon; Gaap,” he muttered as the blood turned black and formed a broadsword. He healed the wound and aimed the black azoth sword to Lance’s face.

“Stop it!” Lucy said aloud as she crawled towards them. “Please!”

Malus pierced Lance’s right shoulder despite Lucy’s screaming.

“Agh—!!!” Lance screamed in agony as his veins turned black with the sword started merging with his blood, but Malus punched him unconscious.

Lucy couldn’t look at Lance’s sufferings anymore as she closed her eyes and covered her ears.

“Please!” she cried. “No more! Don’t hurt him… I’ll do everything—”

“Then save him!” Malus said aloud. “Do you think by crying and whimpering pathetically like that will change this world of hurt?! Stand up!”

“I can’t—!”

“Why? Why can’t you?!”

“Because,” she said as she whimpered. “I’m weak—”

“Stop that excuse!” Malus said furiously. “If you are weak, get stronger! Pass your own limit! If crying like that solves everything—” Malus reflected upon his past weak and pathetic self as he looked at Lucy. “—I won’t be even here!”

“I can’t do anything!!!”

“And let your beloved die like this?! You’re fine with that?!”

“No—”

“Then stand up with everything you have!”

“I—!” Her voice was inaudible.

“What?!”

“I—!!!”

“Speak clearly!!!”

“I can’t!!!” Lucy banged her head on the ground, stressed. “I’m too weak…!” Lucy whimpered aloud repeatedly as her forehead bled, prompting Malus to kick Lucy on her face hard.

He lifted her by her clothes collar with a disappointed, hateful face while she, with a devastated and pitifully empty face, could not look into Malus’ eyes. Her face was full of cold sweat and blood while her eyes were dry as she poured all of her tears already.

“Pathetic…!” he muttered with his hand trembling in hate. He threw her down and kicked her stomach.

She did nothing, not even a single scream came out; Lucy had given up on herself.

“I see…” he said as he took the sword away from the unconscious Lance’s shoulder. You lacked fuel for your power. Shall I fill your emptiness with hate? Maybe if I kill your fiance now, you will despise me; you’ll hate me.”

“No…” Lucy let out an inaudible whimper as she reached her left hand for Lance.

“Not enough effort. You really lacked fuel,” Malus said as he slashed Lance’s chest and abdomen diagonally. The sword seeped into Lance’s body, darkening his skin.

The chains stopped, and Lance’s body fell to the ground, lifeless.

“He’s dead,” Malus said coldly. “It’s all your fault.”

“Lance…” she muttered as she crawled near him, but Malus stood in her way and kicked her away.

“Looks like his death was in vain. It’s not enough to fuel your hatred. Whom shall I kill next? Ah, perhaps that unconscious girl will do.”

Malus turned, leaving in disappointment.

Lucy touched Lance’s hand as she heard a familiar voice in her head. It was the voice of Lucy herself 2 years ago.

“How many more will you sacrifice?” the voice inside her head asked.

“I—”

“Look, he’s after Gina. Do you want to use your friend as your shield? How egoist you are, Lux! Lance did everything to protect you while you did nothing but cry! What are you, a princess?!”

“No—”

“Then stand up already, hmph! Don’t resign to losing! Protect those you love!!!”

Lucy clenched her teeth as she regained the light in her eyes. The desire inside her wasn’t hatred; it was the desire to protect and save those she loved.

“Move…” she muttered to herself as she forced her stiff legs to move. “Move…!” She moved her arms and legs forcefully to stand, forcing her muscles to support her body. “Move!!!” A level 7 sigil projected on her left arm bit by bit. “MOVE!” A light and yellow energy sword appeared in her left arm. “MOVE!!!” She dashed towards Malus.

“MOOOVE!!!” she screamed aloud with her energy sword ready.

Malus turned back, and suddenly, a deep cut wound appeared on his abdomen and chest before he could react. He got pushed away by the force a few steps as he fell on his knee. He saw Lucy, standing with a scowl in her face.

“That’s it!” Malus said aloud, grinning, thrilled as he looked at Lucy’s eyes. It was the same eyes she showed during their fight before; the eyes full of resolution.

But before Lucy could move an inch, she fell as the energy blade vanished. That attack alone took 3/4 of her energy.

Malus healed his wound as he walked past Lucy and pointed at the unconscious Lance. Lucy crawled her best to reach him, but it was too late; a sigil covered Lance’s body.

“Lance…” she thought as she clenched her fists. “Forgive me—!”

The sigil on Lance’s body healed him as the black blood accumulated and oozed out from his body, surprising Lucy.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Isn’t it clear enough? Don’t tell me your condition hindered your sight”

“He is…” Lucy thought as he saw Lance’s wounds closing. “He is healing Lance?”

Lance opened his eyes, regaining his consciousness as he sat down.

“What…?” he muttered. “What happened?”

He looked at Malus healing Lucy and raised his guard as he stood.

“You—!”

“No, Lance!” Lucy shouted, stopping Lance.

“This is how you treat your savior?” Malus said coldly. “You sure have no manners.”

“What happened?” Lance asked.

“He healed your wounds, Lance,” Lucy replied as she sat.

Lance clenched his fists as he charged at Malus.

“This must be—!”

The black liquid around Lance turned into spikes.

“Don’t make me wound you again, fool,” Malus threatened, and Lance stopped.

Lance and Lucy sat near their spot before while Malus stood far from them.

“What was your point before?” Lance asked.

“To teach you both a lesson.”

“Lesson?”

“This is the place for me to find peace of mind, but you both ruined it with your stupid lovey-dovey couple acts.”

“We are not coup—” Lucy’s face turned red. “—Never mind.”

“I see,” Lance said. “Sorry. We don’t mean to disturb you.”

Malus subtly smiled as he turned around.

“Lancelot,” he said. “Take care, support, and train your fiancee with everything you have until she could stand up for herself. Get stronger so we could battle again, and next time, it will be fair and square.”

“Ah—I will,” Lance replied. “I’m looking forward to that day.”

“And for you, Luxianne; You aren’t weak, so keep that in mind. Throw away those negative, useless mindsets of yours and wipe those pathetic tears from your face. Never blame your condition for your weakness.”

With nothing else to say, Malus walked away, leaving.

“Malus!” Lucy said aloud before he left. “Thank you!”

Malus stopped for a while, but he gave no response and left them both alone.

“I stood for a moment,” Lucy said. “But I can’t do it for over five seconds.”

“We’ll need to train your legs then.”

“How?”

“Next morning, let’s take a walk around.”

The sun reached the horizon, and they left the rooftops. Lance helped Lucy to walk, carrying her left arm on his shoulder to her room. Luckily, her room wasn’t too far from them. Lucy unlocked the door, and Lance laid her on the bed and closed the door.

Lucy felt lightheaded, as if she was intoxicated with her face red; Her body felt too hot as she removed her sleeveless top with no consideration, but underneath, she still had her breast cloth, wrapping her chest.

“L-Lucy!” Lance looked away.

“Sorry,” she said as she put away her top. “It felt boiling hot here.” She tried to remove her pants, but she couldn’t bend her legs.

“L-Lance?” she called.

“Y-Yes?”

“Can you remove my pants and underpants?” she asked without thinking.

“W-What?” His lips quivered as cold sweat drenched his face.

“You said you will help me, right?”

“Dammit,” he thought as he closed his eyes and turned off the light.

Lance turned back, facing her. He reached his hands for her waist, but because of the dark lighting, he bumped at the mattress’ end and fell on her stomach, directly under her breast.

“Lance?!” Lucy said, worried as she pulled his body up. “Are you okay?”

Now, Lance was directly on the top of her with his face in front of hers. He opened his eyes, seeing Lucy’s red beautiful face. He could feel her tender, warm skin on his skin. Her eyes were gleaming, beautifully and alluringly, as if it was pulling Lance’s face closer and closer to hers. He could feel her soft breath all over his face as he looked at her beautiful, sweet pink lips.

Lucy could see Lance’s blushing face up close for the first time. His azure eyes perfectly reflected Lucy’s image there while his soft and tired breath reached her neck. Even though his face was blushing, she could admire how cool and handsome he was.

Their chests were pounding like crazy as their head became blank. ‘I hope this stays forever’ was the only thing they could think of.

Subconsciously, Lucy caressed Lance’s cheek with her weak hand gently as Lance’s face got closer until their noses touched. They both closed their eyes as their lips almost met.

Suddenly, someone opened the door, stopping them both and returning their senses as Lance leaned his head back. It was Claris. She turned on the light and saw both Lucy and Lance in an awkward position.

“Ah…” Claris said as her eyes and mouth opened wide. Her face became red as she almost dropped her glasses.

They looked at one another for five seconds straight awkwardly.

“Um…” Lucy said as she looked away, embarrassed. “H-Hello, Claris.”

“Wait!” Lance said. “Don’t get the wrong—!”

“If…” Her lips quivered as she fixed her glasses and looked away. “If you both want to do something like that, at least lock the door!!!”

Ten minutes later, after they solved the misunderstandings. Claris and Lucy took a bath together as they sat down in the shower while Lance returned to his room.

“So,” Lucy said. “You are here to accompany me until Gina recovers?”

“Yes. Professor Arkana asked me for that, promising to boost my score. Also, I hope you teach me more about magic so I can improve too.”

That night continued and ended like normal after that, but before Lucy and Lance fell asleep in their respective rooms, their faces turned red from remembering such an awkward thing, wondering what would happen if Claris had not interrupted them.