Interpersonal Conflict

The day passed, and the next morning, Victor lived his life as a typical high school student.

The world seemed peaceful, but as someone who knew the calamities lurking on the horizon, Victor understood the fragility of this tranquility.

The world was infused with mana, but in the future, another meteor would fall, bringing with it a surge of mana energy that would amplify its presence a hundredfold. However, this surge would not come without terror—a nightmare etched into the pages of time.

Victor, though aware of this, chose to focus on the present. His priority was to grow stronger, to rise above and be prepared for the trials that awaited.

As the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, students began dispersing. Some walked home, others cycled, and a few were picked up in cars by their parents.

At the classroom's entrance, a silver-haired girl stepped out. Kassandra Mikhailanova, alongside three friends, exited the building while immersed in casual conversation.

"That series was amazing. I highly recommend it," one of them said.

"It's a shame the author never finished it. It was one of my favorites," another added.

The girls' lighthearted chatter halted abruptly when a blond-haired boy emerged from a nearby classroom. His name tag read Lucien.

Kassandra's friends exchanged mischievous glances.

"Well, someone seems to be waiting for you, Kassandra. We'll get going," one teased.

"Yeah, have fun," another chimed in.

With knowing smiles, they left Kassandra standing alone as Lucien approached with a calm, confident demeanor.

"Good afternoon, Kassandra. How are you?" Lucien greeted, his voice steady.

"I'm fine. And you?" Kassandra replied.

"Me too," he said, his smile softening. "Shall we walk together?"

Kassandra nodded, and the two began strolling side by side. Though Lucien's face remained composed, there was a flicker of unspoken emotions beneath the surface.

"You never mentioned you were competing in the national fighting tournament," Lucien began. "But I'm proud of you for winning. You did an amazing job, Kassandra."

Kassandra offered a smile. "Thank you, and I'm sorry for not telling you earlier. I was surprised to see my activity score so low, so I signed up for the selection without much thought. Before I knew it, I was chosen, and the school whisked me off to the competition. Things got hectic, and I didn't have the chance to reach out."

Lucien nodded. "I understand. That was important for you. But next time, let's keep each other updated, okay? We are dating, after all."

"Of course. I'll remember that," Kassandra replied, her smile more genuine now.

The two continued their conversation as they descended the stairs, eventually stepping outside.

"By the way, are you free after this? I was thinking of taking you out," Lucien asked.

Kassandra hesitated. "Actually, I have plans with someone else. Maybe another time, Lucien."

"Who?" Lucien's curiosity was piqued.

"A friend," Kassandra said simply.

"Is it a girl, or—"

Before Lucien could finish, a frantic voice interrupted. "Hey! Are you Lucien?"

Lucien turned to see a student running toward him, his face pale with urgency.

"Yeah, that's me. What's going on?"

"Your friend Aeric—he's in trouble! Kyle's gang is beating him up!" the boy blurted out.

"What? Where?!" Lucien's voice sharpened as he grabbed the boy's shoulders.

"The balcony of Building T3! You need to hurry before it's too late!"

Lucien's expression darkened. He glanced at Kassandra briefly. "I have to go."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Kassandra asked, worry evident in her tone.

"No. You should head home. I'll handle this," Lucien said firmly. He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before sprinting toward the building, leaving Kassandra behind.

Kassandra watched Lucien's back with worry, hoping he would be alright.

"Hey, you must be Kassandra. Nice to meet you. My name is..." the student said, but Kassandra walked away without a word.

The student looked disappointed, but he shook his head and left, accepting the situation.

---

Later, Kassandra stood on the sidewalk, her schoolbag hanging from one shoulder as she waited for her father to pick her up. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the street, but her mind was elsewhere, distracted by the events of the day.

Her phone chimed, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, reading the short text from her father:

["You'll ride with Victor. I'm at home, waiting for you two."]

Kassandra frowned, her lips tightening in irritation. Why didn't he tell me earlier? she thought, her annoyance growing. This has to be Victor's idea.

Before she could dwell on it further, the hum of an engine drew her attention. A sleek black car pulled up smoothly in front of her. The tinted window rolled down, revealing Victor seated in the driver's seat, his expression calm yet amused.

"Did your father let you know you'd be riding with me? Come on, hop in," he said, flashing a casual smile.

Kassandra crossed her arms, her displeasure evident. "He didn't even bother asking if I was okay with it," she muttered.

Victor's smile didn't waver. "Your father knows you're safe with me," he said matter-of-factly. Then, with a slight tilt of his head, he added, "Besides, I was heading there anyway. Don't tell me you've already forgotten our promise."

Kassandra let out a resigned sigh, knowing there was no point in arguing. "Of course not," she said curtly, pulling the car door open and sliding into the passenger seat.

As the door clicked shut, Victor stepped on the gas, the car gliding away from the school. Kassandra leaned back in her seat, arms crossed as she stared out of the window.

--------

Meanwhile, on the balcony of Building T3, Aeric lay crumpled on the ground, unconscious. His face was a canvas of bruises, his nose oozing blood, and his body trembling faintly with every shallow breath. The faint wind only added to the eerie stillness of his battered form.

Nearby, Lucien's eyes burned with barely contained fury as Kyle, a towering student, twisted his arms behind his back. The air around them was charged with tension.

"Heh, another fool who thinks he can play the hero," Kyle sneered, his grip tightening. "You're about to end up worse than him."

Kyle's mocking tone only stoked Lucien's rage. With a sudden, explosive motion, he broke free of Kyle's grip, forcing the larger boy to stumble back, shock plastered across his face.

"You've got some fight in you," Kyle muttered, his smirk faltering as faint wisps of mana began to swirl around his frame.

Lucien barely registered the threat. His anger wasn't just for Aeric's beaten body—it was for the vision burned into his mind moments earlier: Kassandra stepping into Victor's car, her expression unreadable. He'd seen Victor's face, and that image only poured gasoline on the fire raging within him.

Now, consumed by anger and disappointment, he clenched his fists tightly. Today, he had seen his best friend beaten senseless and his girlfriend leave with another guy. He knew exactly where to direct his fury.

Kyle's mocking voice cut through his thoughts. "Let's see how cocky you are when I'm done with you!" he growled, launching forward with a mana-infused fist aimed squarely at Lucien's chest.

But Lucien was faster. He sidestepped effortlessly, leaving Kyle's punch to slice through empty air.

Kyle barely had time to register the miss before Lucien retaliated. His right fist shot forward, a blur of raw power aimed at Kyle's head. On instinct, Kyle raised his left arm to block—

Crack!

The sickening sound of bone snapping reverberated across the balcony. Kyle screamed in agony, his fractured arm hanging limp as he staggered backward.

"You... bastard," Kyle wheezed, his voice trembling.

But Lucien wasn't done. He closed the distance in an instant, his eyes void of mercy. His fists became a relentless storm, pummeling Kyle with unyielding ferocity. Each blow landed with brutal precision—breaking flesh, smashing bone, and spraying blood across the cold concrete.

Kyle's gang stood frozen in terror. Normally, they'd intervene without hesitation, but now? Now, they couldn't bring themselves to move. The sheer intensity of Lucien's fury sent a chill down their spines.

Kyle's body slumped to the ground, a lifeless heap of blood and bruises. His face was unrecognizable—swollen, bleeding, and broken.

Lucien rose slowly, his chest heaving with adrenaline. His bloodied fists hung at his sides, droplets of crimson pooling at his feet. His gaze, still burning with rage, drifted toward the horizon.

"Victor..." he growled, his voice low and venomous. "I'll remember you."