Chapter 14: The slacker

The academy's training courtyard was bathed in the soft, golden light of late afternoon. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers and the distant hum of students practicing their spells. Cain sat slumped against a tree, his back pressed against the rough bark, his legs stretched out lazily in front of him. His hood was pulled low over his face, shielding his eyes from the sun as he let out a long, exaggerated yawn.

"Another day, another chance to avoid responsibilities," he muttered to himself, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Selene, standing a few feet away with her arms crossed, smirked at his antics. Her silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her piercing blue eyes gleamed with amusement. "You mean another day for research," she corrected, her tone teasing.

Cain groaned, tilting his head back against the tree. "Can't I just nap in peace?"

Selene cracked her knuckles, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Nope."

Cain was about to retort when a sudden chill swept through the courtyard. The air grew heavy, and the faint hum of activity around them seemed to fade into silence. Cain's instincts flared, his body tensing as he felt an unmistakable presence cold, unwavering, and deadly.

He turned his head slowly, his hood slipping back to reveal his sharp, amber eyes. Standing at the gate of the courtyard was a woman clad in dark armor. Her crimson eyes burned with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. She was tall, her posture rigid, and her hand rested on the hilt of a massive sword strapped to her back. The air around her seemed to warp, as if the very fabric of reality recoiled from her presence.

"You… are not what I expected," she said, her voice low and measured, each word carrying the weight of a blade.

Cain blinked, his expression shifting from surprise to mild confusion. "Uh. Thanks?" he replied, his tone casual despite the tension in the air.

The woman took a step forward, her boots clicking against the stone path. Her crimson eyes never left his, and her grip on her sword tightened. "Your existence is an insult to my master," she declared, her voice cold and unyielding.

Cain sighed, running a hand through his messy black hair. "Cool. Can we reschedule this execution thing? I have a headache."

For a moment, there was only silence. The woman's expression remained stoic, but Cain noticed a faint, almost imperceptible twitch at the corner of her lips. Was she… amused? The thought was fleeting, but it was enough to make him raise an eyebrow.

Selene stepped forward, her curiosity piqued. She tilted her head, studying the armored woman with a mix of intrigue and caution. "Who's this? Another stalker?" she asked, her tone light but her eyes sharp.

Cain groaned, slumping further against the tree. "I wish she was a stalker. She's an assassin."

The woman Valeria tilted her head slightly, her crimson eyes narrowing. "You recognize me?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Cain shrugged, his nonchalance bordering on disrespect. "Not really, but the dramatic entrance and glowing death glare kinda gave it away."

Valeria's lips pressed into a thin line, her grip on her sword tightening once more. "You are not the Tyrant I remember," she said, her voice low and dangerous.

Cain smirked, his amber eyes glinting with mischief. "Yeah, I get that a lot."

The courtyard fell silent again, the tension between them palpable. Valeria's gaze bore into Cain, searching for something, anything that would confirm the man before her was the ruthless warlord she had sworn to kill. But all she saw was a lazy, sarcastic, and oddly endearing slacker who seemed more interested in napping than fighting.

Her grip on her sword loosened, and she took a step back, her expression unreadable. Something about him felt… wrong. Where was the bloodthirsty tyrant who had ravaged kingdoms and left a trail of destruction in his wake? Why was he lounging in a courtyard, cracking jokes and complaining about headaches?

Cain, sensing her hesitation, seized the opportunity. "Listen, if you really want to fight, can we at least do it after lunch?" he asked, his tone almost pleading.

Valeria blinked, caught off guard by his audacity. "…What?" she replied, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"I fight better on a full stomach," Cain explained, as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

Selene snorted, unable to contain her laughter. Valeria stared at Cain, her crimson eyes narrowing as she tried to make sense of him. Then, to Cain's absolute shock, she sheathed her sword.

"Very well," she said, her voice calm but firm.

Cain choked, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Wait, that actually worked?!"

Selene burst into laughter, clutching her sides as she doubled over. Valeria turned away, her dark armor glinting in the sunlight. "Do not mistake this for mercy," she said, her voice carrying a warning. "I will return when you are worthy of death."

Cain watched her go, his mouth hanging open in shock. "…Did I just delay my execution by being lazy?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Selene grinned, wiping a tear from her eye. "You really are a menace."

Cain sighed, slumping back against the tree. "I need a nap."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the courtyard, Cain closed his eyes and let out a contented sigh. For now, at least, he could rest easy. But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning. Valeria would return, and when she did, he wouldn't be able to talk his way out of it so easily.

But for now, sleep called. And Cain was never one to ignore it.