Chapter 18: Breaking point

Chapter 18: Breaking point.

Arbus stared at Alexander for several moments with a blank expression, before taking a bite from his food.

"You know, you didn't have to get involved, right? There's no need for you to stick your neck out for me"

The base's cafeteria was extremely simplistic, for practical reasons. It's job was to simulate the uncomfortable environment most knights would have to endure. And it did so perfectly, from the design, to the food.

The only accessible meal for the trainees was REN paste, a tasteless substitute for food that had been created by the Aurnexs for the Renegades. It provided the exact same nutritional value as an average meal, while being easy to pack up.

This was meant to prepare them for the harsh conditions they might face during extended missions as Knights.

Arbus was sure the Aurnexs could easily make this the most delicious food substitute in the universe if they had wanted to. But naturally, they didn't.

Alexander simply smiled as he stretched slightly.

"I know. I did it because I wanted to. As I said before, I want to be your friend" he answered from across the table, already finished with his food. Arbus had watched him slurp them down, as if he had been enjoying a delicious home cooked meal.

Arbus exhaled slowly.

"Oi, are you that unused to rejection?" He asked, annoyed. "What's so special about me that you refuse to leave me alone? Are you obsessed with Reincarnators or something?"

Alexander chuckled, then Shook his head slowly.

"No, that's not it. Truthfully, it's a bit similar to what that annoying guy Jet said. We're both outcasts, especially in a place like this, so I thought it would be best for us to stick together." He leaned forward slightly. "Also, I despise people who judge others for things out of their control. Like their family, species, or whatever else."

He paused for a moment, then continued.

"You can't control the fact that you're half-human, just like I can't control the fact that I was abandoned."

"I don't associate with people I despise, so I suppose that left only you from the trainees," Alexander said with a smile.

Arbus stared at Alexander silently for several moments, then chuckled slightly. "you're a pretty convincing guy, seriously. Honestly your words alone would have been enough to convince me"

His expression darkened.

"....If I couldn't see your eyes, and the instinctual disdain you have for me. Despite how much you try to hide it."

Alexander blinked, his smile fading.

Then, he sighed deeply.

"Yeah I know, I'm not perfect. As you just said, it's instinctual. We're raised to despise Reincarnators, and fear them, even in the orphanage."

"Still, I'm trying to be better than that, since I've gone through a similar experience with my people" Alexander added, his smile returning. "That should count for something, right?"

Arbus simply studied Alexander, his gaze filled with suspicion.

Just as he was about to respond, a shadow suddenly fell across their table. Arbus's eyes widened as he sensed an incoming attack, jerking his head to the side just as a boot swept through the space where it had been a moment ago.

The attacker was caught off guard by his reaction, but recovered quickly as she pivoted smoothly from the missed kick and delivered a devastating roundhouse kick that caught Arbus in the ribs, sending him flying across the cafeteria. He crashed into the reinforced wall at the far end of the room with enough force to shatter a normal one.

The cafeteria fell silent.

The attacker, Rin, straightened up as her gaze fixed on Arbus with contempt. As a white Mornan, her normal physical strength was three times that of a blue Mornan, which was why she had launched Arbus across the room so effortlessly. Unlike full blooded Tarokians, Arbus lacked the physical advantages that would have allowed him to block the attack.

"Know your place, abomination," she spat, walking toward him, as he pulled himself up. "You think you can sit here with actual Renegades? Acting like you belong?"

She scoffed.

"It's been two weeks and yet you still don't get the hint that you're not welcome here."

"How many more beatings must you endure? how many more humiliations do we have to put you through."

Arbus didn't respond. This was unfortunately his normal routine with Rin and her group. In his opinion, she was far more troublesome than Jet, mostly because she seemed to lack any sense of self-control.

Still, he was surprised that she openly attacked him in a common area like the cafeteria. Even the lenient instructors wouldn't be able to simply look past that like they usually did. Although given the fact that there were most likely monitors in the halls as well — where they normally cornered him, there was a possibility they'd let this slide too.

He decided to simply wait for her to finish her rant and leave, so he could go back to eating before the lunch period ended.

Rin's eyes narrowed.

"Tsk, as quiet as always I see. I suppose you should be used to all this by now. Such a sad life, really." Rin said, annoyed by his calmness.

"I truly wonder what your mother was thinking when she decided to give birth to you."

"Hey Rin, that's enough!. You're going too far!"Alexander shouted, finally deciding to interfere.

Arbus's expression darkened at the mention of his mother. "If you want to insult me, that's fine. But don't mention my mother again."

Rin blinked, surprised by his reaction for a moment.

Then she smiled.

"Oh, did I finally hit a nerve? Who would have guessed that an abomination like you would still have such loyalty towards your mom, a citizen of this universe."

Her smile shifted into a scowl. "Don't you dare talk to me like that again. I'm simply saying the truth."

"Your mother was trash for siring someone like you, instead of doing the universe a favor by killing you at birth." Rin said, expecting Arbus to fire back at her again.

Instead though, his expression became oddly calm.

She frowned.

"Tsk, I suppose you're nothing but a coward as well." She said, turning her back to him as she walked away.

A moment later, she suddenly sensed something flying toward her. She turned, just in time to see a pocket knife Arbus had thrown straight at her head. It was mere moments away from piercing her eye. Her hand shot up, blocking the knife at the last second. The knife had managed to puncture her skin slightly, before losing its momentum. When she brought her hand down, she saw Arbus's foot, moments away from her head. She realised Arbus had closed the distance between them in the time she used to block his initial attack. His kick connected with her face with devastating force, the impact launching her across the cafeteria like a ragdoll.

The female blue Mornans who typically flanked Rin, stared in disbelief. They were surprised by Arbus's sudden attack, and his strength they had underestimated upon finding out he was only half-human. They had already gotten used to him silently taking a beating. They wordlessly parted as he strode past them, towards Rin's crumpled form.

Arbus approached Rin, His eyes filled with the same hatred he normally reserved exclusively for Reincarnators. Blood trickled from her nose and lips, as she struggled to regain her bearings.

"I don't care how much you bully me. I don't care how much you beat me. I don't care if you destroy my belongings or go out of your way to make things harder for me." he said, his voice filled with a dangerous edge. "I'm used to that. I understand why you do it. I have no right to be angry at you for any of it."

"But if you ever mention my mother again..." He crouched beside her, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "I'll make you wish you were dead. No matter what it takes."

Rin glared up at him defiantly as she tried her best to hide the fear that had crept up in her heart.

"I don't know what Reincarnators did to you," Arbus continued, "and frankly, I don't care. Just stop making it my problem."

With that, he stood up, as he walked toward the exit, leaving most of the people present stunned.

Alexander stared at Arbus and then back at Rin, his expression unreadable.

Rin pushed herself up on one elbow, her eyes burning with rage as she watched him go.