Glass Arrow Rewritten

Chapter 5

            "What?" I snarled, the steadying hands of Custos holding onto my shoulders as my chest throbbed, my core tired of the abuse I continued to subject it to.

            "Your mana reeks," Averin stated with his arms crossed over his chest.

            "And what do you know about mana," I hissed as he let himself in.

            "Well, the thing is, after this one brat stuck it to my face, I seem to have learned what your godawful stench is. Now, I need to know how bad you cracked it to still be leaking mana-" Glancing at Custos he raised his brow- "while still having one of the freaks out,"

            "It's fine," I glared harder as he sat on my cot and leaned back on his hands.

          "If it was; It wouldn't be cracked. Now tell me so I can get an adequate crystal." Staring at him for a long hard minute. He left me for dead, yet, here he was pretending like he cared. "Stop looking at me like that,"

         "... I don't want anything from you," I said honestly, my voice icy as I watched every move he made, every shift in his weight. He liked to start fights for whatever image he wished me to have and I was in no shape to do so.

           "Lilith," He glared, sitting on my cot, "You should have run, I expected you to run, but you did not. You stood you're ground, like a suicidal madman." My brow twitched as I couldn't help but grind my teeth.

           "You want me to listen, you don't want me to listen, which is it?! I'm getting tired of this stupid game! Averin do you know how many people had to die today? How many people died because of me? What do you want?" I couldn't help but sigh, my anger melting as my head throbbed. He stared at me for a long second before leaning back in his arms.

        "... You were sent here because Edward couldn't trust you to do as told. You are too dangerous to be unpredictable Lilith. I am here to give orders, yes, but I'm also here to ensure you truly understand just how powerful you are. People will die, your lie can't be guaranteed, and I will continue to spread your name in the council's best interests," he hummed while my shoulders couldn't help but droop. It wasn't as if I didn't know, but it was different hearing it.

        "But, well, it could be worse, I could have actually dragged you to the front lines instead of glorified border control. I could punish you for your attitude instead of ignoring it. Leave you to figure out how to fix your core yourself. Give you dogs that can't be trusted. Send you out and refuse you back into camp until all enemy units are subdued-"

         "So I should suck it up because it could be worse? If you want to threaten me, Averin, you'll have to try harder," I snorted, my chest aching and a cocky smile on my face. "Or, what? Do you want praise? Oh thank the merciful fire elite, saving me from a different battlefield. The all-mighty Averin, so generous, to comfort this poor wounded soldier-" Freezing as a hand found the top of my head, rage boiled within me once again. Slapping the handoff I glared at him from under my lashes, every cell in my body wishing him death.

         "You did a good job kid," He hummed flexing his hand, "I don't know a soul that could have done what you did today,"

        "Get out," I pointed to the tent opening with a tremble to my arm, my teeth grinding so hard I thought they might break. We just stared at one another in silence for a long moment, "Get. Out." I repeated, harsher, before he rolled his eyes and did as told. Taking deep slow breaths I couldn't help but shout as tears brimmed my eyes. "Fuck!"

        I'll kill him. I swear to the gods, I will kill that man.

         "Custos, the cc," I snarled, the black crystal around in its hands. Taking it I hissed as I poured mana into it, my chest burning.

          "Oh? You sure aren't in your little school," the silky voice said in surprise.

          "Is your offer still valid, Vixen?"