Your Shadow Is My Light

Chapter 6 - Has the goddess finally descended?

Normal text
Thinking
Onomatopoeia

Rayne's POV
Ever since I acquiesced to being used as bait, things have only gone downhill. Arthur didn't explicitly raise any objections so the class continued pressuring me to die for them. Now it's nearly impossible to call it quits. Makes me wonder if I'm really as trash as they claim when none of them can remotely perform in boss fights without me. Not one of those clerics, paladins and dragon knights could do jack shit without someone taking the heat off their backs. Just say 'I'm fucking incompetent as the girl with no talents'! The audacity to require my help and still name-call! These presumptuous bastards know no shame! I'm even starting to suspect that most of them actually have permanent brain damage.

Unfortunately, faced with coercion from the masses, as well as Arthur's personal desire to be 'humanity's saviour', that selfish ass completely turned a blind eye to their murder attempts. As if the previous Buryura incident was thoroughly forgotten. Swept under the carpet. He merely acted as Will's spokesperson, reassuring me that he wouldn't bury me with monsters next time. Yeah. Of course he wouldn't. That fucker would straight up butcher me instead, nevermind waiting for spiders to maul me! Arthur really thought I would just forgive and forget for the sake of an empty promise. His bloated sense of self-importance is really something... He just doesn't care. That paladin only wants me to die for his pockets.

However, to say that nothing changed would be a lie. After demanding me to not hold grudges since I turned out fine from the mysterious entity's help (and practically informing me of my future career as bait), something inside me died. Permanently. I suddenly didn't have any desire to speak to Arthur. Not just that, a sort of vindictive disdain has even begun to take root. Mutating day by day. Leaving me constantly disgusted and appalled by his everyday actions. I dunno... It's just-I feel nauseous whenever I see that two-faced bastard. So I stopped asking him for advice on swordsmanship and magic.

I don't know when but the admiration in my eyes has long since fizzled out. Maybe even as early as when he chose to side with that unscrupulous king. Something between us changed. This isekai experience opened my eyes to the truth-he's not the knight in shining armour that I was waiting for. He's Runeterra's saviour. The child of destiny who's fated to purge all evil and usher in a new era of peace. Arthur's no longer the class president I looked up to. He's THEIR hero. Not mine.

As for Arthur, he didn't mind the sudden estrangement. In fact, there's subtle relief in his expression. He must be glad that this dreadful ghost finally stopped haunting him and taking time away from his training. That and the malicious lies Lily kept whispering had also poisoned his mind. His attitude soured, growing more alienated and distant. Because he, too, thought that I was being unreasonable. In his eyes, I was just a worthless bum cursed with an ominous class. And yet, I'm ungrateful enough to throw a tantrum when he had graciously allowed me into his party. What gave me the right to point out faults in him, the Son of Heaven? Don't get me wrong. He still needed me as bait. But Arthur no longer tried to fake his concerns. Everything was crumbling. A split has appeared. And the rift between me and the class was only getting wider.

Surprisingly though, I wasn't too bummed out by this inevitable outcome. I thought I'd at least be depressed for a while. But in reality, I never once missed his presence. Instead, I was more concerned about my new furry friend. Remembering its sweet peachy scent. Its itty-bitty paws. And the cute button nose. I can't forget the soft fluffy feeling in my lap. Or how bubbly and affectionate it was. Anytime those round amber eyes surrounded by snowy fur came to mind, an inexplicable sense of longing and homesickness would well up. I miss the baby fox... I want to see it again...

"There are a total of nine generals under the demon lord," the familiar droning voice broke my daydream.

We're currently having theory lessons in a classroom. The mages were teaching us basic common sense in their world-all of our supposed 'enemies'. Their words reeked of propaganda though.