"Are you sure we should have convinced them to join us? I mean, whatever that beast was… I'm pretty sure it's way too strong—even for the senior Awakeneds," Stan said, nervously playing with his fingers as he followed behind Kieran.
Kieran sighed.
Stan was a good person.
Timid, weak—but still kind.
In a way, he reminded Kieran of who he used to be when he first entered the academy.
Naive, gullible, and stupidly kind.
He used to give up his night meals just because someone who helped him with notes earlier asked for it.
And then he'd spend the night hungry, only to hear that same person mock him behind his back for being so easy to manipulate.
It was emotional blackmail—subtle, calculated.
People did the bare minimum just to squeeze everything they could out of him.
And Kieran fell for it.
Not once, not twice—but so many times, he eventually lost count.
Until… he realized something.
These people didn't care about him—not in the slightest.
