The atmosphere was denser than usual.
Julien's injuries from the duel had improved slightly. His opponent, less fortunate, had been killed by tier-6 students when his rage became uncontrollable. But that death barely registered. What consumed Scar's attention was the suffocating atmosphere.
The Scarlet Moon loomed overhead, its perpetual shadows falling across them as they drilled Flash Step techniques per Arthur's directions.
No words had passed between Julien and Purple. Considering she looked like she wanted to strangle Julien for his defiance, her silence was completely unexpected.
She'd visited the Supreme Council immediately after the duel and had been on edge since. Her eyes never stopped moving, darting around with such wariness she seemed to suspect even the air.
Scar's attempts at humor fell completely flat. Julien was just as tense, practically dripping with nervous sweat. No surprise, he'd defied the master he'd sworn to serve, and Purple's ominous silence made everything more unbearable.
"You're rushing it. Take your time. Steady, deliberate movements, as if your feet are dragging through depth." Arthur said, resting on a bench as he watched them train.
Scar sighed.
Ironically, Julien was the only one with a legitimate excuse, he'd actually fought a duel and gotten hurt. Hell, Arthur had granted them a rest day specifically because of Julien's condition.
Yet Flash Step kept eluding him. Maybe mental overload was affecting his performance, but he was off his game regardless. For someone in his situation, that was unacceptable.
Soon, the atmosphere shifted awry.
Everyone's attention snapped to Purple. She wore her black vest, her body glistening with sweat. Stunned silence followed, even Arthur said nothing. The weight of her presence commanded quiet beyond what words could break.
She did it.
Minutes after Arthur finished speaking, Purple had already mastered it, covering the twenty-meter span in a single Flash Step.
'She was slow, but still she did it.'
Confidence flooded back immediately. Purple's success clarified everything for Scar. He didn't need perfection, just faithful execution of Arthur's instructions.
A glance passed between Scar and Julien, accompanied by knowing smiles. They were definitely on the same page.
Scar channeled the moon's Blessing into his legs, condensed it, and then released it. An internal explosion shot him toward the target. He flew instead; not the intended technique.
Annoyed but determined, he returned to training.
Purple rested next to Arthur, who seemed to radiate more power every day. Whatever they were discussing had Purple tense, while Arthur maintained his carefree attitude, laughing the whole time.
As they conversed, Scar and Julien remained locked in their struggle, attempting again and again. Neither would surrender.
Then, by some stroke of luck, both Julien and Scar managed a crude Flash Step at the same time.
Scar's eyes lit up with excitement, adrenaline coursing through him as he and Julien celebrated their success, the first time all night the mood felt anything but heavy.
Honestly, Scar had anticipated something extreme from Flash Step—tears from the wind speed, air pressure that felt like it would peel his skin off.
But it was actually easier than he'd imagined. All that mattered was the target location, confidence, and control of the Blessing.
"Not to brag, but I'm pretty sure I'm the fastest at the moment. Give me more practice, and I'll widen the gap." Scar said, mimicking Arthur's usual omnipotent pose.
"I knew you could do it, Scar. That's great!" Arthur said, turning to Scar for a warming embrace.
Even so, as soon as Purple returned to the group, her dark mood descended again.
"Now, only one thing remains before we move to Inheritance." Arthur wore a big grin that nearly showed all of his teeth.
"Now, you must learn to command the Blessing around you, as I did before."
Scar's frown deepened. Just two days ago, Arthur had transformed into something terrifying. Cheerful one second, then strangling Purple the next, his presence so overwhelming that Scar and Julien couldn't move at all.
"How? That looks like something only a master could do." Julien said, his brow furrowed.
Arthur said and patted Julien on the head.
"Don't tell me you've already forgotten. I told you, the Blessing is everywhere. All you need to do now is control it. Unlike what you just did, this relies on emotion and awareness, not technique."
Arthur's statement sounded like nonsense momentarily, but upon reflection, Scar managed to extract some meaning.
"You said our bodies absorb the Blessing subtly. So now we're meant to sense the surrounding Blessing that hasn't been absorbed yet and command it… this is what you call awareness?"
Arthur's hand clamped on Scar's shoulder, his eyes shining with impossible intensity, even the blind eye, as though he beheld the world's most precious treasure.
"That's exactly right, nephew. Looks like you're learning faster than I expected."
Such a doting uncle.
Scar smirked, 'Neat. One point for me. And for once, I'm the smartest one here, not Purple.'
Arthur's expression darkened. "This won't win you battles, but it can keep you alive. A presence backed by conviction can make even superior enemies hesitate. Believe in the threat you are, or it means nothing."
Purple sneered. "So it's like a lie. To be a master of deception, you must be fully immersed in your own lies."
Arthur gave her a firm nod, "You'd do well to watch the lies you tell."
Without delay, Arthur issued a few quick instructions before settling back and leaving the students to practice.
Scar's mind held only one thing: rage. He had two people to kill—Adisa, the bastard who'd murdered Isaac, and Dain, his relentless pursuer.
'All I need is control. Once I manage this, I'll be able to call on it again even when the rage fades.'
With determination, he began training. Shortly after, a slight shiver passed through him, and he found himself watching Julien instead.
He gulped.
Julien's presence carried nearly the same dark intensity as Arthur's, momentarily unnerving even Scar. The reason was clear. Scar recognized the fuel behind that threatening aura: hatred for Quagmire, the monster that had butchered his parents.
The effect was impressive, but Scar's irritation followed quickly. Naturally, Julien had to ruin it by gloating, which only made Scar want to demonstrate something far more menacing.
Scar and Purple had been at it for more than an hour when overwhelming pressure suddenly filled the air. The hostile aura immobilized Julien as thoroughly as Arthur's presence had days ago. Even Arthur, though fighting it, couldn't prevent the sweat beading on his face.
Arthur rose from his seat, staring at both Scar and Purple with his mouth agape. It was impossible to tell whose malevolent aura it was, since both had achieved this sensation simultaneously. Even so, it didn't make Arthur any less fascinated.
"Marvelous! I've never seen anyone reach this intensity on their first success. Truly remarkable."
Arthur's words jolted Scar and Purple back to awareness, and the intense pressure immediately dissipated.
Scar enjoyed his victory for a second, then immediately went to tease Julien, who was still on his knees from the pressure.
Arthur seemed happier than Scar had ever witnessed, even more than when baby Scar had managed to pronounce his name. But he excused himself quickly, signaling them to rest up. Tomorrow, their Inheritance training would begin.
The situation was strange, yet Arthur's behavior had grown stranger over the past few days. Despite everything, Scar trusted his uncle.
Once Arthur was gone, the oppressive atmosphere returned immediately. Then Purple spoke, making things even worse.
"We're all going to die."