Chapter 8 Everything else is noise

My stomach dropped as soon as I heard it.

For a second, I thought she was joking, like it was some cruel test meant to scare me. But no one laughed. No one even shifted. The entire place stayed completely still, like the air itself had frozen.

That was when I understood the truth. She meant it.

Enzo's face went completely pale. It wasn't just fear anymore, it was shock mixed with disbelief. His lips were slightly open but no sound came out, and his eyes kept moving like he was searching for someone to save him, but there was no one.

I took two steps back without even thinking.

"No, I'm not going to take his eyes," I blurted out.

My voice came out sharper than I expected, breaking slightly at the end. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I stared at her, hoping she would stop, hoping this was still some kind of warning.

She turned fully toward me, calm and steady, like she had been waiting for that answer.

"Someone caused you so much pain and here you were given a chance to fight back, revenge served on a platter of gold, but you ignored it."

Her words were slow and heavy, like she wanted them to sink into me completely. I felt my throat tighten as I shook my head slightly.

"I'm not going to take out his eyes. He does not deserve it," I replied.

The moment I said it, Kome laughed.

It wasn't normal laughter. It echoed around the place.

"I remember you told the old man you wanted revenge, to kill the man who had destroyed you, but right now you can't even kill an enemy. How would you kill Chen when you face him?"

Her voice rose as she spoke, anger and disbelief mixing together.

My hands clenched without me noticing.

"That is not in your hands to decide. Let him go," I said.

Kome raised her eyebrow slowly, like she was disappointed in me. Then in one sudden movement, she stepped forward toward Enzo before anyone could react.

Everything happened too fast. She moved close to him and stabbed his eyes. The sound that followed was wet and sharp, followed immediately by Enzo's scream filling the whole place. Blood spilled instantly, running down his face as his body shook violently.

I screamed along with him without even realizing it, my body going completely still as I watched her pull something out with the dagger. I couldn't even process what I was seeing, my mind refusing to accept it. That was his left eyeball stuck to the dagger.

My legs gave out slightly, and I turned away immediately, bending over as I vomited everything I had eaten the night before. My body shook hard as I coughed and struggled to breathe.

When I looked up again, Kome was still standing there, calm, with a dark smile on her face like nothing had happened.

I just stood there staring at what I couldn’t undo.

That was when the old man rushed in.

"Kome, what are you doing?"

He moved quickly and grabbed me slightly, pulling me away from the center like he was trying to protect me from collapsing.

"You can't do that in front of him. He is still a kid."

Kome didn't even look guilty. She just stood there.

"He needs to be strong. How can he face his rivals if he is this weak? He couldn't even gourge out an eye, not even from an innocent person, but someone who had hurt him. Is that who you want me to work with? I was only two when I saw my father's throat was being slit, you think that didn't define who I am?"

Her voice cracked slightly at the end, but her eyes stayed hard. The old man tightened his hold on me and looked at her.

"You two are not the same, and you'll never be."

After that, he guided me away from her presence. My legs were moving, but I wasn't really walking. I was still stuck there, hearing the scream again and again in my head.

When we got upstairs, the room felt too big and too quiet. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing. My body felt heavy, like something had been drained out of me.

There was a knock at the door, and Ella came in with food. She placed it carefully on the table, but I didn't even look at it properly.

"It's lunchtime."

"I don't have an appetite," I muttered. My voice was weak, almost gone.

"You have to eat, please, or the Baroness will scold me again," she said in fear.

That was when I noticed a scar on her neck. I hadn't seen it before. It looked old, like it had been there for a long time.

"Is that what the scolding means?" I asked, staring at her neck.

She understood immediately and nodded.

I opened the food slowly, but the moment I saw something red inside, my body froze. It looked like jelly, but my mind didn't see food. It saw blood. I moved back quickly in fear.

The memories of what happened to Enzo rushed back in instantly.

"Please eat the food, young master," Ella pleaded with her eyes.

Her voice was soft, but her expression was serious. Slowly, I forced myself to take a spoon and eat a small bite. She smiled slightly and then walked out of the room.

The moment she left, I rushed to the door and locked it. I carried the food into the toilet and poured everything out. Then I bent over and forced myself to vomit again, my hands shaking as I held the sink.

I didn't trust them. Not after what I had seen. I kept thinking, what if it was poisoned?

Then everything hit me at once, the anger, the fear, the humiliation, everything from the Crucible. My legs weakened and I slid down to the floor as I cried hard. I couldn't even control it. My breathing kept breaking as I struggled to calm down.

***"

The next day, I somehow woke up. I still didn't understand how I even slept in a place like this, far from home, surrounded by people I didn't trust.

Another knock came. It was Ella again, this time with maids. She opened the curtain and sunlight hit my face.

"Morning, young master. Your breakfast is ready," she said with a smile.

I stayed silent as I looked at the food. It was a lot more than yesterday, arranged neatly and looking too perfect.

"What's with the mini feast?" I asked.

"The Baroness ordered it. Eat up," she replied.

I didn't move. Ella sighed slightly, then took a spoon and ate from each dish in front of me. I watched her carefully.

"I know you don't trust anyone here, and I'm only showing you the food is safe. It's not poisoned," she said while eating.

So she already knew.

"Since when did you know I poured the food away?" I asked.

"Since the day I entered the bathroom, I saw the remnants of food in the water system," she said with a small smile.

"I would never poison you. You're now like a child to me," she added.

I stared at her for a long time. I wanted to believe her, but I couldn't. Still, I ate.

Then the old man walked in again.

"Prepare him. He has a mission this morning."

"What mission?" I blurted out.

"You do not question the old man," Ella said, holding my shoulders gently.

"Well, I deserve to know what I'm getting myself into."

"Look down the window," the old man replied.

I walked to the window. Below, a wagon was being loaded with boxes and supplies. Men moved quickly, placing luggage inside. Kome stood nearby watching everything. The Bladders were already gathered, including Enzo with his bandaged face, Gabi, and the quiet boy.

"That's your mission. You're to lead them and the wagon with all the luggages outside the Canyon Barony. Your mother is giving you a second chance to prove yourself," the old man folded his hands.

I hated what I was seeing… but not because I cared about them. I just hated that I was being dragged into something I didn’t ask for.

They talk about leadership. They talk about survival.

I don’t care about any of it. I didn’t come here to understand them. I came here for one thing.

Revenge.

Everything else is noise.

"What if I say no?" I challenged him.

Ella immediately covered her face in frustration. The next moment, men rushed in and carried me out.

"Let me go! Let me go!" I shouted, but it was useless.

I was dressed again in another corset. I hated it. It felt tighter than before and I wanted to scream.

Outside, the wagon was ready. Kome stepped forward and pulled me closer.

"Bladders, I am sure you all will be confused by who he is, and I haven't gotten enough time to inform you all, but tell the ones who are not here. This is my son Sluther Kome, the one who was sent on exile. He is back now, and he will be leading you all through this mission. Keep the wagon safe even with your life."

The crowd murmured immediately. Enzo looked at me for a second, then quickly looked away.

I noticed the quiet boy didn’t move like the others. While everyone reacted to the news, his eyes stayed fixed on something else.

It was me.

He wasn’t surprised by what Kome said. It was like he already knew who I was.

That bothered me more than the fight itself.

I also noticed their clothes too, rough sacks, poor fabric, nothing like mine. The difference was too clear. There was no equality here at all.

My father would never accept this.

"Don't disappoint me, son. You have people to guide you on what to do."

She said and kissed my forehead. I stiffened instantly and wanted to vomit again.

"Prepare to leave by noon," she added and walked away.

A man handed me an axe.

"Young master, I am Rowan, your personal advisor. Your horse is ready. They are all waiting for your command."

I nodded slowly, still feeling detached from everything. They helped me onto the horse, but the moment it moved, I fell off immediately. I hit the ground hard and embarrassment burned through me.

I stood up quickly as they tried not to laugh.

"Why am I the only one with a horse?" I asked.

"It's the law. Only noble-borns have the right to horses," Rowan replied.

I swallowed hard. Inequality at its peak.

The journey began. We moved through the canyon quietly. The air felt heavy. The memory of everything that had happened still sat in my chest.

Suddenly Gabi appeared beside me.

"Hey, corset boy."

I flinched slightly.

"Relax, I won't bite. You're the Baroness' son, who would dare?"

"It's just a title. Everyone keeps staring at me like I'm a plague. They even fear me even though I have a lower rank in fighting than them."

She scoffed. "You are the privileged one, we are just, you know, there."

I didn't respond immediately.

"I'm just shocked why the Baroness would let her son go out on this dangerous journey. The canyon is not a safe place."

"What do you mean by not a safe place?" I asked.

"This place is filled with dangerous slopes, rocky paths, and Canyon Beasts."

"What's a canyon beast?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know," she shook her head.

I went quiet for a moment.

"You want a ride?" I asked.

She looked at me like I was crazy.

"No way, I could never dream of such," she said.

That was when I realized how strange everything was. There is really a huge gap and difference between me and these people. They would never be allowed to fit into my world.

Rowan walked closer to me and Gabi stepped back.

"It's getting dark, young master. We should camp here and continue our journey tomorrow morning," Rowan advised.

I nodded.

Later that night, we camped. They built a tent and I just stood there watching. It was just one tent and I guess others will have to sleep bare on the ground.

"Is there only one tent?" I asked Rowan.

"Only noble-borns can use a tent during missions," Rowan forced a smile.

I didn't say a word after. I stayed inside the tent alone, unable to relax. Then I needed to pee badly.

I hesitated as the thought of the Canyon beasts came to my mind. I still really need to pee. I swallowed and walked out carefully.

I saw the quiet guy by a rock standing and watching everything carefully. I didn't even think much of it and walked away from them.

Behind a rock, I finally stopped and peed. My body felt light. Suddenly I heard a roar.

My body froze, then came another roar. It sounded close.

I turned slowly and before I could react, I saw Gabi running towards me with full speed.

"Gabi!" I blurted out.

"Run!" She screamed.

The forest went silent and something huge crashed out of the darkness.