Dragon Master: The SSS-Ranked School Belle Asked Me To Contract Her

Chapter 87 The Hate

There were two types of Aspect Awakening. The first one was very simple, which involved using an Awakening Crystal. This was the safest option.

The other option was forced Awakening, also known as premature Awakening. This was a rare case, and it basically meant Awakening naturally without any external help.

Veer didn't know much about these Awakenings as they were very rare. Most people, even beggars, were given a chance to Awaken. But he knew they were extremely painful and could cause problems.

After all, one could only use their Aspect if they know and understand it.

Veer turned towards Rain and asked, "What is your Aspect?"

"A-About that..." Rain visibly grew embarrassed as she answered. "I don't know."

'As expected,' Veer sighed and said, "So, you just entered the academy without knowing your Aspect? And you didn't even try to ask the staff for checking?"

"Well, it was actually a mistake," Rain smiled sheepishly and said. "I was quite infamous in slums, so someone targeted me. I was running away from them when I noticed the Starlight Academy recruiting people. There wasn't any requirement, so I just joined, thinking I can just run away later."

"So that's why you avoided everyone?"

"Part of it," she sighed. "My presence...can be unpleasant to others, and I didn't want to face that."

"Huh!? Why?" Veer asked, genuinely confused.

For a second, Rain thought that Veer was just pretending, but when she saw his eyes, she knew the truth. Surprised, she pointed at her face, "I'm ugly, my eating habits are disgusting, and I have a bad sense of humour."

Giving her the best speechless look he could muster, Veer said, "You're really stupid, aren't you?"

"What!?" Rain frowned at that uncalled insult.

"I mean what I said," the young man shook his head. "People will hate you regardless of how beautiful or however elegant you are. So why bother with others' opinions?"

"Because I'm tired of living in a world where everyone hates me," Rain gritted her teeth and whispered in a low, subdued voice.

"Ah! Then let me tell you something that my old man told me a few years ago," Veer chuckled, unfazed by her anger.

The image of his father resurfaced in his mind. The mighty physique with powerful muscles, a heavenly face with a regal aura. That man was truly the definition of power.

Veer still remembered the moment when his father called him to his studies and they had a talk. In the end, the Emperor had laughed at him and said.

"I don't understand why success is a bad thing in this world, Veer," The Emperor's voice sounded in his mind. "Even if you're an Emperor, people will hate you. Do you know why?

"It's because of their pathetic jealousy. That's all it is. You're worried that some people in the palace don't like you? Heck, if you ain't making any enemies you ain't doing anything. If people don't hate you, then you aren't living up to your full potential."

His strong hands had rested on Veer's shoulder, as he told Veer, "Live the good life, Veer. You got one shot at life, one go around in this world. You take life and grab it by the throat and you make it give everything you want and screw everybody else."

As Veer repeated those words to Rain, he realised how right his father was. The Emperor had lived a long life and had given him the right advice. Unfortunately, Veer wasn't the one who needed it.

'Old man, I really wanna crack your skull,' Veer thought. 'You really understood me too well, didn't you?'

He shook his head and looked at his new companion, who stood frozen in place. He gave her some time and washed the dishes. The river's water was really cool, so he even took a bath in it.

Only Gods knew how much he wanted a nice bath. Even if the Rune Formation had completely reset everything, Veer didn't like being in a body not bathed for ten years.

After washing the battle suit clean, he wore it again. Not like he had any other choice. Feeling completely refreshed, Veer made his way back to Rain.

'We miss obvious things and react as if they're Heavenly lessons. What a world we live in.'

Rain was still sitting beside the clay stove, facing the river. He went and sat beside her, saying, "I'm sorry, I should have been more considerate."

"No, your father is right," Rain buried her face in her knees and said. "I was just trying to avoid the things of the slums. I was hoping they would leave me behind. In a way, they did. Nobody paid attention to me, so they also didn't hate me."

"Do you really wanna live a life like that?" Veer asked. "To be honest with you, I'm kinda in the same boat right now."

"How?" Rain raised her head and asked.

"Do you know my goal?" Veer chuckled softly. "I just want to spend the rest of my life peacefully in farms or something. But I don't want to be alone. It's scary. No offence to you, but I don't think you truly understand the horror of loneliness."

"I lived all alone in slums, you know," Rain scoffed. "There isn't a single person in the world who cares about me. Nobody would cry if I die."

"That's why I said you don't truly understand it." Rain noticed how different Veer looked when he said that. There was a distant look in his eyes, something she understood yet couldn't understand properly.

"A person who has never touched a cigarette and a person who has a heavy addiction to cigarettes—who do you think will have a harder time living without them?" Veer asked.

"Obviously, the first one who has never touched cigarettes," Rain muttered, before realisation dawned on her. "You mean..."

"Yes. As you said, you were always alone, so even though you might hate it or like it, you can still live in that," Veer sighed. "Then, there are people...some people whose entire life is for others. Their life has meaning because of others, so tell me, do you think they can live alone?"

Rain fell silent, and noticing that, Veer waved his hand, "Ah! We got off the topic."