Veilbreaker: Shattering the Veil of Lies-Chapter 22: Friendship

Instructor, I'm guessing.

With a flick of his wrist, the tablet blinked out of existence — swallowed by a glinting ring on his finger. His eyes were narrow, sharp, fox-like.

When he spoke, his voice slid between soft and deep — too calm for comfort.

"You must be the disciple of Leon Horton. My name is Percival. I'll be your instructor from this point on."

He extended a gloved hand. I returned the shake, firm and quiet. No words, just a nod.

"I trust the academy has been treating you well?"

I smiled — the kind that didn't reach my eyes.

"Oh, absolutely. Just sunshine and rainbows."

Percival let out a sheepish laugh.

"The students tend to get rowdy at times."

There was a pause. We retracted our hands, letting them rest by our sides. Percival then glanced at me.

"What I would first like you to do is show me your system interface so I can note down your affinity, stats and adaptations."

My throat tightened.

Shit!

"S-sure... coming right up."

I stammered a hasty response. My mind spiraled, torn between panic and dread as I considered how Percival would react to the fact that... I have a Blessed Title and have no affinity.

"S-system." I mumble haphazardly, avoiding Percival's gaze.

A holographic black tablet materialized before me, its titanium-white text flickering to life.

Oh fuck! I forgot about the Rune of Return!

SHIT! HE'S GONNA SEE THAT!

─────────────────────────

 ⟢ SYSTEM INTERFACE ⟣

 [ VEILBREAKER STATUS ]

─────────────────────────

» NAME: Kerrigan 

» BLESSED TITLE: Veilbreaker 

» RANK: Neo (8,900 XP to Rising Rank) 

» AFFINITY: None 

═════ STATS ═════

▪ Strength: 20

▪ Agility: 25 

▪ Intelligence: 18 

▪ Mana: 15,000 MP 

▪ Sense: 20 

▪ Vitality: 23

═════ SKILLS ═════

[ Slot 1 ]: Hyperdrive (Mastery - 6.9%) — 99 MP/use 

[ Slot 2 ]: Locked (Rising Rank) 

[ Slot 3 ]: Locked (Eminence Rank) 

[ Slot 4 ]: Find Skillbook 

[ Slot 5 ]: Find Skillbook 

═════ EQUIPPED ITEMS ═════ 

NWAA standard issue white compression shirt NWAA standard issue black joggers

════ ADAPTATIONS ════ 

» Flow (Level 6): In moments of mortal danger, the mind empties. 

 Emotion fades. Only the fight remains.

════ RUNES OF RETURN ════ 

[Unnamed] — Abhorrent of Ordeal 

 > Summon with: "Revive thy tarnished soul, {Name}"

═════ BLOODPACT ═════ 

[Corvus] — Pureblood Apex Transmutant 

────────────────────────────────

Fuck. 

My vision narrowed. Thunder behind my eyes. Don't react. Don't flinch.

Before I could move— before I could speak, Percival already swiveled the screen around for him to scan with his fox eyes.

1 second.

2 seconds.

3 seconds.

His eyes widened — emerald green, sharp, and suddenly far too human. His jaw twitched as he tried to form words.

Nothing came out.

His eyes cautiously looked at me incredulously.

Before he could speak, I informed him in an apathetic tone.

"Say a word about my Title, and Leon Horton will deal with you personally."

Percival's face went pale for a split second before nodding.

"Yes, I will not but... How on earth... do you not have an affinity! And have 15000 MP! How?!"

His pitch went higher as he spoke in disbelief. I could only shrug as I murmured shamelessly.

"Beats me."

His eyes further widened as he read my status screen. He looked at me like I was a puzzle wrapped in dynamite, stammering.

"R-r-r-rune of return. How did you get this?! You can only get this by killing an—"

"I did, Sir."

I cut him off. I did NOT want anything about me to be leaked. Percival calmed himself, taking in deep breaths as if he was going into labour.

"Why haven't you named it yet, have you ever summoned it?"

With a deadpan stare, I bluntly retorted.

"No. I wanted more clarity on what it is before I do anything."

Percival looked at me for a good minute— he was at his wit's end. He let out a long breath, finally nodding.

"I've seen enough. I'll teach you about Runes of Return myself after this session."

My eyes momentarily gleamed in happiness. I genuinely wanted to know what this was but I had kept it on the back burner. I wanted to learn from someone experienced instead of doing it half-baked and fucking it all up.

"Go stand in a line with the others for now, Kerrigan. You're... unique, I can say that without a doubt." Percival commanded.

I nodded, walking away with an exasperated expression. My social battery isn't built to last. I was in the grounds earlier than the rest so I just stood in a random spot in the field.

Soon students filtered into the vast field. Every single first-year was present— the top ten on the other hand stood at the very front. The royals as they were called. They faced the entirety of the student body— expecting reverence.

All except Andrea, too busy gently petting Corvus — the little bastard perched on her shoulder like he owned it.

I wasn't complaining. He was happy, I could feel it through the pact. It was like catching a glimpse of sunlight in a cave I'd spent my life crawling through.

Happy.

How long has it been since I was?

Glancing to my right, I caught Bodhi shifting uncomfortably — he'd been like that since he saw the scars.

My jaw tightened.

They looked at me like I was broken. Like I was less.

I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood.

My discomfort was cut short when Percival's voice bellowed across the field.

"First years. Split into your standard 4 groups. Group A at the northern sector, Group B at the eastern sector, Group C at the southern sector and Group D at the western sector. We have a new student today, no need for introduction as you may know who that already is. Kerrigan will be joining Group A."

Great. Broadcast it to the whole damn world, why don't you.

Suddenly the field broke into a cacophony of gasps. I raised a brow as I didn't understand what was so shocking. Bodhi, noticing my confusion, calmly tapped on my shoulder. I turned to face him— he leaned in and whispered.

"Mate, you're in my group and uhh... they're getting their panties in a bunch cuz you're in the same group as the Royals."

Ahhh I see. 

Of course. Put the outcast with the golden children.

I took a deep breath.

FUCK YOURSELF PERCIVAL!

Whenever I wanted my life to be calm, docile, maybe even uneventful. Shit just has to hit the fan at full speed.

From the distance, I could faintly see the corner of Andrea's lips curling up into a faint smile. The other royals weren't too pleased. Especially Josiah and Liliana. They could be mistaken for serial killers for the glares they were giving me from across the field.

I hate my life.

Soon the students dispersed into their respective groups— I headed north to Group A beside Bodhi. I let out a deep breath steeling my mind for any bullshit.

"I'm sorry mate."

Bodhi broke the silence, placing a hand on my shoulder as he softly spoke. Caught off guard, my breath hitched.

"I shouldn't have acted that way— I just didn't expect it. Sorry for insulting you, you went through some tough shit."

"So... I'm sorry for how I acted."

He... apologised.

The sensation was foreign. This was the first genuine apology I had ever gotten, in my life. I stammered.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

"I-it's fine. Really. Don't beat yourself up Bodhi..."

The silence lulled as we walked.

He then extended his hand and looked at me with a cocky smirk.

"So friends."

"..."

I stared at his hand.

Friend.

The term was indescribably alien to me. All my life I'd been tortured, beaten, bullied. I never had a friend yet he wants us to be that. A wretched fragment of my soul screamed NO, that HE'S LYING, that HE'S LIKE THE REST.

Is he?

He's been nothing but genuine so far.

Yes he's been a dick but at least he's honest about it.

HE'S DECEIVING YOU

I don't think so.

My hand hovered mid-air. Every instinct screamed at me to retract it, to bite, to run.

But... I didn't.

I meet his hand with mine— shaking on it.

"Friends."

NO!

Yes.

Saying the word itself— filled me with a familial warmth. I let out a small smile.

"Let's hurry now."

Bodhi nodded and we both made our way to Group A.

As I closed in on the northern sector of the training field, I felt lighter—like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Like a noose had loosened from around my neck. I could finally breathe.

Was this... happiness?

Suddenly an image of Richard flashed in my mind. The sick fuck laughing as he beat me with a cane— while I begged for mercy, my skull denting from each blow. Blood dripped from my forehead, running down my eyes.

I don't deserve to feel happy.

Not until Araca is gone.

My smile vanished as I reached Group A— the royals already there waiting with other students of high ranking. There were only about 40 students in Group A, as it was the cream of the crop. I moved robotically into the crowd, locking my impassive gaze on our instructor, Percival.

"All right Group A, today we'll be training our hand-to-hand combat skills. Please pick a sparring partner and spread out on the field. We will be doing 3 rounds of 3 minutes to warm up and then for fun we'll do a mini tournament of the winners. Let's get to it Group A, give it your all."

"YES SIR!"

Everyone roared with enthusiasm, their blood pumping with excitement for the mini tournament. I was quiet— that image of Richard enveloping my vision. Their enthusiasm was muffled, distorting into static as the scene played repeatedly in my mind.

To everyone else I was staring into space. For me, I felt my skull getting bashed in, my skin being torn, being fed dirt. The pain slowly evaporated whatever fragile warmth of happiness I'd felt from Bodhi's offer for friendship.

I'm going to kill all of them.

Man, woman or child.

If they wear the brand of Araca—

I'll rip it from their skin.

I don't deserve happiness until I've ripped theirs away.

Suddenly I felt two soft hands touching my hands— gently squeezing them.

"Kerrigan? Are you okay? Your hands were shaking."

My eyes momentarily widened, the static vanishing. I tilted my head up to see who it was.

Ahh... Andrea.

"I-I'm fine. Don't worry, go find your sparring partner."

Corvus jumped from her shoulder onto mine. He whispered in my ear quietly, almost shakily.

"Papa... don't think like that. I'll bite them if they come back."

Oh. I forgot he can read my mind.

[Papa, we can also talk through our thoughts.]

Of course you can, I'm not even surprised.

Your English has gotten better. Good job Corvus.

[Thank you Papa!]

"Liar... I'll deal with you later." Andrea mumbled.

She tried to be cold but I could swear that I could see the faintest pout on her lips.

Fuck that was cute.

As I gazed upon Andrea's retreating figure. I felt a firm hand on my shoulder from behind. I jolted slightly as I snapped my torso around to face them. I went cold as I saw who it was.

"Looks like you got your nose fixed James."

It was James, one of Josiah's lackeys from my first lesson. The one who I punched because he kept breaching my personal space. His nose looked all healed up— only a simple plaster remained.

James glared at me with wrath.

"You. Me. Spar. NOW!"

With a bored expression I blankly stared at him. I was already mad— now I have a medium to vent it through.

Tilting my head with a smirk I nodded.

"Sure. I'll beat your ass again James."