No More Pain For This Villain.

Amidst the bustling activity encompassing the Mage's Gambit preparations on the academy grounds, a singular girl lay sprawled upon her bed, encased in bandages like one pummeled by a tempestuous Thargtusks.

Mary was ensnared in an overwhelming sense of numbness, a peculiar dichotomy of physical pain intertwined with a detachment enveloping her heart and mind for the past two days.

Her vacant eyes fixated on the unyielding ceiling, tracing patterns unseen. A dull ache reverberated through her, but it was eclipsed by the hollow emptiness gnawing at her core.

"Are you not going to see Adam off?" inquired the Elven Princess, her gaze laced with sympathy and pity directed at the shattered girl.

Post her tumultuous bout with Vexa, a legion of healers and teachers labored over Mary. The outward scars seemed manageable, but the underlying damage ran deep. Vexa had nearly obliterated Mary's mana veins—an inexplicable feat, given Vexa's mastery over the water element. Yet, it wasn't the spectacular control over water that bewildered observers; it was witnessing Mary's defeat that sent shockwaves through the academy.

In the Elishia Forest, Mary, alongside Adam Stales, had been the epitome of resilience, navigating through the harsh wilderness with stoic determination. The stark contrast of her current state to that past strength resonated within Elsa, fostering an urge to empathize with this once indomitable spirit now laying vulnerable.

Mary's reticence following the match was profound, evoking a sense of disconnection as if her voice had evaporated into the ether, leaving her hollow and silent.

Elsa's attempts to engage fell into an abyss of silence, prompting her to exhale a resigned sigh before departing, leaving Adam lingering outside. He hesitated to intrude, cognizant of Mary's prideful demeanor. As her chief rival, he understood her disdain for weakness, especially when confronted with her own.

They exchanged a silent acknowledgment before parting ways.

Inside the confines of her room, Mary's flickering thoughts hovered around her like a persistent shadow, casting an unnerving pall over her fragile state.

"When did everything spiral out of control?" her voice barely audible, cracked like parched earth.

A cavalcade of fragmented memories stampeded through her mind, each frame eliciting a pang—from the invigorating ascent onto the stage to the crushing moment of defeat upon the unforgiving floor. The reel of images served as a relentless reminder of her staggering loss, etching a profound sense of regret and despair within her already fractured spirit.

The memory was raw, Vexa's unnerving composure haunting Mary, but that wasn't what troubled her the most.

"He... saw me," she groaned, endeavoring to rise.

"He?" Her thoughts replayed the look of surprise on Ren's face when he witnessed her brutal beating and the subsequent focus on Vexa.

It felt peculiar. Despite her agony, his gaze immediately shifted away from her, fixating on Vexa as if she were an enigmatic fascination—a glint of admiration shining through.

Struggling to steady herself, Mary winced as her feet made contact with the floor. Retrieving a robe from a nearby hanger, she wrapped it around herself.

Her mind raced with questions. Why hadn't he rushed to her side? Wasn't it his obligation? Did he not love her? Shouldn't one act swiftly for someone they adore, someone they revere?

She grappled with the situation, tormented by a deep sense of regret for Ren witnessing her ignominious defeat.

Observing Raven tending to Ren's wounds, her movements akin to a frenzied creature, incited a surge of irritation within her.

"How dare she touch Ruu?! How dare she converse with him after that day!?" Her thoughts were a tempest, on the brink of a detonation.

Why shouldn't they be? Ruu was hers, destined to be hers, but reality was skewing from her grasp.

She knew Ren wouldn't stray, yet with each passing day, her certainty seemed to waver.

He had grown stronger, more resilient than ever before, and she couldn't fathom how. A solitary figure, he had forged connections, but how had a recluse like him managed such a feat?

"Why hasn't he approached me... I did ask him to keep his distance, but... should he not have inquired about my well-being?" Her mind buzzed as she left her room, the dorm now empty, proceeding towards the exit.

As the realization struck Mary that Ren, too, was leaving the academy for Eshmera that day, her heart pounded with a mixture of emotions—pain, regret, and an overwhelming sense of desperation. Despite her body aching and screaming with exhaustion, she couldn't suppress the urgency to reach Ren before he departed. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Barely able to gather her strength, Mary dashed out of her dorm room, her vision slightly blurred by the pain throbbing in her temples. Her breaths came in short, sharp gasps as she navigated the academy grounds. Pushing herself to her limits, she maneuvered through the crowd, her determination driving her forward.

When she finally emerged in front of the departing carriages, a surge of panic coursed through her. Her eyes fell upon Ren, his arms wrapped tightly around Raven. They stood in an intimate embrace, Ren's hand gently patting Raven's head as if comforting her. The sight pierced through Mary's already shattered heart, a profound sense of loneliness enveloping her.

With the last ounce of her energy, Mary stumbled forward, her legs failing her, and she collapsed just as she reached the edge of the crowd. The world around her spun, her consciousness slipping away in the grip of sheer fatigue and emotional turmoil.

As her eyelids grew heavy, the last image etched into her mind was Ren's embrace, and then darkness engulfed her, claiming her in unconsciousness.

Mary's breaths came in shallow gasps, the realization of her futile attempt weighing heavily upon her. Her mind echoed with the sight of Ren holding Raven, a gesture that etched a deep pang of regret and longing within her.

Amidst the chaos of her crumbling resolve, the world swirled into an incomprehensible blur. She tried to reach out, to call out to Ren, but her voice betrayed her, lost in the void of unconsciousness as she collapsed into the arms of darkness.