Chapter 15

I groaned at the intense pain in my ribs and shoulder after being brutally slammed against the wooden floor. I stared at Artemis, her fists raised, her gaze as intense as an endless night. Her cheek was bruised, and her lip wouldn’t stop bleeding, but she ignored it as if it were nothing.

We were in the wide corridor, a few meters away from the training room. The eyes of others still followed us, but no one dared to intervene. No one wanted to—except for Sensei, who had disappeared when we left the room amid screams and blood.

"You've been away for too long, boy," she shot, attacking me again.

I grabbed her wrist, twisting it and slamming her against the wall. Even though she winced in pain, she managed to dodge, making me punch the wall instead.

"It doesn’t matter how long I stay away. This place will always be mine," I declared, panting.

Artemis pressed her lips together, trying to pull her arm free from my grip. I heard her low groan of pain and fury.

"Do you really think they all still follow you?" she asked, breathless. "Do you have any idea how many are on my side?" she provoked, smiling with disdain.

Disgust filled me as I noticed how her smile reminded me of our father and how her menacing gaze seemed to swallow the corridor and everything around it.

"But do you know what our difference is?" she questioned, pulling me back to the moment.

I ignored her words and abruptly yanked her forward, striking her stomach with my knee. Artemis lost her breath as I threw her into the garden, onto the dry soil and stones. But I couldn't hide my surprise when she got up quickly, as if nothing had happened. She must have been so full of rage that she barely felt the pain—but soon, she would.

I jumped into the garden, feeling the more humid air and the earth beneath my bare feet. Sweat dripped down my back, and the smell of blood was starting to become nauseating.

"What is the difference?" I demanded, stopping in front of her.

The band that held her long hair snapped, sending a platinum cascade over half of her bruised face. Artemis didn’t look tired.

She was good.

Very good.

"What is the difference?" I repeated impatiently, as another smile took over her lips.

"While everyone fears you, they respect me," she answered, standing tall, filled with confidence. "But how could they not fear you after what you did?" she asked, tucking her hair behind her ear without breaking eye contact.

"Careful, Artemis," I warned, feeling my skin vibrate and my head throb intensely. "You weren’t here. You don’t know what happened," I cautioned, barely recognizing my own voice, but she only shook her head in refusal.

"You murdered one of our own, and even after admitting what you did, you remained the heir—with Habi blood staining your hands," she accused, full of disgust. I felt as if something had been driven deep into my chest.

I clenched my fists, feeling every pulse in my body, and I couldn’t stop the memory from invading my mind—the hot sun against my face, the strong smell of sweat and blood, the lifeless body under the bridge, twisted among the sharp river rocks. The day that seemed endless.

"You are a disgrace to our father," she spat, dragging me back to the garden, back to her furious gaze. "A disgrace to the He—"

Her words died as I lunged at her, bringing us both to the ground. I struck her face, making her gasp and tremble.

"Don't you dare speak about what you don’t know," I countered, my vision blurry, my voice rough. "You know nothing!"

"Or what?" she provoked with difficulty. "Are you going to kill me too?" she questioned, making me clench my fist even tighter. And just as I was about to strike, something yanked me away from her, pinning me to the ground.

Through my peripheral vision, I saw Tomy firmly holding my wrists behind my back. I screamed for him to let me go, writhing against the dirt, burning with rage over Artemis’s words.

"Lift him up."

I froze at the sound of my father’s voice and forced myself to meet his gaze as I was easily pulled to my feet. I remained silent as I watched him pick Artemis up from the ground and brush the blood-stained hair from her face.

"I'm fine," she muttered, lifting her head and straightening her posture.

He turned to me. He wore only a white shirt and black pants, his hair still immaculate. But I knew he had been preparing to rest before being called urgently. His eyes narrowed, studying me with careful disappointment.

"Take him," he ordered, not breaking eye contact with me.

I didn’t resist as I was taken back to the training room, where everyone was already seated, overwhelmed by tension. I was forced to my knees, and something hot churned in my stomach under the silent stares. Everyone remained motionless as my father approached, followed by Artemis, who struggled to stay on her feet.

"I don’t know what’s happening here, but it ends now. We cannot fight among ourselves and against the Lily at the same time. They are our enemies, so save all that rage and resentment for them, not our family," he declared, his voice cold and heavy. "If this happens again, I will punish you both myself. Do you understand?" he demanded, and a chorus of confirmation filled the room.

My father cast me one last silent glance before turning his back on me and leaving the room with Tomy. I looked toward the corner of the room when I heard a thud against the tatami—Artemis had fallen to her knees. A group rushed to help her and quickly took her to the infirmary.

How could they not fear you after you murdered one of your own?

Her voice echoed in my mind, making my bones ache.

Murderer.

You are a disgrace.

"Ryuuji."

I felt arms pulling me to my feet. I looked at the boys around me, at those who were still by my side.

"You need a doctor," Shin said, ignoring the girl.

I said nothing as I was taken one way and Artemis another. It was undeniable how divided we were and how this could be our downfall.