Chapter 15 Apology
Cecilia Blackwood's POV
I wasn't trying to steal anyone's secrets. I just wanted to truly understand dark mages. Maybe everyone had it wrong. Maybe dark mages weren't as terrifying as people thought.
If I could prove my theory through this book, Kane wouldn't have to suffer such unfair treatment anymore.
Just as I was about to open it, a shout came from the distance. "Stop!"
I looked up to see a portly man rushing toward me.
I instinctively stepped back, lost my footing, and fell hard toward the floor.
At the critical moment, a figure appeared behind me and caught my falling body.
Kane.
Without him, I would've hit the ground hard.
James rushed over and snatched the book from my hands. "Who said you could take this book? Don't you know it's forbidden?"
"Forbidden?" I was completely confused.
Fine, I genuinely didn't know. And there wasn't any label saying it was off-limits. How was I supposed to know?
"Look, I honestly had no idea. And you should've put a warning label on it. How else would I know whether I could read it?"
James immediately flew into a rage. "How dare you talk to me like that? Do you know who I am? I'm the library administrator!"
"Keep arguing, and I'll ban you from this library with a single word!"
"Now wait a second—" I started to step forward, but Kane pulled me behind him.
The moment James saw Kane, his arrogance vanished, replaced by sheer terror.
"You... what do you want? You going to hit me? This is the library! You lay one finger on me and I'll have you expelled!"
"Apologize." Kane's tone was cold but carried an undeniable authority.
I was afraid things would escalate. I tugged gently on his sleeve. "Forget it. I lost my balance on my own. I'm fine. Let's just go."
"Apologize!" Kane's voice grew sharper, his piercing gaze looking ready to tear James apart.
He was terrifying. This version of Kane felt like a different person entirely. Like his fury could burn the entire library to the ground.
In the end, James gave in. He bowed to me. "I'm sorry. I was too hasty. It was my fault for not managing things properly. I should have put a warning label on it. Please forgive me."
"Okay." I agreed without hesitation.
I didn't even want to imagine what Kane might do if I refused to forgive him.
After that little incident, I had no desire to stay in the library. Better to go outside and get some fresh air.
"You didn't need to be so harsh. I'm fine." I brought it up casually, as if it were no big deal.
Kane's response was as flat as ever. "He had to apologize. That's basic respect."
"What about you, then? All those people giving you strange looks—is that respect?"
"I don't care about that." Kane sounded carefree, but there was a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"What's wrong? Something on your mind? If there is, just say it. We don't need to hide things from each other."
"Why... why did you want to read that book?" Kane stammered slightly.
I knew he meant Dark Mage.
"I just wanted to see what dark mages are really like. Maybe everyone's got it wrong about you. I need evidence to make them shut up."
I didn't expect them all to be friends with Kane. But at the very least, they should show basic respect. Even just a neutral glance would be enough.
"That book won't give you the evidence you're looking for. And let them say whatever they want. I don't care."
Kane's tone was unusually relaxed. I couldn't tell if he genuinely didn't care or if he was just pretending.
Before I knew it, Kane had walked me back to my dorm.
"Alright, I'm here. You should head back too. See you tomorrow." I waved, but Kane didn't leave.
"What's wrong? Something else?"
"Tomorrow... can we have lunch together?"
I smiled. "Of course. I heard the dining hall opened a new place. Supposed to be pretty good. We can try it."
"And in the afternoon, we can go back to the mountain. If you're willing to come with me."
"I'm willing." Kane didn't hesitate for a second.
After saying goodbye, I walked into the dorm. But the moment I stepped inside, I froze. "What... what happened?"
Maybe Kane heard the shock in my voice, because he rushed over immediately. "What's wrong?"
I pointed to the three beds across the room. They were all empty. The belongings on the desks were gone too.
That's right. Rowan and the others had moved out. Maybe they thought I was too much trouble. Or maybe we just weren't compatible.
What I didn't know was that this was all thanks to Kane. They'd been scared—terrified that one day he'd storm in again and throw them into the Spiritual Spring below.
Kane glanced at me. "They moved out. Are you upset?"
"Why would I be?" I shrugged. "We were never on the same page anyway. Being around them just made me tense and uncomfortable."
"Now it's better. They're gone. No one's going to slap 'danger' warnings on my stuff or break into my lockbox anymore."
I placed the necklace back in the lockbox.
Looking at the empty dorm, I felt a strange sense of relief. Maybe I was just naturally suited to being alone. Not used to making friends.
Of course, Kane was an exception. Being around him didn't make me nervous or uncomfortable at all.
The balance between us was just right. Simply good friends. Nothing more complicated than that.
"Now it's just me in here. Want to come in and sit for a bit?" I invited him.
Kane stood frozen in place, pointing at himself. "I... I can come in?"
"Of course you can. It wasn't convenient before because there were others here. But now this dorm's all mine. You can come in whenever you want. At least until I get new roommates."
Kane stood at the door, hesitating. Like he was waging some kind of internal battle.
I stepped forward and pulled him inside. "Come on. Sit anywhere."
Kane sat on a stool, back perfectly straight, eyes scanning the room like everything was fascinating.
"By the way, what's your dorm like? What about your roommates? You've never mentioned them."
"I don't have roommates. Ever since I came to Star Ring Academy, I've been alone. The school never assigned me any."
"Maybe they did assign someone. But they didn't want to come. Whatever. It doesn't matter."
Kane's tone sounded casual, but I could hear the loneliness underneath.