Chapter 4 Unfair Treatment
Cecilia Blackwood's POV
Rowan rushed over and grabbed my hand. "Come on, let's go. You don't belong here!"
From start to finish, she never looked at Kane again. Not even once.
I shook my head and pulled my hand back.
"I think I can sit here."
I'd tasted loneliness before. It wasn't pleasant.
I wanted to be friends with Kane. Yes, I knew the idea was crazy.
But I could read something in his eyes—he wasn't a bad person. At least not like everyone claimed.
Rowan frowned. "Stop being stubborn. Let's go. Unless you want to end up like the last person—completely disappeared!"
I refused again. "You go ahead. I'm fine sitting here."
"Of course, if you want to join me, I don't mind. Maybe we could all be friends."
I knew how absurd that sounded. Given Rowan's current reaction, she'd never befriend us—or rather, never befriend a dark mage.
Still, I hoped she'd let go of her prejudice. At least treat everyone fairly.
"Are you joking? That's impossible! Come with me now. I'm doing this for your own good, or you'll regret it!"
I shook my head. "I appreciate your concern, but I don't think it's as serious as you say. I'd rather stay here. I don't want to move again."
I could feel Rowan's helplessness, but I really didn't want to single out a classmate I'd never even spoken to on my first day at Star Ring Academy.
Left with no choice, Rowan didn't dare linger. She could only watch me make this "mistake."
"I know your surname."
Kane spoke suddenly.
I was startled, then pleased—because he was finally willing to talk to me.
Yes! Actually talk. Not like before, trying to drive me away with cryptic warnings.
"Really? How do you know it?"
Kane fell silent. No direct answer.
But I caught something—not just that he recognized my surname, but the flicker of surprise on his face when he mentioned it.
I didn't know why he'd be surprised, but at least it wasn't the cold indifference from before. His expression showed emotion.
That was good. Maybe we could be friends after all.
I set down my knife and fork and extended my hand.
"Since you know my surname... would you like to be friends?"
"No." Kane's refusal was swift and decisive.
"Why not?" I didn't understand. I was the only person in the entire academy treating him like a normal human being.
Even the headmistress and professors looked at him strangely.
The fact that he sat alone in the back three rows and nobody found it unusual, nobody tried to change it—that was what truly disturbed me.
Most troubling of all, even Kane himself didn't seem to think anything was wrong.
That wasn't fair. I felt it deep in my bones.
"Don't you want a friend? Other people won't be your friend, but I will."
"I know you mean no harm. You're not what they say you are. It's all hearsay. Slander!"
My voice grew louder—perhaps not just for him, but for all the students eating in the dining hall.
This was Star Ring Academy of Magic. There shouldn't be discrimination, unfair treatment. At least that's what I believed.
"Everything they say is true. Being around me brings no luck. Same goes for you."
"I recognize your surname, but that doesn't mean I won't hurt you. You'd better stay away from me, or you'll die a horrible death."
"Not just you. Your family will suffer too. They'll all end up as headless corpses. Not even whole bodies to bury!"
His words made everyone around us gasp.
Students grabbed their trays and backed away, maintaining a safe distance from him.
As for me, I froze in place, unable to believe what I'd just heard.
"You... what do you mean? Why are you bringing up my family!"
He shouldn't have mentioned my family. It was rude.
But Kane acted as if it were perfectly natural.
"I'm just stating facts. If you don't want to hear them, you can leave. Don't interrupt my meal. This is your last chance. Otherwise, face the consequences."
I'll admit I'm usually patient, but I'd had enough.
Maybe Rowan and the others were right. Someone like this shouldn't be approached. Shouldn't be befriended!
"You're right. I should go. I disturbed you. I should apologize! But I'm telling you—you shouldn't have mentioned my family. You owe them an apology!"
I didn't notice that everyone around me was looking at me like I was an idiot.
Well, more precisely, a brave idiot.
To say something like that to a member of the Ashworth family—I was probably the first in history.
In the Wizarding World, curses were unspeakable horrors. Anyone or any family afflicted by a curse had to be avoided. The farther, the better.
Getting close meant only one thing: dying without an intact corpse.
"Impossible." Kane's response remained flat, unconcerned. It made me uncomfortable.
"You have to apologize!"
My emotions were clearly running high. I felt my earlier gesture had been worthless.
I really shouldn't have come over. Someone like this didn't need friends!
Looking at the faces around me—shock written across every one. The way they looked at me had changed.
Before, they thought I was a brave idiot. Now I wasn't an idiot anymore. I was a lunatic! A death-wish lunatic!
Moments later, Rowan rushed over and grabbed my arm.
"Stop arguing! Let's go!"
"I'm not leaving! He has to apologize!" I wanted Kane to apologize, but Rowan was determined, physically dragging me out of the dining hall.
"Come on, come on! Forget the apology—staying alive is more important!"
Halfway out, I turned back. I clearly saw Kane's lips move.
"You and I—we're the same kind of person."
Yes. That's what he said. I didn't know what it meant, but I was certain I hadn't misheard!
After leaving the dining hall, I replayed those words in my mind: You and I—we're the same kind of person.
"The same kind? Why would he say that? He's a dark mage. Our identities couldn't be more different!"
"Is it because he knows my surname? Does knowing a surname make us the same?"
I wracked my brain but found no answers. In the end, I could only conclude I'd misheard. But how could I have?
Perhaps only by finding him and asking directly could I get the truth I sought.