<h4>Chapter 370 He and She</h4>


    "You''re really shrewd…" A soft but gravelly voice emanated from behind the stage as a girl with fiery red hair approached a boy with jet-ck hair.


    The boy was seated on a small brick, propped against a stall. The area was rtively quiet, with people bustling about doing their own things, paying no heed to the duo.


    "I always had a knack for it. Isn''t that what you thought of me?" the boy replied, shrugging. Even the shrug seemed to cause him difort, a subtle shudder coursing through his body. However, he maintained an unwavering expression.


    "Yeah…," the girl replied, her amber eyes fixated on the unnatural bulge in the boy''s shoulder, a clear sign of injury.


    "….." The boy seemed disinclined to respond, his hands slowly moving towards his shoulder, gripping his arm.


    CRACK


    With a swift motion and a satisfying crack, he maneuvered his arm back into ce.


    The girl winced from the sound, worry creasing her brow. "Doesn''t that hurt?"


    The boy''s crimson eyes turned into the girl, his face unchanging. "Pain is something I''ve grown ustomed to."


    As he adjusted his arm, the girl observed, torn between slight anger and awe. She was put in a hard position because of him, and she needed to make a harsh decision. Even though she didn''t have any problem with Eren, she remembered her mother''s words, so she did as she told.


    She cut the root of the possible problem for her family. However, she was still angry at the boy before her, knowing that he did that on purpose.


    Even then, she had witnessed his ability to endure pain before in her childhood as the times of the past came into her eyes once again.


    "One more time. Get up."


    "….."


    "I said get up."


    She felt like her own voice was echoing in her ears as she remembered those times, and she knew each time the way he stood up without giving in to the pain left her simultaneously impressed and anxious.


    "You should have that looked at. Do you think you are so tough?" she urged as she threw a look at him. Since he got the wound while he was still under the suppression of bracelets, his wounds would be a lot deeper, his body wouldn''t function properly, and the pain would be a lot worse.


    If you ask how did she know that….The answer shoulde up on its own…


    "I''ll manage," he replied to her, gingerly testing his arm to ensure it was back in its socket.


    "You''re incredibly stubborn," she sighed as she looked at him. She wanted to punch this bastard in the face now; she was angry. But she also knew how he had been going around and causing a scene while gathering attention from the students from her kingdom. Therefore, she also needed to care about how she behaved since most eyes were on her.


    The act they did just at the start of the academy was now biting them back, as that act worked as a tool to expose his link to her family.


    "Strong people are stubborn," he stated matter-of-factly. "In this world, it is the stubbornness that drives people to get stronger."


    She hesitated, searching his face for any signs of vulnerability. Yet, there were none.


    His perfectly sculptured face, which looked like the god made it on its own and put it as its finest piece of art, looked perfectly fine with his own words.


    "Tch…." Seeing that she couldn''t find anything to refute his words, she clicked her tongue. She was never meant to y with words anyway, and she preferred talking more directly.


    "Why are you doing this?" She finally asked, without beating around the bush.


    "Doing what?"


    "Don''t y dumb. Why are you antagonizing seniors? Don''t you know everyone is talking about you and your actions right now? You are ruining the festival."


    "I am not ruining anything."


    "Heh….Of course, you are."


    "Howe?"


    "What do you mean howe? You literally burned people alive."


    "So?"


    "What do you mean by so?"


    "I did that because I wanted to, and I had the ability and strength to do so. If it were off the rules, the academy would step in. Since they didn''t, that means I didn''t do anything wrong."


    "Just because the academy didn''t step in, do you think you can act how you want? Don''t you know your behavior affects me and others as well?"


    "So, what if it affects you? Why should I care?"


    Hearing him brush off like that, she couldn''t refute momentarily, and his words made her look at what happened in the past and remember those times.


    "..."


    "Right….." He replied, his crimson eyes boring through her mask. "I have no rtionship with you neither those close to you. I also have no obligation to listen to your words. Don''t talk like you and I are close."


    "Y-you…" Her eyes burned as her mana violently raised. Even though he was right, she was still angry about the fact that she needed to deal with the repercussions of his actions.


    However, just as her mana red, a sharp pressure descended upon her from the boy before her, crushing her and leaving her struggling for breath.


    "Urghk-!"


    She felt like a vice was squeezing her chest, making it hard to breathe. His eyes bore into her, and for a moment, she felt exposed, as if he could see through her very soul.


    "Emma." He recited her name. "Next time, think before giving up on your emotions. I won''t show any mercy if you direct your intent to me and treat me as my enemy. Mind your own business; this is myst warning."


    With each of his words and each second that passed, she felt her consciousness was about to slip in.


    SWOOSH


    "Haaaah....Haaaaaaahh..."


    As the pressure left her, she finally got the chance to breathe. She panted heavily, her lungs filling the air they missed.


    "And a piece of advice to you….You need to work on your voice….."


    With those words, he left her without sparing any other nce, leaving the panting girl alone.


    "Grr….."


    However, the girl simply gritted her teeth as she looked at his departing figure, his yellow eyes shining ferociously.


    "I won''t forget it…..Callius."