“Auuuugh!”
...Only to watch in surprise as a radiant orb slammed into Roxas. There was a short but brilliant burst of light. Then, he went flying into the wall of the nearby building, hitting it with a loud thump before falling back down to the ground, unconscious.
“Um...”
Bewildered by the sudden development, Melia frowned with uncertainty at the new figure who’d appeared before her.
“I guess I should say thank you?”
A pair of leonine eyes gazed back at her.
“That is unnecessary,” said Cain Theresia. “The student council received a report from the tournament staff about some weapons being taken without permission. I simply disciplined the perpetrator. That is all.”
Then, he studied her more closely.
“You... are Melia. My next opponent, correct?”
“Wow, I’m honored that you know my name.”
Despite her calm front, Melia was actually shocked that Cain knew who she was. He was the celebrity of the school — stronger and more imposing than everyone else. Compared to him, she should have been just another student. Even if she was his next opponent, she still hadn’t thought that he’d have been able to identify her with one look. Perhaps it was a side effect of his interest in her master.
“I’ve been watching you for some time, and I find it intriguing that your abilities seem to far outstrip those of a mere student.”
“...Seriously? When’s the last time you looked in a mirror?”
“Hmph. I am an exception. My strength is the result of... circumstances ,” he said, making it very clear through his tone that he would be providing no further explanation. “But you’re also strong... and that’s why your actions puzzle me. Why would someone of your caliber insist on devoting yourself to that Sain Fostess? Your loyalty runs far deeper than that of a mere attendant. What is it that draws you to him?”
“Good question. Let’s just say I have my circumstances as well.”
She responded in kind. He narrowed his eyes at her.
“Circumstances... such as being in service to the holy knight?”
He drew no reaction from her. She was stunned, of course, but after seeing his recent behavior around Sain, some part of her had expected this to happen at some point. That sliver of prescience allowed her to keep up her poker face in the moment.
“Holy knight? I’m not sure I understand what you’re talking about.”
“There’s no need to play dumb. I can put two and two together. Those outrageous trinkets he covers himself with... those are all light magic seals, aren’t they? Admittedly, their identity is well-masked by their rather eccentric forms, but they don’t stand up to close scrutiny. The functional aspects of their design are identical to regular seals you can find on the market. I assume he had them specially made to hide their true purpose... but he should have gone further. Instead, his efforts have been rendered futile by his own sloppiness.”
Melia pressed her lips together, holding back the urge to simultaneously laugh and grimace. Cain’s reasoning was sound. Too sound, in fact, because it made a lot more sense than why Sain actually wore them. He correctly surmised that Sain had his seals specially made to conceal their purpose, but they could have been made to look like anything. The reason they ended up looking so outrageous was nothing more than personal preference. Sain just had terrible taste. Why else would anyone willingly cover themselves in those things?
The look in Cain’s eyes suggested that he was absolutely confident in his deduction, and he had every right to be, since — aesthetics rationale notwithstanding — his theory was otherwise entirely correct. By carefully analyzing a variety of information — including the bit about the seals — he’d pieced together by himself the fact that Sain was the holy knight. Figuring that he was long past the point of being fooled, she sighed and dropped the act.
“...Wow, you sure did your research, didn’t you? Would you like a cookie?”
A smile crept across his lips.
“I’m the student council president. Investigating students who engage in suspicious activity is part of my job.”
Then, the smile faded, and he fixed her with a grim, scrutinizing glare again.
“I have one question for you. Those things he says... Does he mean them? Is he serious about becoming the dark knight?”
“Hmmm, I’m pretty sure he’s serious.”
“So he is... Hmph, how asinine.” He snorted disdainfully. “He bears the mantle of the holy knight, yet strives to become the dark knight? Such absurdity boggles the mind. It’s little more than foolish debauchery — the ludicrous quest of a depraved noble determined to squander his undeserved wealth. Unbridled fancies are but a farce, and this is the greatest of them all.”
His voice dripped with scorn. Melia listened but didn’t speak. Her only reactions were a slight crease across her brow and a tightening of her jaw. They did not escape his notice.
“I see you take issue with what I said.”
“...Am I supposed to be delighted that you’re insulting my master?”
“If you find my words distasteful, then I apologize. I mean no offense. I have simply stated the truth,” he said, his voice devoid of any hint of apology or regret.
A rare fury began to build within Melia. Sain didn’t go around telling everyone why he wanted to become the dark knight; he kept his motivations to himself. Cain might have deduced much of the truth, but even he couldn’t be privy to Sain’s innermost thoughts. Cain’s anger was, therefore, justifiable... but only to a degree. Anyone else, knowing only that Sain was eschewing his privilege as the holy knight to become the dark knight, would have the same reaction.
That didn’t make her any less angry, though. Ever since Sain had set out on his quest, she’d been with him every step of the way. She’d seen the effort he’d put in. He’d always been a hard worker — almost in spite of himself — who labored toward his goals with a doggedness that few others could muster. The blood and sweat he’d expended along the way were immeasurable. Even in Jenifa, she doubted that there was a single student who worked harder than him, and all that hard work was finally starting to pay off. Sain’s efforts were no unbridled fancy, much less a farce. Cain Theresia might be peerlessly skilled, but he’d insulted Sain. Regardless of how strong he was, she wasn’t going to take that laying down. Trying hard to keep her tone civil, she looked him in the eye.
“...Let me give you some friendly advice,” she said, her voice not at all friendly. “I intend on winning tomorrow, so if I were you, I’d tread carefully around me... because it’s going to affect how badly you lose.”
That drew a reaction from him. He regarded her, eyes wide like he was seeing her anew. Then, the moment passed and he huffed out a breath.
“Whatever.” His wintry countenance returned. “You’re strong. But you won’t win.”