A Villain by Default

The air in the cafeteria feels heavy, like a storm waiting to break. Everyone's eyes are on me, their expressions a mix of irritation and restrained fury. Caelum's friends look ready to pounce, though he's calm—a rock in the middle of an increasingly hostile sea. Meanwhile, I'm sinking fast, and my Dignity+ trait is holding my head under.

That damned trait. I didn't mean it like that. Well, not entirely.

"That's all right," Caelum says, his voice steady. It's infuriating how composed he is. "I understand your position."

Seraphine's glare could slice through steel. The others, Finnian and the rest of Caelum's entourage, exchange skeptical looks. It's clear they're not buying it, whatever "it" is.

I force myself to swallow the lump in my throat. Their disdain burns, pricking my skin like needles. But I didn't come here to make friends. I'm here for answers—for survival.

"You can ask, Eclipse," Caelum says, gesturing slightly. His words are an invitation, but there's a challenge in his eyes.

My heart pounds. This is my chance, maybe my only chance. I have to tread carefully, but that's easier said than done when your own personality trait is out to sabotage you.

"What weapon are you using as your primary?" I ask, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.

Caelum raises his hands, palms up. His fingers are calloused, a testament to hours of training.

"A greatsword," he replies simply.

I nod, committing the detail to memory. A greatsword. That aligns with a specific route. Progress.

"Do you have a magic pendant?" I ask next, trying to keep my voice steady. "Perhaps one that was given to you?"

Without hesitation, he reaches up and pulls a silver chain from around his neck. At its center hangs an emerald pendant, catching the light.

"It was a gift from my old teacher," he says.

Relief washes over me, though I fight to keep it off my face. That pendant confirms a lot. But there's one final question, the most important one, and I have to ask it without making this worse than it already is.

But of course, my cursed trait has other plans.

"Did you kill the kid?"

The words echo like a thunderclap. The cafeteria falls silent. Even the students who weren't paying attention before are now staring, wide-eyed.

Caelum's companions stiffen, their reactions ranging from shock to outright fury. Seraphine's face twists in anger, and Finnian's hand drifts to the hilt of his sword. I'm one misstep away from being skewered in the middle of lunch.

But Caelum… Caelum doesn't move. He doesn't react like I expect him to. Instead, he raises a hand, silencing his group.

He looks at me, his face unreadable, but there's a flicker of something in his eyes. Pain, maybe. Regret.

"No," he says quietly, after a long pause. "I couldn't save her."

The weight of his words settles over the table like a shroud. Seraphine's anger melts into sadness. Finnian looks down, his face shadowed. Even the other students seem affected, their earlier curiosity replaced with an uncomfortable silence.

I feel like I've been punched in the gut. Guilt churns in my stomach. I didn't come here to dredge up painful memories, but that's exactly what I've done. For a moment, I consider apologizing, but I push the thought away. It wouldn't help, and it's not like they'd believe me anyway.

"That's all I needed to know," I say instead, my voice barely above a whisper.

I turn to leave, eager to escape the weight of their gazes. But as I'm walking away, a tray collides with my chest, and something warm and greasy splatters down the front of my jacket.

I freeze. Slowly, I look down. Stew. Mashed potatoes. Gravy. All over my pristine blue suit.

The girl holding the tray gasps. She's blonde, with bright yellow eyes that are wide with horror. Tessa. A commoner training to be a paladin. Clumsy, too, if this little incident is any indication.

She stares at me, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. Her gaze flits between the mess on my jacket and my face, panic growing with every second.

I can practically see the thoughts racing through her mind. She's just ruined the clothes of a noble. A particularly notorious one, at that.

For a moment, I wrestle with myself. I don't want to make this worse. I don't want to say anything at all. But my Dignity+ trait has other ideas.

The words slip out before I can stop them.

"Fuck off, bitch."

The cafeteria falls silent again. Dead silent.

Tessa's eyes widen, her cheeks flushing a deep red. Around us, students exchange incredulous looks, their expressions ranging from shocked to amused to utterly baffled.

I'm glad they didn't understand what I meant.

And me? I'm already walking away, leaving the mess and the stares behind. My chest is tight, my face burning with embarrassment.

I've barely made it three steps when I hear a soft, amused chuckle. It's light, almost melodic.

I glance back, and my eyes land on her. The elf. She's seated at Caelum's table, her delicate ears tapering to fine points and her lips curled in a knowing smile. Her gaze follows me, sharp and curious, as if she's just found the most interesting puzzle in the world.

I quicken my pace, her laughter echoing in my ears. Somehow, it's worse than the silence.