Chapter 72 – Ripples through one action

The scandal that occurred inside the Amaris Mansion with Joe Jurish remained contained, not a whisper of it escaped the walls.

Oh no.

That was something Anesthesia would never allow. Her reputation would be thoroughly tainted, giving ammunition to those who already loathed her in secret.

And she was lucky, because everyone who had witnessed the scene — from the regular servants to the guards to Leo the Butler — not only loved her and had no interest in staining her image, but also feared what would happen to them if they ever dared. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

If there was one thing they all understood, it was this: no one touched a single hair on Anesthesia’s head unless they wanted Sophia’s black, cold eyes to settle on them.

It would be, without doubt, the greatest and last mistake they ever made.

Even so, that event had changed many things. Things no one could yet begin to grasp. Things that would affect outcomes no one could yet begin to guess.

But one thing was clear.

To Anesthesia and Emrys, Joe Jurish had become a sharp, irritating thorn in their glorious path. A path that Sophia cared about more than anything. A path the Stormblessed had spent years paving and smoothing.

So it was no longer a fight between three young people driven by grief, ego and anger.

It had become a fight between three noble houses, with one of them severely, life-threateningly outmatched.

And that situation raised a question that all who knew of the matter asked themselves:

What could a Tier Three Family do against a Tier Three like the Amaris and a Tier One?

The answer was — and it could not be otherwise — they could do nothing at all.

No matter their pain, no matter their anger, no matter their frustration...nothing could be done. Because they were weak. And because of their weakness, they had no right to seek justice for the death of their own family member.

Because of their weakness, the whole Badur Kingdom read the news of Nick Jurish’s murder on the Net and gossiped about it like any hot topic for a few hours, before moving on with their own lives, not truly caring, each carrying their own burdens.

It was the same thing that had happened to the Tier Three Kanam Family, half destroyed by Sefira Hood Desdemona on a random day.

And now the Jurish were living it. Which made them understand, fully, how painful and harrowing it was to sit on the weaker side of the game.

For a brief instant, the thought that this might be how commoners lived their entire lives flashed through their heads...and they all shuddered in horror.

What they didn’t yet understand — and could not yet grasp — was that the life of a commoner was far worse. And yet, in some twisted irony, also far better.

However, none of that was something they particularly cared about at the moment.

Because of their weakness, on Saturday the seventh of July, Joe Jurish was disowned by his own family, his vacation cut short as he was sent back to Elysia Academy early, where he would stay forever if he was wise, and where he would have to grow strong enough to survive.

Joe Jurish was disowned not because his family hated him, but because his family did not want to be eradicated. They chose to sacrifice one to save the whole.

People said the Desdemona were devils.

That was true. The Desdemona didn’t shy away from it.

But the Stormblessed?

That was a family no one wanted to cross, because if that day ever came...

...even the heavens would be against you.

And yet, despite it all, a woman — after hearing of the death of her only son — ran all the way to the Capital, to the Church of Death, and fell to her knees there, hands pressed to her tear-soaked cheeks, her mouth able to do nothing but repeat the same lament:

"My son, Lord of Death. My son has passed through your Gate far too soon. Far too soon, O Lord! Give him back to me. My son, Lord! My son!"

Again. And again. And again.

Until another old woman, wearing the black dress of the Church, stepped outside to watch the grieving mother.

"The grief of a mother for her son." The old woman, crimson hair stained by wisp of white and crimson matching eyes, muttered softly. "Ah, young woman. Now that is something I understand all too well."

She knelt and reached out a hand.

"Come, then. The Lord of Death does not return a soul that has already passed through his Gate alas. But there is solace, young woman. There is solace in knowing he is safe, that he is with the Lord. So grieve. Grieve and still be content, for your son has left a wretched, sinful life for a better, holy one."

The young woman burst into tears and instinctively seized the cold, deathly hand offered to her.

And instantly lost consciousness, her body and mind giving out under the weight of pain and exhaustion.

...

"What in the Queen’s name is this?" Cassius asked, sitting at the edge of his bed, genuinely surprised, looking at his phone where the news of Nick’s death and Joe’s disowning were the Golden News of the day.

He was on the phone with Isolde, who had called him to show him, because Cassius had been too busy training to browse the Net.

"It’s them, certainly." Isolde said, her voice through the speaker still a breeze that calmed his restless heart. "I am sure of it."

"You mean the Fangs?" He murmured, brows furrowed. "Why would they kill Nick? And what about the brother, Joe?"

"Why wouldn’t they?" Isolde echoed. "That’s the question you should ask. They don’t need a reason. If they want to do something, they simply do it. This was a warning for Anesthesia."

She sneered. "A warning she won’t understand at all."

"So in the end, they killed someone for no reason." Cassius said, suddenly remembering his conversation with Jabbar the Butler about acting with awareness.

Only now did he realise how important that lesson truly was. He had indirectly caused the death of one man, the disowning of another, and a subtle but profound crack in an entire family.

All because of his own decision. All because of one action.

’Queen above. This is insane.’

It was mind-blowing how one action could produce so many consequences.

As if he were standing at a sea and had thrown a single rock...a rock that produced ripples that caused more ripples that caused still more, until a storm had formed from them. And all of it without the innocent rock even being aware of what it had started.

That was Cassius Desdemona, sitting on the edge of his bed, realising once again how his actions were changing this world in ways it had never been changed before.

Because none of this had happened in the game. And there were certainly other things changing because of him without his knowing.

’This is dangerous.’ He thought. ’If I keep acting without considering the consequences, a day will come when those consequences will bite me square on the ass.’

That was something he would strongly prefer to avoid.

"Are you feeling guilty?" Isolde asked softly, concerned. She personally didn’t care. But she knew her husband might not be quite as cold-hearted as she was.

"Not really." He said. "Just reflecting. We caused all of this, and while we were doing it, all I was thinking was, ’Nice! I saved my ass and let Anesthesia and Emrys take the burn!’" He chuckled. Isolde chuckled with him. "But it’s far beyond just that. And I need to be aware of it. If not to protect myself from the fallout—"

"—then to use it in your own favour." Isolde finished, and Cassius could have sworn he heard the smile in her voice. "That’s good reflection. It’s always wise to anticipate consequences. We always fail to fully grasp them, but we can minimise them. This time we were lucky. For now."

"For now indeed." He nodded. "There’s still the matter of Horus. I haven’t heard anything yet. What about you?"

"Nothing yet. But I’ll look into it. I’ll keep you informed."

"Aye, darling. Appreciated." He smiled. "One more thing, is Joe a second-year?"

"Aye."

"What’s his standing?"

"Average in combat-related classes." Isolde replied. "But I heard he was the best in Alchemy. The Alchemy teacher doted on him."

"So maybe that teacher will take care of him?" He said, then smiled wryly and shook his head. "No. He won’t. The Stormblessed are involved."

"Aye." Isolde agreed. "His life... will be hell."

"Then you know what to do." Cassius said, closing his eyes. "He’ll reach out to you because of everything that just happened. Most likely."

"I’ll look into it." Isolde said. "Well, I need to go now. I want to practise piano today."

"Oh?" He arched his white eyebrow. "Since when did you start playing?"

"Since smoking is no longer something I do every day." She rolled her eyes. "I need something else."

"Why not just close your eyes and think of me?" He replied, smiling. "I think that’s a pretty good way to pass the time."

Isolde giggled through the phone. "I already do that enough, Cassius."

"Darling, it’s never enough."

"Then let me do it while playing the piano."

"That’s a compromise I can accept."

She laughed. "I might send you a video of me playing. You don’t know anything about music, but I’ll allow you to comment on my performance. Rejoice, you are my only spectator."

"Ah! How magnanimous of you, darling. Are you an angel?"

"Don’t curse me." She retorted. "I’m a devil. Your devil."

She hung up immediately, as if too embarrassed to stay on a second longer, knowing Cassius would only embarrass her further.

Cassius sat there for a moment, her words playing in his mind on a loop. Then he clutched his chest as if struck by sudden pain.

"Arghh! I could die of love for her." He said with theatrical intensity, dropping to his knees, then rolling onto the floor.

[This is genuinely concerning.] Ananke chimed in, watching him. [Are you insane?]

"With love!"

She sighed wearily. [Just think of me before you kill yourself, would you?]

"Queen, I can feel your weariness from here. Oh my. Maybe you don’t know what love is? How pit—!"

[Say one more word and you will regret it, Cassius Desdemona.]

Cassius only smiled, raising both hands in surrender, lying on his back on the floor and looking up as if he could see her directly. "You’re lucky today is Saturday, my dear Queen. And Saturday means..."

DING!

...Origin Store Day!

[Origin Store is now open!]

"Ah, come and give Daddy a good time!"

—End of Chapter 72—