"WHY ARE YOU NOT ANGRY, THIRD BROTHER?! TELL ME! WHY ARE YOU NOT FURIOUS?!"
The entire hall was dead silent as every single demon stared at the fuming Thorgan with a stunned and shocked expression.
Simon looked at Thorgan for a moment, and when he saw that Thorgan was still staring at him with fury in his eyes, he closed his eyes and sighed.
"There’s no reason to be angry, Thorgan. Your anger won’t change a thing. My anger won’t change a thing, so it’s better to be calm."
The sound of Thorgan gritting his teeth drifted into the ears of those close to him, and he clenched his fists tightly.
"It still doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense at all. It isn’t fair. How could you be a slave of the clan?"
"Your score was far higher than any other person in the trials, and if there was a third trial like she said, you would have most likely won because I fought with you and I know just how powerful you are. I would even struggle against you."
"So why? Tell me why you have to face such injustice and disadvantages when you’re so talented? Shouldn’t they nurture you and value you?! Why suppress you?!"
Bang!
Thorgan slammed his fist on the pillar in anger once again, causing it to crack the more, and the Velari looked at the slight crack on the pillar with a slight narrow of his eyes.
Meanwhile, Simon was stunned and truly taken aback.
He had not expected such a reaction from Thorgan in the slightest, and everything in him was telling him that Thorgan was truly furious and pained at his treatment.
Thorgan’s reaction reminded him of a feeling he had long buried in his mind and heart.
A feeling that reminded him of some of his comrades in his past life.
Friendship
’Does... Thorgan truly see me as a friend or as a brother?’
This thought appeared in Simon’s mind, and although another voice was telling him to bury this thought and feelings because of his experience, he could not lie that Thorgan’s words and emotions touched him.
A light smile appeared on his lips behind the mask.
"It’s okay, Thorgan. Be calm and let go of your anger."
He stepped forward and placed his hand on Thorgan’s shoulder.
"Besides, you don’t know why the clan made me a slave. So, take the rewards of first place, use it to strengthen yourself, enjoy the rewards, and don’t make my problems yours."
"But- but-"
"But nothing, Thorgan." Simon cut off Thorgan with a shake of his head. "Do as I say, Thorgan. Like I said, your anger or my anger would not change anything. So, calm down Thorgan and focus on yourself. I’ll handle my problems myself, and if I need you for something, I’ll reach out to you."
Thorgan stared into Simon’s eyes behind the mask, and when he saw that Simon was truly calm and not raging in the slightest, he could not help but shake his head with a smile.
"You are truly something else, third brother. You’re always so cool and calm no matter the situation. I think you’re even more calm than first brother."
Pat pat
Simon patted his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah. And for the millionth time, stop calling me brother."
Thorgan chuckled. "Sure thing, third brother Blackmoon."
Simon’s lips twitched behind his mask, and fortunately for Thorgan, fighting was not aloud in the hall.
If not, he would have taught Thorgan a lesson.
"You really are a stubborn kid." Simon shook his head with a sigh, then he shifted his gaze back to the Velari.
"Is that all I’m to be given?"
The Velari nodded. "Yeah. You have everything."
The Velari then shifted his gaze to Thorgan.
"Also, it would be better if you call one another by your titles, not your actual names. There’s no rule against it, but for your sake, using your titles is better."
Thorgan nodded, then he looked at Simon.
"From now on, I’ll be calling you Brother Broken Halo."
Simon’s left eye twitched. "What’s with you and the word ’Brother’? Just call me Broken Halo."
Thorgan said nothing, and just chuckled.
"You can also add brother to my title."
"Never. Absolutely not."
Simon quickly walked away before Thorgan said another thing to raise his frustration meter past his limit.
"Hey kid."
"Hmm?" Simon raised a brow and looked at the Velari.
"I like you. So, if you ever need any help, you can come to me. I might be able to offer some help."
Simon said nothing for a moment, then he tilted his head slightly with his eyes smiling.
"But you’re just a Lesser Demon like me. What help can you offer aside from your status as a Velari?"
The Velari’s eyes widened in disbelief, then he chuckled awkwardly.
"Well... I guess you’re right."
Simon shook his head, then he turned and walked to the other Initiates who had registered with the Velari.
"Anyway, I might take you up on your offer. The influence of the Velaris in the clan cannot be ignored. So, thank you."
The Velari looked at Simon with a tinge of surprise and admiration.
’This kid sure is something. I nearly made a mistake by revealing that I possess more influence and power than what is possible for a Lesser Demon. He pointed that out by insulting me and also praising the status of my race in the clan.’
’It seemed like he was rejecting my help, but then he accepted it by further elevating the status of the Velaris in the clan, making it to look like I can only help him through my racial status and not my personal power.’
’He rejected and then accepted my backing. What a lad... I doubt he knows my true rank since even Archfiends would struggle to pierce the veil I placed around myself. But the way he speaks is quite... intelligent and mature.’
’Is he really a sixteen year old boy?’
The Velari shook his head and did not give a response to Simon’s words.
He shifted his gaze to Thorgan, and curiosity could be seen in the eyes of the Velari.
"What do you want your title to be?"
Thorgan’s eyes shined with excitement at this question. He had been holding it in for a long time, and now it was time for the world to know the awesome title he came up with.
"Shadow Monarch."
"..."
The Velari gave him a blank look, and without hesitation...
"Rejected."
He rejected such a title.
Thorgan was stunned and horrified.