Chapter 96 -- Next move

After being saved by the instructors, the group walked to Kieth and Charlotte's home since it was closer.

Zane had asked the trio why they had stood up for him even though they knew pretty well that they would die. 

He had first thought that the others knew the instructors where following them, however that turned out not to be the case. The answer as to why the group stood up for him shocked Zane to no end.

Apparently, Ken has what he calls the 'gut feeling', according to him this gut feeling of his was never wrong. 

Even Kieth and Charlotte had complete trust in Ken's gut. Zane was really shocked that they would risk their lives for a feeling, however he then remembered that he wasn't on earth.

The presence of mana made the impossible possible so Zane didn't pursue that matter further. If they trusted their gut feeling, who was he to say otherwise?.

He just asked them not to get themselves in danger because of him. Gut feeling or not, he didn't want to have Charlotte's death on his hands....oh Keith and Ken too.

"Zane, is what i heard the truth?" Bella asked, the other instructors also showed interest in Zane's answer to Bella's question.

"What did you hear?" Zane asked.

"Things like having the lightning element, being able to help mortals breakthrough and planning to steal from David" Damian said.

Zane was surprised "I never planned to steal from David" he said "Chris might have lied to David, that's why they are so hell bent on killing me" Zane mumbled in realization.

"So are you going to try and explain everything to them?" Kieth asked. The group didn't even think that Zane would lie to them. It's not that they trusted him, it's just that they didn't care.

"Not a chance, they tried to kill me and Char... they tried to kill us, and almost succeeded. I am not in the business of forgiving people."

"What i am going to do is get stronger as fast as possible and kill them all. As for Chris, I will make sure even his ancestors feel the pain i will inflict on him." Zane clenched his fist.

Kieth and Ken unconsciously took a step back after feeling the killing intent Zane radiated.

"I understand you want to kill him and you have every right to, but don't you think you're blowing this thing out of proportion?" Bella asked. As she saw it, Chris divulged a few secrets, that's it. All he deserved was death, not whatever Zane was cooking up in his mind.

"He made me break a promise i made to father" Zane said. Once again he felt that something was wrong, he didn't know what, but something just didn't feel right everytime he thought about his parents.

The group just nodded, and didn't ask further. They all saw that the topic affected Zane and they didn't want to upset him.

"What about the other stuff?, like the lightning element for example" Bella said.

Zane thought for a while before answering "I'm sorry I can't answer that as of now" he said. Zane remembered the words of Old man very clearly.

Since what happened with Chris, Zane decided to never tell anyone anything anymore. No matter how much he thinks he trusts that person, they can always betray him.

'If only i could go back in time, i would kill Chris and keep my secrets secret' he thought.

<<I am almost one hundred percent sure that it's possible to go back in time>> Alex said.

'What!?, how??' Zane asked. If he could do it he wouldn't even hesitate.

<<Become a Magus>> Alex said bluntly. Zane's hope was dashed just like that.

'How long will it take for me to become one?' he asked.

<<At 600 least years>> Alex said.

'Alex?'

<<Yes? >>

'Fuck you'

"It's okay we understand" Bella said. Zane would be lying if he said he wasn't shocked. He thought the group would interrogate him for answers but apparently they didn't care!.

"That's it?, aren't you gonna ask me more" Zane said.

"No it's none of our business. Anyway we probably aren't going to see each other ever again after the tournament is over" Bella shrugged.

That's when it dawned on Zane. He realized that since he was no longer part of David's team he had already determined that he was now part of Kieth and the others.

Zane didn't want to admit it, but he was afraid of being alone. He was alone with no human contact for three years after all, he didn't want to experience anything close to that again.

His need to have friends almost got him killed, back then, he didn't kill Chris because he wanted a friend. Now that same friend betrayed him and has officially made his life harder.

He noticed that he tries his best to get close to everyone he encounters, he had already considered Kieth, Ken and Charlotte his friends but they haven't known each other for more than a month.

'My desire for companionship will lead to my downfall' he thought.

.

.

Zane just nodded to Bella's words and continued following the group. It didn't take long for them to arrive at Kieth and Charlotte's home. 

Damian and Charlotte's instructor also disappeared when their students went into the safety of their home.

Ken and Buck also went their separate ways and Zane was left alone with Bella. That's when Zane realized that he kinda didn't have a home anymore.

He did have around 300 gold left and could afford to rent a house for some time. However, without income that money would eventually run out.

"Hey instructor Bella?" Zane smiled and tried his best attempt at puppy eyes. Of course it was effective on Bella, over the past month she had grown quite fond of her student.

"What do you want?" she asked, she knew that Zane only called her 'instructor' when he needed something.

Zane scratched the back of his head "I'm homeless" he faced the ground.

"Ohh don't worry about that, i got you. You are my student after all" Bella smiled.

"Thank you so much, i promise to pay back all your money as soon as i get it" Zane smiled. He was really happy to be lent some money by Bella even if he didn't know how he would pay it back. 

"What are you talking about, I'm not giving you any money" Bella said.

"But you said you got me!?" Zane exclaimed, surprised.

"Yes i got a place for you to stay" Bella explained.

"Ohh ok where?" Zane asked.

"You're going to live with me, my husband and our three kids" Bella said. Zane was left with his mouth wide open. He wasn't expecting that at all.

"Umm,...well.....I.." Zane stammered, thinking of a way to politely decline Bella's offer. There was no way he would live with Bella's family.

Bella glanced at Zane and suddenly burst out laughing "I'm joking Zane, you will live with teacher until the tournament is over, then you're on your own" she said.

Zane heaved a sigh of relief, but then he started thinking 'What will i do after the tournament?'. Zane had put part of his entire future on hunting with team David to grow stronger, but now since that was impossible, Zane didn't know what his next move was going to be.