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"What are you sorry for?"

"I am also sorry R." Strum also joined in as everyone's head dropped down in shame.

"Can you all tell me what is going on here?"

"We couldn't do anything to help you. And that we couldn't touch him right now. The main culprit of this ..." said Aryan.

"Wait. So you guys are saying sorry just for this? I mean, I know you guys are powerful and can turn Qurik into dust, but I would like to fight and end this 'war' that he started. Even if you guys could have helped, I would have been just sad. Just mend those relationships that you guys have tried to broke for me. I don't want to be called a 'Family-breaker' ya know. Hahaha"

"How the heck are you going to fight alone? You aren't even strong enough to defeat the Cryo, let alone defeat Qurik inside the are of Grott family." Strum became agitated.

"Defeat? Hehe. Guys, chill. I am not a fool to fight Qurik in school."

"If you don't want our help in defeating those guys, what can we do for you? In the end, you have a weaker background than ours. They would surely target you again." Aryan spoke with a concerned face.

"Background? Che. Just trust me this once. I just need one help. That is my family's safety. That's all. You would understand later." he spoke with a mysterious aura.

"Goddamn. You are still wrapped up in bandages. Why does it smell of mysteriousness?" Reyes spoke.

Everyone looked at him as if either he was a fool or he was a genius. Thinking about his background, the former thought had more worth.

Looking at their expressions, Raj gave a chuckle and told them, "Please guys. Can't you guys give this poor person to prove himself just once? You guys won't be disappointed."

Again, looking at their expressions, he just shrugged.

"Oh guys, remember, to make me a living corpse until I specifically tell you guys to reveal my health condition. And, Aryan, can you arrange for me to undergo training to increase my body strength as a cover?"

"Uhh, you seem like you are all fit and fine with all that bandages? The heck are you thinking about a cover?"

"Trust?"

"Ughh. You are alive and that's what matters. Just tell me what's to be done."

-~-~-~-~-

01/03/Trana/2871

Today was the day when the Term 1 mid-terms started. There are two terms in a year. And each has midterms and finals. Midterms are accounted for 40% of the total grade and the finals, 60%.

Raj got up early and went to school.

He felt like a celebrity when he entered the school compound. Looking at the astonished faces of everyone around, he couldn't help make his lips curve into a smile.

He went straight to the principal's office.

Knock Knock

"Come in"

Raj opened the door and went inside. An astonished effect bloomed on the principal's face.

"Good Morning Principal Sir."

"Go-Good Morning. How are you here Raj? Weren't you …?"

After listening to the principal. Raj understood that the principal was also a part of what happened to him.

"That is why I am here Sir. This is the Certificate of Discharge issued by the Head Doctor of the Meryar City."

"Head... Head Doctor? How did you get to the Do..."

The principal really gave it out. A small fear leaked out of him. But he soon got himself back.

"Give it to me."

He squinted his eyes for a while after reading the certificate. After that, he gave a sigh of defeat.

"Raj, you should understand. The Grott family will not let this go. To defeat them in their own territory."

Raj gave a chuckle. He knew why the Principal broke down the wall of suspense. The Mayor's Signature on the Certificate. It was on the behest of Raj that Aryan made this happen. It was not a big thing for Aryan and won't cause him any trouble or any family problems, but it was a big thing for the current Raj. The signature meant that the Mayor was behind him.

"It's just a matter of time for the Grott family. The reason I am here is that I want to appear in the 1st Midterms. Can I appear?"

"A matter of time? Whatever, I don't want to get in this mess if it's just you and the Grott Family. Are you sure about the Midterms?"

It was the same effect he wanted. He wanted the school to not interfere with his fight with Grott Family. He was elated but didn't show it.

"Yes, Sir."

"Okay. Go and take it."

The principal wrote a note and signed it.

"Thank you, Sir."

A Mayor's Signature made this note came to reality. Raj was satisfied with the results. Everything he wanted went smoothly. He left for his classroom.

After Raj left, the principal took his Magi-Phone and punched a number. But in the end, he didn't call it.

'Those bitches have pressured me a lot about this issue. Let them suffer now. This wave of the mess. Ugh. How many will get swept? Whatever I just hope that they won't do anything to the school. Or else that old monster...'

Instinctively, he shuddered.

-~-~-~-~-

Raj left the Principal's office and was on his way to his classroom.

He suddenly saw a shadow. He approached it.

Before he could find out who that shadow is, it showed itself. Rather it was a she. Demi.

"Why are you here?" Raj asked.

"Uhm. I wanted to talk to you."

"Thank you for providing me the evidence."

"N..No Problem. They sa.. said that you died…?"

"Haha. Did you really believed it?"

"Uhm. I did..didn't see you... So most probably you…"

Raj thought the conversation was taking a different turn.

Obviously, he was attracted to Demi. But after the fortuitous encounter, his goal changed. And so were his priorities. The feeling was the same, but to achieve it, he needed something. Power.

Power is something which, if you don't have, makes you want to have it. And if you have it, you want to have it more. A vicious cycle of greed. Which never ends. For certain people.

'Am I one of them? Obstacles, Goal, Hard Work, Achievement, Happiness. Obstacles are abundant. To end them, Repeat. Till death? Ugh. I haven't even started yet, why am I thinking about…'

"Hello… Hello?"

With his thought process interrupted, he came back to reality.

"Oh. Sorry about that. I am tough. It's hard to kill me."

"Yeah. You are tough. I saw what happened, but I couldn't do anything. I was… weak."

"Weak… weak… weak… In the end, it's all about being weak to become prey."

As he said that the system gave him a message.