Suzune's childhood Part 1

Having successfully aided the girl and the boy in their predicament, Ryujin noted the sky was darkening into twilight. The day had slipped away amidst the series of events, and now it was time to attend to the final order of the day – discovering his assigned dormitory.

He made his way to the school's main courtyard, where the dorm assignments were posted. The courtyard, typically bustling with activity during the day, now exuded a serene calm in the evening light. Students milled about, some chatting in small groups while others hurried toward their dorms.

Ryujin approached the large board displaying the dorm assignments. His eyes quickly scanned the names and ranks, searching for his own. There it was – 'Ryujin Wan, S Rank.' The designation didn't come as a surprise. His performance in the mock battles had been exemplary.

Being assigned to an S-rank dormitory meant recognizing his skills and abilities and accessing better facilities and resources. He knew this would further enhance his training and development, an immensely satisfying prospect.

◆

Ryujin headed toward the boys' dormitory as they parted ways while Lexia headed to the girls' dorm. The dormitories at their school were not just ordinary buildings; they were infused with magic at the same time. The girls' dormitory, in particular, was protected by a spell known as "Keiyaku no Kabe," or the Barrier of Covenant. This enchantment prevented any male from crossing its threshold, ensuring the privacy and safety of the female students.

Upon entering the dorm, Lexia found herself in a room with four beds. Amanda, Yumi, and Suzune were already there, each occupying a bed. The only vacant one was for Lexia.

"Hi Lexia-chan..." Amanda greeted her with a warm smile.

"Hello, Nee-chan," Lexia responded, her voice tinged with nervousness.

"So, are you enjoying your time with Ryujin-sama?" 

Lexia hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly. "...Eh, how can I say... yes?"

She trembled slightly, her mind racing with thoughts. (Does my sister know about my feelings for Ryujin? What will she think?)

"Don't worry, Lexia-chan. I'll let you have your time with Ryujin-sama. For now, I'll step back from my role as his personal maid."

Lexia's eyes widened, relief and gratitude filling her heart. "Thank you..."

Yumi rose from her bed, her wolf ears perking sharply like a wolf sensing an imminent confrontation. Her posture was tense and alert, ready for a verbal skirmish.

"Brave, or perhaps foolish, Amanda, do you think you can usurp my rightful place so easily? Don't assume I'll let you walk all over me like last time."

Amanda shot back, her confident tone laced, "What are you implying, Yumi? I earned my position fair and square, on my own merits."

Yumi's eyes narrowed. "Oh, please. You're as sly as they come, a cunning fox. I wouldn't put it past you to have tried some underhanded tactic, like seducing Ryujin-sama, to get your way."

Amanda's expression hardened. "That's rich coming from you, Fleawolf. All you know is brute force. It takes more than just brawn to be Ryujin-sama's personal maid – something you lack."

The air was tense as their words became sharper, each jab intended to undercut the other. The rivalry between the two was evident, their words not just mere banter but a reflection of their ongoing battle for a coveted position and the esteem it brought.

Suzune lay curled up on her bed, trembling with an unspoken fear. The room's shadows seemed to close around her, suffocating in their intensity. Enrolled in the same prestigious school as Ryujin due to her mother's insistence, she had hoped this would be a chance to cultivate a closer bond with her fiancé. However, fate, it seemed, had a cruel twist in store.

The room she had been assigned was shared with the person she feared most – Yumi. With her dominating presence and sharp tongue, Yumi had been a constant source of terror in Suzune's childhood. Memories of those harrowing days flooded back, making the room feel colder, more alien.

"If I keep quiet, she won't notice me," Suzune whispered to herself, hoping against hope that Yumi's attention would remain fixed on Amanda.

Her voice was barely audible, starkly contrasting the heated exchange between Yumi and Amanda. Their argument filled the room, loud and jarring, but all Suzune could focus on was the pulsating fear that Yumi might turn her fiery gaze in her direction.

Suzune's eyes darted nervously between the two quarreling girls, praying she could remain invisible in this storm. Each word, each harsh laugh from Yumi, sent chills up and down Suzune's spine, a grim reminder of her past torments. In her heart, she yearned for this night to end, to escape the oppressive weight of her childhood fears that Yumi's presence so effortlessly revived.

◆

In the Regressor Survival novel, the dynamics between Amanda, Yumi, Lexia, and Suzune were steeped in shared animosity toward Ryujin. This animosity bound them together, forging an unlikely alliance with a singular goal: Ryujin's downfall.

Amanda's disdain for Ryujin stemmed from his unwelcome advances and lascivious behavior. Being his personal maid, she was subjected to constant harassment, fueling her hatred. Yumi's reasons differed. She loathed Ryujin for his slothfulness and knack for shirking training responsibilities. Lexia's anger was deeply personal, rooted in the wrongs Ryujin had inflicted upon her sister. Together, these women orchestrated Ryujin's undoing – from poisoning him to strategically empowering his rivals like Pedro, culminating in delivering the final blow that would lead to his ruin.

However, in the current timeline, the dynamics have shifted significantly. Amanda and Yumi, instead of uniting against Ryujin, were embroiled in a bitter rivalry over him. Each wanted to claim him for herself, their actions tinged with a Yandere-like obsession. This fierce competition was temporarily set aside when Suzune emerged as a common threat.

Suzune, with her engagement to Ryujin and the backing of two powerful sects, posed a significant challenge to Amanda and Yumi's desires. Driven by jealousy and the fear of losing Ryujin to Suzune, they directed their combined efforts to make her life miserable. Their tactics were ruthless and relentless, aimed at driving a wedge between Suzune and Ryujin and ensuring she remained isolated and powerless.

This new iteration of Amanda and Yumi was more sinister, their Yandere tendencies coming to the forefront. They were no longer united in mutual hatred against Ryujin. Still, they were instead bonded by a desperate need to monopolize his attention, even if it meant tormenting someone who, in another reality, would have been their ally in their shared vendetta against Ryujin.