I Killed The Main Characters

Chapter 153: Progression [1]

? Noah's POV ?

The room had quieted down after the small lecture I delivered to my peers.

Their faces were mixed with disdain, annoyance, and reluctant respect.

I relished the uncomfortable silence for a moment before stepping down from the podium, maintaining my usual air of arrogance.

It wasn't long before Draven approached me, his stride confident, his ever-present smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

He had that way about him—calculated, steady, yet irritatingly self-assured.

He stopped a few steps away and gave me a curt nod.

"Congratulations again, Noah," he said smoothly.

I didn't respond.

I didn't have to.

His smirk didn't falter. Instead, he crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly, as if sizing me up.

"Tell me, how did you manage to get the final question right this time?

Even after all the implications caused by the exam...

Surely, you couldn't have anticipated the shift in focus."

To be honest, even I didn't know the answer to that.

Not completely.

It was almost as if my mind aligned perfectly with the original Noah Ashbourne's.

Or perhaps, more disturbingly, it felt like the other two other consciousnesses besides mine nestled in this body—merging, whispering, guiding.

The ease with which I solved the problem wasn't something I could take credit for.

But admitting that to Draven would be akin to tearing apart my own carefully constructed facade.

I glanced at him, and for a fleeting moment, I saw something that unnerved me—a tether.

Invisible, perhaps, but undeniably real.

Draven and I were bound by this narrative in a way I couldn't escape.

If he ever surpassed me and became the top student of Ravenwood Academy, the world as we knew it would unravel.

No, not unravel.

Annihilate.

A monstrous being would descend upon the academy, plunging it into chaos and bloodshed.

All because Draven, with his relentless ambition, saw nothing more was left to accomplish.

But if I continued to top every exam, the narrative would progress as it was written.

Smoothly, predictably.

It would culminate in the final battle—me, standing as the ultimate boss in this cursed tale. The thought made my stomach churn.

"Goodbye for now..."

Draven said, turning to leave.

But he paused after a few steps and glanced over his shoulder.

His gaze was sharp, a challenge glinting in his dark eyes.

"It won't be for long though..." he added, his voice brimming with confidence.

"The top position....

I'll make sure I get it."

His words hung in the air like a weight, but instead of pressing forward with his usual jabs, he smiled.

Not a mocking smile, but one that was almost... encouraging.

"Whatever happens, though, don't make it easy for me, Noah.

Keep grinding...

Keep doing what you always do.

You're talented, after all.

Greatly gifted, unlike someone like me."

And with that, he left, his footsteps fading into the corridor beyond.

I stood there, watching his retreating figure, and against my better judgment, a small smile tugged at my lips.

It was brief—so fleeting that anyone observing might have missed it entirely.

But it was there.

Then it was gone, replaced by the all-too-familiar weight of my reality.

I muttered to myself, the words spilling out like venom, each syllable a testament to my frustration.

"This... this is my life now, isn't it?

Bound to the narrative, to a role I didn't choose, didn't ask for.

I am nothing more than a cog in this machine..."

My hands clenched into fists at my sides.

"Every step I take, every word I say, every decision I make—it's all orchestrated.

Predetermined.

And no matter what I do, no matter how hard I try to break free, I'll always end up back here. Trapped."

I took a shaky breath, forcing myself to calm down, though the turmoil inside me raged on.

"I have to keep playing the part.

The arrogant noble, the villain everyone detests.

If I don't, this world falls apart.

But at what cost? My humanity? My sanity?"

The corners of my vision blurred for a moment, and I blinked rapidly to clear it.

"Noah Ashbourne, the infamous.

The hated.

The despicable.

That's who I am now."

My voice dropped to a whisper, tinged with a bitterness that even I couldn't ignore.

"And there's no way out."

I stood there for a moment longer, letting the silence envelop me, before finally turning to leave.

***

The Silvercrest Hall stood eerily silent in the cold night.

The flickering torches casting elongated shadows along its grand corridors.

A lanky knight, armored but not heavily so, paced before a mahogany door adorned with intricate carvings of the imperial crest.

He glanced around, ensuring the corridor was empty, before raising a gloved hand and knocking softly.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then, the door creaked open to reveal a maid dressed in pristine black and white attire.

She nodded at the knight, stepping aside to usher him in.

The door closed with a muted thud behind him.

The room was expansive, far grander than anything the knight had ever seen in his quarters.

The polished marble floors gleamed under a chandelier's soft glow, and the walls were adorned with regal tapestries and expensive art.

A small dining table sat to one side, with remnants of an evening meal neatly arranged.

Across the room, seated on a plush couch, was Prince Leopold, third in line to the imperial throne.

The prince, dressed in a finely tailored vest and trousers, finished the last sip of wine from a crystal glass before setting it down.

He stood, a charming yet calculating smile on his face.

"Ah, Sir Gratham."

Leo greeted, his voice smooth and deliberate.

"I appreciate you coming on such short notice."

The knight bowed, his gaze fixed firmly on the floor.

"It is nothing, Your Highness.

Should you call for me from even the farthest reaches of the empire, I would answer without hesitation."

Leo's smile widened as he approached, his movements fluid yet commanding.

"Such loyalty. It's rare these days.

I knew I could count on you, Gratham."

Gratham stood straight but avoided meeting the prince's gaze, a mix of respect and unease evident in his demeanor.

"Your Highness, how may I serve you tonight?"

Leo gestured toward the couch, but Gratham remained standing. Shrugging, Leo returned to his seat, leaning back with a casual air.

"It's about my sister."

He began, his tone losing its warmth.

"You're aware she'll be attending Ravenwood this year as a first-year student?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Gratham replied, his brow furrowing slightly.

"The Princess' enrollment has been the talk of the court."

Leo's fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest.

"As much as I detest her bratty nature and incessant meddling, there's someone at Ravenwood I'm more concerned about.

A professor.

Do you remember him?

Professor Malric Vayne?"

Gratham's expression darkened, his jaw tightening.

"The name is familiar, Your Highness.

Was he not an instructor at the imperial palace years ago?"

Leo nodded, his eyes narrowing.

"Indeed.

He trained several of the palace guards and the empires royal children...

He left under a cloud of scandal, though it was hushed up for the sake of appearances."

Gratham sneered, his distaste evident.

"And now he's at Ravenwood?"

Leo leaned forward, his tone grave.

"Yes, and while I doubt he'll openly antagonize my bratty sister, his presence is enough to warrant concern.

She's reckless and prone to drawing attention to herself.

The last thing I want is for her to become a target of his twisted games."

Gratham crossed his arms, his voice laced with venom.

"Your Highness, if he poses such a threat, why not eliminate him now?

I could arrange for him to vanish quietly, or perhaps... experience a slow and agonizing death.

Such men deserve nothing less."

Leo chuckled, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"Your enthusiasm is noted, Gratham, and I admit the idea is tempting.

However, for now, I need subtlety.

Keep an eye on him.

Observe his interactions, especially with my sister.

If he so much as looks at her the wrong way, I want to know immediately."

Gratham bowed deeply.

"Understood, Your Highness.

I will ensure he is monitored closely."

"Good."

Leo said, standing and clasping the knight's shoulder.

"I knew I could rely on you.

Do this well, and your loyalty won't go unrewarded."

Gratham straightened, his resolve evident.

"It will be done, Your Highness.

You have my word."

Leo watched as the knight turned and exited the room, the door closing softly behind him.

Left alone, Leo walked to the window, gazing out at the moonlit academy grounds.

A sly smile curved his lips.

He murmured, placing a hand on his cheek.

"This is going to be one hell of a year, I can already tell.

And on top of that, my dear, stubborn little sister is joining us next month.

How delightful."

"But first... Discover hidden tales at M V L

Maya..."

The prince smiled, the sound echoing in the vast room as he turned away from the window and retreated into the shadows.