135 Are you okay?

Brie look at him with worry apparent on her eyes.

\"Are you okay?\" she asked while tugging his sleeve.

\"I-I am. It's just, you know about the ancient deities I talked about. She just talked to me?\" Brie's eyes became as big as saucers.

\"What?\"

\"You said that like it was a bad-\" Linri cut the connection out of panic. He couldn't do this. He was still very much afraid of them.

He was sweating buckets, the world was turning around him. He was breathing heavily. It felt worse than the time he almost died in the VCSR.

\"Hey, HEY! Are you okay!?\" said Brie while shaking him.

The world started to get blurry and Linri fainted.

---

Linri slowly woke up. His head hurt like hell.

\"You are finally awake?\" asked Riku.

Linri didn't even bother to answer and just went to the bathroom to wash his face. He was still feeling groggy. After wiping his face with a towel he asked Riku what time it was.

\"It's 7.20 pm. You were passed out for almost 3 hours. What happened?\"

\"Nothing, I am just sick. This happens from time to time\" he lied through his teeth.

With this, he had finally lost his one and only trump card. He was scared of talking to Solas and Lozna. He couldn't do it. He was afraid that they would just kill him on the spot. They were high and mighty gods while he was just a puny mortal and he had said something preposterous. He admitted to creating them.

With their ego, there shouldn't be any way that they would leave him alone. He would die from their hands. Why did he have to make such a simple mistake? What was going on with him? In these three days, he made mistakes he normally wouldn't. He was slipping up. He didn't even have anyone to talk to.

\"Oh, okay then. If you are hungry there are some snacks in the fridge. Unfortunately, the cafeteria is already closed so you will have to make do with them\"

\"Do you know where Brie is?\"

\"Her? She waited for you to wake up but seeing that you were still passed out she went to the cafeteria. I guess she should be in her room by now\"

\"Thanks\" said Linri and left the room. He needed space.

He was feeling awful. He didn't know what he was supposed to do now. Probably, he even lost his chance to unlock his [Ex-Burst]. Normally he would get it during the False God event and it would be bestowed by Lozna. But now that he cut off their relationship there was no way that would happen in the future.

In his absentmindedness, he kept on walking until he made his way to the Sakura Garden. He didn't know why but he just wanted to be here. However, the beautiful garden of yesterday looked so lifeless today. It felt like the garden was shooing him away, not wanting a thrash like him to desecrate its holy presence.

Funny, even trees were despising him now. Did he really fall so low? Definitely, he wasn't a strong person. He only had the will to live and that was it. He wasn't courageous or heroic. He was a coward and a villain. He wasn't smart or wise. He was a conman using parlour tricks.

He sat below one of the trees and looked at the setting sun. Did he do the right thing by running away? At least he believed he did. The Gods were capricious and cruel. If he were to accidentally hurt their pride they would kill him. Then what was he supposed to do now?

The sun finally set and the garden was finally covered in darkness. Linri just looked at the empty sky. Even the stars were not gracing him with their presence.

\"Umm, are you okay?\"

Of course, she was here. He would be surprised if she weren't.

\"Go away\" Linri said to Elizabeth. He didn't want to speak to her. He hated her more than the deities. He hated the fact that he was destined to fall in love with her. He hated this feeling of powerlessness. But that was it, he was weak and there was nothing he could do about that. He did not know the location of some super-secret op technique or a treasure that would make you a god. So what if he trained slowly? It would take too long and he wouldn't even be that much stronger. That was assuming he was able to survive this hell hole.

Elizabeth hesitated. She didn't want to go away. He looked so lonely and miserable. She wanted to know what happened, she wanted to console him but didn't even know where to start. So she just sat next to him. It was a first for her. Normally she would just observe people but now she wanted to get involved in someone's life.

Linri didn't ask her to leave again and just stared at the sky thinking. He really was a small person. He was petty, jealous and a liar. He couldn't handle the feeling that someone was having it easy while he was struggling. Just why was it that he was the one suffering so much? Of course, he was aware that everyone had their own troubles. He was just seeing what he wanted to see. They had probably worked hard to get where they were but he was not seeing it. He was only seeing their success and his own failure. He couldn't even say sorry when he was wrong so what right did he have to be jealous of them?

Even though he knew that he still had these feelings. They were like stones weighing down on his heart. It just hurt. Making him feel like he was drowning. He even had trouble breathing. He didn't even try to calm himself down. He deserved this punishment for even existing. He was just a piece of trash not even worth his parents' love.

\"HEY! What are you doing sitting there!?\" Jaime came running. She was out of breath.

\"Go away\" Linri repeated what he said to Elizabeth.

\"What the fuck do you mean go away! We are leaving, now!\" said Jaime while lifting him up from the collar.

\"What? Should we go just because you can walk all over me again?\" Linri was looking at with empty eyes. There weren't even any anger inside them, unlike last time.

\"Yes! That's why you are going to the infirmary for a check-up\" she said while dragging him away. Linri freed himself away from her hands.

\"No! I don't need you. I don't need anyone so just fucking leave me alone!\" Linri shouted at her. It just felt right for some reason.

*SMACK*

Jaime slapped him across the face.

\"Stop being such a little kid. You are not alone and you never were. You said it yourself, humans are social animals. No one can leave alone and that's why we are leaving\" She started to drag him away again.

Linri wanted to believe her words and leave together but a part of him despised the idea. He didn't need her and she didn't need him. She already made that clear.

\"I said no! And stop with the pretentious act. We both know that you don't give a shit about me\" said Linri and twisted her arm. He just wanted to hurt her but she freed herself. Right her agility was higher than his so there was no way that he could do that.

Jaime was about to slap Linri one more time when her hand was caught.

\"Let him go\" said Elizabeth forcefully. It was out of character.

Linri had actually forgotten she was there for a second.

Jaime frowned.

\"Who are you?\"

\"Lady Elizabeth Nightingale, at your service\" said Elizabeth with a little bow after coming out of her invisibility. She didn't even stutter. She actually looked like a noblewoman different from her usual behaviour.

Jaime raised her brows. She had never heard of this person in the club before.

\"And what does this have anything to do with you?\"

\"I can ask you the same thing, can't I? The gentleman here said he didn't want to leave so I would advise you to stop bothering him\" answered Elizabeth with a smile that couldn't really be called a smile.

Linri just stood there dumbfounded. It felt odd. He was supposed to be the main attraction but he was thrown to the side.

\"That's different. Linri and I are friends. I can tell that he can't be left alone in here so he needs to leave with me\" Jaime didn't back down and took a step forward towards her.

\"Really? I don't think a friend would treat him like that. Also, may I remind you that I was here? So he wasn't even alone. If you don't have any more qualms I have to ask you to leave again\" Elizabeth also took a step towards her. Sparks were coming out of their eyes.

Linri thought maybe escaping right now wouldn't really be such a bad idea. He felt like a storm was brewing and he was right in the middle of it.

\"Fine but if anything happens to him the blame is on you\" said Jaime before turning back in anger and leaving.