Prince of Gluttony: Born from Betrayal

Cain had no idea how it had come to this. Classes had finished for the day and he was now waiting outside of the Training Ground he had reserved, the help of Anna making the logistics easier. She stood a few feet away from him, arms crossed, her posture radiating authority. The scowl on her face was clear. She was still completely pissed at him. At least, he thought, she was willing to give him the chance to prove he was telling the truth. Jayden, the original source of this mess, had wisely chosen to retreat and wait inside the Training Ground. Cain could hardly blame her. No one would willingly put themselves in such awkward tension if it could be avoided.

The courtyard air was calm, with only the faint rustling of leaves and the distant chatter of students making the setting seem almost peaceful. That peace shattered when Mira came sprinting toward them, her boots clattering against the stone path. She moved with her usual determination, and flanking her were two women who drew Cain's attention immediately. Both were striking, but in completely different ways.

Anna's eyes narrowed as she recognized them. All three of them were well-known problem children, notorious for causing headaches for teachers and staff. Seeing Mira at the forefront, Anna's mind pieced together the truth. Cain had indeed told her the truth. Mira's reputation was well-known. She often skipped classes to work as a blacksmith and even ran her own shop. That alone would have made her suspicious enough for Anna to trust Cain's explanation.

The woman on Mira's left drew Anna's sharp attention next. She was tall and lithe, with violet scales shimmering in the sunlight and long black hair that cascaded to her waist. She held a long spear at her side, the weapon perfectly matched to her athletic frame. Anna's eyes widened slightly as she recognized her. This was Maris Rorascal, a well-known delinquent who had built her reputation dueling only the strongest opponents. She had a strong following among female students, though her reputation among male students was terrifying. Any man foolish enough to challenge her usually left bruised or worse.

Maris's violet eyes narrowed the moment they landed on Cain. She frowned, clearly displeased, and asked Mira with a sharp edge to her voice, "Who is this weak-looking man?"

Mira gave a small, proud smile. "This is Cain. My sponsor."

Maris looked Cain up and down, her judgmental glare lingering. Cain felt a faint chill, but he met her gaze steadily. There was no fear, only a measured calm, though he knew better than to underestimate her.

Mira's gaze shifted toward Anna, curious as to why a teacher had come and chosen to wait outside the Training Ground. Anna's presence was unusual in this context, but Mira chose not to question it. The unspoken respect in Mira's eyes for Anna's authority was clear.

The other girl, however, approached Cain with a completely different energy. She moved with a mischievous grace, her bright golden-orange hair flowing behind her. Her fox ears twitched slightly, and her three fluffy tails flicked in time with her movements. Anna's eyes immediately went on edge. She recognized the girl from rumors, and they were not flattering.

This was Kiyomi, a Kitsune rogue, whose reputation painted her as an unsavory figure among the student body. Hundreds of rumors suggested she was a man-eater, that she seduced men effortlessly, and left a trail of scandal behind her. Kiyomi, however, did not confirm or deny any of these claims.

She smiled at Cain, her golden eyes glinting with playful curiosity. "I've heard a lot about you," she said, her voice light, teasing. "Mira caught my attention when she spoke about her sponsor. I wanted to see him for myself."

Anna's brow furrowed, sensing the flirtation immediately. Kiyomi's gaze lingered on Cain with unmistakable intent, and Cain could sense the subtle magic she might be attempting to employ. He felt it brush against his mind, an attempt to charm or sway him.

Cain's violet eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening slightly. "If you want to try and mess with my mind using magic," he growled, his tone low and dangerous, "you better fuck off while I'm being nice."

Mira's eyes widened in shock. She had never seen Cain dismiss someone's charm magic so easily. Most people flinched, faltered, or fell into hesitation when Kiyomi tried even the smallest trick, but Cain had shrugged it off as though it were nothing.

Kiyomi's eyes widened in shock as well. She blinked, then laughed, her amusement clear despite the failed attempt. "Alright, alright. I just wanted to test the man who caught Mira's eyes. Seems like I picked the wrong one to toy with."

Mira growled at Kiyomi, stepping closer. "You do not test the boss like that. Not ever. Not with me watching."

Kiyomi smirked, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "Noted. Message received loud and clear."

Cain, meanwhile, pointed with his head toward the entrance of the Training Ground. "Let's go inside. We have more to discuss."

Mira gave a short nod, and Kiyomi followed with a sly grin, though her gaze lingered briefly on Cain, curiosity still twinkling in her eyes. Maris adjusted her grip on her spear and followed, her posture cautious but alert, clearly evaluating the situation.

Anna hesitated, her gaze flicking between Cain and the group entering the Training Ground. She wanted to follow, to ensure nothing went wrong, but she knew she could not interfere outside of school hours. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She could only watch as Cain, Mira, Maris, and Kiyomi disappeared through the entrance, a mix of tension and concern settling in her chest.

The Training Ground was just beyond the doors, its open space and high ceilings providing the perfect area for planning, sparring, and coordination. Cain entered first, his presence commanding attention despite his calm demeanor. Mira followed, her confidence apparent in every step, and then Maris, whose violet scales seemed to glint in the fading sunlight streaming through the windows. Kiyomi slipped in last, her movements light and silent, her tails swishing behind her, a constant reminder of her mischievous nature.

Cain turned toward the group, his violet eyes sweeping over them. "Alright," he said, his voice firm and even. "We need to know each other. The Tournament is not a place for mistakes, and I will not have anyone holding back or acting recklessly."

Maris's eyes flicked toward him, her arms crossed over her chest. "I do not hold back. I duel to win. Weakness irritates me."

Kiyomi grinned. "I like a good challenge," she said, her voice teasing. "Especially one that looks like it will be fun."

Mira's gaze softened slightly, her eyes briefly meeting Cain's before turning to the others. "We work as a team. That is the most important thing. The rest can be figured out in training."

Cain nodded, feeling the tension in the room shift just enough. He knew this would not be easy. Balancing the personalities of Maris and Kiyomi alone would be challenging, not to mention the physical and magical aspects of coordinating with Jayden and Mira. But for the first time that day, he felt a sense of cautious confidence.