Chapter 48. Inferiority

“Ken, are you still not able to boost? It’s been two whole months since school started!” Genesis complained on a Sunday morning as the group got up and ready for some breakfast.

“I could but here is the issue, Genesis. I am not yet at expert level so even with a combo attack, my attack is not at master level. Even with boost, I am not at divine level so still can’t break your protection. I have to either get stronger and get above expert level or need to be able to somehow double boost.” Ken answered the impatient girl.

“Or you can just pay someone and have it removed. Why are you being so stubborn! It’s almost like you don’t want to sleep with me!” Genesis added suspiciously.

“I am actually using you all as a motivation. Since I obviously do want to sleep with you Genesis. I am trying hard to get as strong as I can as fast as I can.”

“Well, you are not getting strong fast enough!”

“Not everyone is a genius like you Genesis! I still can’t believe you would waste all that talent and not even try to at least learn teleport or heal or something useful.”

“If me learning how to teleport would make you stronger than I could probably teleport by tomorrow.” Genesis retorted.

“Are you all just going to ignore the fact that he is basically saying we are not attractive enough so he couldn’t get motivated enough to get stronger, faster.” Alice decided to join in the conversation.

“Alice! Stop with the false accusations!”

“Ken. Clare just left her room, I think she is going to the dining hall.” Emma said softly as she peeked through their door. With that, Ken decided it was time for the group to head down to the dining hall so they could have breakfast and more importantly have another go at talking to Clare.

“Morning Clare! Are you doing anything today?” Ken asked after he located Clare in the dining hall.

After the conversation with Alice, Ken had been trying hard daily to talk with Clare but so far, his efforts have not resulted in any progress as Clare continues to ignore every attempt he made at talking to her.

After another failed attempt at trying to talk with Clare, Ken got back with the rest of the girls and spent most of the Sunday in the training facility working on his boost while also trying to improve his overall ability.

“I’m done! Let’s go grab some dinner and call it a day. I shouldn’t be working this hard on our only day off! I am going to surpass Lovetta soon if I keep this pace up.” Ken proclaimed while breathing heavily.

“My father would be excited if you have surpassed me. He was very excited to see your progress during the tournament and couldn’t wait for you to visit again.” Lovetta replied as the group cleaned up and got ready to head back to the dining hall.

“Sorry Lovetta, I wish I could but I already promised Seraphina to visit for midterm and Genesis wanted me to go to Feirvenn to visit her mother’s grave at the end of the year.” Ken replied.

“I understand. Oh! I haven’t told you, have I? Ruth was pregnant when I was home so Zeev will be a dad by midterm!” Lovetta replied with a hint of sadness but moved on quickly.

“Lovetta… That’s the sort of thing you should have told me on day one when we got back to the academy! Zeev is like my first ever friend! I can’t believe you didn’t tell me now that he will be a father soon! I need to get them some gifts for you to take back with you after midterm.” Ken complained.

“Are you having a baby with Cecilla soon?” Indra asked timidly.

“Na. I am no way ready to be a father yet. Besides, Cecilla is aiming to be the number two hero behind me so she needs to focus on her studies.”

“Number one, Ken… I won’t go easy even if it’s you!” Cecilia countered Ken’s claim straightaway.

When the group got to the dining hall, Ken spotted Clare and decided to try and go chat with her once again. But before he could say a word to Clare, someone shaved him out of the way from behind.

“Move, commoner.” Ken heard Xandrian’s annoying voice as he got pushed out of the way.

“Oh hi Xandrian, didn’t see you there.” Ken replied calmly.

“Clare, I just got a letter from my father that the Yelwraek king had approved of our marriage. While thinking back, I should have taken Cecilla instead since it seems like she was the better of the two all along but I had my eyes on you for way too long to not make you mine now that your father had given his consent.” Xandrian said with an air of importance and arrogance.

“Xandrian. I will never marry you, I have already made that clear. Stop bothering me and leave.” Clare replied without hesitation.

“I don’t think you understand what I am saying Clare. Your father, the king of Yelwraek, has given you to me to be my wife. You don’t get a say in this matter.”

“Xandrian, I don’t care if it’s the king of Yelwraek or even if it's the hero who reset our entire world. Clare is mine.” Ken couldn’t stop himself from cutting into the conversation.

“HAhahaha! Have you gone crazy, human? I know you think you are a big shot or special because you have a few Yelwraek princesses fawning over you but at the end of the day, they are nothing but chess pieces for the men who are in power. If I want, I could have that used one too, but I will let you keep her since she is no longer worthy.” Xandrian replied with a chuckle, not taking Ken seriously at all.

“I am not an object that belongs to my father or anyone else!”

Pushing Ken away while giving him a death stare, Clare stormed out from the dining hall as everyone who was at the dining hall watched in silence.

Not bothering saying a word to Ken, Xandrian walked off with his friends while laughing and joking about what just took place.

“Guess she didn’t take that one well. Sorry everyone, I’m heading out to town to look for her. Not sure when I will be back.” Ken replied as he followed the elf princess out of the dining hall.

“Good luck Ken. This really has been going on for far too long. Kiss some sense into that stubborn girl.”

“Thanks Alice!”

Rushing out of the dining hall, Ken asked around and was guided towards the southern port of the island where multiple students saw Clare walking away south of the academy.

While it would have taken him 3 hours to walk to the port if he was still a beginner without any ability to enhance. The Ken now with all of his enhancements and basic abilities easily searched the whole southern portion of the town making sure Clare didn’t stop somewhere along the way and made it all the way to the port in under an hour.

Finding the elf princess sitting at the very end of the dock on the last wooden bench staring into the ocean with a dazed look, Ken gently sat down next to the elf girl.

“Clare, I took that push personally. How come you pushed me and gave me a death stare while you didn't say or do anything to Xandrian.” Ken asked jokingly.

Without saying a word, Clare turned to Ken and just sat there staring at him.

“You know Clare,I know you are not an object but that doesn’t mean you aren’t mine. I clearly remember claiming you from way back when and you definitely did not protest. Just because you are a princess doesn’t mean you can go back on your words you know.”

“It’s all your fault. Everything is your fault. YOUR FAULT!” Clare shouted towards the ocean, finally spoke to Ken after more than 8 months of silence treatment.

“Fine, blame me for everything! Let it all out! As long as you stop ignoring me, I will take all of the blame. It’s all my fault! Happy?”

“If you know it’s all your fault. Why can’t you just apologize? Why can’t you just say you are sorry! Why for 8 months you won’t apologize to me! Not even now. why won’t you just say you are sorry?” Clare asked angrily with tears in her eyes, clearly frustrated and unable to control her emotions.

“Is that what it was about? You didn’t talk to me for 8 whole months because I didn’t say sorry?” Ken asked in bewilderment.

“YES! If you have just apologized I would have forgiven you but you won’t do it. WHY WON’T YOU JUST APOLOGIZE!” Clare shouted as more tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Wow. I know you were stubborn but for you to ignore me for 8 whole months while pretending I didn’t exist is a new level of stubbornness even for you, Clare. I can’t believe you made both of us suffer for this long because I didn’t say sorry.

Couldn’t you have just asked me why I didn’t apologize? I would have told you 8 months ago and we wouldn’t have been in this situation now.”

“Why?”

“You know what happened to Cecilla at the ball right? After your father removed her protection in front of everyone, she was embarrassed, humiliated, crushed and I couldn’t leave her after you saw us.”

“My father removed her protection in front of the whole party?” Clare asked in shock.

“Clare! Have you given it a single thought how I was able to sleep with her that night?”

“No… I haven’t thought about that. I was too angry and sad to think.”

“You haven’t thought about anything have you? I heard that you've been doing terribly in your classes too.”

“Ken. Growing up. Cecilla was my best friend. We were close in age, lived next to each other and always played together. But when we started our training and lessons, I realized she was different.

No matter how much I studied or tried to improve, she was always faster and better than me. No matter how much I liked something or wanted something, she always ended up liking the same thing and ended up getting it over me because she was the favorite.

As we got older, everyone always praised Cecilla and expected great things from her while I was always in the background, just her best friend.

When the selection happened, I was shocked that I got selected while she didn’t. I was suddenly in the spotlight, the new hope for the Yelwraek.

All of a sudden, I now have to live up to the Yelwraek name, have to act and behave like a princess and have to come to a school and show the world how great my family is.

It was overwhelming, I was never in the spotlight before and now, I have this much pressure on my shoulders, I didn’t know what to do. Everyone at the school was trying to kiss up to me because of my name. I had to try my best and study as much as I could to remain at the top. School had only just started but I was already so overwhelmed and ready to give up.

Then, I met you. This lame human boy who got a zero on the entrance exam.” Clare let out, as words came rushing out of her mouth.

“Hey! Who are you calling lame! You think I wanted all that attention? Been called the zero boy and everything?” Ken replied defensive but elated that Clare is finally speaking to him.

“When you talked to me the first time, I thought you were crazy, what is this guy thinking? Talking so confidently yet knows nothing. But you also intrigued me. Unlike anyone else, you didn’t care I was the princess of the Yelwraek kingdom, you were so casual, so natural that I couldn’t help being drawn to you.

When I am with you, I was finally able to let go of all the stress and burden of being a princess. I was able to be myself without getting judged by you and that made all the other people’s judgment feel meaningless. As long as I am with you, I feel happy and satisfied.

But when you told me Cecilla was interested in you, I got scared. She was always there to take from me what I wanted. She was always better than me at everything and even now, after I thought I had broken free from her shadow and was able to live my own life. She was once again back in the center of attention.

When I saw the two of you that night, I was heartbroken. I have never felt like that ever before, I just wanted you to chase after me and apologize but you never did! All I wanted to hear from you is that you are sorry for what you did but no matter how many times you tried to talk to me, you would never say you were sorry to what happened that night and I guess I was too stubborn, too childish to forgive you without you saying you were sorry.” Clare trailed off sinking into the bench as she finally let all her pent up emotion out.

“You know Clare, when I saw Cecilla that night, honest truth since you have been so honest with me. I was not thinking about her at all. All I saw was an absolutely beautiful girl who’s vulnerable and I ended up giving in to my pent up lust and urges.

Your appearance snapped me back into reality for a moment and I wanted to chase after you and apologize but when I looked at Cecilla, I saw a girl who expected me to leave her just like how she was abandoned by her father and those who had given up on her when she wasn’t selected.

While my intentions were selfish at first, when I saw her at that moment, I knew I couldn’t leave her and it was the right decision to stay by her side that night.

I guess I was being stubborn as well. I felt like staying with her was the right choice so I didn’t want to admit that it was my lust which made me do what I did and I felt like if I had apologized, it would have made it seem like I admit it was a mistake.

You know, it’s funny that I talked with Alice a while back and some of our worries and things we did are so stupid. I guess we are all still young and dumb and no matter how much we want to pretend like grown ups and think we have everything figured out, we still do stupid things.

Oh, you definitely belong to me and I am too greedy to ever let anyone else have you.” Ken stated matter of factly.

Reaching over and pulling the elf girl into his chest, the two sat in silence while watching the salty ocean wind and waves hitting against the port as the sky darkened slowly.

“I guess no matter what I do, I am just the best friend of the genius. Even when it comes to love, Cecilla gets to take the spotlight and I am just in the shadows.” Clare finally said after the couple sat in silence.

“Have I ever told you about the story where I met my first love and got instantly rejected on the first day of school? She was the most beautiful girl I have ever laid my eyes on.” Ken recalled with a smile.

“You are lying right? There is another girl? How come I have ever heard of this ‘first love’.” Clare asked suspiciously.

“You remember our first meeting?”

“Ken, I’m not stupid. I told you it was about a week into class where you showed up to talk to me with Lovetta.” Clare replied confidently.

“Right. Anyways, on the first day of school when we got teleported in. I was nervous, scared and not sure what to do because I didn’t belong.

After looking at the written test knowing I couldn’t get a single question right, my confidence was at an all time low and I thought maybe I shouldn’t be here.”

“Didn’t know you could feel nervousness and self doubt. Where was this Ken when you decided to sleep with Cecilla?” Clare rebutted.

“Not funny Clare. But just when I was thinking I didn’t belong and should maybe go back home, I saw the most beautiful girl in the entire world and just watching her walk by I knew she was the one.

Call me shallow but it was love at first sight. She was so beautiful that I knew I had to talk to her. Her beauty was what snapped me out of my self doubt. I couldn’t allow myself to let the opportunity to talk to her go to waste.

You know what happened when I talked to her? I introduced myself, asked for her name and got promptly rejected. But even with her rejection, it was enough for me to get out of my fear and doubt.

Talking to her made me realize that what’s the worst thing that could happen? If it wasn’t for this girl, I don’t think I would have ever gathered my courage to speak to Lovetta and be where I am today.” Ken recalled as the pair watched the ocean waves in a rhythmic flow.

“And where is this ‘most beautiful girl in the entire world’ now? I know we have over a thousand students in our class but I think you are making this girl up. There is no way you haven’t talked about her if she was this beautiful.” Clare replied, full of doubt in her voice.

“Oh, the funny thing is. She doesn’t even remember I talked to her that day. She still thinks the first time I talked to her was when we were a week into class and I talked to her with Lovetta. She totally forgot how harshly she rejected me during the entrance exam without even looking at me!”

“I was scared and nervous! I didn’t want to disgrace my family’s name! I had so many people try to talk to me that I could only manage my emotions by pretending to be cold and not caring! I had no clue you talked to me at all that day!” Clare replied after realizing Ken was talking about her the entire time.

“You are definitely my favorite but it’s only because you were lucky! If I saw Alice, Cecilla or Genesis that day so beautiful and flawless, I am sure they would have become my beauty standard instead.”

“I doubt it, when you eventually see me, you would have realized I am superior compared to any of them!”

“What happened to Cecilla being better than you at everything?”Ken asked jokingly.

“Everything except for looks! Thankfully you are shallow and care about looks more than anything else!”

Pulling Clare’s head up and giving her a kiss for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Everything finally seems to be back where it should be as Ken passionately kissed the beautiful elf princess.

“You know Clare, I am sure we will eventually fight again and get into an argument but no matter who is right and who is wrong, I never want to go through with this ever again. Next time you think I am wrong or need to be woken up. Give me a nice hard slap. When you do, I will think through my actions and if I feel I deserved it, I will apologize.”

“What if I just feel like slapping you because you are flirting with too many girls?”

“I will go cry to Cecilla that you are bullying me and make love with her.”

Laughing wholeheartedly for the first time since her birthday, Clare knew she couldn’t live without Ken and that no matter what lies ahead in their future, she would never be this stubborn again.

“So what do we do about Xandrian? My father wasn’t pleased when I lost to Luke and after Cecilla got accepted, with my inferior grades, I guess I am back to being the disposable chess piece.” Clare asked, pulled back into the reality of the situation.

“First, get your first place back. Let your father know that you are still intending on becoming the number 1 hero and if that doesn’t work, tell him you will marry Xandrian after you finish the three years of school.

When you get back for next semester, you stay with me until I either convince him to let you be my wife or I will take you by force and face the consequences.”

“How are you going to take me by force?”

“Well Clare, while you were slacking off doing who knows what, I have been getting stronger by the day. I am pretty sure I will be able to beat you in the tournament but I will let you win since I don’t care about winning but I can promise you that before our third year ends. I will shatter that protection spell and make you mine.”

“Sorry Ken, but you are telling me you will be able to shatter a mid tier holy protection spell before the end of our third year?” Clare questioned.

“Clare, I am for sure going to be close to expert level by midterm. My combo explosion attack will be near master level. I can already boost and get that single attack to almost divine level. I am sure by early next semester, I could break all of the protections except you and maybe Alice and before the end of the year, I can break Alice’s for sure.” Ken replied confidently.

“What about me? I am not here to hear you brag about how you will get to sleep with all the other girls.”

“You will be my motivation Clare. I refuse to let anyone have you so if your father won’t let you off the hook, I will do everything I can to make sure it happens.”

Nodding in agreement and putting her trust fully in Ken, the two decided to head back to the academy as the night got late, finally able to overcome their silly dispute.

“Hey everyone! I got my Clare back! We will be staying in her room tonight and try to work everything out, I will talk to everyone tomorrow, okay?” Ken said happily to the girls as the pair reached back to the dorm room.

“Hey drama queen. Stop causing so much trouble for everyone from now on.” Alice commented seeing Clare hugging Ken tightly.

“Alice, you might be Ken’s soulmate, but I am his first love!” Clare said happily before running off to her room.

“KEN! What sort of lies did you tell that elf to get her back!” Alice shouted.

“Sorry Alice, we will chat later okay?” Dodging the question from the vampire, Ken followed Clare to her dorm as the pair laid together, spending the entire night catching up after all the months they spent apart without being able to get a single second of sleep.