Failure.

Some say it's the most important thing that can happen to someone for them to grow further. Perhaps they are right. Perhaps it is extremely important and vital.

But at the same time...

It stings. No, it’s not the pain of a sting. It hurts, like a bowling ball was dropped on the heart, especially when considering what was at stake for me.

Everything was at stake for me.

My entire life was at stake, and I failed.

After I lost the battle to Ren, I left the training ground, walked to my room, and crashed into my bed, letting the intense wave of emotions wash over me.

I knew why I lost.

It was obvious.

It was because of the Temple. The lingering pain? No, of course not.

It was simple yet so vital.

Belief.

I believed that I could beat Ren only if I got a reward from the Temple. When I didn’t, I convinced myself that I didn't need any reward to win. That wasn't belief or confidence—it was arrogance that led to a fatal miscalculation in the heat of battle, resulting in my loss.

'How stupid,' I chided myself.

My move back there, to use God Flash in that position, was illogical and made no sense, no matter how I looked at it. It was clear as day that I was being idiotic when I chose to execute that move.

But then, what was the point of the Temple exactly? To give me this gnawing feeling and make me lose against Ren? Why?

I couldn’t understand why.

'I don't know why either,' Luna transmitted to me mentally.

Even Luna, a mythical creature at the peak of power, thought her reading of Fate was wrong when the Temple simply caused me pain and did nothing else for me. Something beyond her comprehension meant I couldn't begin to hope to understand it.

'Put it to the back,' I thought coldly. 'What matters is using my pieces perfectly and getting the Ancient-grade artifact. Ren may have won, but I'm still Rank 2, and I can crush him at the end-of-year festival to demonstrate my superiority.'

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. I briefly activated Lucent Harmony to sense the mana signature, recognizing it to be Cecilia.

'Troublesome,' I thought, debating whether to open the door or pretend I was in the shower.

"I know you're inside and on the bed, Arthur. Open up," her voice pierced through any delusions of avoiding her, forcing me to get up from the bed with a light sigh.

I opened the door to find Cecilia in a casual crop top paired with a gold stomach chain and a necklace, her crimson eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement.

"Will you let me in then?" she asked, a smile curling her lips.

I sighed internally but kept my expression indifferent as I stepped aside. "After you, Your Highness," I said sardonically.

"I can feel your sarcasm on my skin," she replied, stepping in gracefully. "But I can't say I wouldn't love to have you as my knight, Arthur."

I closed the door behind her, narrowing my eyes. "What do you want, Cecilia?"

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"Aw," she said, licking her plump lips and stepping closer to me. "Is someone jealous that I sided with Ren over you?"

I frowned. "Of course not."

"Don't lie to me, Arthur," she giggled. "You take me for granted because of how... intense my advances have been, but you certainly did not enjoy seeing me by the side of the person who beat you, cheering him on."

I clenched my jaw, trying to maintain my composure. The room felt smaller with her so close, her presence almost suffocating. Her scent, a mix of jasmine and something sharper, filled the air, making it harder to concentrate.

"Jealousy isn't the issue," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I just want to know why you're here."

Cecilia's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned in, her breath warm against my ear. "Maybe I just wanted to see you, Arthur. Or maybe, I enjoy the way you react to me. It's fascinating."

I took a step back, needing to put some distance between us. "Well, you've seen me. Now what?"

She tilted her head, studying me like a predator sizing up its prey. "Now, we talk. About your plans, your strategies. You can't let one loss define you. Especially not against someone like Ren."

I crossed my arms, skeptical. "And why would you want to help me?"

"Because, Arthur," she said, her voice dripping with seduction, "there's a part of me that believes in you. More than I believe in Ren. But you need to prove that you're worth my attention."

The challenge in her eyes was unmistakable. This wasn't just about helping me; it was about control, power, and manipulation. But beneath all that, there was a hint of genuine interest, a spark that made her dangerous.

"Fine," I said, meeting her gaze head-on. "But don't think for a second that I don't see through your games, Cecilia."

She laughed softly, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Oh, Arthur. That's what makes this so much fun."

"I am going to defeat Lucifer at the end of the year and take Rank 1 from him," I declared, waiting for her reaction.

Her eyes widened, her features scrunching up in shock. Suddenly, she grabbed my collar and pulled me in, kissing me again. The surprise and intensity of it left me reeling.

After several fervent kisses, I finally managed to push her away. "What the hell!" I almost yelled.

"Quiet, dummy. Nobody can know a girl like me is in a boy's room," Cecilia giggled as she dragged me over to the bed and sat down, pulling me along with her.

"Why did you just kiss me?" I asked incredulously.

"Because you looked so delectable when you said you would beat Lucifer," she replied, her face taking on a playful, almost bashful expression.

'I can't get a damn read on her!' I thought. 'Her actions are too bizarre to make sense of!'

Even after reading about Cecilia in the <>, I still couldn't understand her character at all. It made sense, though; the author had crafted her to be a confusing and complex manipulative character, impossible to fully grasp.

But it was horrible when such a girl locked onto you.

The room felt charged with tension. Her sudden shifts in behavior were disorienting, leaving me unsure of how to react. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts.

"I won't tell you how I plan on doing it, but I will defeat Lucifer," I said, my voice serious and unwavering. "And I don't care what games you play with Ren or anyone else. In the end, I will win when it matters."

"Hmm," Cecilia hummed, her crimson eyes studying me intently. "It was quite odd how you lost to Ren. Are you okay?"

Her genuine concern momentarily warmed my heart, making me let down my defenses for a second before I regained control and took a deep breath.

'Calm down, Arthur,' I reprimanded myself. 'She's a psycho.'

"I'm fine. Something just didn't go according to plan," I said, trying to keep my gaze from straying down from her face.

Of course, nothing escaped Cecilia's keen eyes. She playfully smiled and touched her stomach chain, the lilt at the end of her sentence almost making my heart explode. "You like this~?"

I took a deep breath, calming myself as my cheeks flushed from her teasing. I opened my eyes to find Cecilia with her tongue out, laughing.

Her laugh didn't feel fake this time. It was light and genuine, a rare glimpse of authenticity behind her usual facade.

"You're impossible," I muttered, trying to keep my composure.

"And you're adorable when you're flustered," she shot back, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Don't worry, I don't blame you," she smiled, her expression sincere yet playful. "In fact, I respect you for controlling yourself so well."

I couldn't quite decipher if she was genuinely complimenting me or teasing me again, so I sighed inwardly, lamenting the fact that I had somehow piqued her interest.

"Okay, you should go now," I said, starting to get up from the bed, but before I could finish my sentence, she pulled me back in.

"Don't—" I began, but I was already toppling over and ended up on top of Cecilia.

"This feels familiar, doesn't it?" Cecilia giggled, a slight blush coloring her cheeks from our proximity.

I should have moved. Or at least I thought so. But I didn't.

I just gulped.

"It's a bit awkward for me to leave right now," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "There are too many people around, and I don't want to be spotted by the professors. So, can I stay here until it's safe for me to go?"

"...Fine," I replied, trying to keep my composure despite my racing heart.

"If you're done enjoying the view, then get off. I need to get more comfortable," Cecilia finally said after a moment of silence.

I nodded and quickly got up, feeling a flush of embarrassment creeping up my neck.