After eating so of the remaining bbq, Teren went into one of the tents that no one dared to enter.
They waited for a quarter of an hour before the rest gathered around the bonfire to talk about what happened today and to mainly, just console and reconnect to each other.
They did this while ignoring Iesa who was walking back and forth from Teren's tent. It's obvious that she's wondering if she should enter or not. She even went as far as whistling as if she didn't have any intention.
Truthfully, Teren went into the tent early since, with his presence there, no one could speak a word.
But even without him, the mood was still quite heavy. Nick was an 'outcast' again and he himself was aware of that with little chance of redemption. He placed himself far from them, leaning on a tree as he listens to them.
Forming the circle, Hanon, Mike, and Catherine was seated too along with the four.
There was an awkward silence for a while. Catherine was usually the first to open up the conversation, however, she didn't speak of anything. Seeing the blood on her clothes, no one expected her to be in the mood as they are.
Mike didn't receive any physical torture but that is why he was unable to speak up too. He thinks that it was unfair that he was the only one among the group who were not 'touched'
"I don't know if you will be able to forgive for what I've done but... no, I have nothing to say. It is reasonable to hate ."
"..."
Everyone looked at him, the light from the bonfire was lighting up their faces and being reflected upon their eyes.
There was a montary pause before one of them replied.
"N-no... I don't think any of us can bla you for it, Sir Hanon."
It was Eline who spoke.
"I know that... I know that what you did is enough for us to hate you but in the end, isn't it T-ter... that man's fault?"
She couldn't even say his na as it would remind her of the pain afflicted on her both palms.
"Furthermore, isn't it also true that in the long term... you three who sold yourselves are in much worse states?"
Eline said it with hardship. Accepting this fact ans that she is sohow putting a lower light on what happened to her. The others didn't have the ntality to think that soone else is a more pitiable victim than them. Right now, they want attention and care to heal their mind and soul. However, Eline was able to give up on that thought because she was not the only one who suffered.
Everyone realized it as they sympathized with her. Starting this, Mira too followed.
"Yes, if not for you three, we would've died..."
Gulping, Dan spoke too.
"Thank you, Sir Hanon, Mike, Catherine."
Lastly, Josh frowned but eventually, he gave in and said the sa thing.
Hearing this as a form of forgiveness, Catherine just let out unrelenting tears. In front of her friends, she had no reason to act tough since there's no 'rage' that's acting upon her to stay in that attitude.
"No... I should be the one apologizing! If only I didn't hesitate, none of you would've experienced any of that...!"
No one denied her. It was the truth. This might even forever scar them for the rest of their life. But then, there's another side of it.
"But, you know..."
Mira spoke up.
"If Catherine imdiately signed it and we didn't experience that, I think I would feel more guilty now. I know what happened to is not as bad as... the others... but for , I'm a bit glad I shared so of your pain."
Eline nodded.
"Right, I was thinking that as well. I do bla Catherine a little but in the end, I think we won't be experiencing that anymore. If we didn't experience that, I will be depressed, thinking that Catherine sold herself to us."
"Yeah, it feels like it's a bit fair even though Catherine and Mike will have it worse."
Even though Mike didn't receive any physical torture like them, just the fact that he imdiately signed his contract made the others not envy or spite him for being safe.
"But... how can we be sure that... that man won't do it again?"
Josh said with a solemn expression.
It was Catherine who answered. Her face turned a little grim but a slight smile strangely ford.
"Earlier... when I finally signed the contract... he ca back to and healed . While doing so... he was spouting blood."
Hanon followed her words.
"So his part of punishnt about losing a tenth of his blood was true."
Catherine nodded.
"But at that mont, the main rule between three contracts about not harming the students have not yet ford yet."
Hanon pointed out, making Mike realized-
"Wait, so now that it ford, won't our contracts add up and if he defied it, not just tenth, he would lost more than half of his blood?"
"That's basically death, isn't it?"
Catherine said, making the others understand why she was slightly smiling. But the truth is, she smiled when she rembered Teren vomit blood because of what she did. That slight revenge... she didn't think it would feel so good that she almost forgot the pain in her stomach.
"Teren wouldn't sacrifice his own life to kill any of you." Hanon continued, "I know this sounds harsh but right now, you're all just ordinary students who just experienced the other side of the world which we normally call the underworld or the Spirit World. In his mind, even if he kills you all, his life isn't worth it. Therefore, he shouldn't defy the contract."
After a brief silence along with relief, Mike stood up.
"If that's true... I want to try and punch his face. Since he can't fight back, he's basically harmless, right!?"
Without waiting for a reply, Mike turned around to go to Teren's tent while Iesa was still walking back and forth.
"Wait, Mike! What if he fights back!?"
"Then he dies! Won't my l-life be worth it!?" Mike made guts pose. Out of sheer guilt, sadness, and anger, he too thirsts for revenge.
"No, Mike, you wouldn't land a hit on him. But you're right, he wouldn't fight back." Hanon said and supported him, "Why don't I help you with that? As he said, we will have a headache from rebelling but I'll gladly accept it just to release my frustrations and stress at him! How bad that headache can be!?"
Seeing Hanon ready to go, Mike smiled and nodded as they went straight to Teren's tent with the others behind them. Catherine wants to see Teren gets punched in the face too.
But before they do so, soone stepped in their way. It was not Iesa but instead, it was Nick.
"Sorry, but I have to stop you here."
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