Tortured by Love

"I heard that you've never succeeded even though you and Azure have Bonded Swords, have you?" She feigned surprise. "So what if you're destined lovers? He's still more suited to me."

Even the outer disciples began to point at me, saying, "Indeed, it has to be a real couple to win."

"You truly don't deserve to wield Phoenix Cry."

Without blinking, I drew my sword and struck her. "How can you be sure it's my fault? Phoenix Cry works just fine in my hands. Azure himself is the failure. Don't blame his shortcomings on me."

Seraphina's eyes widened as she clutched her bleeding chest.

"How dare you treat me like this! Gentle? I knew all your gentleness was just an act for Azure! You're clearly just jealous!"

I admit I did act gentle, but as for jealousy... She was not worth my envy.

"Whoever is jealous knows it in their heart." Raven interjected at that moment, smiling, "Seraphina, if you truly felt no threat, why would you come here first to flaunt your favored status?"

Her face contorted instantly, and she finally threw a curse and left.

Raven looked at me, his expression softening. "If something like this happens again, you can come to me. It's never right for someone like her to humiliate Violet."

I nodded somewhat awkwardly. This was the first time someone had expressed such kindness towards me so overtly.

"And," he said as he showed me his sword, "Phoenix Cry doesn't have to be paired only with Dragon Roar."

Raven's sword was Celestial Roc.

With a smile in his eyes, he continued, "Both our sword spirits have wings. In the future, we will surely soar high."

His eyes seemed to twinkle like the stars, and his cheerful aura even made me feel more lively.

I lived in darkness, but this was the first time someone had given me such a clear light.

7

As expected, Seraphina reported this to Azure.

He was being robbed of reason by the emotions of love, and like all men who stand up for their lovers, his first reaction after recovering from his injuries was not to reflect but to rush into my room.

"Violet, I know it's hard for you to accept, but you can vent your dissatisfaction on me. Don't make things difficult for Seraphina."

I had planned never to let Azure disgust me again, even if tortured by the Insect Curse, but his words really angered me.

Why shouldn't I make things difficult for her?

I shook off his hand. "Azure, don't flatter yourself. You can forget the pain of losing your mother, but I owe an explanation to her!"

But he still thought I was just desperately in love with him. "Violet, you're a gentle girl. How could you be jealous of Seraphina..."

I was about to say something when I felt a sharp pain rose from my abdomen.

I understood.

I held back my tears. As long as I didn't comply with him, the insect from the curse would gnaw at me day by day.

My face turned pale, and I finally gave in. "I'm sorry."

He suddenly became flustered again. "This is the right attitude. Violet, I know you're a good girl. Let's go back to how things were."

"How things were? The way I catered to your every whim and obeyed you completely?" I thought.

I didn't want to argue with him anymore, but he seemed to want to have a long discussion.

Raven, like a savior, stood in front of me again.

"Can't you see Violet doesn't look well? Azure." He was as gentle and polite as ever, but his tone was firm.