POV: Maëva
The Lord really likes to test my empathy. Way too much.
After retrieving his "gift," Raph returned to his fans, his smile intact, while I tried not to imagine all the ways a box could accidentally end up crushed on someone's head.
I had promised myself that I would no longer give him my time or attention.
I need to bring back some protesters, an idea to implement, and an Irene who had decided that coming to class before noon was probably an optional test.
I glanced towards the door.
Still no one.
It was as if he had been swallowed by the building.
Wow!
My phone vibrated under the table. A new message from Adel appeared.
[They told us they will always be part of it]
[This is not just a "part"]
…
(Writing)
…
He did not reply.
I looked up at Raph's group and met her gaze.
How awful, wash my eyes.
[We are really confident]
I stifled a sigh.
[I trust you enough to let you discover it for yourselves]
Then he locked the screen before he could reply to me.
All I'll have to do is find some new extras
Moreover, the person in question did not seem to have any intention of getting involved in anything.
I don't need to have a dialogue with Him.
Heresy had kept to herself since his arrival. He had settled into his seat right next to Maëva, taken out his things, and paid only distracted attention to the commotion around him.
I had almost forgotten he was there.
Almost.
Because when I stood up, he immediately moved aside.
But I sat back down and looked him in the eyes.
– Hérèse ?
I just called him on a whim
- Yes.
His answer was so simple that I started waiting for what would come next.
Heresy let his gaze wander over the sheets of paper spread out before me. He picked one up, read the first few lines, then put it back down with a smile.
A smile.
I stopped twirling my pen between my fingers.
What was he making?
"You're still on the offensive," he continued.
I exchanged a glance with myself.
For several days, I had been trying to get his support without being able to determine what he really thought. Seeing him come to me of his own accord must have given me the impression that my efforts were finally bearing fruit.
"Exactly," I replied.
– We want everyone to have equal access to training facilities. And we also want the old guard to stop deciding who deserves to be trained and who doesn't.
Silence
Is he kidding me?
Heresy nodded, then lightly scratched her cheek, her eyes still fixed on the documents.
– In that case, what am I supposed to bring you?
I almost broke my pen.
Pardon ?
I'm speechless.
– You mean… you agree to help us?
"I'm asking you what I should do," replied Heresy with disarming calm. "You're the ones who organized all this, aren't you?"
He was still smiling.
He offered his help.
I slowly put down my pen.
Something was wrong.
"Well…" I began
– We will finally provoke them into fighting us
He raises his hand
- All right.
- All right ?
– Yes. If you think my presence can be useful, I will come.
I gave him a little nudge with my elbow, as if to make sure he wasn't joking.
Upon closer observation.
His pupils appeared unusually dilated. He kept his chin slightly lowered, but his eyes moved from one face to the other with unusual liveliness. From time to time, the corner of his mouth turned up as if he were holding back a laugh. Then he would rub his thumb against his forefinger, before repeating the action a few seconds later.
I squinted.
Was he sick? Had he slept badly? Or had he ju
st taken drugs?
I no longer liked the ease with which he seemed to enjoy following us and especially leaving me in doubt.