"Eradicate the weaklings to reduce their existence."
THIRD'S / BRENILLE ARTHEO'S POV
What's with this moron? He's making a d*mn out of me!
He thought we were just playing tri-games all for fun?! He doesn't even have the slightest clue about how we struggled to survive and reached this level. He underestimates us, thinking we are stupid that we asked Author to play this game. I came to loathe this guy. He's trampling my guts.
He joined Level 3 so easily as if he just entered the mall. Well, he's wrong, absolutely wrong. I'll slam on his face that this game doesn't take a liking to him. We all put our lives at stake to get into level 3, so we are more deserving to win, not someone like him. He must not pose as a threat to us.
I recollect my memories, and somehow, I remembered that jerk. I was one of the leaders at that time. I managed to assemble my members and recall their faces. We didn't find his dead body, so we shouldn't be surprised if we ever see him one day, which is today. He is standing in front and laughing at us as he does now. Earlier, Heavien asked him. I think she already deciphered the 'ghost' that appears at 1:00 AM, and that Thirzen is the suspect. I've had my suspicions that it was a deed of a human being, but didn't predict it to be him.
A serious-looking guy approached Thirzen. It was First. "Wait, if you are Thirzen, that means you were with Eleventh the time we thought both of you were dead. What happened to Eleventh?"
I don't know his name, and he doesn't want to tell us. He's quite secretive. I heard Heavien still call him First.
"The h*ck you're talking about?" Thirzen rolled his eyes.
"You were with him during the Neinuko battle."
"Neinuko?" his question made Thirzen force himself to recall his memories. "Ah, that one. Yeah, must be the sloppy coward dude."
"He's wearing a Peleya School uniform. He's the same height as me. The same hair color but with a slight difference in hairstyle."
Thirzen's face screams he doesn't care what Eleventh looks like or what he was wearing.
"Right," Thirzen crossed his arms. "He was my partner when we gathered wood in the forest when the giant dog went after us."
"How did he die?"
"You know what? I barely remember anything that happened yesterday. So don't bother asking me. What matters to me is the present, and that is to kill you all."
Thirzen took two steps away, but his way was blocked by First, and he stood right in front of him.
"Why did he die?" He is glaring at Thirzen.
Thirzen raised the tone of his voice. "Neinuko stage was just a trial one, and nobody supposedly died. He's just dumb that he was the first one to die on a trial game," he scoffed.
The next thing that happened was a bit uncalled for. First grabbed Thirzen's collar and gave him a death glare, followed by a straight-up punch. We stopped First before he was thinking of killing the jerk. No one knows what's happening between the two. Even Thirzen appears surprised at what First did.
If First is planning on finishing that jerk, then better wait after 17 hours when level 3 shall begin. A little patience, First, and you'll get your hands on him in no time.
"We should head back to our rooms while we wait for the next game. It's no use talking to that idiot," I suggested.
"What am I?" And the idiot pointed to himself.
"Yes, you," I cleared up his question.
Even before he could retort to my insult to him, I went upstairs and let them take care of him. I will go to sleep to prepare for the next game that will start in 17 hours. I entered my room, and it was already 1:45 AM. Thanks to that jerk, and my sleep got disturbed. I lay down, staring at the ceiling. Thanks, I can't fall asleep. I seem to have been struck by what Thirzen said about Eleventh. He called him a coward.
Yes, I'm a coward. Coward enough to be called 'parents' puppet'. I'm Artheo, Brenille. We have the means, but I chose to study in public because I wanted to experience studying in a larger population. Not only that, but I also have a bad impression when I studied in private schools because I was a victim of bullying when I was in grade school. Bullied because of wearing thick eyeglasses and for being a math and science geek. My parents insisted that I attend a private school when I was in the 7th and 8th grades. I got angry, so they took me to a public school when I was in grades 9 and 10.
I am the student council president of our school. I became famous because of that position. Quiet and unfriendly. The only people I talk to are people I think I benefit from, like the student council members. Many say I was a good leader, well-managed, uptight, rude, etc. I don't care about the gossip made by the people who don't even have a status in life. I must not care about low-profile people who do nothing but keep on pestering other people's lives. I don't include and recognize those types of people who don't reach or surpass my level.
Unexpectedly, I discovered that I have a talent and passion for photography. I hated that I discovered my talent when I was already in 9th grade. I planned to take something that includes the arts in senior high, but my parents laughed at my idea.
"What are you thinking, son? You won't get anything out of your picture taking." My mom said. What's worse is I know it's not a joke. It was a big insult to my guts.
"Yes, it's better if you do engineering as our neighbor's son did. Look at Randy's son. His eldest son finished an engineering course. The second is a doctor, and the youngest is now a lawyer. There, they are swimming in money." My dad added an insult.
"Oh, also, do you remember your cousin who's your age? He mentioned he'll take the science, technology, and engineering track next school year. That boy is goofy but smart in choosing the right field. Right, dear?"
My dad agrees. "Yeah, yeah, besides you have the brain, so that won't be a problem for you. You excelled a lot since you were a kid. What's with the uncalled change of heart?"
"Mom, Dad, I don't care about their opinions. I'm going to take arts."
"What a waste of your talent if you take an art course," Mom replied.
"But-"
"Brenille, can I have just one word? Follow us because we are the ones who were born earlier than you! We did not choose this for us but for you." Dad exclaimed.
No matter how many times I convince them, they'll rebut me by comparing me to other people's achievements. They badly want me to meet the ideals that they failed to do so themselves when they were young. Passing your dreams to your child because you failed to do it is intolerable. I am not them, and they are not me.
That's also the reason why, at first, I couldn't bring myself to be a model in Heavien's sketch when we were still in the castle. I had a bad memory of the arts. And not only that, but another also followed. I fell in love with multimedia arts in 10th grade. Aside from photography, I learned videography, graphic design, video editing, and digital media. All thanks to my former classmate who taught me. My uncle is a marketing manager who works closely with artistic people. This motivated me more to prove to my parents that I can at least take multimedia arts in college, if not photography. I might be annoying them, but for one last time, I'll try.
"Mom, Dad, I want to take multimedia arts in college. I'll take the arts and design strand for the next academic year."
I just learned the basics of multimedia, and that wasn't enough. I wanted to go deeper where I could reach my dreams.
"What? What kind of career are you choosing?" Mom asks for clarification.
"MMA, multimedia arts, mom."
"Arts again?!" she shrieked.
"What's wrong with it? I can make money out of that."
"Multiple arts this time? After hearing your plea about taking photography, Brenille, I've had enough!" Mom has had it.
"Quit with your fantasies and listen to us. It's not that we don't want what you want but we have already told you. Just do what we say." Dad still disagrees.
Again, that famous line and reason of my parents. I didn't listen to their advice. I borrowed my former classmate's camera, who taught me about multimedia arts. I took pictures and tried editing them. Mom caught what I was doing. They were both angry and kept the camera I borrowed in a place where I could not find it. They limit my allowance until I give up taking arts. I gave up. I gave up on my dreams and accepted defeat. Then I saw where Dad had hidden the camera. He broke it, and it is no longer usable. I cried because of it. That camera means everything to me. The camera is a witness to the hardships my parents have caused me. That instrument has seen the real Brenille Artheo, who is the opposite of what they see at school: strong, brave, and confident. Because of what happened, I saved up some of my allowance and gave it to my former classmate for repair. Living up to my parents' expectations can kill someone.
That's the reason why I almost killed Rochedan. I saw grave fear in him when he was one of the people I expected to win this game. He was afraid to fight against me and wanted to protect his sister, which is why I killed him. Good thing, Seyah butt in and finished him off. It is to eradicate the weaklings and reduce their existence. He is a man, so he must fight like one. If the number of cowards in the world has not been reduced, their race will increase even more. They must be diminished.
I was once a coward. Coward of fighting for my right to choose for my future, and now I'm struggling. Struggling that my nightmare is tormenting me by the fact that I was a coward. Because of this game, I will be given a chance to turn back in time, or maybe I can go fast forward and reach my goals in life.
This time, I'm a coward no more. Losing is not in my vocabulary anymore. I'll show them that I am Brenille with no Artheo. My first name will be solely my name.