Mond let out a long, weary sigh, his eyes wandering toward the other students.
Nikolas followed his gaze and smiled reassuringly. "You came here asking for their help, Mond. That requires a certain level of sincerity and trust, wouldn't you agree?"
"I know, but..." Mond hesitated, his jaw tightening as he recalled an old wound. "The situation I'm in right now is a direct result of trusting the wrong people."
"We aren't like Galbert," John said, his voice cutting through the hesitation. He could already see the shadow of the Formal Team leader in Mond's eyes.
Mond sighed again, finally succumbing to John's words. "Fine. I was poisoned by Galbert. He used Katherine to lure me in, tricking me into drinking a specific potion. She told me it was a Miraculous Drug that would unlock more of my hidden potential, but it was the exact opposite. It was a curse that stopped my growth dead in its tracks."
