Italic dialogues like this:
'Hello, I am an italic dialogue.'
It means the communication is being done through telepathy.
Enjoy the chapter.
___
Reinhard stared at the girl sitting on the edge of his bed.
His emotions were in turmoil. That was the only explanation for why he couldn't bring himself to speak, even though dozens of questions clawed at the back of his mind.
From what she said before, it was clear that she knew about his inability to refuse when someone asked him for help.
'How much does she know?' His fingers twitched at his sides.
Having survived in the outskirts, even though he had never killed anyone with his own hands, he still had a lot of exposure to violence.
'Fuck, it's not like I can do anything anyways,' he thought bitterly
He had no way of harming her. Not unless he could somehow convince himself that she was evil.
Anyways, after hearing her plea, he had taken her hand and dragged her into his room, after consent, of course.
Talking about his flaw and whatever problem she had in the hallway would be just asking to be heard.
[New attribute acquired.]
[Attribute Name: Telepath.]
Even though it was for a fleeting moment, he noticed a change in her posture.
'Just like in the cafeteria.' There was no doubt now, but he still had to confirm.
'You can see them, can't you?' After a brief pause, he added, 'Just think about talking internally.'
'Y- Yes, I can see your attributes.'
'How the fuck do you stutter in thought?' He ignored the urge to dwell on that and pressed on.
'Then how did you know? That I wouldn't be able to refuse?'
'I saw a vision.'
Reinhard let out a slow breath through his nose.
'Of course you did.'
'Future sight in exchange for actual sight,' he thought dryly. 'Kinda poetic.'
'What did you see?'
Her mental voice wavered.
'About your flaw...'
The irritation he'd been holding back finally bubbled to the surface.
'Is fate trying to fuck with my life?! Seers are one of the rarest kinds of aspects, and what kind of vision did she receive? ' Oh, here is the flaw of this particular guy. Now go fuck up his day and probably the rest of his life by using him!'
Even though Reinhard kept his expression calm, that didn't mean he couldn't indulge in a little anger, if only for his own sanity.
He sighed, the tension slightly leaving his body.
At this point he was already sure what kind of help Cassia would want.
They were going to be sent to the dream realm today. The spell sent sleepers into the dream realm by some weird system that no one could predict; a blind girl like her with no way of defending herself would die in less than an hour unless she had exceptional luck.
And what better person to ask for help than the strongest sleeper in the whole academy, who, by convenience, had no way of refusing to help her?
Not only because she asked for help, but perhaps because he also considered her situation unjust.
'It still shouldn't be a problem of mine..' He made one last complaint about such unfairness, knowing the world wasn't fair to begin with.
He sighed and spoke up, without using his newly made attribute this time.
"Do you really think I can do anything about your situation?"
Cassia's hands tightened in her lap.
"I... I don't know... But you are my last hope. So please... save my life."
She didn't look at him. Her head was bowed, her unfocused eyes fixed on nothing. A single teardrop slipped free and landed on her lap, darkening the fabric of her clothes.
'Oh, come on, starting with the waterworks again?' Reinhard wasn't a good person. He wasn't a bad one either. He was just someone trying to survive.
Morals, justice, ideals—he'd learned early on that those concepts only mattered as long as they didn't get you killed. Pitying her didn't mean he liked the position he'd been forced into.
But just then a voice rang up in his mind.
[New attribute acquired.]
[Attribute Name: Hero's Burden.]
He quickly looked at his runes to see the new attributes description.
[Hero's Burden]Attribute Description: "The strings of fate twist and tighten around you, binding your path to those who must be saved. Chance, misfortune, and destiny itself conspire to place their lives in your hands, ensuring that your duty can never be ignored."
'Why do I feel like I am the bastard child of fate and she is the favorite? Favored of spell my ass.' He groaned internally.
Still, there was no avoiding it now.
The room fell into silence; actually, except for when he asked, she didn't really say anything till now. Reinhard wondered if he was actually mentally torturing the poor girl.
He felt a little guilty now.
'Damn, now i actually feel bad for her.'
"Fine," he said. "I'll try my best."
"Th-Thank you very much!"
"Don't shout."
"S-Sorry."
He had no problem with her shouting; that was just a way for him to get his irritation out one last time.
He half-expected her to start crying again, but instead, Cassia lifted her head. Her large blue eyes—clear and empty—were fixed in the direction of his face. Hope softened her expression.
'Stop looking at me like that!'
Even he had to admit that she was very beautiful. Like a porcelain doll that would shatter at the slightest impact.
He sighed, for the fourth time in the span of an hour.
"Now," he said tiredly, "are you planning to spend the next few hours here?"
Given Hero's Burden, the odds of them being transported nearby were high. Discussing plans would be the logical move. But he already knew how this would go—he would fight, and she would survive because of it.
Right now, he had too much to think about to pretend otherwise.
"C-Can I?"
"Huh?"
___
I am in a productive spree frfr. But my exams are coming soon. T_T
Anyways, hope you liked the chapter. I tried my best to write their personalities properly. If there are any faults, tell me. I'm still a newbie, after all. I appreciate all the constructive criticism.
See you next time.