The Reaper's Wicked Obsession
Chapter 135: The Special Treatment

Chapter 135: The Special Treatment

"Isa!"

Vanya turned and her eyes widened when she caught sight of Isadora. Without a moment to waste she rushed to her side alongside Cai.

They’d both been worried because they haven’t seen her since last night.

"Where have you been? You didn’t come to dinner or breakfast," Vanya signed so fast to convey her words.

"I saved you an apple. Please don’t tell Logi," Cai whispered while holding up the fruit for her.

Isadora eyed Cai’s smile and then the fruit he held but she didn’t have the appetite for it. "Thank you, Cai." She forced a smile on her lips. "But I’m not hungry."

Cai’s features turned worried. He knew Isadora always had a large appetite for food, it was rare for her to turn anything down.

Vanya held Isadora’s shoulder and turned her to face her. Her worried brown eyes scanned her face.

’She’s not okay, something happened,’ she thought with certainty, and there was no way she would let this go.

Vanya couldn’t just stand still and let her suffer internally. She shouldn’t have to face any of it alone.

"Talk to me, Isa, please." Vanya signed desperately, her eyes begging her to do so.

Isadora swallowed hard, feeling heavy from the look Vanya pinned her with. "I—"

"Isadora!"

They turned their heads to Nyssa, stepping forward. This grabbed the others’ attention.

Isadora’s breathing hitched as she veered her attention to Nyssa, giving a knowing smirk.

Isadora knew she’d eventually face her again when she came to the training grounds. But she hadn’t imagined it to be public.

For some reason, everyone set their focus on Isadora. Almost as if it was exactly what Nyssa had in mind.

"You missed your morning call and do you know what happens when you do? Indulge me, young warrior."

Isadora gulped as she replied. "A penalty."

"But you were aware of this weren’t you?" Nyssa pushed, almost like Isadora had done this purposely to disrespect her authority. "And yet you neglected your duties because of Lord Raven’s special treatment."

Murmurs erupted, their glares felt like holes puncturing Isadora’s body. They all looked displeased now, acting solely on Nyssa’s statement which no one doubted.

’What’s she trying to do?’ Isadora thought as her eyes skimmed through the warriors, who whispered amongst themselves.

Isadora shook her head and pinned Nyssa with a heated look. "This is not necessary."

Nyssa was making this far more than a simple scolding and it wasn’t right. Whatever disagreement they both had was private.

Nyssa huffed. "Not necessary? The audacity of you to speak to your commandress like that? How dare you?!"

The murmurs intensified.

"That’s not what I—"

"Shut your mouth!" Nyssa snapped, cutting her off.

"You’re really something, Isadora." Nyssa passed a brief look at the others. "A stray, a cheater." She shifted her attention to the frozen girl who stood like a lone wolf amongst the lions. "And now just because you earned a crown you think you can disrespect the system."

Isadora opened her mouth to speak but she was cut off again.

"A mannfae will always be a mannfae." Dain mused as the other behind him sneered at his remark.

Vanya’s breath grew raspy as anger burned through her. This wasn’t fair at all! Just because she missed training doesn’t mean they should bully her like this.

"Cai, where’s Commander Rav?" Vanya signed discreetly.

"He’s not coming in today because of his rest," Cai whispered.

Vanya paused at Cai’s reply but then signed. "And Commander Logi?"

"I saw him earlier today."

"Go get him, this will only get worse and he can stop this."

Cai nodded as he rolled his wheels and hurried out of the training grounds.

Vanya sighed, turning her eyes to Isadora who remained still like time had paused for her. Whatever weighed her mind and killed her spirit, was not the murmurs and attention.

It was something else, something far more intense and only she could tell—especially with the way Nyssa looked at her like she was some dirt she wanted to clean off her boots.

Something must have happened between them. Nyssa was simply using this opportunity to bully Isadora.

’Why?’ Vanya thought desperately, mentally praying that Cai got to Logi in time.

The only person who could disagree with Nyssa was a Commander or Lord Raven himself.

"Isadora, will you face your penalty or are you so proud you can’t receive one like the warrior you are?"

Isadora’s fist clenched at her side, her chest rising and falling. This was all deliberate and she knew it.

Was insulting her not enough? Now she had to endure this humiliation—all because she missed a morning call.

"The penalty is simple..." Nyssa turned to penalty zone and pointed. "That boulder there must be dragged to a position. Every warrior endure the zone as their punishment and that doesn’t set you apart from them or does it?"

"She won’t do it."

"I think so too."

"Just because she holds Lord Raven’s favor doesn’t mean she can slack off."

"I was beginning to respect her."

"She shouldn’t relax just because she earned a crown."

"She’s unworthy of it."

"I think so too."

"It’s an insult to Lord Raven’s name!"

Isadora could hear every single word they hurled toward her way and there was nothing she could say to stop them.

They all made their mind up, solely because of what Nyssa had instilled in their hearts.

They were playing her game without even realizing it.

"What say you, Isadora?" Nyssa asked smirking, getting the desired result she wanted. "It’s okay if you can’t serve the punishment, I’m sure Lord Raven will approve because it’s you."

Isadora’s fist clenched so hard that her nails dug into her skin. She hated this... everything.

She had come to like this place knowing she had earned something for herself, yet they looked at her with those eyes.

The same eyes when they labeled her a cheater. It was like deja vu and it hurts. Knowing her effort didn’t amount to anything—they still ridicule her despite everything.

And they didn’t ridicule her because she was mannfae this time. They all did... because of Kraven.

Her teeth clenched at the thought of him. It seems no one was worthy of their reverend Lord Raven.

A scornful laugh almost broke from her but she held it in. Sniffling, she raised her gaze and looked directly at Nyssa—the smirk on her lips... she was enjoying this to the fullest.

It must be fun, shaming her in front of others. Isadora could clearly see why Kraven fancied her. It made the pain in her chest bitter at the thought of it.

If Nyssa wanted her way then she should have it. Isadora didn’t care anymore.

"You’re right, Commandress," Isadora said sternly. "I deserve a penalty and I’m not excerpted from it."

This wasn’t about making Nyssa eat her words, it was about showing that so-called special treatment didn’t relate to her.

She hated the label Nyssa fixated on her. She hated that what had transpired was a so-called special treatment.

Last night had been an illusion, and it was a good thing she was finally awake.

Isadora took a step closer, surrendering herself to Nyssa’s tricks but Vanya grabbed her hand to stop her.

"This is my burden, Vanya," Isadora said with pleading eyes, hoping she would understand and not interfere.

The last thing she wanted was for Vanya to get involved in her own mess.

"That doesn’t mean you should carry it alone, no one should. It only makes it harder and lonely."

Isadora’s heart skipped a beat at what Vanya conveyed.

Vanya faced Nyssa. She always had immense respect for her, striving to become a powerful warrior like her.

But she stooped so low treating Isadora like this. She wasn’t even the only one who had missed the morning call and those who did were not treated harshly like this.

It wasn’t fair, none of it was.

"I would like to share her penalty," Vanya signed.

"Vanya!" Isadora snapped. "No."

"Stay out of this, Vanya." Dain cut in. "The penalty was deserved, we all have one and no one shared it, why should you share hers?"

His words get others talking, proving the situation of Isadora getting special treatment more true.

Vanya attempted to sign hoping to give them a piece of her mind but Isadora stopped her by holding her hand, with a gentle shake of her head in the form of a silent plea.

Isadora didn’t want her to get more involved or else they would sink their teeth into her too.

Reasonably she was meant to get a penalty and Nyssa made it public out of pettiness, but still it didn’t change that she had to be excerpted from it.

Vanya gave Isadora pleading eyes. But Isadora’s reply was a simple smile of reassurance.

Isadora turned to Nyssa, steeling herself for what came next. Nyssa had broken her once and she won’t let her do it the second time.

She had enough.

"I’ll do it."