Misfit At Magic Academy: They Wanted a Godly Summon, Got Me Instead
Chapter 40: I’m Always Here If You Ever Feel Bad

Chapter 40: I’m Always Here If You Ever Feel Bad

When the sun was setting behind the mountains and the students were going their separate ways...

Aimer and I were in the piano room. Standing by the window, I was in her embrace. I could hear her heartbeat, and it made me feel calmer.

"So, you and Riven had a fight? I don’t know much about him, but he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who’d hurt you. What happened?"

"How can I explain... I... no. I was helping him with something he asked me to keep secret. In the end, we argued because his idea turned out to be too dangerous. Why involve me in the first place if he was going to back out like a coward?"

"Hmm. Maybe he realized how much it could cost and didn’t want to hurt you."

I recalled Riven’s face. That clumsy nerd with glasses who always needed watching over.

"Then he just wasted my time!" I snapped. "He quit halfway like a total coward. I don’t get people like that."

"Maybe you should look at it differently. For him, it was over the moment he realized it was a bad idea. Riven’s not the type to take big risks."

"Well, you should take risks!"

"That’s how you see it. Not everyone’s like you, Atheron.

Think about it. He has his own point of view. Maybe it’s time you accepted that others might not always agree with you."

I turned my gaze away, still irritated.

"He said I was his only friend. As if something so simple should outweigh a shared goal?"

Aimer squinted at me. Then smacked me on the head.

"Ow."

"Do you even have empathy for the people around you? Riven backed out because he was scared. For himself — and for you too.

He didn’t want you both getting into something serious. What kind of friend are you if you can’t understand something that basic?

Learn to accept other people’s feelings, Atheron. I shouldn’t be the only one deserving of that kind of care. Do you even feel anything?"

I fell silent. Dropped my eyes. For the first time in my life, my shoulders trembled.

Do I feel anything?

I sat down at the piano, wiped the dust off the keys.

"What do I feel..."

Yes. I definitely feel.

But these feelings... I can’t express them with words. Only through the keys.

And I started playing. A sad melody, drawn-out and low. Over time, the notes softened. Pure improvisation.

Aimer smiled. She leaned in and brushed my hair.

Waiting for the right note, she began to sing. Her voice was gentle like honey.

"If the world was ending... Would you cry or would try to get me?

Tell me now, I want you to be clear. Tell me now, I need you to be clear.

I will wait for you."

I played more boldly. Every note of that melody felt like it was tearing open parts of my soul.

Aimer kept singing, understanding how much the melody meant to me.

⸻

Mugen Wars.

The crowd shouted the obvious winner’s name.

"Roy! Roy! Roy!"

The fight had been going on for a minute. Roy stepped closer to Riven every second. The nerd kept getting hit, unable to fight back.

A punch to the gut. Another straight to the head.

"Why don’t you dodge? Aren’t you tired of being a punching bag? Though I guess you’re used to it! You’re trash — made for mockery!"

Roy smirked as he landed hit after hit.

WHACK.

Blood poured from Riven’s nose.

WHACK!

Roy broke his glasses.

Riven’s vision blurred.

"No amount of squinting’s gonna help you now!"

A spinning kick.

Riven collapsed, then stood up slowly, his red fists trembling.

He didn’t know what to do. He had never been suited for sports. Always had weak health.

A boy who’d been beaten since childhood, suddenly learning to fight? Not in this life. He was used to it.

In his head: just hang on. Maybe get one hit in. Maybe get knocked out quickly.

"You’ll never change!" Roy shouted, grabbing him by the hair. "You’ll always be the same pathetic loser. That’s your fate — hear me?"

WHACK!

A knee to the face.

The crowd gasped. Riven dropped to his knees, barely holding himself up.

Heavy breathing. Snot and blood streamed from his nose.

"I’ll never... change."

A memory.

Every time his father tried to make him stronger, Riven couldn’t even lift a sword.

Why? His father was always worried.

His mother would say Riven was gifted to become an archmage, not a swordsman.

"Strong or not — a sword is a must!"

First time — he failed. Second time — failed again.

His father closed his eyes. But deep down, he was grieving.

The third time, Riven couldn’t even hold the sword with both hands. His hands were too weak. Even the maids whispered about it.

His father’s flask cracked.

"You’re one giant failure!"

Those were the words Riven least wanted to hear.

"How did I end up with a son this weak?! I — heir to the Riverfall clan — refuse to accept that this boy is mine! No... you’re not my son."

He turned to his wife with a cold, furious stare.

"This is your fault. I knew marrying you was a mistake!"

He grabbed her by the neck. Shook her in front of their son.

"You gave me this weakling? You ruined my life, witch!"

...

"I ruined their lives."

Riven opened his eyes. He stood up. Roy stood in front of him, still thinking he was a god.

Gotta stand. Gotta hold on.

WHACK!

A blow to the head. Riven’s skull cracked.

One thought bothered him most:

"I wonder if Atheron’s watching? He shouldn’t see this circus."

WHACK! A punch straight to the nose.

Riven looked around. Couldn’t recognize me in the blurry crowd.

"Good... I’m glad you’re not here. Damn it, I nearly lost my only friend yesterday. Friends shouldn’t see this."

"Be strong — stop giving up so easily!"

My voice echoed in his ears.

Part 2 next Chapter.