Chapter 26 || The Price Of Obedience

Chapter 26: 26 || The Price Of Obedience

Lyra lay in bed, tucked beneath a blanket. Her glasses rested on the bedside drawer, and a damp white cloth lay across her forehead.

Code sat beside her, quietly attending to her.

After a few minutes, he lifted the cloth from her forehead and placed it in the bowl of water on the stool in front of him. Using only his left hand, he squeezed out the excess water before returning it to her forehead.

Lyra slowly opened her eyes.

"I’m sorry you have to see me like this," she murmured. "Especially when your hand hasn’t even healed yet. I’m really sorry."

"It’s fine."

Code rose and walked toward the kitchen.

When he returned, he was carrying a tray with a bowl of soup. Steam curled from its surface as he placed it on the desk.

Lyra tried to sit up, but her weakened body barely cooperated.

Code helped her upright.

The damp cloth slipped from her forehead and landed in her lap.

He picked it up and returned it to the bowl of water before arranging a pillow behind her back.

"...Code," Lyra called softly. "Could you please turn off the lights? They’re hurting my eyes."

"Sure."

Code crossed the room and switched on the bedside lamp. He then walked to the door and flicked off the main light.

The room fell into darkness, leaving the bedside lamp as its only source of illumination.

"...Thanks."

Code returned to the bed, picked up the tray, and took a spoonful of soup.

He blew on it gently to cool it before holding the spoon near her lips.

"Here."

The warmth of the steam brushed against Lyra’s face.

Her cheeks gradually turned crimson.

She hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth, allowing him to feed her.

For the first time, Lyra couldn’t tell whether her heart was racing because of the fever or something else entirely.

.....

The room was dimly lit by the flickering flames of several candles.

A girl with dark brown hair lay face down on a massage table, white towels draped over her back.

"Riven, are you ready?" she asked softly.

Riven stood beside the table without his usual coat. His long white sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his gloves were nowhere to be seen. A small white towel rested over his shoulder.

Holding a bowl of massage oil, he offered her a gentle smile.

"Yes. I’ll start now."

He poured some oil onto her back and carefully spread it across her shoulders, working it into her skin with steady movements.

The girl exhaled softly as the tension in her shoulders began to ease.

Then a phone rang.

She lifted her head slightly.

"Could you get that for me?"

He wiped his hands on the towel and left it on the floor before retrieving the phone from the bed.

He handed it to her.

"Thanks."

Sitting up, she answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Cecilia! How are you doing?" a cheerful voice exclaimed from the other end.

"I’m fine," Cecilia replied.

Riven waited patiently for her conversation to end so he could continue the massage.

However, Cecilia raised one finger without looking at him.

"You can... help yourself to something else for now," she said before turning her attention back to the call.

Riven nodded.

Without another word, he stepped away while Cecilia continued chatting.

.....

Lyra lay peacefully in bed, a damp cloth resting across her forehead.

Code remained seated beside her, replacing the cloth every few minutes.

Eventually, her breathing grew steady as she drifted into sleep.

Code glanced at his watch.

9:20 p.m.

He stood, picked up the bowl of water, and carried it to the kitchen.

After returning, he paused beside the bed and looked down at Lyra’s sleeping face.

Satisfied that she was resting peacefully, he turned away and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

.....

The door to Code’s room slid open.

He switched on the wall light, stepped inside, and shut the door behind him.

After removing his shoes and setting them in the corner beside his wardrobe, he dropped his bag onto the table.

Then he collapsed onto his bed, face down.

For a while, he remained motionless.

Eventually, he slipped a hand into his pocket and retrieved his phone.

He powered it on and opened his profile.

The screen displayed his information.

Name: Code Warden

Class: Class 1-D

Rank: Grent

Beneath these details was the column for his academy rating.

It contained no stars.

The space was completely blank.

.....

May 5th

Code stood before the elevator, his tie hanging loosely around his neck.

His injured hand had finally healed, leaving no need for the bandages he’d worn over the past few weeks.

The elevator chimed, and its doors slid open.

Torin and Ken stood inside.

Code stepped in. "Good morning."

"Morning," they both replied.

He moved forward to press the button for their floor, then stepped back, positioning himself between the two boys.

The doors closed.

Silence settled over the elevator.

Ken began whistling, while Torin tapped his foot lightly against the floor, creating a quiet rhythm.

Code glanced at Torin.

Torin immediately looked away.

Code turned toward Ken, only for him to do the same.

Code faced forward again.

Whatever they were trying to do, he had no intention of asking.

The two boys exchanged a brief glance.

Finally, Torin cleared his throat.

"Code... how are you doing?"

"Fine."

Torin glanced at Ken, who gave him an encouraging look.

"Right," Torin continued awkwardly. "I can see that. You look... fine."

Ken covered his face with one hand.

The elevator doors opened before Torin could make things any worse.

The three stepped out, with Code taking the lead while the other two followed behind, quietly bickering.

"...Code."

Ken’s voice came from behind him.

Code stopped and turned around.

Ken offered him a tentative smile. "Do you need anything?"

"No."

"...Right. Right." Ken rubbed the back of his neck. "So, um..."

Code stared at both of them.

Torin nudged Ken’s arm with his elbow.

Ken took a breath.

"I... I mean, we were wondering if you still have money in your account."

Code watched them without responding.

"Not that we’re trying to meddle in your financial affairs," Ken quickly added. "We just want to make sure you’re doing alright... financially."

Torin nodded emphatically. "As friends."

"Right," Ken echoed.

Code turned around and resumed walking toward the classroom.

He reached the door and slid it open.

"I’m fine."

Then he stepped inside.

Torin and Ken stared at each other for a moment before following him in. Torin slid the door shut behind them.

"Well, at least we know he still has enough money for himself," Torin remarked.

He walked past Caden and took his seat.

Ken dropped into his own chair, setting his bag beside him.

"Good to know."

He glanced toward Caden, who had his head resting on the desk.

"Honestly, I can’t believe Caden came to class before us."

Torin followed his gaze. "And now he’s asleep."

Caden suddenly raised his head, a straw still between his lips.

"Who’s asleep?"

Torin flinched.

"If you weren’t sleeping, what were you doing?"

Caden lifted the bottle in his hand. A straw protruded from its opening.

"Drinking a protein shake."

Torin blinked.

"A protein shake? Since when did you start drinking that stuff?"

"Since I started working out."

Ken froze. "You? Working out?"

Caden shrugged.

"Yeah. My master, Marcus, said I was too thin and didn’t have enough muscle. He suggested I work out with him."

He took another sip.

"Besides, I think he just wanted someone to motivate him."

Torin raised an eyebrow.

"How is working out with you supposed to motivate him?"

Caden’s expression darkened.

"Well, apparently, whenever he looks at me, he sees his future self if he stops working out."

He paused, staring into the middle distance.

"And I quote..."

His voice grew solemn.

"’I see my future self when I stop working out. Weak... thin...’"

He lowered the bottle onto the desk.

"’Lazy... bony...’"

His shoulders began to tremble.

Then he lowered his head onto the table and let out a series of theatrical sobs.

Torin stared at him.

"Are you crying?"

Caden raised his head, his eyes suspiciously watery, and took another sip of his protein shake.

"No... I’m not."

Ken leaned over and gave his shoulder a reassuring pat.

"It’s okay, buddy. We’re all going through the same thing."

Caden looked at him hopefully.

"...Really?"

"Of course."

Torin opened his mouth.

"Well, the circumstances are different, and—"

Ken turned to him with a blank stare.

Torin stopped.

He remained silent for a moment before closing his eyes and nodding solemnly.

"Right. We’re all just... surviving."

Meanwhile, Code had already settled into his seat.

With his head resting on the desk, he was enjoying what he considered the most productive use of his time.

Sleep.

A few seats away, Aria was reading a book titled:

The Path.

The classroom door slid open.

Code 11 stepped inside.

The room fell silent.

She walked toward the front of the classroom, her presence immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

"Stand," Riven announced.

The students rose from their seats.

"Good morning," Code 11 greeted them.

"Take your seats."

Everyone sat down quietly.

Riven stood and addressed her.

"Miss 11, we were wondering when we’d receive our salaries. It’s been five days, and none of us has been paid yet."

"Yeah!" Caden called from the back. "Tell her, Riven! We want our money!"

He raised his protein shake into the air.

"Give us our money! We—"

Code 11 turned her masked face toward him.

Caden’s voice gradually died away.

He stared at the dark slits of her mask, his raised arm slowly sinking.

"...need our... money."

Torin spoke up, his tone considerably more restrained.

"I don’t appreciate late payments."

Meira sighed as she dropped her phone onto her desk.

"I’ve been waiting for a notification all morning, and still nothing."

"Now I understand how adults feel when they haven’t been paid," Kira remarked. "I need my money."

Code 11 regarded the class in silence for a moment.

"Be patient. You will all receive your money soon."

The effect was immediate.

The room’s tense atmosphere lifted, replaced by a wave of relief.

Caden broke into a wide grin.

"Ah, getting paid after a month of suffering. This is the life!"

Yua smiled as she checked her phone.

"Finally. Some money in my account."

Meira picked up her phone again.

"I need to hear that beautiful alert sound when my account gets credited."

"First," Code 11 interrupted, her voice turning cold, "pay attention."

She snapped her fingers.

A holographic screen materialised beside her, its surface glowing as rows of names and star columns appeared.

At the top of the display were two words.

SLAVE RATINGS