Silas gritted his teeth, the pain from his bruised backside making his entire body feel like it was on fire. He shifted uncomfortably on the bed, the cold compress pressing down hard on the most sensitive part of his body. Every inch of his rear was screaming, and each shift made the pain flare up anew.
"Aaaahhh!" he cursed, his hands gripping the edge of the bed, "Why did that bastard have to hit me there? What kind of monster kicks like that? It's like I was kicked by a damn bull!"
The ice on his buttocks was like a slap to his pride. His whole body tensed as the coldness seared through him, making his breath catch in his throat. He let out a strangled scream. "Damn it! Damn him!"
He kicked his legs in frustration, swearing in every language he knew—some of them even in the languages of foreign lands he'd never set foot in, just to feel the rush of anger escape him. "You damn brat, I swear when I get my hands on you, you'll wish you never stepped into this town."
With a curse in a language he couldn't even remember, Silas rolled over, hissing through clenched teeth as he tried to get into a more comfortable position. He was no stranger to pain, but this? This was humiliating. He wasn't going to let it go. Not after everything he'd worked for.
"That bastard Cassian, healing for two silver coins? What kind of idiot does that?" Silas muttered, his voice thick with venom. "Does he not know how this world works? Does he not realize that a healer lives by their reputation and their fee? How dare he undercut us so shamelessly!"
His breath came in harsh gasps, his hand gripping the bedsheet so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He could feel the bitterness creeping up his throat, threatening to choke him. "It's not just the money… It's my pride, my reputation, everything I've built! That little kind healer—he's making us all look bad!" Silas's hands clenched into fists, the pain in his backside almost forgotten as his rage consumed him.
But the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. "How dare he walk around like the saint of this city, pretending he's some hero? He's a nobody! If he doesn't know how to do things properly, then the world's going to teach him a lesson… And I'll be the one to do it."
The man who had been helping Silas with the ice pack winced as Silas grumbled louder, taking a cautious step back. He knew better than to get in the middle of the storm that was Silas in full fury.
"Why does this always happen to me?" Silas muttered, kicking his legs again, and with each movement, he cursed even louder. "That damn Cassian… I'll make him regret this. I'll show him what happens when you mess with a professional."
"His kindness is nothing but stupidity, nothing but a front!" Silas spat, eyes narrowing as the rage began to feel like fire coursing through his veins. "I'll destroy him before he even realizes what hit him! How dare he heal people for free? What's next? He's going to start giving away his magic like it's some sort of charity?"
Silas laughed bitterly. "He thinks he's so virtuous, but this world isn't like that. This world is brutal. It doesn't care about kindness or weakness. It only cares about survival. And I'll be the one to teach him that lesson."
With a final, sharp exhale, Silas grabbed the parchment and quill, his fury spurring him on. "He's going to wish he'd never been born when I'm through with him. I'll make sure the church gets this letter… I'll have the church come down on him like a hammer. Let them see what a mistake it was to let someone like him run around, healing people like some saint." He started to scribble furiously.
"Dear Friend,
"There is a healer causing serious disturbances in the local businesses, and his name is Cassian. He is naive, inexperienced, and utterly ignorant of how this world works. The boy is practically healing people for free, undercutting the competition, and driving our customers away. What is worse, he doesn't even have the proper knowledge or training. He is more of a nuisance than a help."
Silas's hand shook with rage as he signed the letter. Each stroke of the pen felt like a promise of vengeance. He could already picture Cassian's face, his smug look of kindness, but Silas knew better. He knew that behind that look was a weakness, a fatal flaw, and Silas was going to exploit it.
"It is imperative that something be done about him. He is not fit to be healing anyone, and if something is not done soon, we will all see our livelihoods destroyed. Please, I implore you to help me make sure this boy learns his place in this world."
Silas sat back, his evil laugh rising from deep in his chest. "Keekekeke," he chuckled darkly, still clutching his rear as he lay flat on the bed. "Let's see who'll protect you now, Cassian. You'll find out soon enough that the world doesn't just hand out kindness for free. You have to earn it." He wiped tears of anger from his eyes, a sadistic gleam in his gaze as he sealed the letter.
A small wince overtook his face again as he shifted, but he quickly brushed it aside. His mind was consumed with one thought: revenge. "You'll regret this, you naive little healer. You'll regret it all. No one is going to come running to save you this time."
He gave one last, exaggerated sigh of pain, wincing as he tried to shift his weight again. "Ugh… my butt," he groaned. "I'm not gonna be able to sit for days." Then, with a dark chuckle, he added, "But at least I'll have the last laugh."
With a final glance at the sealed letter, Silas grinned again, a smirk full of malice. "Let's see who wins this game, Cassian. Let's see who's laughing in the end."
End of Chapter..