Chapter 135: A Wrong Target
’Shit.’
Killian typed a message back to Keith.
If his guess was right then some spies of outcasts were really within the wardens at the cafeteria, and overheard his nickname.
He stopped Reginald from entering the car with him. If he knew it was his question that caused Keith to get attacked, he might blame himself.
"Can you wait here while I rush over to the clinic?" Killian asked. "I will be back soon."
Reginald opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. He stepped away from the car and nodded once. Killian closed the door and the car moved.
"Um, to the school clinic." He told the driver.
The old woman nodded and sped up.
They arrived at the clinic less than ten minutes afterwards and Killian rushed towards it, after paying the driver. He texted Keith again for the room number.
"This guy should text me back already." He tapped his feet, standing outside the door.
He noticed the receptionist looking at him so walked in. "Hello, miss. Excuse me, but do you know if—"
"Room 201." The receptionist said with a big smile on her face. She held her cheeks. "You are the twin brother to the one who came in recently, yes?"
Killian forced a smile when the lady started giggling. He discreetly moved away from the receptionist who became a giggling mess just because she had met two twin brothers that day.
"So he’s here already?" Killian sighed, walking to the elevators. "Did he bring himself in here alone? How injured was he?"
During the drive to the hospital, all Keith had added was that he had failed to capture the outcast and they escaped outside the academy.
There was nothing else about his current state of health or how he could have met an outcast within the academy’s walls.
The elevator chimed open and Killian walked out of it. His eyes searched for the room number and he made a short sprint when he found it.
"And what other thing did you notice—"
Killian slammed the door open, more because of the voice he just heard in his brother’s room than because of his worry.
"What are you doing in here?" He narrowed his eyes at the Coordinator, who was still yet to give him his compensation gifts.
The Coordinator, a huge man with a white goatee, stepped away from Keith on the bed, letting Killian meet his brother.
But Killian walked up to him.
The man frowned slightly. "I don’t understand your question, young man. I am in charge of in-house fightings and external interference within the academy."
From his tone, Killian understood that the man didn’t want him bringing up their last discussion in front of someone else.
He turned to the other coordinator he didn’t know, and to the Doctor checking Keith.
He turned away from the Coordinator. "So give me the full story? What happened? Why were you attacked?"
"I don’t know." Keith deadpanned. "I finished having a shower when I noticed. When I used my element, they froze and escaped. I feel I wasn’t their target."
His last words sent a small shiver down Killian’s spine. ’So that’s why he texted if I was alright?’ He mentally sighed at himself.
"I see." Killian folded his arms across his chest. "What made you think they were outcasts then?"
"They were dressed like outcasts?" The other coordinator chipped in with an amused tone. "Everyone knows what an outcast is—"
"I am talking to my younger brother," Killian cut him short, looking at him with a bored expression. "You can add your thoughts when I ask. So, Keith?"
The coordinator scoffed at his words, and stepped away from the brothers, while grumbling. The doctor beside Keith let go of his hand and stood aside.
Keith held his hand within the other. "Well, he was dressed in Western ninja outfits, and had a crossed swords emblem on his chest. If not an outcast, why would a warden try to kidnap me?"
Killian hummed as if he understood. In truth, he never knew outcasts had a specific appearance so he wanted to be sure his brother was certain.
"You also added that I might be the target." Killian said. "Why do you think so?"
The younger coordinator slammed his file on a nearby table. "Why do you ask questions as if you are interrogating him?" He snapped. "Do you not trust your—"
"Let me do your job, while you just stand there and listen, will ya!" Killian glared at him. "Is it wrong to ask my own brother questions when it affects me? Don’t give him a headache!"
The Coordinator held a hand towards the younger one. He nodded at Killian to continue.
Keith didn’t look affected by the questions. If anything, he was eager to answer and gave a long reply every time.
He answered. "The outcast didn’t expect me to use the lightning element. He seemed to be a Water User which would’ve been a bad matchup for you. With me, he was the one at a disadvantage. So he likely mistook you for me."
The room was silent for a few seconds before the Coordinator stretched a file to Keith. "Document your official record here. I will come for it tomorrow."
Keith looked into the file, and nodded at the Coordinator. He turned to the younger one. "I will try to return to the dorms before my match."
"I can ask them to shift it to the day after tomorrow." The younger Coordinator assured. "You should just rest and—"
"No, please." Keith insisted. "I can do it tomorrow."
Killian looked from the young Coordinator to his brother. From how he shuffled around Keith, dressing the table, adjusting the AC, and straightening the bedsheet edges, he reasoned that the young coordinator was likely the one in charge of Keith’s room at White Lion.
The younger coordinator agreed to Keith’s terms before leaving. When the two Coordinators left, the Doctor came towards the brothers.
"You are completely fine, young Warden. And you can be discharged immediately if you want."
"Huh?" Killian’s jaw fell open. He cranked his head to his younger brother, who avoided eye contact. "So you weren’t even scratched or anything?"
"No."
"Why did you come to the clinic then?"
Keith said nothing.
Killian looked around the hospital ward. ’Is there someone else he’s trying to hide from?’