From Trash to Lord of Thunder: The Rise of the Cursed Extra-Chapter 80: You and Her… (3)

The rain poured relentlessly, hammering the lake’s shore with a steady drumbeat—patter-patter.

Drops splashed against rocks and wet soil, forming tiny puddles that mirrored the gray sky.

Charles and Kaira stood frozen on the bank, eyes locked on Saria, sprawled face-down after the lightning strike.

The white flash still seemed burned into their retinas, and the air smelled of ozone and damp earth.

’A lightning bolt really hit her...’ Charles thought, stunned.

Though he was annoyed she’d knocked Kaira down, he hadn’t wished this on her.

Saria let out a weak groan, her body trembling as she tried to move. Her blue hair, soaked, clung to her face, and her tunic grew filthier with mud.

Kaira turned to Charles, her red eyes gleaming with shock.

It was clear she suspected he’d caused it.

Charles, catching her look, shook his head fast and muttered, "I didn’t do that, I swear."

Kaira let out a low giggle, convinced Rian had done it for her.

Struggling, she leaned closer to whisper, "No need to lie, Rian. I know it was your power."

Charles frowned, realizing Kaira was misreading everything.

"I’m not lying!" he hissed, keeping his voice low so Saria wouldn’t hear. "That bolt came from the sky, not me!"

Kaira sighed, crossing her arms as rain continued to drench her.

"Sure, let’s say that happened," she said, her tone dripping with disbelief.

’Seriously... this girl...’ Charles thought, but he dropped it, doubting she’d blab to anyone.

For now, he chose to believe Kaira wasn’t the gossiping type.

Kaira’s eyes slid to Saria, still on the ground, and a mischievous grin spread across her face.

"Did you kill her?" she asked, half-joking.

’What kind of joke is that?’ Charles thought, glancing at Saria.

Her chest rose and fell slowly, a clear sign she was alive.

"Well... looks like she survived," he said, relieved. He knew killing a clan member outside an official duel would bring a heap of trouble.

Kaira burst into a louder laugh, pointing at Saria.

"Look at you, pathetic! The great Saria, flattened by a lightning bolt. What happened to all that water control, huh?"

On the ground, Saria clenched her fists, nails digging into the wet dirt.

’Damn Kaira,’ she thought, her mind clouded with pain and fury.

It clicked now.

Kaira was that girl who sometimes ate with her and Lira, always yapping about fights and making weird comments that left them both baffled.

To Saria, Kaira wasn’t just annoying—she was a weirdo! Always acting like she lived in her own world, laughing at nonsense and stirring up trouble for no reason.

Saria lifted her head with effort, cursing under her breath.

"If it wasn’t for that damn lightning..." she growled, her voice shaky.

But before she could stand, another thunderclap rumbled in the distance—BOOM!—the deep sound vibrating the ground.

Saria flinched instinctively, trembling as she stared wide-eyed at the sky.

"No, not again... I was kidding," she muttered, barely audible.

Another strike now would do more than just bruise her.

She tried to stand, hands pressing into the mud, but her arms gave out.

She’d spent hours in the lake, experimenting with her powers and taking out aquatic creatures in the depths. Her body was spent, and the lightning didn’t help.

Panting, Saria looked up at Charles, still standing on the shore.

"Hey, kid..." she said quietly, her tone exhausted. "Help me."

Charles raised an eyebrow, playing dumb.

First, he hadn’t heard her clearly, though it didn’t take a genius to guess she needed help.

Second, her glare reminded him of the snobs who looked down on him.

"What? Didn’t catch that," he said, leaning toward her with a mocking grin.

Saria gritted her teeth, embarrassment burning her face.

"Help! Help me, you idiot!" she shouted, despite the pain. "Don’t make me say it again!"

Charles chuckled, crossing his arms.

It was hilarious seeing a girl who’d been so intimidating minutes ago beg so desperately.

"That an order or what?" he asked, clearly enjoying himself.

Saria glared daggers, managing to sit up.

"I’m a Master rank, you know," she said, pointing a shaky finger at her chest. "You should be grateful someone of my rank’s asking for help. Most wouldn’t even glance at you twice."

Kaira, who’d been watching with an amsaused grin, turned serious.

"Rian, leave her there," she said, gesadturing dismissively at Saria. "Let her rot. Another bolt hits her? Even better. No one’ll midsss her."

Saria paled, her eyes widening.dsa

’Aren’t they supposed to be friends!?’ she thoudasght.

"Kaira, don’t say stupid crap!" Saria snappedsad, her voice cracking with fear. "We’re in the same clan! We’re supposed to help eachas other, not try to kill each other!"

Kaira tilted her head, her smile sharpasdening.

"Oh, but this could just be a freak adccident," she said, shrugging. "Lightning strikes, a Master dies... stuff happens, rigdasht?"

Saria whipped her head towaasrd Charles, her expression openly terrified.

For a moment, she’d undeadrestimated Kaira’s crazy streak.

"You’re not listening to dsthat nut3123case, are you?" she asked, almost pleading. "Tell me you’ve got some sense!" asdas321

Charles sighed, scratching the back of his neck asad12 rain pelted him.

Truth was, he’d help her—leaving her to die wodsu3ld likely land them in hot water.

Plus, Saria was Lira’s friend, even if he didn’t sal321ike her much.

Still, he couldn’t resist messing with her asa321d bit more.

"Well... you were itching to fight me aasd12 second ago, weren’t you?" he said. "And I’m just an Aspirant. Not sure it’s smart for me 23tdo get mixed up in this."

Saria froze, her mouth half-open.das31

Despite her survival being on the liasn21e, her brain couldn’t process what she’d heard, and she blurted her thoughts aloud:sad213

"You’re an Aspirant?" she repeated, glancdi123ng from Charles to Kaira and back. "You’re saying Kaira’s hanging out with somedaso3ne that low...?"

Her voice dripped with disbelief, as asif12 the idea was utterly absurd.

"Have you actually lost it, Kaira?" sd123

"I’m not hanging out with anyone!" Kaira shouted,3da clearly pissed. "And if I was, it’s none of your business. Worry about getting off the g321rodsaund before another bolt fries you!"

Saria, realizing she’d spoken her thoughts al21saoud, tried to respond, but another thunderclap roared—RUMBLE!—making s12adeveryone look up.

Saria flinched again, her hands shakinsg3d as she clung to the dirt.

’I don’t wanna die!’ she thought. asda12