Chapter 14
From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heir
Chapter 14 What Is He Doing Here?
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When class ended, Madeline approached Leander. She glanced at Liam, who quickly picked up on the cue and vacated his seat, heading to the front of the classroom to chat with others, leaving Leander and Madeline alone in the corner.
“Leander… about my mom Madeline’s eyes filled with sadness, tears threatening to fall again.
“Don’t cry, kiddo. I only just found out about Ms. Shire recently when I came back.” Leander’s tone was full of regret, guilt weighing heavily on him.
Years ago,
after Gareth had stripped him of his martial power and expelled him from the Ashcroft family, Leander had been left for dead in the wilderness. Through sheer willpower and endurance, he had survived and eventually made his way out of the mountains, only to collapse from exhaustion.
It was Hazel Shire, Madeline’s mother, who had found him. She took him in, cared for him, and helped him recover. That was when he first met Madeline. He was only ten, and she was nine. During the six months he spent with them, Hazel had treated him like her own, and his bond with Madeline grew close-they were practically inseparable.
But Leander had a mission. He needed to find a way to restore his martial abilities, so he left, vowing to return one day.
When Leander left, he already knew Hazel was seriously ill. He had hoped that once he mastered his skills, he could come back and cure her. But by the time he returned to their home, it was too late. Hazel had passed for over two years.
He mourned for a long time, and after asking around, he finally found out that Madeline was attending Ravenridge Senior High. That was why he had come. Madeline was Hazel’s only surviving family, and Leander was determined to dedicate his life to ensuring her happiness and shielding her from the world’s troubles.
“Kiddo, even though Ms. Shire is gone, you still have me. I’ll always be your family. From now on, no matter what life throws at you, I’ll be there to protect you,” Leander promised, his voice firm.
Madeline nodded, comforted by his words. After Hazel’s death, Leander was the only person she felt truly close to.
“Sorry to interrupt.” A male voice suddenly broke the moment.
Leander and Madeline turned to see Victor standing beside them, his expression serious.
Victor was about the same height as Leander, around six feet, with sharp features and a refined
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demeanor. He was, without a doubt, the kind of man most girls dreamt of—a picture– perfect prince.
He completely ignored Leander and looked directly at Madeline. “Madeline, the karate team from Crestgate High is coming to our martial arts club at noon. How’s the preparation on your end going with the arts committee p>
His tone was all business as if he was only there to discuss official matters, but it was obvious he was just trying to interrupt Madeline and Leander.
“The banners and streamers are ready, no issues,” Madeline replied simply. She was the head of the arts committee, and every time there was an event with another school, her team was responsible for handling the promotional materials.
“Good. This exchange with Crestgate High’s karate team is important. I’ve already requested two class periods off from the teacher so we can hold a meeting in the meeting room at Henderson Hall to discuss the details. Everyone has gathered. When should we head over p>
Victor’s authoritative tone and calm demeanor captivated the girls in the class, leaving them starry-eyed.
Madeline hesitated for a moment, glancing at Leander. He smiled and shrugged. “What are you looking at me for? It’s your job. Go ahead. We’ve got plenty of time to talk later p>
With an apologetic smile, Madeline nodded and left with Victor. As they walked out of the classroom, many people couldn’t help but think how perfect they looked together-an ideal match.
“Ugh, Victor’s always using work as an excuse to get close to Madeline. So transparent,” Liam muttered, returning to his seat with a sneer.
Leander, however, wasn’t bothered in the slightest. It was only natural that someone as beautiful and charming as Madeline would attract attention. He had enrolled at Ravenridge Senior High solely to be near her, to quietly protect her. As for her love life, he had no intention of interfering. If she liked Victor, he wouldn’t stand in the way.
“Oh, by the way, Leander, you probably don’t know this, but Crestgate High’s karate team is coming over today. They’re a top-tier team led by a coach who holds a sixth-degree black belt in Kensei Karate from Yamora. Every member is said to be incredibly skilled, and they’re here to spar with our martial arts club p>
Liam’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he continued, clearly interested in the event.
“I’ve seen those Kensei Karate guys online. Even though karate’s from Yamora and I’m not a big fan, I’ve gotta admit, they’re impressive. I’m thinking of checking it out later. Wanna come with
me p>
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“Kensei Karate?” Leander’s expression turned a little mocking. To the average person, Kensei Karate might seem powerful and dangerous, but to those like Leander, it was nothing more than flashy techniques. Even a novice martial practitioner could easily defeat a black belt of the highest rank.
“I’ll pass. I’m not interested in that kind of showy stuff.” Leander shook his head, declining.
Liam frowned. In his eyes, both martial arts and karate were serious combat skills. For Leander to dismiss them as showy seemed arrogant.
Two class periods passed, and Madeline didn’t return until the end of the school day when she finally appeared in the classroom.
“Leander, I’m sorry, but I’m stuck with some work. The Crestgate karate team has arrived, and as the head of the arts committee, I need to check on the venue setup. It might take about an hour. How about we meet up afterward for dinner?” Madeline looked apologetic. She had just reunited with Leander and really wanted to sit down and talk about everything that had happened over the past two years, but her responsibilities kept getting in the way.
“It’s no problem. I’ll come with you. You take care of your work, and I’ll just wait for you there,” Leander said with a smile.
“Great! Let’s go, then.” Madeline flashed a grateful smile and led Leander to the school’s martial arts training gym.
The gym was huge, spanning over 300 square feet, with all kinds of equipment and facilities. As soon as they stepped inside, Leander spotted a group of boys in white karate uniforms.
The gym was packed with students, both boys and girls, who crowded the entrance, leaving barely any room to move.
Victor stood on one side, wearing athletic shorts and nothing else, his well-toned muscles on full display, which earned him a wave of shrieks from the girls.
Victor led the members of the martial arts club, and among them was a familiar face-Shiloh, who had been sitting with Yvette at the cafe the previous day.
Shiloh’s eyes suddenly snapped to Leander, and his expression instantly darkened. What is he doing here p>
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From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heir