The scenery outside of the window kept shifting as the car continued to move through the streets of Ashton city.
There was an unusual silence inside the car as it passed each street.
"Are you okay?"
The silence was only broken by Amanda's voice, which contained hints of worry.
"...If you're worried about my safety, you shouldn't be. I'm about to reach rank soon. I can hold my ow—"
"That's not it."
I cut her off before she could continue speaking.
I then turned my attention in her direction.
"Your safety isn't what is bothering me. I already know just how strong you are. There's no need for me to protect you."
Amanda was one of the last people that needed my protection.
With a big guild backing her up, and her father, who was now rank helping her, she was safer than anyone else I knew.
Not only that, but her strength wasn't anything to scoff at. Even I would have trouble fighting against her if she started attacking me from a long distance.
She was the worst opponent for me.
"Then what are you worried about?"
"My strength."
I truthfully replied. Lowering my head to gaze at my hands, I quietly whispered.
"...I need more strength."
I was strong, yet so weak at the same time.
If only I could become stronger, faster...
Sadly, time wasn't on my side. With only two years left, I didn't see much hope in the dark tunnel that I was walking in.
Nonetheless, I still continued to walk. I had no choice but to.
"..."
Amanda didn't say anything after overhearing my words.
Her gaze was on me, but she didn't say anything. It seemed as though she understood my sentiments.
The last thing I heard from her throughout the ride back home was her soft whisper.
"Me too..."
***
Union tower, executive floor.
overlooked the entirety of Ashton city from the comfort of his own office. Glass windows that stretched from one end of the room to the other allowed him to see everything. From the streets
at the city for what seemed like hours until he raised his head to stare at the large crack
"...What am I missing?"
monotonous voice
since the crack in the sky appeared. During that time, Octavious watched as more and more people broke through to
other known figures also
a
all the time that had elapsed, he was still only at the rank. Octavious was a patient man, and in a normal situation, he
situation was different
"I can't feel it."
close to reaching the next level. Octavious couldn't
only meant one thing. He was still far from reaching the next
did I give up
azure blue
turned around to face
eyes paused on a certain frame. On the
the frame with his hand to reveal several post-it notes in his handwriting.
in front of children. Even if you lose your emotions, you
cries. It should
her milk when she
saw that candy makes children happy. Try giving
can't feel anything for her. It's the
frame back up to hide
them, he felt like they were
"Soul...Soul...Soul..."
out a large brown leather book from
flip through it. He had an inkling that the
***
The next day.
"Are you guys ready?"
in front of a large expanse of grass. Beside
and fluctuated in
to open the portal that led to
care of at the Union, I won't be able to accompany you guys, but that shouldn't be a
"That will do."
my head in
be in seven
teleport to us and he would set up a portal. For obvious
definitely arouse Jezebeth's
"Are you ready?"
Kevin called out.
me, I nodded my head. Judging from their looks, they looked
"Yes, we're ready."
"Okay."
attempted to open the portals, before gently creating a net to enclose a white ball that formed in the middle of his
learned my lesson from
Kevin started to speak.
order to avoid leaving any traces of me opening up the portal, I have found
paused mid sentence and looked
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