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.
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
seemed like hours until he raised his
"...What am I missing?"
monotonous voice echoed
time, Octavious
other known figures also breaking through their previous talent limits, Octavious knew that this was
a state
was a patient man, and in
the situation was different
"I can't feel it."
they were close to reaching the next level.
He was still far from
did I give
at the azure blue sky. Traces of loneliness
turned around to
paused on a certain frame. On the
hand to reveal several post-it notes in his handwriting. One he remembered writing
smile in front of children. Even if you lose your emotions, you should
cries. It should appease her,
milk when she
that candy makes children happy. Try
her. It's the
back up
he couldn't understand them, he felt like they were important. He just
"Soul...Soul...Soul..."
taking out a large
He had an inkling that the reason why he couldn't break
***
The next day.
"Are you guys ready?"
in front of a large expanse of grass. Beside me was Kevin who had his
him danced and fluctuated in a
was about to open the portal that led
of at the Union, I won't be able to accompany you guys, but that
"That will do."
my
was supposed to be in seven human days, which was about seventy
Kevin would teleport to us and he would set up a portal. For obvious circumstances, Kevin
merely an excuse. The real reason he couldn't come was because his presence would definitely arouse Jezebeth's interest and in turn, raise the possibility of
"Are you ready?"
Kevin called out.
me, I nodded
"Yes, we're ready."
"Okay."
to radiate a reddish glow. The color grew quickly this time, unlike the previous times he attempted to open the portals, before gently creating a net to enclose a
my lesson from last
Kevin started to speak.
to avoid leaving any traces of me opening up the portal, I
and looked
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