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.
comfort of his own office. Glass windows that stretched from one end of the room
he raised his head to stare at the large
"...What am I missing?"
monotonous voice
had passed since the crack in the sky appeared. During that time, Octavious watched as more and more people broke through
age of thirty two, and several other known figures also breaking through their
was in a
rank. Octavious was a patient man, and in
the situation was different
"I can't feel it."
one would feel when they were close to reaching the
meant one thing. He was still far from reaching
give up
as he stared at the azure blue sky.
a deep breath, he turned around
his eyes paused on a certain frame. On the frame
several post-it notes in his handwriting. One he remembered writing a
Even if you lose your emotions, you
the head when she cries. It should appease her,
milk when
candy makes children happy. Try giving
feel anything for her. It's the least you can do for giving up on your emotions
back up to hide the
understand them, he felt like they
"Soul...Soul...Soul..."
taking out a large
desk, he started to flip through it. He had an inkling that the reason why he couldn't break through
***
The next day.
"Are you guys ready?"
front of a large expanse of grass. Beside me was Kevin
and fluctuated in
about to open the portal that
to accompany you guys, but that shouldn't be a problem.
"That will do."
thankfully nodded my head in
to be in seven human days, which was
he would set up a
was because his presence would definitely arouse Jezebeth's interest and in turn,
"Are you ready?"
Kevin called out.
the others behind me, I nodded my head. Judging
"Yes, we're ready."
"Okay."
started to radiate a reddish glow. The color grew quickly this time, unlike the previous times he attempted to open the portals, before gently
my lesson from last
Kevin started to speak.
any traces of me opening up the portal, I have found a way to use my mana alone instead
sentence and looked at the
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