''It's been 3 days already.Are you sure they didn't do anything to him?''Asked Demi.''I checked him out,he has been sleeping for 2 days,only the time he came back he was awake.''Replied the blonde haired woman,Ales.''I don't know what happened to him,he had some injuries when he came back,but they were not life threatening.I know how they work,they would atleast break some of his arms or legs.''Explained Ales.
''Then why is he like this?Murder Lord tasked me with watching over for him before going to an expedition.''Demi said while sighing.She was really worried right now.3 days ago,Grim turned back from his quest,which lasted for 10 hours.He just gave the main crystal and his card,then left hurriedly.She didn't know what happened,but it was sure a bad thing.
''Ales,i will trouble you more''She said.''Don't worry,we have the same task after all.''Ales replied while smiling a little.''Then i'm off,See you later''Ales said and got out of the staff room,merging into the crowd.Demi looked at the open window,facing the wide streets of the city.Adventurers guild was at a pretty high place of the city,so you could see most of the city.
She looked at the center of the city,where lots of inns and taverns were placed.She just sighed,a bit shaking her head then turned back,closing the window behind her.
...
''Boss,that boy is still in his house,it's been 5 days already.What should we do?''Asked a sinister looking short haired guy.He was the subordinate of the Chris Of Boruhan,their boss and a man with strong ties with the mayor's family and Boruhan's SteelBranch tribe.This man was also the boss of the 3 pitiful man,Laun and his brothers.
''I don't know what he is up to,But i have patiance.He will get out eventually.Just place someone near here and wait for him.''A bald,big man with densely packed muscles said,who was Chris.''Alright boss''Man said and ordered 2 man who followed them to inspect the boy.
''Let's go''Chris said and left there.Even if that boy caused lose of his face,he was not going to wait for him in front of the inn all day.He still had many things to do,he was a busy man after all.But he was sure that,the more time boy took to get out,the more bones he would crack.
...
''Hmmm.I understand,Ales.Just don't let them act,that's enough.Also Brian is a good guy as well.He won't let them hurt him.He suffered at the hands of people like them after all.''Said a soft voice.''Alright then Murder Lord,i'll be back on my duty.''Then the light of the void stone shone off.
''Hey,Osborn be quick.We don't want to be late,they started sending troops already!''Shouted a blonde haired,green eyed woman with a short bow at her back.She had a leather armor with red clothes under it.''I'm coming''Said Osborn,or the Murder King,And walked towards the Alice.
'Aeneas is quite a brother huh'
...
Sounds of metal colliding could be heard in a dark place.You couldn't see anything,nor could hear anything,other than the clang noises.Everytime sound rang out,a bit of darkness would be sucked towards a place.After some time passed,place started to brighten,though it was still dark.
In the half visible dark,a huge body could be seen.It was sky blue,filled with scales.It had 4 strong legs,a very long spiky tail and 2 huge pair of featherless wings.The creature had 2 eyes,changing colors every second.It had 2 long horns on it's head and sharp teeth.
It was Arihan,Eternal Dragon and Lord Of Water.In front of him stood a young boy,looking like an ant when compared to his size,Slashing at continous waves of metallic swords.Everytime a sword appeared,boy would jump on it,slash with his full force then breaking it.But before even standing upright he would slash at another sword.
It has been going on for a week right now.After he turned back from his quest,he just laid down in his bed for 1 day.After coming back here,he had a simple request,Training.He was very suprised,but still approved of it.But even he didn't think this boy would be that stubborn.He didn't know what he was thinking.
He could read minds of people,below of a certain stage of course.Even so,there was only one being at that level in Chaos World.But he didn't do that,or simply he didn't want to.Even if he was a pinnacle existence,he was once an mortal.He was not like that hypocrite gods who tought they were above all.
He was now in a pinch.He said he was another successor of his,but Grim was the first person he taught.So he was still struggling.He was not like those two,who was always watching the world.He was not lazy,his nature was.So he had to slumber sometimes.He was always sleeping other than the times Grim contacted him,so he didn't know what happened.But this time,he was making an exception,for his only successor.
He was looking at his mind everytime,wondering how he felt,how he thinked,what he wanted,what he tried,what he studied,what he enjoyed,what he hated,what he loved.He was very fond of him,the reason even he didn't know.He have seen countless people,from every race.
Some of them were more talented than him,some more average.Some more heroic,some more evil.Some more powerful,some more weaker.Some more kind,some more rude.Some more prideful,some more humble.But he didn't get along with them.He didn't know what it was connecting two of them,but he trusted it.So this was his only choice.
''Grim.''He called.Boy trembled a little,but still didn't stop and continued.Arihan sighed and dispersed the swords.Grim stood still,his head down a little,breathing deeply.He was very tired,but he didn't stop.He wanted to vent.Vent his frustration.He knew he had to kill people someday or some time.He had to fight against many to create something.He had to fight to achieve something,power.He had his goals,they had their own so they had to fight.It was always like that.People's paths always crossed or clashed against each other.There was no true or wrong,there was only winner or loser.
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It was not like this world was ruled by jungle's rules,kill or be killed.But it didn't allow anything for the lazy or kind hearted one.One had to stand strong,brave to follow his dreams.You may want to be a merchant,or a king.You can be a shop owner,or a noble.You can always be a villager,living your life carefree,but you can't be a hero without struggling,sacrificing or killing.
He knew all of this,yet still he was scared.He was scared of the thought of ending a life.'A life could change a fate,a life could change a world.'Was what Old Demon Emperor,Sol always said.He,,just like what he said,used his life to change a fate.Fate of the whole world,the world they resided,the world people fought and died,lived and laughed,cried and struggled.
But he,he destroyed one of them.He destroyed a life,which had countless potential.It was not a matter of experience or power,nor intelligence.It was a matter of emotion.It was not like he didn't had any chance.He could have just died.
''Then your life has no worth.''Arihan said.Grim stood like that.He lifted his head slowly,looking at the Arihan.He still didn't show any emotion,just looked back at Grim.Arihan slowly stood up,shaking his taik,waving his wings.With a roar,he sent countless amount of mana to surroundings,and started to talk.
''Grim,Life is not a simple thing.You know the worth of it.But it's worth is not equal.Every life is precious,but one may be more precious than the other.It's important to protect life,but if you can't even protect your own life,then your life is worthless.''
As he spoke,countless images appeared around the dark sky,slowly brightening it.Dark tides slowly retreated,and serene blue skies got their place.A deep blue lake appeared under Arihan and fresh grass covered the whole earth.Grim watched it with astonishment.
''The darkness,you know it.I'm always inside it,sleeping or talking with you.This darkness is the taint.It is the dirt on my soul.It is the lifes i,myself,took away.Every life is precious,if they are still there.And every life is precious,because they are bright.''
''With every life you take away,they also take away a part of your soul,a part of your heart.There will be dots appearing in your soul,dark,emotionless,filled with hatred and despair.It will eat you up alive,will make you feel like you should have been the one to be dead.''
''With time,it will get darker,stronger,more hateful.It will live alongisde with you,but won't die with you.It is like the cycle of mana,it will only go on.''Arihan sighed.He was an pinnacle existence,above nearly everything,but he was once an mortal.A mortal,who created his own path,filled with slaughter and hate.Killing without remorse,murdering without any emotion.
''But the more dark is your soul,the brighter other people will shine.Every hero forged their path with hardships,trials and slaughter.The person every people admire and praise as a righteous person knows,they are not innocent.Most of them are more evil than the so called 'Villains' of their era.But they chose this path,and still accepted it.Why?Because of their goals.''
''Do not fear from killing,fear for your life.Don't kill the innocent,but don't mercy the evil.Don't fear from making mistakes,fear from the consequences of it.With every step you take,you will also take another life.You will go on,not as a hero,but a simple murderer.This is your path,this is your own path.''
The whole darkness already disappeared.Blue birds were flying in the calm sky,bathing in the warm and soft sunlight.The lake was not even rippling under the Arihan,it was standing still.The grass was swaying in the wind,The images in the skies were sparkling,showing countless persons,killing,running,struggling,standing upright on a giant corpse,destroying mountains with slashes,holding hand of another person,smiling,laughing,crying,shouting,roaring in pain,stomping,raising their hands,marching alongside an army,flying in the skies with no remorse,drinking in a simple table alone.
''All of these persons are heros.You know some of them quite well,some of them you don't.How do you think they improved?Did they just beat other people and saved the day?Do you think their path was like a dream,where everyone paved the way,showed what they had to do,helped them to achieve their missions?No,all of them were alone.Not in their life,but on their path.Your path is for your own.You can't walk it with others,no one can guide you nor help you.Where you reach is only determined by yourself.''
''Now,i ask you Grim.Will you be a coward,who hides within here,just training like a madman,depressed and burdened by a single life?''
''No''Said Grim,with a quiet voice.''I can't hear it!'' Arihan shouted.''NO!''He also shouted.He knew it,he also knew it.He always knew that he couldn't achieve anything without working.He was not strong,nor talented.He didn't have a perfect mentality or a high intelligence.He was just an average boy,but who wasn't?
He knew who Arihan implicated.Roger Dryflame:Ancestor of him,who defeated a mad Lava Dragon from Fire hell,perishing with it.Klaus Dryflame:Ancestor of him,who killed the Mother Arachne of their Era,stopping the expedition of theirs.Clarke Dryflame:Ancestor of him,who killed mid-god Giant Emperor,completely eradicating the Giants other than the neutral Mountain Giants.Oracle Dryflame:His grand father:Killing a 3 headed Hell Snake,who destroyed a city by itself.
And last person,His mother.Monica Dryflame:Sacrificing herself,by completing the Celeste's Ritual.She was not screaming,nor struggling.She was smiling.When her body was torn apart and her soul was sucked part by part,all she have done was smiling.Like a dumb man not aware of the world,smiling continously.
He couldn't hold his tears.He just watched her mother,not paying attention to anyone.For straight 72 hours.Just tears falling down from his eyes.Even if he was a 8th rank,this was an impossible feat,without Arihan's help.He watched her smile,dumbly, just like how her mother smiled dumbly,she looked at her.
After ritual was done,Celeste only left a sentence''Pity''Then disappeared,leaving a golden drop of blood,in the palms of Monica,staying quietly.Her body was a bloody mess,her features were not even discernible.But her hands were clear,still like a pair of jades.Even Celeste pitied her,leaving only her 2 pair of hands.
Soon,a walking sound could be heard.A man,with full white hair,red eyes,and trembling eyelashes.He didn't have any black hair nor stern look.His eyes were moist,his hands were shaking a little.After him was a elegant midlde aged man with purple luxurious clothes,but he didn't follow closlet behind the other.Just stared at him from a bit afar.
White haired man got closer,and kneeled in front of the corpse of Monica.He couldn't stare at her body anymore,his eyes welled up.He lifted his head hardly,looking at the pair of hands.He softly held them,and threw the drop of blood directly towards the man at his back.The elegant man held it,and left without saying anything.His face was also looking down.
White haired man held Monica's hands,patting them slowly.He just kneeled,and slowly,yet with drops of tear falling on her hand,patted.Grim long ago burst in tears,he couldn't hold himself,like always.He just cried,cried and cried.Arihan looked at him,softly yet with a smile.Not a schadenfreude like smile.A soft,sweet smile towards ones own.
He slowly dissipated the images slowly.Grim stood like that for a long time.Arihan looked at him all the time,with the same smile and gaze.After a little,Grim stood up.His eyes were full red,and there were some bags under it.He looked at Arihan,then at the world around him.After a minute,he turned back and gazed Arihan once more,than said:
''I want to learn''Arihan smiled brightly.This was the first step after all.''Alright then,Little Grim.''