“…Blood Martial Styles?”

“That’s right.”

“…All nine of them?”

“That’s right.”

“Is she serious?” Zain mumbled from the side. “I can understand why Cecilia wants the Martial Styles. She is a Serpia after all. But her… Is she trying to throw away her Medals?”

“…The kid is not wrong, you know?” the Wanderer said, only for Yuri to answer with a question of her own.

“Have you heard of the legends, Wanderer? The one that says that if we can merge all the Blood Martial Styles of the city, we can get a part of the legacy of the city.”

“…So, you have heard the rumours,” the Wanderer said with a sigh. “…Have you thought about it? Even if you are curious about the legends, just letting one of your teammates focus on the Blood Martial Styles should be enough. Rather than wasting your time and Medals on just some rumours, you should better—

“Could you give up the temptation of a legacy from the Age of Gods, Wanderer?”

“…I knew I could not convince you,” the Wanderer said, shaking his head. “Let’s do as you wish then.”

Putting away the Martial Style Medals from the counter, the Wanderer soon handed nine, freshly minted, red crystals to Yuri, before turning towards Alnea.

“What about you? Do you also want to exchange for the Blood Martial Styles?”

“…I am a little curious about them,” Alnea said. “And I do have some Martial Style Medals to spare. So, why not?”

“…Nine Low Grade Medals.”

Alnea handed over the Medals, receiving his memory crystals in return. Nine red crystals, glowing in the light of the Martial Styles that they contained. The same Martial Styles that he had been so eagerly waiting for. The same Martial Styles that were supposed to be the key to a part of the city’s legacy. Not that he wanted the Martial Styles for the legacy. He was just curious about the Martial Styles. After all, it was not often that he could encounter Martial Styles that could be divided into different stages. Or ones that could be merged to give birth to Martial Styles of a higher Grade…

In either case, the Martial Styles that were in his hands were far more interesting than some illusory legacy of the Age of Gods. Of course, he would not mind if he could discover the clues to the legacy, but that was never his aim. His aim had always been the Martial Styles themselves, and all the secrets they contained.

“…Is it because of me?” Zain mumbled as they walked out of the Blood Hall. “Is it because of the story that I told them? Did I lead them to inadvertently waste all their Medals?”

“…Stop thinking too much,” Alnea said. “We were planning to exchange all the Blood Martial Styles before we even met you today.”

“But that’s twenty seven Medals! Do you know how many precious resources you could have bought with twenty seven Medals?”

“Resources that are rife with side effects,” Yuri said, shaking her head. “We would rather train a bit slowly, than risk affecting our future.”

“…The side effects are not too strong. And they can all be washed away with time. Not to mention that the resources can be converted into your strength almost immediately. But Martial Styles… It would be good if you can convert them into your strength at all, let alone do it in a short time.”

“You should never pursue strength blindly,” Alnea said. “Or else, you will end up hurting yourself, and those around you.”

“…Talk some sense into these fools, Weina.”

“I am sure that Vestia will agree with us. After all, she also advised us to exchange our Tokens for some Martial Styles, rather than to waste them on those defective resources.”

“…I never thought that I would say this, but I agree with Zain on this matter,” Vestia said, looking at them with a solemn face. “When I said that you should exchange some Martial Styles that suit you, I did not mean that you should exchange all nine of the Blood Martial Styles. Have you even read their introductions?”

“…We have.”

“Then you should know that these Martial Styles are all very different from each other. Some of them might suit you, while some may not. Exchanging for all nine Martial Styles just because of some rumours does not make any sense.”

“…Relax, Vestia,” Alnea said, scratching his head in embarrassment. “Things are not as serious as you think they are. Even after exchanging all nine Martial Styles, we still have some Medals left with us. And we have not even gone through the Warrior Trials yet.”

“Is that what am I talking about? I am talking about the Martial Style Medals that you have already wasted!”

“…We did not waste those Medals.”

“Is that so? Then tell me, how long are you planning to spend on those Martial Styles? One month? Two months? Maybe, if these were normal Martial Styles, you could have really mastered them in a few months, but the Blood Martial Styles… As far as I know, they are different from the Martial Styles prevalent in our world. The way they make use of Aspects… of the Origin Sea…

“To make things short, your experience with other Martial Styles will not be of any help to you in mastering the Blood Martial Styles. And this is just the Initial Stage Martial Styles. What about their higher Stages? How long will mastering those Martial Styles take? Not to mention merging the new versions with the older ones… Will you even have enough time to keep up with the rest of your trainings? Especially you, Alnea and Cecilia. You have not even reached the Advanced Stage, and yet to dare to distract yourself with so many Martial Styles…”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“…How about we make a bet?”

“…No. I cannot let you waste yourself like this. I will personally make sure that you—all three of you— use your time more wisely, and do not waste it on those Martial Styles. Although it will be a pity for the Medals that you have already spent, but wasting some Medals is better than wasting your future as Wanderers.”

“One day,” Alnea said. “I will learn all nine Martial Styles in just one day.”

“…Do you think I am joking?”

“I hope not.”

“I am serious, Alnea.”

“And so am I.”

“I can vouch for that,” Yuri said, with a smug smile on her face. “I would not have believed him if he was talking about some Arcanas or Glyphs, but he never jokes about his Martial Styles.”

“Are you serious?” Zain said, staring incredulously at Yuri. “Has he casted some charming or confusing Arcanas on you?”

“…Even if they can barely be regarded of the Lowest Grade, this is still nine Martial Styles we are talking about.”

“So what?” Cecilia said with a snort. “It’s just nine Martial Styles. Back then… Anyways, I believe in him.”

“And so do I,” Yuri said. “If Alnea says that he can do something, them he will definitely do it. That is the kind of man he is.”

…Was he so awesome?

“This is the difference between us,” Cecilia added, while smirking at Vestia. “We trust him unconditionally, just as he trusts us unconditionally. You, on the other hand, dare not even believe what we are saying. What was it that you said yesterday… Right, interests. Although I feel that using the term interests for what we have between us degrades its meaning, but I will use it so that you can understand what I am trying to say.

“The interests that binds the three of us together, the interests that we share with each other, is to fulfil each other’s happiness. To protect each other from any harms. And to help each other achieve our dreams, no matter how difficult that might be. Even if it means putting our lives on the line. This is not something that we came together to decide, but something that we gained from experiencing life and death with each other.

“You, on the other hand, focus on just your own interests. On your own benefits. What you value is not us, but what our future might represent. What Alnea’s future might represent. And how he can help you gain more status in your clan. That is your interest. A future where everything revolves around you. And if there is something that might threaten that future, then you will not hesitate to destroy it at any costs possible. Even if it means destroying the dreams of those around you.”

“Calm down, Lia,” Alnea said, putting his right hand on Cecilia’s shoulders, while shaking his head. “Vestia was thinking about us.”

“More like thinking about herself.”

“…You cannot blame her. She just does not know my limits.”

“How can she know your limits if she does not even dare to believe you?”

“That’s enough, Cecilia,” Yuri said with a sigh. “We cannot expect everyone to be like us. Besides, it is just some Martial Style Medals. If they are wasted, then they are wasted. We cannot let a few Medals ruin our team the day we register it.”

“…You win,” Vestia said, squinting her eyes at Cecilia and Yuri.

“…We do not understand what you are trying to say, Vestia.”

“…Are you not just goading me into accepting his bet? Fine, I will take the bet.”

…Were the girls really just goading Vestia? But then again, he had never seen Cecilia willing to talk so much to Vestia, let alone try to reason with her. And for Yuri to act as if she was giving up to her fate…

That was impossible. She would never give up to her fate. And though she looked calm, and innocent, Alnea knew how crafty Yuri could be. Teaming up with Cecilia to goad Vestia into accepting a bet… that was something that he could imagine her doing. When did they come up with their plan though? He had not heard them discuss anything… Had their understanding already reached a point where they could understand each other without saying anything?

“One day, is it? I will give you your day. No, I will give you a whole week.”

“No, a day will be enough,” Alnea said hurriedly, hoping that the poor woman would not dig an even bigger pit for herself. But with how angry Vestia was, how could she listen to him.

“If I say I am giving you a week, then I am giving you a week.”

“That’s right. Listen to her, Alnea.”

“Respect her decision, Alnea. That is the proper etiquette between Wanderers.”

…Such tacit cooperation…

“…If you can master all nine Martial Styles in a week, then I will admit my defeat,” Vestia said to Alnea, ignoring Cecilia and Yuri. “In the future, I will never question your abilities. And I will support all your decisions, no matter how absurd they may be. Even if you ask me to walk into the depths of the Black Desert all by myself, or face hundreds of Wanderers, I will never hesitate.”

“That’s not necessary—

“Stop interrupting her and let her speak.”

“Or are you suggesting that her sincerity is not worth your complete attention?”

…Poor Vestia…

“However, if you fail to master all nine Martial Styles in a week, then you will listen to all my arrangements. From what you train to how you train, and even where you train, I will decide everything in your life. And you will also never question my decisions, no matter how absurd they may be. Even if I ask you throw yourself into the mouth of Oren Beasts, you will have to do it, nonetheless. At least until I am part of the Star Seekers, you will have to obey everything I say.”

“…How dare you, Vestia Weina?” Yuri said, narrowing her eyes at Vestia, while Cecilia growled at the blue robed woman.

“I knew that this vixen could not be trusted.”

The girls… they truly were angry. After all, if he lost the best, then he would be practically reduced to Vestia’s retainer. Maybe even lower than her retainer. That was how harsh her conditions her. But the girls did not stop acting. Because they believed in him.

“How about it? Do you dare to bet with me?”

Alnea tore his eyes away from the indignant faces of Cecilia and Yuri, and looked back at Vestia. Truly looked at her. On the surface, it looked as if she was upset by what Cecilia had said to her, but her eyes were terrifyingly calm. It looked like Cecilia and Yuri were not the only ones who were acting. Though they did not seem to notice it yet. Probably because Vestia had placed herself in such a manner that Cecilia and Yuri could not see her eyes clearly…

Even within a team, everyone was trying to deceive each other. Was this what his master wanted him to learn? How to deal with other Wanderers? Then the question was, how should he deal with the situation?

“…There is nothing to dare between us, Vestia,” Alnea said, noticing the light in Vestia’s eyes dimming a little at his words. “Even if there was no bet, I will still believe you. Because you are my teammate. You are a Star Seeker. And you will never harm me. But you have already said so much. If I back down now, would that not be too cowardly of me?”

The more that Alnea spoke, the more the light returned in Vestia’s eyes, until she heard his last words, and curved her lips upward in a smile.

“You agree then?”

“I am not going to lose anyway,” Alnea said, shrugging his shoulders, before holding his hand out towards Vestia, and grinning back at her. “The bet is on.”