“Forget about everything else,” Yuri said, ignoring Cecilia, and her hesitant reactions. “We divided our watch for the night in way that everyone could get some rest. But you could even do that. Do not get me wrong though. I am not mad at you for not waking up on time. However, if you knew that you would not be able to fight off your sleep, then you should have just said so.
“Overestimating your abilities, and hiding your clumsiness from your team can give them the wrong impression about you. And all our plans will depend on how much we know about you. If we make some mistakes in our plans because of how you overestimated yourself, then we will have to face disastrous consequences. Consequences, which none of us would be able to bear.”
“…I did not overestimate myself. I really just dozed off last night…”
“If you did not overestimate yourself, then your mistake is even more grave. Agreeing to complete a task, only to leave it unfinished… Do you know how much inconvenience it can cause to a team? Especially for the person who will have to fill in for you?”
“…I am sorry…”
“I—We do not want your apologies, Cecilia. Or else, I would not have so much to you. I will not comment on what you have with Alnea, but you know what kind of bond I have with you. And what I expect from you. But it is exactly because of how high my expectations are for you that I am so disappointed in you. The Cecilia I know may be a little headstrong, but she is not a fool. She may be determined, and ready to charge into her enemies at a moment’s notice, but she is not so fidgety. And she certainly would not do things that would put those around her at risk.
“All for what? To fight Oren Beasts? Or to gain the so called resources that big sis Nyssa mentioned… The Fortune Springs…? Only someone as ignorant as Alnea cannot see that you are bothered by something. And normally, I would have ignored it. I cannot keep holding your hand forever, after all. But clearly, whatever it is that you are agitated about is affect our team as a whole. And so, as the leader of the team, even if temporary, I cannot let you be on our own. What is it that you are worried about, Cecilia?”
“I…”
Cecilia bit her lips, shifting her eyes away from shame, but as if recalling something, immediately looked towards Alnea, and paused for a couple of moments, staring at him in silence, before turning back towards Yuri with determination.
“I am afraid that I will be left behind by you two…”
“That is—
“Not now, Alnea.”
“…No matter how much effort I put in, it cannot compensate for the difference in our Roots. Especially since you two are even more hardworking than me… The only reason my Spirit Power is a little higher than Alnea is because of the late start he had. But now that he has a proper Art of the Divine Grade… It will not be long before he can surpass me.
“And with him becoming stronger than me, opportunities like Fortune Springs will help him grow even faster. And the gap between us will grow even bigger. At first, the gap may be of just a few units, or maybe even a Level or two. But soon, it would wide to a Stage, and then, an entire Rank… I… If I don’t keep pace with him, and am left behind by even a single step, then I am afraid that I will be left behind forever…”
“I will never leave you behind, Cecilia.”
“…And keep me like a trophy?” Cecilia said, with the determination in her eyes, and voice growing even stronger. “I am a Serpian, Alnea. No matter how weak I may be, I refused to be humiliated by being reduced to just a burden. If I cannot fight by your side, then I would rather not be with you.”
“I…”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Cecilia said, shaking her head. “I have already made up my mind. Still, I will not give up without trying. Until the day comes when I would not be able to fight by your side, I will keep trying my best, finding all means possible to increase my strength.”
“…And so, you rushed towards the Oren Beasts without regards to your safety?” Yuri said after a few moments of silence, staring directly into Cecilia’s determined eyes. “Because walking along the edge of death can help you stimulate your potential?”
“…Yes.”
“…Did you not think about the team?”
“…I did, but I had no choice.”
“So, you knew that your choice would affect the adversely affect the team, but still made it?”
“…At first, no. I just wanted to get stronger as soon as I can. It was only after we fought against the Black Lightning Panther that I understood how my actions might put you two in danger. But I also knew that nothing would happen with you, and Lady Nyssa around, so I decided to continue being a little reckless.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“…And you want us to treat you like a part of the team?”
“…I know that I have made many mistakes, but I promise that I will make up for them. I will wake up on time. I will fulfil my duties in the team. And… I will also not let my emotions, and Heart cloud my judgement. I... I will prove myself worthy of your trust. I will show you that I can be a good teammate. That I am not a child… That I am as good a Wanderer as others. But once I do that, you must also treat me with the respect I deserve. You must treat me like a part of this team.”
“There is no need for us to wait for that long,” Yuri said, shaking her head, with her voice, and face still as solemn as before. “If you want to be treated like you are a part of the team, then just think about the situation we are in from the perspective of the team, and tell me, what should we do right now?”
“…Will that matter?” Cecilia said, biting her lip, with a complicated look in her eyes. “You have already decided what we are going to do…”
“Forget about everything else, and just tell me what we should do, and we will do exactly what you say we should.”
“…Even if it is something stupid, and foolish?”
“…Prove it to me, to us, Cecilia, that you deserve to be treated as a part of this team. That you deserve to be a part of this team.”
Yuri’s words only increased the hesitation within Cecilia’s Heart. Anguish was clearly visible on her face, as she waged a war within herself. And in that anguish, and hesitation, she turned towards Alnea, staring at him silence for a few moments, until finally, the determination within her Heart won over her hesitation.
“Let us go back,” Cecilia said, turning towards Yuri with a calm, and determined face. “Let us go back to the cave, and plan this search more carefully.”
“…Are you sure that you do not wish to continue searching for some precious resources that can help us in our training? Who knows, there might be a Fortune Spring just a few hundred metres away.”
“…Or it could be tens of kilometres away from us. Precious resources are called precious for a reason. We cannot keep searching for it aimlessly. Not to mention that all of us are tired… And we also need to keep up with our Wanderings. Let us go back for now, and continue with mapping out the area around the cave tomorrow. It would be best if we can find clues to Fortune Springs, or other precious resources. If not, then we can expand our area of search as we keep growing, both as individuals, and as a team.”
Yuri kept staring at Cecilia in silence for a few moments, as if looking for something. But Cecilia stood determined, and stuck with her decision, finally earning Yuri’s recognition.
“Let us go back then,” Yuri said, nodding at Cecilia’s words with a smile, just as Alnea smiled, looking at his friends, with a strange sense of satisfaction filling up his chest. They were his only friends, after all. He did not wish for them fall out with each other. And both were right at their places, so he did not know whom he should have supported either. Thankfully, things had not spiralled out of control.
“So, friends again, huh?”
Unfortunately for him, his question did not go down well with the girls. Especially with Cecilia. “Do you have anything else to say to me?” she said, losing her smile for a solemn face.
For a moment, Alnea stood confused, wondering what Cecilia was talking about. That was until he recalled how he had not expressed his stance on the way he had treated her. Sure, he had apologised, and Yuri had even taken most of the blame upon herself, but that was not enough. So, under Cecilia’s intent, and focussed gaze, he too dropped his smile, and looked at her with as much sincerity as he could.
“I… I just did not wish for anything to happen to you. To me, you are more important than the world itself. Still, that is not an excuse for treating you the way I did. No matter what is said, and done, you are a Wanderer. And as you said, you need to be treated as a Wanderer, not as a child. Especially since we are part of a team… I probably made you feel lonely, right?”
“…Maybe, a little,” Cecilia mumbled, as blood rushed to her face, dyeing it completely in red. Probably from what he had said earlier. But it was the truth. She was more important to him than the world itself. As was Yuri. But just saying some flowery words was not enough to convey his feelings. No, he needed something else. Something much more meaningful.
“I am sorry, Cecilia. But I promise you—
“Alnea,” Yuri said, rather loudly, bringing his, and Cecilia’s attention to herself, as she shook her head with a solemn gaze. “Are you going to take another Oath?”
Cecilia finally came back to her senses, and realised what he was about to do. Shaking her head, she turned towards him, and said, “I don’t need your Oath, Alnea. As long as you treat me like I am part of the team, it is enough.”
“…It is exactly because I am treating you a part of the team that I have to take my Oath. With the determination that you are willing to show, to be able to put the interests of the team before your own, you deserve a similar level of determination from me, right?”
“…You are a completely crazy man,” Yuri said, shaking her head with a sigh. But she did not stop him anymore. And Cecilia was not in the state to stop him. She was just looking at him in a daze, with blood flushing her face, and mist in her eyes. So, taking advantage of the moment, Alnea completed what he had set out to do.
“I, Alnea Oathkeeper, take an Oath that I will always treat Cecilia Serpia as my teammate. That I will give her the respect she deserves. And that if she does something childish, and selfish, I will remind her, and tell her about it to her face, rather than treating her as a child, thinking of ways to calm her down behind her back. That is my Oath.”
“You…”
“Now, now, no need to so overwhelmed,” Alnea said, chuckling at Cecilia’s face, which had become even more dazed after his Oath. “It is not like this is the first time I am taking an Oath for you, right?”
“…Idiot,” Cecilia said, in a rather irked, and annoyed voice, as she turned her face away from him. But she forgot to hide the wide grin on her face. One that brought a grin to both, him, and Yuri. Unlike him though, Yuri had much better control over her emotions. But that was to be expected. She had long gained Clarity of her Heart. And had even made some progress recently. So, even though she was happy, and giddy, she was able to see past all her emotions, and do what was necessary.
“Now, if you two have made up, can we go back?” Yuri said, bringing him, and Cecilia away from their thoughts. “Or do you two plan to spend the night out in the wild?”