CHAPTER 104: ADVICE
Érica stared at the mirror after waking up as she did before, only this time earlier than she should have.
She hadn’t been able to sleep well and had woken up before dawn.
Her emotions were eating away in her mind and the worst part was that she could not ignore them and the problem was that she couldn’t find an answer on her own, either.
Taking a deep breath, Érica gave up.
Leaving the bathroom without waking her companion, she left the room.
Today was the last day of July and although classes were starting in the second week of August, the time was approaching when they would have to return home.
That was why Érica, instead of keeping her doubt to herself, went downstairs to talk to someone.
Although when she reached the living room, she found no one present, she could hear noise from the kitchen and she went to that place, finding Alice having breakfast.
The various dishes looked as if they were eating lunch instead of breakfast.
Érica approached her, hesitating on how to engage her in that conversation, which caused Alice to put down her fork and look at her quietly.
She had already stopped thinking of Alice and Aurora as her academy classmate, as they were in another league where she couldn’t compare.
That reason reduced her nervousness and embarrassment.
“I... I feel bad for murdering.” Érica said in an odd tone.
Alice blinked weirdly at her sudden words.
“I understand that I had to do it and that it was for survival, but... I feel bad.” Érica explained, having difficulty putting her emotions into words.
She had killed that individual who attacked her out of self-defense, and now she felt bad about it.
She had no regrets about her actions and logically understood that it was likely that, had she not acted, her enemy would have finished her.
However, she felt bad, and that was what she could not understand.
If she had to do it, if she knew she had to survive, then... Why was that feeling still haunting her mind?
Her logic clashed with her feelings and made her feel like she was in a sea of emotions and conflicts, which may be for other people, made no sense, but for her, it was a huge problem.
“I can’t help you. I’ve never felt that kind of emotion when I’ve murdered.” Alice answered sincerely.
A sincerity that made her words feel unreal, yet believable.
That her black eyes let out that indifference that was deep inside her was proof that Alice was being sincere, without lying.
Before Érica ran out of ways to react, Alice added. “But you can talk it over with Aurora. She might understand you better.”
Understanding.
For someone like Alice who claimed to feel no emotion in that situation, it was hard for her to understand her and, in the end, her words might sound empty and meaningless.
Érica could understand that in that sense she was referring to and although she was now a little more awake because of Alice’s atypical response, she went to where Aurora was.
Heading to the garden where Alice had mentioned Aurora was.
Erica, the first thing she noticed, was not the sun rising over the horizon, but the young woman swinging her sword.
She was just swinging her sword with no flashy movements, yet each of those basic movements was perfectly natural.
Érica had never seen Aurora take up a sword and seeing her now, the only thing that came to her mind, was that it was a fascinating scene.
Even though Aurora was waving her sword, the naturalness of the movements was pleasing, and made Érica believe that the sword was a part of the young woman’s body.
Aurora had turned a typical basic training into an art that was pleasant to watch, however, her expression did not match the natural scene.
It was a serious look that did not match her harmonious art, as if she could not enjoy the very beauty of her training.
Érica stood for a moment in silence, looking at her, stunned and delighted.
That sword seemed to carry a greater weight than one could imagine.
“I didn’t know you used a sword...” Érica muttered as she saw Aurora stop and approach in her direction.
Those were the first words that came to her mind as she left her dazed state.
“Yeah... It’s something from the past.” Aurora replied with a half-smile and, putting away her sword, she asked. “Do you need anything?”
Érica remembered the reason she saw her and paused as she rethought her words better.
“Is it okay for me to feel bad about murdering someone?” Érica asked after organizing her feelings better.
Those emotions inside her that were stirring her up without letting her sleep peacefully came from her feeling ‘bad’ about killing for the first time.
“I understand that I had to do it to survive, even so...” Érica added with a hesitant tone and pausing at the end.
She still felt bad.
That conflict between her logic and her emotions led to her emotions becoming complex and conflicting.
It was strange that she was looking for an answer in the face of that doubt... No, maybe it wasn’t a doubt, and she was just lost in her own emotions.
Maybe she needed to listen to someone else, and that was why she wanted to talk to someone else and couldn’t work it out on her own.
No matter if the man she killed carried out thousands of misdeeds and was involved in a demonic ritual which turned them against each other, she still remained conflicted.
It was strange, overwhelming, and...
“It’s okay.” Aurora interrupted and smiling at her, explained. “That you feel bad about killing, that’s okay. That means you understand the importance of taking a life.”
Taking a life was a significant matter that could change a person.
In this world where former players could murder like they were buying candy, realizing the importance of a life was valuable.
“It’s okay to give importance to life. It won’t make you weaker, it will help make you stronger. Every time you use your powers and abilities, you will feel the weight that comes with them, and also a responsibility that tells you can take lives,” Aurora said with a serious tone and looking at her carefully, she added. “But it will also give you the strength you need to keep going. Knowing that every life you decide to take was something necessary. To survive, to help or simply for your goal.”
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It was hard to become strong, but it was easy to get lost in the power.
Having a sword in her hand that gave the feeling that she could cut down a building, having spells that allowed her to burn down a city, or simply having the mental strength to murder anyone with just a thought, was something more common than one might think.
Regardless of whether those people deserved to die, knowing the importance of life could become a compass that could guide her on a righteous path.
Never straying, never getting lost before its power, and always keeping her on the right path, guiding her towards her goals.
There may come times when her compass will stop working or perhaps there will come a time when she might get lost.
Still, each time she would take a life, she would not only feel the weight of her actions but also understand what she sought to protect and, in the process, strengthen those ideals.
Érica watched Aurora.
That slender and delicate young woman had a look that betrayed a maturity and experience that had surpassed her age.
Érica sighed deeply, as the weight she was carrying left her shoulders and she not only felt lighter, but stronger than ever.
This time she killed because she needed to survive... To protect her life, she was pushed to the limit and ended up killing a person.
She didn’t need to excuse herself by saying that the person she killed was evil. She just had to understand the weight of life and cope with it.
******
Aurora looked around at the students in the room.
As she had promised, it was time to give the grades for the academy, however, the grades did not matter so much, as they did an excellent job.
For such a reason, they would deliver the grades with an analysis of all the members of the mercenary group as Akira’s team.
“So, who wants to start?” Aurora asked curiously.
They might have done a good job, always looking to improve and bearing the burden of responsibilities that would undoubtedly exhaust other people.
However, that didn’t mean they didn’t have some flaws and couldn’t be criticized.
The first to raise her hand was Alice.
“First, you guys have to learn to be more versatile in your skills and practice with other roles. For example, Nicole, if you are facing a flying creature, you can send a lightning bolt with your fists, but that in the future won’t be enough. Learn how you can use your skills to attack from a distance or find other weapons to use. That’s the same for all of you,” Alice said in a simple tone while pointing out an important topic.
Although it was difficult for low-ranked fighters to perform ranged attacks and even A-Rank fighters had their shortcomings in that area, that didn’t mean there was no way.
Buying a wand that could cast spells or using a magical artifact could allow them to perform ranged attacks.
She might even look for a way to get closer, as the motion effect of her own combat suit.
Aurora couldn’t help but nod at her gluttonous friend’s comment.
“Just take Oscar, for example. He’s a mage, but so far, no one has seen his magic,” Akira pointed out, pointing at her companion.
Oscar’s expression quivered with subtlety as he looked at his captain.
“In my case, I made a contract with a bear to have a way to defend myself in close combat, but it turned out that I’m more talented as a shapeshifter than a mage,” Oscar explained with a half-sigh.
Finding a way to defend himself in case his magical energy was expended or in case he found himself in close combat was common among mages.
“However, a mage has dozens of methods to defend against a melee attack. Not only using barriers, but using different spells,” Oscar said, and looking at Érica, he criticized. “That’s your big flaw. To be a mage, you lack learning different spells. S-ranks can indeed manipulate the elements, but every archmage studies from grimoires to learn spells from those books and then perform it in their own way.”
When casting a spell, mages had to follow a particular way of moving their magical energy both inside their body and outside.
The way they manipulated it by following complex magical rules and principles gave rise to powerful spells.
While S-Rank and above mages could manipulate their element at will, even they continued to study spells to expand their knowledge and the best way to manipulate their magical energy and their ‘element’.
Studying magic books or grimoires could lead to being able to cast spells faster, stronger, or requiring less magical energy.
“A mage is only as powerful as his knowledge. Magic is limitless,” Oscar stressed and, with a shrug, added. “If you think I’m exaggerating, remember the rumors. There are people like Director Vincent who can generate a hurricane or, to another extent, the ‘Enemy of Humanity’, who was according to rumors, could summon innumerable calamities to bring them under his command.”
Much of those present nodded at that comment.
There were very powerful ability users in this world, some of them more recognized than others. Still, each of them was impressive.
Director Vincent could create a massive hurricane and in Terra Nova, the players told rumors that the Enemy of Humanity could summon creatures of SSS-ranks to bring under his command.
“Prioritize Director Vincent’s example, though,” Alice interjected, and as she received the stares, she shrugged and pointed. “If what they say is true, the ‘Immortal Devil’ was the one who allowed that man access to unimaginable knowledge and supported him.”
Oscar nodded with a half-smile.
It was preferable to choose one of the many legends as an example, such as Director Vincent, whose track record stood out, rather than choosing an individual who was rumored to have made a contract with a Primordial Goddess to get all the knowledge that made him powerful.
What mattered was that mages had unlimited potential, as long as they kept learning, researching, and renewing their knowledge.
“Andrés, I understand that you wish to do other types of work, but make sure you always train and prepare for the worst situation,” Liam warned with a serious tone and with an enigmatic smile, he added. “You never know how much trouble you’ll get into.”
Aurora’s expression quivered for a moment.
Was it necessary for him to say those words?
Since working in an information network was slightly questionable because of the illegal jobs that were sometimes taken, Aurora refrained from explaining to the others what Liam was referring to.
“Try to improve your medical knowledge. Whether or not you have a healer in your group, it’s always necessary to know at least the basics. Maybe someday it will come in handy,” Shao Ya recommended with a serious expression, very rare for her.
That expression made the students nod in agreement at a high speed, leading to Shao Ya, giving a softer and warmer smile in response.
Instead of criticism, Shao Ya let her concern show, even so, her advice was undoubtedly important.
Healing potions or scrolls would wear out, and learning how to survive in such circumstances by performing basic care was essential.
Also, healing potions or scrolls could not always ‘cure’ certain life and death issues.
Having basic knowledge on how best to treat wounds could also be useful in case they had no healer or the healer himself was in trouble.
“Leslie, whether you wish to continue using a shotgun or decide to become a sniper, you have to find a way to keep your distance or become a tough opponent if they wish to approach you. Don’t just focus on technology, magical or psionic items can be very useful,” Aeko recommended with a smile.
Whether she wished to engage her enemy melee or could retreat, it was critical to have options if she wanted to survive.
For some, self-strength was the most important thing.
Wanting to be like fighters who could withstand tank fire, however, Aurora thought items could also be considered a type of ‘strength’.
A shooter equipped with magical and psionic items to stay hidden, or that allowed him to teleport, would be an enemy that a fighter would have a hard time defeating and, more so, if the weapon his opponent used could kill him.
Aurora, without her combat suit, would have huge difficulties in being stealthy and would have a dramatic decrease in her overall combat strength.
The students accepted all this advice and criticism calmly.
After the advice came the praise for their prowess and their progress since arriving a month ago.
A month was enough time for people to change, or at least the ‘seed’ of change was planted... That’s what happened to the students.
When everyone finished, Aurora spoke up.
“I am proud to work with you by my side and I hope we will continue to do so,” Aurora announced with a big smile on her face.
That was the truth, the students worked hard during their stay.
They never complained when they had to perform daily missions and neither did they try to use their friendship and fellowship of the academy to their advantage.
They worked hard and endured the entire process of the Ark mission, always giving their best even though for some of them; it was the first time in that kind of situation.
Each one of them gave their best for their missions to learn and improve.
They accepted her leadership and allowed themselves to be guided by trusting her actions.
They truly were excellent students and Aurora would be happy to work with them again in the future, just as she did with Akira or others who were under her command.
“If you ever need anything from me or have a concern that overwhelms you, you can always come with me. Our mercenary group will always have open doors to accept you.” Aurora added with a cheerful smile.
Perhaps it wasn’t necessary to say it now, as it wasn’t a farewell, but it was important to remark on it.
Some matters were difficult to handle on one’s own or sometimes the worries of life were overwhelming.
At that time, they could always take a vacation to visit their group and she would welcome them.
By her words she was looked at seriously by the students and Nicole seemed quite touched by her words.
Her invitation was not mere ‘politeness’, Aurora was speaking honestly and all the students felt it.
“I’m proud of my ‘kōhai’ too,” Akira stated, trying to change the atmosphere and, with a charming smile, exclaimed. “Now that you finished your practice with excellent grades, we have to celebrate by going shopping!”
Had she said she was proud to invite them shopping?
Her eyes sparkled as they looked at the students rather strangely.
Aeko put her hand to her face with no intention of correcting her and, for her part, Aurora just let it be, as she could see the students’ expression.
“No, tomorrow I want to wake up to do some daily missions before I leave...” Clémentine answered with a serious tone and...
“Yes, I also want to train...”
“And I...”
All the students agreed with Clémentine’s words.
Each of them looked quite enthusiastic to continue working, even though the practices were over.
And such a reaction pleased Aurora.