Without fear, I took the tear with my bare hand. Usually, I wouldn't dare to do something like this, but I knew that it would never harm me.
[Mission Complete: Study the Space Pearl
Type: Normal
Reward: Source Stones Creation method, Source Stones available in item store]
In front of my eyes was the confirmation of what I was looking for. Using the pearl wasn't enough. Even if I could see everything about it, right now, it was just a broken pearl without powers, and I never met Janice, so I wasn't familiar with her.
But I knew Hayley. Each stone was made by the essence of a person, it's not like they add a part of the soul, it was similar to Sophie does, pouring her aura, but it was an additional step.
The stones were made in two steps, the first was mainly the creation of a crystallized form of power, it could take any shape and be similar to any material, like the crystal drop, or the pearl. The second part was the most important. Similar to how Sophie infuses her aura to objects, each source stone has the essence of its creator, that's the reason why I knew that Hayley's tear was harmless to me.
Infusing the aura or your essence into an object was a complicated process, Hayley and Janice managed to do it because of their feelings, Janice loneliness, and Hayley's despair when she saw me sucked into the cow. In normal circumstances, it would be almost impossible for them to do it.
From this, I understood Sophie's potential to create them easily.
Too bad that we are leaving so soon, with more time to investigate them we might be able to create tools and weapons with them as the core, what would be the effects?
It should be like Sophie's ability or my Infuse Time, but more permanent.
I watched once again the crystal tear in my hand.
I took the broken pearl from my pocket.
From my newfound knowledge, I knew that I couldn't create the Crystal Tear or the Space Pearl.
When you create a source stone, the result isn't controlled by your brain. The shape, the effect, the strength, none of them are controlled by your mind.
It depends on your will.
I wanted to try, but what will be the effect? I needed an objective, heavily supported by my will to create one. Otherwise, the outcome was unknown, and with how chaotic my ability was, the effect might be world rejection.
I couldn't take my chances.
Anyway, my job here was done for the moment.
I looked at Space crack once again before leaving, the next time I come here will be to seal that rift.
___________________________________________
*Swish*
Three knives left my hands towards a practice target.
Mid-air, all of them disappeared…
*Thump, Thump, Thump*
And punctured the targets from the flank and the back. I could hear the footsteps before I threw the knives, but I was too nervous to stop…
"That one is new."
"Not really, I just never use it because the knives strength it's not enough to kill most of the beasts."
"That's true… It's been a while since the last time I came here."
"Yeah…"
…
Only the wind blowing could be heard at the top of the building. Hayley locked her eyes with mine… I knew that she felt guilty. Not for staying back but for the way I found out.
"Sorry for not telling you before, but …"
"It's not your fault… I didn't think of anyone's feeling when I made the decision to leave Green Shelter. It makes sense for me, Hope, Rose, and G to leave, but there is no reason for you, Sophie, or Emma to come with us."
Hayley was silent after I interrupted her… she seemed to want to say something, but before she could say anything, I started to talk.
"I think we both have been avoiding this moment for a while now… but I can't keep doing it… I'm sorry, Hayley, but I can't give you a reason to come… We should have talked a long time ago."
She looked at me with trying to process everything, she would be lying to herself if she didn't see this coming, but I knew that it still hurt her, until the words left my mouth she would always have some hope.
She took a deep breath and avoided my gaze.
"I expected it to end this way, probably that is why I distance myself from the rest of the group… I knew my chances and regretted my words as soon as I said them, even if the world changed, we didn't."
I understood her train of thoughts, but I had to be clear about my reasons for not accepting her.
"I don't want you to misunderstand Hayley, I thought about it a lot, and even if I don't consider morals and take what pinky said seriously, I don't want that. I love Rose, I want to be with her, but…"
She seemed to realize what I meant with that
"But you don't love me."
"No, I don't love you. You are an amazing girl and in another life we might have ended up together, but I fell for Rose, and you don't deserve to get just the crumbs from my love for her. You need to be with someone that loves with all his heart, Hayley. So no, It's not because of morals, it's because I don't feel the same for you."
I could almost hear the moment her heart broke… making her think that it was because the ethics of the previous world would make her still have some hope. She will believe that my view could change, and I could accept the idea of having another woman at my side.
This whole situation left me with a sour taste in my mouth. It was impossible to cut all ties with her, not after what we went through.
The silence was awkward but I didn't know how to continue this conversation… all that had to be said was said.
"Thank you… for being honest."
Her voice broke.
I knew that she was holding back her tears, she turned around to leave.
Something felt wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.
I just watched her leave…
Nothing I said right now would help, it would only end hurting her more.
The moment she disappeared from my sight, the weather turned colder, she didn't go downstairs, I could hear her just drop behind the door…
*Sniff*…
I sealed my senses before she cried.
Was this the right call?
I couldn't help but doubt for a second. I cared about Hayley, I made a promise to her, and those are the reasons I can't be with her. If I accept her, I would have hurt her even more than I just did.
This was the right choice.
I felt a warm current on my arm… it was an odd yet familiar feeling. Something appeared in my hand. I opened my eyes, and in front of me, a small marble was taking form…
[C-Rank Chaos Source Stone Created]
[Achievement Unlocked]
[Law Crafter
Not anyone can fuse a part of themselves with the laws.
Create a Source Stone of D-Rank or Higher.
Reward: Source Stone Crafting (Master) Lv.1]
I was shocked…
Even if I understood the process, it was complicated and I couldn't just casually make stones. Yet, I managed to create one.
[Source Stone Crafting (Master) Lv. 1
Experience: 0/10.000.000
Upgrade Requirement: Cha 25, Wis 25
The user can generate Source Stones at will. The required time to create the stones depends on the Rank, and familiarity with the source. With each level, the time required, and the Stone's Rank will improve. Current Bonus: can create F-Rank Stones]
The small black marble on my hand improved my mood a little, but not because of the notifications or the stone.
Well, it was because of the Stone, not for it being a C-Rank nor for being able to create sooner than expected… but because of the meaning behind it and how it was born.
It might sound selfish, but my biggest regret when I leave is that I will be unable to keep my promise to Hayley.
It might not be the same, and she might even reject it when the moment comes, but this stone was like leaving a part of me behind.
This stone was born from my promise to Hayley.