After ensuring Xi an's safety, I went to look around the camp one last time before entering the main tent to rest.
At the break of dawn the sun rises , the sounds of workers moving materials across the fields covers the entire city. The City defenders kept moving in and out of their way to prepare for the upcoming battle. No one has time to rest , with the evacuation of civilians still ongoing . The City is short on man power, the Warlords have called for reinforcements to every corner of the known world.
Millions came to their aid , that comes to show that this is no ordinary battle . This will be a decisive battle which will decide the fate of humanity itself. So far the Coalition forces are spread through out, covering the northern Jade mountain stretching all the way to the Southern Valley.
Their forces center around the numerous City belonging to several different Warlords. With Each City hosting at least fifty thousand troops lead by Commanders of their respective forces. With more reinforcements on their way from over seas the Leaders of the Coalition expected that with the gathering of all the armed forces including the Defenders of Heaven. The enemies will soon know defeat.
Sadly such hopes are all for naught as they will soon realize that they are facing a much more formidable foe than they are capable of handling. The pride and arrogance of their so called noble leaders will be their greatest weakness. And one of the greatest cause of the Empires downfall.
(" Elise , open the System tab .")
[[ Confirmed ]]
<{ Looks like its going to be clear skies with a small chance of rain }>
<{ Huh , I guess there won't be any bloodshed today , or will it }>
<{ I really hope that something interesting will happen }>
<{ So do your best to entertain me , my dearest Host }>
[[ Talk To Xiao Qi ]]
[[ Talk To Ae Ri ]]
[[ Talk To Xi an ]]
[[ Discuss about the future of the Initiates with Ae Ri ]]
[[ Spar with Xi an ]] [[ Concluded ]]
[[ Recruit more troops ]]
[[ Reorganize Defenses ]]
[[ Attend the Warlords Meeting ]]
[[ Hire Mercenaries ]]
[[ Purchase more Gear ( Self ) ]]
[[ System Shop Upgrade ]]
[[ Walk around the City ]]
[[ Hone your Skill ]]
(" Elise , I haven't realized it up until now but .")
(" How am I supposed to complete this task with Xi an being incapacitated ?")
[[ Talk To Xi an ]]
[[ Answer : The Host have to wait till Xi an has awoken before being able to go through with the event / mission ]]
(" However that raises another question .")
(" System what would happen if I decided to converse with Xi an rather than spar with him ?")
[[ Answer : The Chain of events which will unfold will take a new course ]]
<{ Its quite simple actually dearest Host }>
<{ With every action you take , will lead to different change in events ]>
<{ Even the order of events which you've chosen will change its outcome }>
<{ For better or worse }>
<{ I can't believe you don't even realize such a simple thing }>
<{ I guess this is too much information for you to handle }>
<{ Now that you know all of this , I wonder what will you do next }>
(" Its actually pretty simple Creed .")
(" I will simply go about these events in the way I wanted them , nothing will change .")
(' I've always been cautious and free , in every aspect of my life , and that's the way it will always be .")
<{ Hooh , I wasn't expecting that at all }>
<{ I though you will fall into despair trying to over think about the things you did }>
<{ Or at the very least regret some of your past decisions ]>
<{ Well then again , I should've expected as much coming from you }>
<{ I guess it is in your nature to do the unexpected and threw off my expectations of you }>
<{ As expected from my dearest Host }>
(" I guess I'll go easy on the missions for now. ")
(" I choose this one .")
[[ Confirmed ]]
[[ The Host has chosen to have a conversation with Ae Ri ]]
[[ Initiating sequence ]]
[[ Events unfolding ]]
Ae Ri
" Good morning Sir Jin , I wasn't sure that you'd make it ."
" After your duel with Xi an yesterday , I thought you would take the day off to rest ."
Qiu Jin Wei
" I've rested enough thank you for asking Ae Ri ."
" But there's no need for you to talk all formal with me when its just us ."
Ae Ri
" On the contrary , your our greatest benefactor and savior ."
" You deserve our out most respect ."
" That's the least we can do ."
Qiu Jin Wei
" Uhm , okay then ."
(" If I kept pushing her to talk normally , I might end up making her think that she's annoying me .")
(" I better stop for now , I'll talk to her about it again later when she's gotten closer to me .")
Ae Ri
" Sir , I know this might seem rude of me but ."
" Can , you please teach me how to become stronger ."
" Please I'm begging you !"
Qiu Jin Wei
" Well , of course , but may I ask why you suddenly wanted me to teach you ?"
(" Did something happen while I fainted ?")
Ae Ri
" Well ."
" I guess there's no reason to hide it from you ."
" Ever since I was sent to this world by an unknown entity , I've had always been having nightmares every time I tried to sleep , the same exact dream had always appeared ."
" Within that dream , I was trapped in a world of darkness without light nor warmth , yet somehow I was able to see a figure in the distance mocking me, insulting me for my weakness ."
" In every single one of my nightmares , It ends the same way ."
" I died a horrible death ,I couldn't save the people close to me ."
" Regardless of how I move nor how much I've prepared before hand it always ends the same, with my inevitable death."
" I've always been isolated and alone even within the organization , I would be isolated from all of the other initiates ."
" Even when I'm out on a mission , I would put up a brave face since I'm the one keeping them together from falling into despair ."
" I have too much people who depends on me to bring them back safely , i don't know how long I can keep myself together."
" I'm scarred , I don't want to die !"
As Ae Ri trembles from the memory of her shocking reality within her dreams . Jin stepped forwards near her and tried to calm her down with a warm embrace.
Qiu Jin Wei
" Ae Ri , I know its difficult , but your not alone ."
" You don't have to face this ordeal in your lonesome anymore ."
" You have friends who cares about you ."
" And you have me here with you , I'll help you overcome this adversity ."
" There's no need to put on a tough act in front of me , just let your emotions free ."
Ae Ri
" You promise ."
Qiu Jin Wei
" I promise ."
Ae Ri
" Thank you ."
Qiu Jin Wei
" Kindness cannot safe one from ones self ."
" Its always had been difficult for those who are kind to others, yet not being able to care for themselves."
" You are always been responsible for the lives of others and always constantly have to safe others while you can't save yourself ."
Ae Ri
" Then is it wrong to be kind ?"
" Have all I've done is hurt myself over and over for nothing ?"
Qiu Jin Wei
" No ."
" You did the right thing Ae Ri ."
" Now its my turn to save you ."
" Thank you for everything Ae Ri ."
" i'm proud of you ."
Ae Ri wiped away her tears as she sighed in relief knowing that she doesn't have to face it on her lonesome anymore . All this time enduring the pain , makes her feel exhausted beyond compare . Now that she has something to rely on she can finally be at ease .
Ae Ri fell into a deep sleep not long after . Jin carried her into her room , laid her down on her bed and started to meditate beside her .
Qiu Jin Wei
(" Elise , is there a way for me to help Ae Ri with her nightmares , besides trying to comfort her ?")
[[ Answer : Besides comforting her with your words , you can also help her train her mentality and spirit ]]
(" However it'll take too long to properly train her mental state and who knows when she will encounter more dangers in the future .")
(" Isn't there anything else I can do to help her ?")
[[ Processing Answers ... ]]
<{ Oh my , Oh my }>
<{ You seem to be dealing with a quite troublesome event here , my dearest Host }>
(" Do you have an answer to my current predicament Creed ?")
<{ Oh who knows }>
(" Creed please help me !")
<{ Fine I'll help you for a price that is }>
(" Name your price !")
<{ Then fulfil my request }>
<{ Mission : The Affectionate Loner }>
<{ Objective : Make Ae Ri feel affectionate towards the Host }>
<{ Reward : +100 Affinity with Ae Ri }>
<{ Unlock Ability Dream Walker }>
<{ Unlock Ability Soul Search }>
<{ 100 + Blood Essence }>
<{ Additional Rewards : }>
<{ Ae Ri First Awakening }>
<{ Ae Ri Unlocks Dual Wielding }>
<{ Ae Ri Unlocks Northern Sea Swordsmanship }>
<{ I hope you will show me something interesting in your journey through the World of Dreams , My Dearest Host }>