"....no matter what anyone says, ... I am proud of you...my...Son."
James closed his eyes. The last bits of remaining life left his body.
Austin looked at the lifeless body of his father, all the emotions which he have sealed from years exploded.
"Wh-wh-what....hap-"
"No....n-o...you...ca-can't, ....no-no.., ..wake up..*sob*...."
"Fa-Father....wake...up...no...n-no, ...you, can't...leave, me alone again, *sob* ...no... it's....unfair...."
"....why?...first...mother....now...you....*sob*.....why?..."
Austin reached over, grabbed James's arms and shook it. But all his efforts were futile.
He started madly injecting his mana into James body. But it was... in vain.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." He screamed at the heavens, ...why everyone leaves him alone....he lost, lost Everything.
I sighed at his miserable appearance with pity, ... But that's all there is no guilt.
Arthur's eyes were moist, others have sympathetic and worried expressions on their faces.
"You didn't look much surprised." The little girl next to me said indifferently.
"Well, I expected this already."
I turned in her direction and examined the loli carefully.
She is... strong and her looks are perfect except for breast, just hope so she doesn't belong to troublesome gods category.
... Handling God can sometimes be a pain in the ass.
"Then why didn't you stop him?" Natsuki's eyes narrowed as she looked at me in confusion and amazement. She was trying to mug as much information as she can.
"Aren't you talking too much for a stalker?"
"Hey y-"
"Shut up for now. I got some work to finish."
Did she really think, I would fall for it? Pathetic. I dispelled the spell and proceeded to walk in the direction of Austin.
Hmm....but before that where it is?
" ... Found it " I picked up the mask which was removed by Alex during the fight.
It is completely white in colour, someone who doesn't know about it can mistake it as a piece of art, must be carved out of a rare material.
"Whoever has made it, must be good at his job... But there is still some room for improvement."
Well, little adjustments and it's...
"Done, perfect." I opened a small portal and threw it inside.
Natsuki widened her eyes then narrowed them in an attempt to focus. A flicker of amusement crossed across her face.
"How did he manage to keep all that a secret... and why?" She whispered.
Now, it's time to clean up my mess. I looked at Austin who was holding the corpse of James.
Just hope he will be worth going through so much trouble for.
I arrived in front of him and looked down
"Hey, Alex".
Austin was unfazed as if I doesn't exist.
"Ahem."
"..."
Still, he didn't react.
"Don't blame me for it." I closed my eyes and sighed. Then I lightly tapped the area near his neck.
Immediately, Austin's eyes dropped and he lost consciousness.
"You forced me to do this." I shook my head tired and lifted his body.
Both Austin and James bodies floated in the air. Carrying them I walked in the direction of the camp towards the rest of the team.
Arthur instantly helped me put their bodies inside the tent. There was no infirmary but beds should do the work.
"Can he be saved?" He asked me anxiously while putting down James body.
I shook my head helpless. It's not like I can't help him. But bringing back the dead have consequences. I don't think he is worth that much.
"Don't think about altering the past. Past can't be undone. It's future which is in your hands." Edger entered inside along with Ellen, Lux and Noir.
They looked at James body lying dead on the floor with empathy. He was not only a warrior but also a decent Leader. But every good thing has to occasionally come to its end.
Edger moved towards Austin's body and sighed in exasperation. He put down his severed hand next to his body and cast a spell. Gradually, it should heal itself.
"Instead we should focus on the boy"
"What do you mean!?" Arthur frowned.
"He is a half-demon. His life will not be easy among humans. And Demons despise half-blooded children."
"He will get butchered there. As for humans, everyone knows..." Edger sighed hopelessly.
Arthur fell silent. His gaze fell on the left eye of Austin reminding him of his origins. He put on a serious expression thinking about viable solutions.
"Wasn't he using a mask earlier to hide his appearance??" Lux asked.
"Right!"
Arthur's eyes opened wide. He lifted his face and looked up to me. The current look in his eyes was enough to warn me that he is ready to go to any lengths for it.
Ellen turned towards me anxiously. She doesn't want to see any more conflicts in the party and that also for a mask.
Sigh, I wanted to conduct a few experiments on it.
"Yup, it's on me, safe and sound. Do not worry about it." I said, smiling as I pulled up a chair to sit down...
Arthur nodded relieved.
Ellen heaved a sigh of relief. She would be in dilemma whom to support if a feud have started between us. However, inwardly she had already prepared her mind to support Leon's decision.
Noir said after a brief pause."... What are we going to do about the mission. Cancel it??"
"..."
"One of the key members of the team is already dead. I don't think going any further from here will make sense."
"I agree with him." Lux voted in favour of Noir.
Arthur was quiet as if watching.
Edger was silent for a few moments and when he spoke it was in a controlled voice "It will be my decision. And nobody is going back we are continuing.".
I raised an eyebrow in surprise. Why is this guy so inclined on completing this task? From the moment we have stepped inside he has completely changed.
"Shouldn't we normally vote for a new leader?" Noir said confused.
"Normally, yes. But the guild has already foreseen this and I was assigned to lead the team in an emergency." Edger said.
"I still think we should vote."
"Leadership drama, huh" I could not help but let out a small smile and shake my head.
"I am just saying what guild has decided." Edger glanced across me annoyed.
Instead of replying, I just shut my eyes quietly and leaned across the chair. To be honest I am fed up with this place. I would have preferred to explore the inner regions of the forest. If not for the deal with Yves I would have already left.
Edger's brow furrowed, but he held out his hand. The room was just one step away from becoming another battlefield.
Ellen expression turned grave. She gazed at me with a troubled look.
"Go outside I will handle this." She brought her face near me and whispered in a low voice.
She was worried whether I would start killing the people inside. Considering the power difference they would be unable to offer any resistance.
I shook my head amused. Did she actually think I would bother about these flies, whatever.
"... You guys enjoy, I would get some air." I sighed and left the room, carefully pulling the door shut.
The room was silent for a few minutes after I left.
Outside Natsuki, eyes flashed with interest when she saw me coming out.
"You should be careful of guy named Edger." She moved next to me and warned.
"I don't think so. He is harmless rather I should look out for Arthur." I glanced at her briefly before looking somewhere else.
"Why??"
"Edger was just in the heat of the moment. Power is what drives him not emotion. While Arthur was silent the whole time. Yet the look in his eyes was saying something else."
"He is suspecting my hand behind James death. Though I am not worried about him..."
"Rather why are you concerned about my well being?" I stared into her eyes.
Natsuki lips curved up into a smile. "There are a few creatures I've collected over the centuries that interests me and you are one of them."
"Haha, ... Girls are always interested in me. Can't disagree with that. But sorry to disappoint you I am not a collectable."
The corners of Natsuki mouth twitched. [ Can someone be so narcissistic... ]
I chuckled lightly and started wandering around aimlessly. I can utilise this time to know more about this Loli Goddess but I am not in a hurry for it. She is going to stick around for sure. Why's that?
Fear of Unknown.
Any conscious living being like things in his control. Whenever an unknown factor appears they feel uneasy and struggle to either control it or eliminate it entirely.
If a person is sleeping and spots a spider in his room, then there are two actions he can take first either kill it on the spot or if he is kind enough just shoo it away... But the moment the spider moves nears his bed, he immediately kills it.
Why? the moment spider moves near his bed he kills it? The spider is the same, the bed is the same and the room is the same, so what drives him to kill that innocent insect... It's Because of the Fear of Unknown.
As soon as he realizes the spider moving near his bed he becomes unsure. It's out of his control now, it's uncertain whether that little spider would jump on him while he is asleep. His heartbeat immediately accelerates, he becomes unable to sleep, he gets anxious, he starts feeling insecurity and anxiety, his rate of breathing increases, he starts being fearful of it. And... *Slap* At the end since he can't control it he choose to eliminate it.
People tend to be fearful of the night not because of darkness but because they can't see in it.
We do not fear what is known but what is unknown.
Currently, I am just like that spider to both Edger and this Loli Goddess. After seeing my power Edger fears that if I get chosen as a leader, I may abandon the mission. The Goddess must be curious why she can't see through me. She must be attracted by my powers.
For both of them, I am an uncertain factor. Edger is worried because he can't control me and as for the Goddess she is just curious for now. She believes everything is under her control...
"Leon! Alex is regaining consciousness..." Ellen's voice resounded from inside, waking me up from my thoughts.
"Coming!"