Chapter 32 Remorse
"How are their vital signs? Are they alright?" Ceid asked with concern.
"I see," he replied, walking over to the two beasts and watching over them with worry.
Looking at the two beasts, now lying peacefully compared to their normally hyperactive selves, he felt sorry for them. "Don't worry. You two can rest peacefully and wait until I recover my strength. Then I'll let you accompany me in exploring this new world, as promised."
However, perhaps recalling something, Ceid added, "Though you should behave. You mustn't be as naughty as usual. Otherwise, it could cause trouble."
With a gentle smile, he took back his gaze.
"How are the situations with the various spirit gardens and farms?"
Ceid nodded.
He then walked towards the lakeside, looking towards the mountains. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head and turned back.
At this moment, there's nothing urgent to do. So, he went out of the space.
-
As he reappeared in his room, his sudden disappearance went unnoticed by anyone.
Stepping outside and descending the stairs, Ceid noticed Ayda's unusual demeanor. She was sitting in the reception hall, and appeared more dazed than usual, with a troubled expression.
The construction crew members who had just arrived discreetly glanced at her, sensing was amiss. However, they hesitated to inquire, not wanting to intrude on her privacy.
As Ceid entered the reception hall, he received polite nods from those present.
However, unlike their usual lively banter, the atmosphere was notably subdued. Some were engaged in hushed conversations about the ongoing beast tide, while others discussed the number of beast kings involved. A few individuals went about their work, their expressions reflecting various concerns.
Ceid didn't immediately approach Ayda, instead directing his attention to Borris. "How's the progress?" he inquired.
Borris approached Ceid with two drinks in hand, offering one to him. Then he proceeded to deliver the latest updates.
"First, I'll report the ground floor's progress.
The cleaning crew had already finished their work yesterday. We had already installed the furniture and security system for the whole floor. Since you were not around yesterday, we have placed and installed all the furnishings based on your given plan. The furnishings for the cafe, like the piano and shelves, had been installed too. Everything was already in place and ready for use."
Ceid nodded, hinting for him to continue.
Borris continued, "As we did with the hologram system yesterday, all connections for the monitoring system were connected to the hidden server and monitoring room behind the counter.
Later, when the main server room and security room on the floor above had been renovated, we could connect the main system to the system in that room."
Ceid also agreed with this arrangement. It was within the requirements he gave Luxell and Borris before.
"Essentially, the ground floor renovations have been completed by this evening," Borris summarized.
"As for the first floor, all rooms and spaces have been refitted and furnished. We're even getting the carpets and various decorations done this afternoon. However, the elevator area will be temporarily closed off while we work on modifying it for the exclusive elevator.
The technicians estimated that this modification would be finished in several days. They'll seal the entrance for the exclusive elevator from the inside, and then our crew will build a wall and renovate the area to close off the entrance permanently.
So, you can expect the first-floor renovation to be completed by the end of this week or early next week."
Finally, Borris concluded, "Progress on the second and third floors has been a bit slower, as our focus has been completing the penthouse first.
As for the penthouse, it would take several weeks for us to complete all renovations and refitting works."
Ceid understood Borris's arrangement and found it appropriate.
He knew that although the renovation works on the first two floors seemed fast, it was because those floors were in good condition and he didn't request a total makeover. Plus, he had explicitly asked to prioritize these floors. That's why the work can be completed in such a short time.
As for the other floors, he could only request that they work as efficiently as possible without compromising quality.
After listening to Borris's report and making several remarks, Ceid let Borris go while he walked towards Ayda.
Even after he arrived, Ayda was still lost in her world.
Ceid noticed the furrowed brow on Ayda's face as he approached, prompting him to tease her gently. "What's got you so lost that you didn't even notice me sneaking up on you? That furrowed brow doesn't suit your lovely face," he said with a playful grin.
Ayda was startled by the sudden sound of his voice and quickly softened her expression, attempting to brush off her concerns. "Oh, it's nothing," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Just the usual worries about the beast tide."
"Beast tide." Ceid smiled softly at her response, taking a seat beside her. "Don't worry. The army had been fighting hard on the front line. They even managed to repel the first wave. Everyone is doing what they can to face the beast tide."
"But,..." Ayda began to refute but somehow her words stuck in her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes, and a mixture of remorse and fear crept onto her face.
Looking at her reaction, Ceid felt concerned. It appears that he had missed or neglected something.
It was natural to feel fear and anxiety, especially in the face of war and beast tide. But remorse? That was an unexpected emotion.
Ceid glanced back towards the others.
He noticed that everyone else was secretly looking at the two of them. When he glanced back, they immediately took back their gazes.
Thinking about it, Ceid suggested, "Would you like to take a walk with me?"
Not bothering to wait for Ayda's reply, Ceid instinctively reached out and gently grasped her hand, guiding her toward the door. Ayda followed closely, her thoughts swirling with unease.
-
The two leisurely strolled through the neighborhood. Well, for Ceid at least. Ayda, on the other hand, was still engrossed in her problem.
Ceid purposefully led her toward the tranquil western area of the community. Surrounded by parks and recreational spots, the area there exudes a peaceful atmosphere.
It was a great location for troubled minds to unwind and find solace.
As they walked, silence enveloped them. Ayda struggled to find the words to express her concerns, while Ceid respected her need for space, choosing to remain silent to allow her the time and opportunity to gather her thoughts at her own pace.
As they reached the park, they sat down on the nearby bench.
The quiet atmosphere persisted for a while, and just as Ceid thought Ayda wasn't ready to open up, she began to share her story.
As Ayda spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. "Ceid, I've made a grave mistake," she confessed, her voice trembling. "I have greatly endangered Asma City. Those casualties... those deaths... the soldiers wouldn't have died if not for me."
Her words took aback Ceid. He couldn't fathom how the beast tide could be linked to her.
She continued, "Do you remember when I told you about the incident with my brother? When he was targeted and attacked?"
"Yes, I remember," Ceid replied somberly, recalling their previous conversation about Ayda's family.
"I went back to that town after the incident and tried to investigate further," Ayda confessed, her voice filled with guilt. "I tried to find any clues that could lead me to them."
Ceid nodded in understanding. He had previously suspected it. Ayda had indeed taken it upon herself to seek justice for her family.
Ayda's voice quivered with sadness as she recounted her efforts. "At that time, the clues were almost completely gone. There was hardly anything left to go on. Even the townsfolk had no sightings or leads on any possible suspects. It was as if they had appeared out of thin air."
Her tears flowed freely as she continued, "When I thought my efforts were in vain, I noticed an unusual magical residue near the outskirts of the city, similar to the one found at the scene of the attack. Despite the considerable distance between the two locations, I knew the two were from the same person."
She told him, "Did you know? Since I could remember, I've been sensitive to magic fluctuation and changes. I could faintly discern the difference between magic fluctuations...a bit like a magic signature, maybe?
Anyway, I knew they were related. So, I searched the nearby jungle and, sure enough, I discovered another similar magical residue not far from there."
Ceid listened quietly to Ayda's narrative.
Frankly, he was quite surprised by her ability to differentiate magical signatures. Typically, only those who can control Origin Qi, like Venerable ranks and above, possess such a skill.
She may have said it was a vague feeling. But, it was rare for someone at Ayda's level, a third layer Junior practitioner, to be able to differentiate it. Rather, he had never heard of anyone else accomplishing a similar feat.
Ayda continued, "Following the same pattern, I finally tracked down the source deep in the jungle, deep inside the mountain range."
As her story reached this point, Ayda began to sob heavily. "It was here," she said between sobs, "that I made the gravest mistake I could have done."