Xavier stood silently after witnessing Lisa kill the Ghoul in an instant. His mind swirled with awe and fear as guilt began to gnaw at him.
He gazed at the sky, now painted in shades of orange, while they walked through the ruins. His heart was still heavy with guilt. Each step felt like a burden, as if he were part of the destruction of this world. The sound of his footsteps echoed among the debris, breaking the silence between them.
"Lady Lisa," Xavier finally spoke, breaking the tense silence, "Forgive me. You must hate us, the Reincarnators. We... we are the ones destroying this world. You even lost your husband... because of us."
Lisa stopped. Her eyes gazed far ahead, as if recalling a painful past. But when she turned to Xavier, her face was calm, as if she had already overcome her sorrow. "Xavier, this isn't your fault. The Battle of Paradise started ten thousand years ago. This fate is not something you could control."
Xavier kept his head low, his heart still weighed down. "But... even so. I feel guilty. You saved me... when you could have hated me."
Lisa smiled softly. "I never regret saving you, Xavier. If I had to choose again, I would do the same." Her voice was calm, but carried deep meaning. "And I will make sure you survive in this world. I will teach you everything I know."
"I will train you, Xavier," Lisa said with determination.
Hearing her promise, Xavier lifted his head, his expression slightly brighter. "Alright, Lady Lisa. What do I need to do?"
Lisa patted his shoulder. "First, we need to measure how much Chrona you have."
Xavier frowned. "But... how do we do that?"
With a graceful motion, Lisa raised her left wrist, revealing a small device that looked like a digital wristwatch, crafted from sapphire-colored gold. "Before you start your training, you'll need this."
"What is that, Lady Lisa? The device on your wrist?" Xavier asked in awe, as if seeing a woman wearing a luxurious and elegant watch.
"This is an Artevia Chrone, or more commonly known as an Artpass," Lisa explained. "This tool is invaluable in this world. Artpass can measure how much lifespan you have and your true age. Beyond that, it can also function as a timepiece, indicating when day or night will come. It can calculate directions, show the nearest kingdom, or even locate dangerous areas like Hollow Grim."
Xavier stared at the device in amazement. "Incredible! It's like a smartwatch, even with a built-in map?"
"Smart... what?" Lisa furrowed her brows, confused.
Xavier smiled awkwardly. "Haha, never mind, Lady Lisa. It's just... something from my old world."
Lisa nodded, still slightly confused, but continued. "Artpass will be your guide. It will help you track the Chrona you accumulate and spend. It also ensures you always know where the safe zones are."
"So, I need to have one before I can start training?"
"Exactly," Lisa replied. "Without it, you wouldn't be able to measure your Chrona or explore Artevia properly."
"So, it's like a combination of a watch, map, and compass? I never thought Artevia had technology like this," Xavier muttered in awe.
"I almost forgot to tell you something important. This device is unique; you'll need to find one for yourself. I can't lend you mine because my Artpass only reads my Chrona," Lisa said as she brought her Artpass closer to Xavier.
"I see... So where can I find an Artpass for myself, Lady?"
"We're heading to the nearest kingdom, east of Hollow Grim—the Kingdom of Tenkai."
"That's where we'll find the right Artpass for you, as well as the equipment needed for your training." Lisa said, resuming her steps, leaving Xavier still mesmerized by the new world he was slowly beginning to understand.