"What did I do?" Zion asked Allen, pretending not to understand what he was talking about.
Allen narrowed his eyes. "Elina."
"I didn't do anything wrong to senior Elina," Zion replied. "I was only trying to help her."
"Did she ask for your help?" Allen asked him.
"She seemed to want my help," Zion replied. 'If she didn't, she wouldn't have wasted all those time with me.'
"Just because you think she needed your help, then you end up creating problems for yourself and causing those that love you to worry?" Allen asked him and continued before Zion could answer. "If you want to achieve a goal, you mustn't let things like this distract your attention."
Zion's eyes widened as he listened to Allen's words. He had never thought about his actions in that way before. He had always been impulsive, acting on his emotions without thinking through the consequences.
Allen's words struck a chord within him. He realized that he had been selfish, thinking only of his own desires and not considering how his actions might affect others.
"I didn't think about it that way," Zion admitted, feeling a sense of shame wash over him. His primary goal was to become the strongest beast slayer and not to end up entangled in unnecessary matters.
Allen's expression softened slightly. "I know you didn't. But that's why you need to learn to think before you act. Impulsiveness can be a strength, but it can also be a weakness."
Zion nodded, taking Allen's words to heart. He didn't know that despite his cold face and demeanor, Allen would have a good heart. He was sure lucky to make someone like him his friend.
"What can I do to make it right?" He asked, looking up at Allen with a determined expression.
Allen's eyes narrowed. "I won't ask you to apologize to anyone. But I have a little advice for you... Focus on becoming strong. The world has no place for the weak."
Zion nodded, Allen was right. The world has no place for the weak indeed, as such, he had to become strong. He knew that it wouldn't be easy, but he was willing to do whatever it takes to reach that peak.
"Thank you," Zion said and left his room.
After he was gone, Allen sighed and rubbed his neck. Considering the kind of person he is, it must have been difficult for him to have a serious talk with Zion to the point of giving him some advice.
"Hahah. What's that look on your face?" Nux asked as he entered Allen's room. Seeing the expression on Allen's face, he raised his eyebrows. "Is it about that kid?"
Allen sighed again but didn't answer him.
"Here you go again with this attitude of yours," Nux mumbled. "You should try and be open to us, we are all friends."
"I have no friends and I don't need one," Allen sighed. "It's really troublesome."
"That's the lie you keep feeding yourself," Nux said. "You need people around you—"
Allen's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I don't need friends," he repeated, his voice firm. "I've always been alone, and I'm used to it."
Nux sighed, shaking his head. "You're not fooling anyone, Allen. We know you're not as heartless as you pretend to be. If you are, you wouldn't bother to bring that kid to the right path."
Allen's face remained impassive, but a hint of anger flickered in his eyes. "You don't know anything about me," he said, his voice low and even. "I don't need friends, and I don't want them. Just leave me alone."
Nux raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Fine, have it your way. But don't say I didn't try."
With that, Nux turned and left the room, leaving Allen to his thoughts. Allen's expression didn't change, but a faint sense of relief washed over him. He was glad to be alone again, free from the annoyance of Nux's attempts at friendship.
As he sat down there, lost in thought, Allen's mind turned to Zion. He had given the boy some advice, hoping to steer him on the right path. But as he thought about it, Allen realized that he had done it for his own reasons, not because he actually cared about Zion.
"I'm not getting soft," Allen told himself, his voice firm. "I'm just looking out for myself. That's all."
With that, Allen turned and walked away, leaving the room and his thoughts behind. But deep down, a small part of him wondered if he was truly as heartless as he seemed.
>>>>
The next day, news of the fight between Kelvin and Zion spread around the organization like wildfire. Some juniors applauded Zion for being brave and standing firm against senior Kelvin while some threw insults at him, saying that he was foolish for fighting a senior. Those that supported Zion said that the senior was stupid to have fought with a junior, disregarding his status and age, what's worst, the fight was because of a woman.
Zion had no problem walking around because he simply didn't want to care about what they talked about him. The two people that had issues with showing their faces to the juniors were Kelvin and Elina. They had also dragged Elina into the hot topic and from there, news about her non-ability to talk circulated. Those that didn't know about her condition began to gossip. Some felt sympathetic towards her while some made fun of her... No one knew the real reason behind her condition and they didn't feel like knowing either.
Amidst the chaos, Zion finished his morning chores of clearing some bushes around their quarters and got prepared to leave for his training.
As he neared the woods, the trees grew taller and the underbrush thicker, casting dappled shadows across the narrow paths. Zion breathed in deeply, feeling the cool, damp air fill his lungs. He loved training in quiet places like the woods or forests; it was as if the trees themselves were urging him on, pushing him to train harder and become strong.
Zion found a small clearing and drew his sword, the blade glinting in the sunlight filtering through the trees. He began to practice the techniques Elijah had taught him, his movements were swift and precise as he danced around.
"I must become the strongest beast slayer!" He grunted with a determined gaze.
Hours passed, the sun beating down on Zion's back as he trained. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his muscles ached, but he didn't stop. He was determined to become stronger, to surpass even Elijah's skills.
As the sun reached its peak, Zion finally stopped, his chest heaving with exhaustion. He wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over him. He had trained hard, and he knew he was getting closer to his goal.
With a final glance around the clearing, Zion sheathed his sword and began the journey back to the organization's quarters. He was hungry and tired, but he felt happy because of the day's achievement. He knew he still had a long way to go but he believed in himself — he knew he was going to succeed.
As for other matters, he will do as Allen had told him and stay away from things that weren't important to him.