女神归来的夏天

~~~(Location: Sitting with Helda Vora, Elven Kingdom)~~~

~~~(Time: 2:52 PM)~~~

Helda must be questioning why I've decided to come and visit her. She's broken off from the group ever since Terox joined us. I've never witnessed a friendship as old as theirs turn into one of hatred. It takes more for some and less for others. Manni, the man that is dying, is the center of this conflict. It's not his fault, though. He wishes to pass. He's old, and he's ready.

Terox and Helda won't have the greatest relationship, and I doubt they can ever get back to a friendship they ever had before. "Sitting out in the middle of the woods and avoiding everyone isn't a permanent solution to the problem at hand." Getting in the middle of this isn't what I want to do, but I don't think I have a choice anymore.

She looks at me with convincing annoyance. We've moved on from our own problems. We've even grown to trust each other. I might even consider her a friend. "I'm not in the mood for some talk or lecture about my issues with Terox." She sounds like a teenager when she puts it like that. The thought of it is even humorous. A few chuckles escape my throat, and she sighs.

I understand needing to be alone... Having that time to turn off your brain and ignore all your problems. What's dangerous about it is sometimes you don't want to come back. "Who said anything about a lecture? All I said is what you're doing now isn't a permanent solution. A lecture is far more complex than this." My poking and prodding is starting to really annoy her.

That's not what I came here to do, so I'll leave it at that. The new silence that has taken over causes her to look over in wonder. A questioning look about why I stopped talking. "Hey, I'm not your dad or brother. You can hate Terox for the rest of your life for all I care." In truth, all I offered was advice, and now she's doing what I needed her to do, which was think.

Stubborn people seem to make up the majority of our team, and that's a problem in itself. My stubbornness has gotten in my way before, and it takes a perspective change. Stopping and taking a step back. Taking all the information in and processing it, then coming to a decision about things after you have all the pieces you need.

The two clashing heads in question both jumped straight to anger and blamed each other for Manni's condition, but Helda didn't have to react the way she did. Terox only responded in the way she did because of how Helda treated her. "What do you know about losing someone... You have everyone you love..." If only she knew what she was saying.

I've lost everyone I loved at one point, and desperation for my life to return to what it once was is what drove me here. A better life, to be sure, but one that cost billions of lives I didn't know. The consequences of actions are unpredictable. "Let's pretend that I do know... Would you think I'd hate someone that was so close to me for this long?" Approaching with temperance can do wonders.

Temperance has a different meaning to me than what others have for it. It's caution and reservation in situations. That's my definition of temperance. "No, I don't think you would, Cera... That doesn't mean that I'm you, and you aren't me... Manni meant so much to both Terox and me... Now he's run off to some corner of the world to die alone..." The cynical tone in her voice doesn't slip past me.

It's actually obvious with how layered it is within her words. "Yeah, you're right." She turns her head fast and looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "What? I just said you're right. Does that also not make you happy?" The realization of what I just did sinks into her mind, and her displeasure appears on her face. I played her well there.

She admitted that even if I agree with her and think she's doing the right thing. It won't make her an once happier or more satisfied. She feels the same way now she did a few minutes ago. "You should go. I want to be alone." I've accomplished what I've come to do, and I stand up without giving any grief about Terox and her anymore.

The silent walk back to the camp leaves me with my scattered thoughts, and I sense that some good might come from what we talked about. Terox and Helda aren't unreasonable people. If they take some time to talk without getting mad at one another, they can overcome this relatively easily. However, fresh wounds hurt more than healed scars.

~~~(POV: Helda Vora)~~~

~~~(Location: Taking a break from everyone, Elven Kingdom)~~~

~~~(Time: 3:07 PM)~~~

I really hate that guy sometimes, but in an endearing way now. I was hoping I could stay mad at her forever. Talk about childish... He just has to come in and be all logical and reasonable... Making me think... "I went wrong in many places in my life, but I never thought I'd lose Manni... Never thought I'd lose Melimora... The same can be said with Terox..." A hard pill to swallow.

When everyone starts to leave you, that means it's you causing the problem. Melimora is leaving me after all of this is done, and I'll be alone... "God damn it, Helda! Just let go of your pride for a single moment and accept that it was your fault!!" I overreacted when I lashed out at Terox... Blaming her for what happened to Manni...

As I stand, I release a scream of anger and pain at my foolishness. My voice grows hoarse and ragged, and my breath runs out. Tears start flowing down my face, and I fall to my knees. Clutching the grass in my hands. Dirt runs under my fingernails, and my blond hair falls to the ground. "Why am I like this!?" All I know how to do is push people away.

No one will be with me in my life if I keep acting this way... Time passes slowly... Heavier than most minutes... My pain is finally being let out. No longer suppressing it, hiding behind my pride and ego. Change isn't easy, but I have to try. "It might be too damn late, but I'm going to fucking try!" My pain and sadness turn into resolve. This is the start of making up a lot of mistakes.

~~~(POV: Terox)~~~

~~~(Location: Working on the false identities, Elven Kingdom)~~~

~~~(Time: 3:15 PM)~~~

Everyone has been lively off in the distance, and it makes me feel better hearing their laughter and fun. My focus is not wavering, though. Everything is going smoothly, and I have about half of everything done. My mana is being drained by the sheer amount of work, but I have enough to get everyone. The silence is quickly broken near me, and I turn to see Helda.

Her eyes are puffy, and there are dried streaks from tears running down her face. I don't really know what to say or do, and I don't think she does either. "May I join you?" My surprise can't be hidden, but I don't reject my adoptive sister. I nod my head, and she makes her way over and takes a seat next to me. There is an awkward silence, but she's not being hostile.

She looks like she's in pain, and seeing that puts me in pain too...

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A/N: Below this line, I'll be keeping Cera's player information. That way, I won't have to place it into the story above anymore. It takes about 180 words up.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.196]

[Exp: 40/100%]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden)]

[Stats] [Strength - 7095][Endurance - 7045][Dexterity - 7215][Speed - 8240][Focus - 19,660]

[Mana aura control: 6/100%]

[Health: 76,560,000,000/76,560,000,000] [Mana: 216,600,000,000/216,600,000,000]

[Stat Points: 50] [Armor rating: 500]

[Inventory] [Dice of Wayland (Divine)] [Hardened Tree sap Armor (Very Rare)] [The Witness (Legendary Sword)] [Fenrir's Whistle (Divine)] [Sally's Dresses 5x] [Camping gear] [Food Rations 3x] [Dried meat 3x] [Fishing poles 2x] [Fish 8x] [Festival Garbs 2x]

[Passive Perks]

[Inheritor of the Sword] [Son of Heaven] [Slayer of Evil] [Holy Willow Trees Savior] [Finder of Legends] [The Divine who has Legend] [Destined for Greatness] [Dungeon Diver] [An Overachiever]

[Active Skills]

[Heavens light Lvl.59 325/5900] [Protected by Heaven Lvl.59 225/5900] [Slash Lvl..77 4600/130000] [Parry Lvl.53 80/5300] [Double Strike N/A] [Kingslayer N/A] [Raging Machine N/A] [Winged Glory] [Angelic Flight] [Divine Pressure Exertion] [Divinity Pulse] [Controled Fun]