" I couldn't save him, Peter. EVEN WITH MY SPIRIT POWER!"
Ian broke down with tears, bursting out with anger. He wasn't an iron-blooded man like others, he was just a teenager with a dream of being a hero. No matter how hard he tried he wasn't able to fool Peter, so he decided to show his true face.
Peter silently hugged him, understanding his loneliness and helplessness. The path of good was never straight and smooth, they would break down and get up countless times like him. Despite being a teenager, Peter faced countless foes that were either broken or pure evil.
Moreover, he recalled the moment when Arthur had taught him.
" Listen well, Peter. The path of a hero is narrow and dirty. You will see the world in a different view from others as you age and you will come to hate the things that you loved someday. Also, when the world calls for your help you will come to them without any hesitation, but when you need the world, no one besides your loved ones will come to you. This is the harsh path of our lives."
Arthur looked at the horizon of the sky and said with sadness. He vividly recalled his face as he felt something inside of him was moving. At that moment Peter decided to be a good man like Arthur. He knew Arthur had blood on his hands, but the people loved him and he also knew Arthur taught young heroes that killing was the last thing they needed to do because they would regret it later.
" You know, Ian. Arthur told me..."
Peter repeated his words, making Ian calm down. Ian silently extended his fist and bumped it on his chest where their logos as heroes were hidden under the clothes to show his respect.
Click*
" Hey, Iiiaan. I HEARD THE THING IN THE BUNKER. Are you okay buddy?"
Ned rushed into the room, he was holding a bag of snacks to raise his spirits. He was panting and sweating hard due to the stairs, yet he smiled at his buddies without any hesitation.
Peter and Ian burst out with laughter, grabbing his snacks and pulling him down to mess around. Their happy voices rang through the corridors and the people didn't mind at all.
Meanwhile in the training hall
A young boy with a battle axe and a sword stood there, watching his elder brother carefully. To others, his weapon combination seemed to be odd, but to him, it was the greatest choice that he ever made.
" Brother Kyle, how can you move like that? I know I am not flexible like you, but even your flexibility shouldn't be as good as Mother Tyrande. So, how can you move like her?"
Lothar asked, puzzled by his movements. They were exactly like hers and they needed the extreme focus and flexibility of a veteran warriorress. However, the problem was Kyle wasn't as flexible as Tyrande due to his agility.
" Lota, when you reach the realm of being a true warrior, you will feel it naturally. The moves aren't about the physical capacity. You are shackled by your logic. Look at your mother. She can use Helheim's power, but you can't utilize it due to your adamant belief in science and realism. The hero and the martial artist need to be adaptive. Otherwise, you will fail miserably, my brother."
Kyle patted his shoulder, leaving the dazed Lothar in the hall. Like he said Lothar was able to use only a little bit of his mystic powers, but nothing more than that. On the other hand, his physical abilities and his martial art talent were enough to outshine Alexia and James.
Furthermore, he was smart and tactical thanks to Arthur and Loki. However, in recent months he felt stagnant, and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't overcome the wall that was holding him back.
He consulted with many senior heroes and his family, yet the result remained the same. They said he wasn't ready to be a hero.
Even his mother who was proud of his achievements didn't allow him to join any outside hero activities, forcing him to study all year round. Thus, he was frustrated about being treated like a kid.