Troubled heart.

"So, you mean what you're saying?". Everett inquired with a bewildered facial expression.

"Every single word, isn't that what they deserve? I'm sure innocent people have died 'cause of what they are doing". Hugo said.

"Why have your heart darkened all of a sudden?". Everett inquired once again with that bewildered expression still plastered to his face.

"What do you mean 'why has my heart darkened all of a sudden?' Isn't that what they deserve? They are heartless people, their hearts are darkened too, so".

Everett said nothing else, he just kept glancing at, Hugo, and his facial expression still screams, 'Why have your heart darkened all of a sudden?'. He understood what Hugo was saying, yeah, those people were heartless, and they deserve to suffer. But the way Hugo was mentioning ending the life of someone was still surprising him.

So he could kill a human that easily? But not like he was gonna kill just any human, people that were doing evil things, people that wanted both the wicked and innocent to suffer. But even with that, Everett was still surprised that Hugo could mention ending the life of someone just like that...was it that easy?

At that moment, Ryder approached the both of them and uttered,

"Seems like you guys were discussing something serious, what is it about?".

Everett spoke, "It's nothing, nothing serious, just a normal simple conversation".

Hugo said nothing, he just glanced at Ryder. Ryder sat on Hugo's bed, and the three of them engaged in activities.

*******

It was late in the night already, but Captain Wayne hadn't slept yet, he just sat on one of the chairs in his compartment thinking. What was he thinking about? The four young soldiers that went out of this academy to get Monk Talon's scroll, he was still worried about their safety, he was still distressed.

Would they go and come back safely with Monk Talon's scroll? This question kept on ringing in his head. Out of everyone in this academy, he was the one worrying more about their safety. He takes no pleasure in the death of any student in this academy, at all. He was the one that chose them to go on the mission, so if they die, he'll feel a little guilty.

But the students were willing to go on the mission after he chose them, so. And another thing, if they end up dying on their way to Monk Talon's house or on their way back, everyone in this academy would be in the dark once again...they wouldn't know the cause of the apocalypse.

He told Hugo that he would stop stressing himself thinking about the safety of the F class students, but here he was stressing himself out once again. If only this city's network and connection hadn't been destroyed, then he can easily phone call them to know how they were doing.

He needed assurance from someone that they'll be okay, even if it's fake assurance. He needed to talk to someone right now, and the person he was thinking of was, Monk Talon. He needed assurance from Monk Talon, he wanted to talk to him, so he decided that he was gonna head straight to his compartment.

If it happens to be that he had gone to sleep, he'll come back to his compartment and go to sleep also. He stood up from the chair he was sitting on and strolled out of his compartment. Walking along the first floor's corridor, he saw not even a single soul on it. He strolled to the first floor's staircase and began dismounting it, Monk Talon's compartment was on the second floor.

Reaching the second floor, he began strolling along its corridor until he reached Monk Talon's compartment. Surprisingly, the door to Monk Talon's compartment was open, and he could see Monk Talon inside facing the image on the wall and meditating. Like, he was meditating at this time of the night?

Well, this was to Captain Wayne's advantage 'cause he'll be able to speak to Monk Talon, he wasn't asleep...but he was asleep in a way though. Since he was meditating, then Captain Wayne wouldn't be able to speak with him just like that, he'll have to say that word. You know, once Monk Talon was meditating, you'll have to say a certain word to awaken him.

Captain Wayne stepped into the compartment, then he said the word. Monk Talon was still sitting on the floor with his palms placed together, but he had already opened his eyes. Captain Wayne walked closer to him, then Monk Talon said,

"Wayne, why the visit?". He had already discerned that it was Captain Wayne that stepped foot into his compartment.

"I need your assurance". Captain Wayne stated.

Monk Talon turned around as he was now glancing at Captain Wayne, then he said to him,

"Sit on the floor".

Captain Wayne sat on the floor, then Monk Talon spoke again,

"You need my assurance in what way?".

"Those F class students that went to get your scroll, tell me, would they come back alive?".

Monk Talon sighed and said, "Even I can't give you the answer to that, it's based on a probability. Remember the ones you sent in the past, I couldn't tell you anything, and in the end, what happened? Most of them couldn't make it back to this academy. So I can't give you my assurance".

Captain Wayne sighed, then Monk Talon continued speaking, "But you should stop over worrying about them, all of us in this academy are also worried about their safety, but we've got to limit it. You chose them, and they willingly went on the mission, they did it whole-souled, not grudgingly, so you have to limit the way you worry about them before it results in something else,

They told us to pray for them before they departed, and I'm praying for them, I'm sure many other people are praying for them in this academy, so. Or are you feeling guilty in any way? Like, if they die, then you were the one that sent them to their grave, is it something like that?".

Captain Wayne nodded his head a little and uttered, "Yeah, something like that, they are still young, and they'll die just like that? I gain no pleasure in the death of any student in this academy. Those that died in the past can be regarded as heroes, they risked their lives for the sake of everyone in this academy. But if we look at it, they didn't accomplish the reason why they went out of this academy, so it's just like their deaths went to waste,

Both the ones that went to get foodstuff and never returned, and the ones that went to get your scroll and never returned. And everything they did was based on my order, so I feel a little guilty sometimes".

"But they did it willingly, they know that it must have to be done. You've done your part by establishing this academy along with your comrades, and you've provided a safe zone for the students, now, they'll also have to play a part in this academy. You wouldn't be the one to be going out of this academy to get foodstuff for them? And you wouldn't be the one to be going on these missions,

Trust me when I say, they are doing it willingly, as I've said earlier, they know these things must have to be done. And getting my scroll is of utmost importance, if we don't get it, we'll keep staying in the dark as far as we are in this academy. So, Wayne, stop feeling guilty".

Captain Wayne sighed once again, then he voiced out, "There's something else that is bothering me".

"What is it?". Monk Talon inquired.

"What if the recent students we sent to go get your scroll manages to reach your house, get the scroll, but died on their way back, then the scroll wouldn't be in your house anymore. So if at all we send another group of young soldiers to go get the scroll, it would just be a waste of time".

"That's true". Monk Talon uttered with a type of nervous expression on his face, realization had dawned on him. But he voiced out once again, "Let's not accommodate that thought, let's hope that they'll come back safely, let's put our trust in that".

Captain Wayne sighed once again, no matter how they look at it, everything was based on probability, the students' lives were based on fifty-fifty. Captain Wayne said to Monk Talon,

"Thanks for the little conversation, I'll head straight to my room now, gotta go sleep".

"Ok".

He stood up and began sauntering out of Monk Talon's compartment, and as he was about to step out, Monk Talon said to him,

"Reduce the time you spend worrying about those students, it would help a lot".

Captain Wayne just nodded his head and stepped out.