Chapter LII - Understanding (part 2)

I turned my gaze back to him, and he pointed his hand up. I lifted my head above me, and I realized why he was so certain of stopping me.

The whole arena... is so wrecked.

What was once a great new arena is now fully covered in cracks. The walls that were smooth as sandstone are filled with cracks. It wasn't just tiny cracks either. If an earthquake were to hit, then everything above us would've crumbled down. 

Dusts are falling endlessly from the ceilings. Every single thing that was once looked like new is now full of cracks. It certainly won't be long now until the whole building collapses down. And if that happens, a lot of people will get hurt.

Some of the cracks had actually made a few blocks from the ceiling fall into the spectators seat. A giant boulder that was a piece of the roof nearly flattened a group of young adventurers that sat on that area, and they are doing their best to evacuate from the scene.

I turned my gaze to the right, where our team and Fran's team had grouped up. There, a single woman stood sternly, with both her eyes pleading with me to stop.

I... didn't know.

I looked back at Hod, who's glaring at me angrily. I quickly realized my mistake, and I straightened my posture to cool down.

Flames began to disappear from my orcish sword, and the shining blue energy began to disappear from the knights sword. I also toned down both my powers and my emotions, fully making sure that I am not continuing the battle.

"I'm sorry… I didn't know."

I said while sheathing both my swords away, and Hod let out a sigh. After hearing my response, Hod whipped his hand to the side, and the ice wall behind him began to crumble down.

On the other side, it seems like Fran was the one who stopped Jonus. The Flame King is no longer covered in blue flames, but instead had his sword far away on the ground as if they got parried away.

And right in front of him is the Swordsaint. Fran is just folding her hands while trying not to face Jonus, who is begging endlessly for forgiveness.

Fran's sword is stabbed on the ground, and a portion of it looked quite burned. It seems like she used a much forceful method to stop Jonus, much harsher than what Hod did to me.

Fran then noticed that the ice wall had disappeared, and she began walking away after realizing that our side had stopped as well. Hod thanked Fran as she walked away, leaving Jonus all alone.

Fran's teammates jumped down from the spectators seat. They greeted Fran for a bit, and then they began heading for the exit.

But before she walked to the exit, Fran turned her face to me. I noticed her nodding at me so firmly, and I just replied with a smile. She said something from a distance, and I didn't have to hear it to know what she was saying.

"You're welcome. I'd do it again any day."

I said to her, and she turned around to leave. After Fran and her team left, I turned my gaze to the spectators seat again.

Jonus has arrived right below the spectators area on the arena, and he is bowing towards where my team is at with Klane. He seems to be apologizing, and I can already tell the reason why.

Klane... doesn't look too happy. She is screaming at him for being too irresponsible, and I have never seen Klane being so genuinely angry at someone as if she's about to kill them.

How is Klane so close with him? There must be a reason.

"Are you feeling tired?"

Hod approached me and handed me a potion of magic energy, but I just waved my hand at him. I'm still good, since I didn't get to use the expensive form in the battle. Activating it is one thing, but using it is when it becomes genuinely pricey.

"I'm... fine. Just wondering what I should say to her."

"If you want my suggestion, apologize for worrying her. Not for the building, but for all the times you spent getting yourself hurt."

I turned to Hod with a grin, and I can't help but realize just how attentive this guy has been.

"Thanks. I'll heed that advice."

"Still... I would never guess you can go toe-to-toe with a White ranked at their prime, Rize. You really are unbelievable."

Hod said as we started approaching the others, and I only chuckled at him.

While walking, my gaze dropped at Jonus who was talking with his teammates that jumped to the arena. He noticed me staring at him, and he glared back at me and smiled while nodding. 

Not the flirty smile, but more like 'I Recognized You' type of nod.

I simply gave him a thumbs down while making an ugly face. In that instant, a vein popped on his head.

He suddenly started shouting some bad stuff at me while I walked up the stairs and met the others. I just ignored him while his friends were trying to contain him.

Klane is there, standing, waiting, and studying me. Her eyes weren't so angry anymore, but more apologetic.

"Klane, I-"

"Let me... talk first."

She stopped me and took a deep breath. I quickly became silent as Klane said her part.

"When I first took you in, you were incredibly fragile. You couldn't even walk very far. And during your training with Jrake, you were beaten so much that I couldn't even watch..."

I can already guess where this is going. I simply listened to her words, and the others were listening as well.

"And then, you started to get better. In only a week, you took your first mission and succeeded. Hell, you even made quite a name for yourself. You got very strong in such a short time. But even with the gift you had with you, you still get wounded and hurt."

"That was--"

"Let me finish!"

She barked suddenly, and I became terrified. I quickly silenced and stiffened. Everyone else is listening, including Jonus. No one is saying a thing.

"When you came back from that Yellow ranked dungeon mission, I was very worried. I was worried that something might have happened to you. And that day, I thought I was worried for nothing. 

I could have never thought that the worst actually comes a few days later..."

She looked down and tried wiping her tears. Everyone else is watching her in sympathy, while I simply looked in pain.

I never expected it either. At first, I thought I was fine. But days after, I got strokes on my whole body as my magic soul slowly cracked.

It was the most unexpected thing ever, but no one could have avoided that if they didn't know about it from the beginning. Certainly, I am at fault for pushing myself.

"I knew what I was expecting when I sent you. One day, you will become great. Greater than Jonus, greater than anyone. I was sure of it. But that time, when the doctors said you will never get healed, I was…"

Her tears quickly dropped heavier. I moved forward and dropped to my knees to hug her. She followed and lowered her body as well. Luckily, she didn't try to push me away. She even wrapped her hands around me. 

She still cared for me... even after everything. Thank god.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry for worrying you."

"I know you are… And I'm sorry for worrying too much…"

She chuckled while crying, and everyone else felt a slight relief in the air. They all smiled seeing that the situation has been solved, and I am feeling happy deep inside either.

At least, from this point on... we've reached an understanding.

Adventuring is a difficult job. It is dangerous, it is risky. It's especially bad for those who had people they cared about at home.

However, it was still a viable way to live. Many took it because it was genuinely beneficial, otherwise there's just no reason to.

And for the ones who are at home, awaiting for the adventurer to come back, it can be heart wrenching. I understood it, but I simply did not remember when I took those difficult missions rashly.

But now, she does not need to worry anymore. She has seen what I'm capable of. She knows that no matter what I go through, I will be able to push through. Even if I have to break all my bones, I always make it through.

I let go of her hug and looked at her. Her body is quite small, but her heart is bigger than anyone else's. It's really weird how she wasn't dating anyone, but certainly a wonderful guy who deserves her will appear in the future.

"Now… about your ranking up to White…"

She suddenly said, and I opened my eyes widely.

"Woah, woah, woah! Hang on for a moment..."

I tried stopping her, and she only looked at me with confusion.

"You just sparred with a White ranked adventurer at a complete stalemate. And it would be an honor for anyone to be ranked up to White."

I know that. And I also know that once I rank up to White, I can stop hiding my full power and stop fearing attention.

But becoming a White ranked… it's too much for me.

There will be even more responsibility and problems that I will have to deal with. I am not yet ready or prepared for such a sudden change. I will definitely be noticed more by everyone, and I definitely don't like that.

I just don't feel like I needed it at all. I can do the things I wanted as a low ranking adventurer. If I become a White ranked, I will have even more responsibilities. I'm not ready for that.

"I… don't want it."

Everyone else is looking at me with shock and disbelief. Except for Hod, who is already used to that fact.

Klane was even more shocked. This offer was a one time chance given by Jonus, the White ranked himself. He, as a White ranker, has a right to recommend anyone to become a White ranker. And yet, I rejected the offer that easily.

"Maybe I fought toe to toe with him. And maybe right now it's a draw. But in a real battle, as much as I hated to admit, he is way stronger than me."

That was a lie. I could have beaten him in a real battle. Well, maybe. I'm not exactly sure, but the chances aren't zero.

But the whole point was to make up reasons. I don't want to rank up, and to do that, I'll lie if I have to.

I stood up and looked at Jonus below us, who was making an ugly and pissed face at me. I simply replied with a demeaning disgusted face at him. Veins popped in our heads as electricity clashed between our eyes. Everyone seemed to feel the change in the atmosphere again.

"Well, whatever. That was your only chance, Rize."

Jonus turned around and walked to the entrance.

"But, make no mistake. The winner of the battle hasn't been decided. So, get stronger. Until then, don't let me down."

"You will be disappointed by how much stronger I'll be later on."

He pointed his finger at me, as if pointing that he will be holding my words. I simply nodded and accepted his challenge with a grin.

He turned again and left the arena for real. And after Jonus and his team left the arena, I turned my gaze at my team.

"So, uh… what now?"

"Now, you will have to go with Klane and explain this situation to the master."

Hod said while folding his hands, and I turned my surprised eyes to him.

"W-What?"

"He is right."

Klane supported Hod. She walked past me and headed to the stairs.

"Just so you know, I will not be doing the apologizing. Unless you want me to carry the burden you created, I will just be silent during the whole process."

She walked downstairs and left me frozen on the spot. Everyone else 'tried' to encourage me, but I'm already out of energy as I am. My brain began to imagine all sorts of possibilities that will happen once we get to the Office, and I can only think of all the negative stuff.

Ha~hh... damn.

I wonder what I should say to the Office master… about this arena, that is.

Why did they make an arena so closed like this, anyway? Even the Romans made it with open ceilings.

This place... it looked like it could collapse at any time. 

Dear me, I won't have to pay for the damages... right?