Chapter 20: Charity as a Cost

Chapter 20: Charity as a Cost

"Peace? What does that have to do with anything!?"

Instead of answering the question of the lime-haired boy, he posed another one. "Why do you think this academy wants us to achieve by making us the strongest? Or reach the Zenith as they market it."

Oh, I know the answer to that!

"Because they want to replace all of those who fallen during the war, isn't it?" The blond girl responded to Lance's surprise.

I wasn't as surprised by the answer, as according to my progenitor, a lot of people die during the Broken War, so evidently that powerful pokemon wielder would also die during the war. Accordingly, it the country's best interest to train new members to replace them.

However he also said that everyone who died was stupid in the first place, so they didn't really lose anything valuable. So I doubt the academy would spend so much money just to replace stupid people.

"Yes…you're right, but have you wondered if that was their only goal?"

"Well…no…I just assumed that it was their only goal…and even if it was not, it shouldn't affect us. Well…I guess they also need help to control the population of wild pokemon that are migrating everywhere to flee the war, but by the moment we will graduate, the situation should have naturally fixed itself."

Lance scoffed at her answer. "How childish to think it as simple as that."

"Wh…what? I'm not childish! I'm just a child! It's not the same thing at all!"

"Think about it more, they've sacrificed a lot of things during the war, soldiers, family, home, pokemon, liberty…they've ruined them all for a victory nobody was even able to achieve." I could easily detect that the people kneeling morphed their expression to one of grief.

The lime-haired boy started to grow annoyed. "I don't care about a knowledge we are all aware of, just tell us why you decided to be annoying and let everyone stand up."

"…how can any of you be considered archon if you can't even be patient…and to say the fate of the world was put on all equally on our shoulders, I feel ashamed to share such a responsibility with you." Lance sighed in disapproval.

But what does he mean by the fate of the world lay on our shoulders? The only thing lying on my shoulder right now is Pandora…gaps! Pandora is my world!?

"None of you are taking it seriously, are you?! IS YOUR DUTY ALSO A JOKE FOR YOU!!!" Lance screamed, making everyone standing up frown at him.

"You can call me childish all you want, but don't you dare insult my decree!"

"It's not because we are not showing as much enthusiasm as you that we aren't taking it seriously."

…I have a duty? I've never heard of it…so it must not be that important…even if it does seem important for them…maybe if I learn what it is, I could help them do it in exchange for their friendship.

"Good, then there won't be any problem convincing you. As you see, they won't stop at only training us to become stronger, they will also make us icone to the population, a goal to reach. To put it simply, they will make us the most idiotic creation of humanity, hero."

"What's wrong with being a hero?"

"Acting as a hero is fine, stupid but fine. However, someone else making you into a hero makes you a puppet."

"Could you…elaborate?"

"If you are made a hero by someone else, then it means that you will have to respect the code of the people who put you in this position, your own opinion, your own value will be at the disposal of your creator. And usually, the people who create heroes are the ones who don't need to be rescued by them, but will use their influence for their own gain."

Everyone looked surprised at the response, even Lance was…after all I was the one who answered the question.

"…as offended as I am to admit it, he is right. Currently, the real goal of the academy will be to shape us into perfect and willing puppets that will look good for the population, while protecting only their interest."

…oh…I'm so happy currently that I forgot people don't like me being right, as it degrades their idea if even trash like me is able to guess it, it means their idea was stupid in the first place.

"…alright, let's say you're right, let's say that we are being trained to become heroes that will be controlled by some upper echelon of our home region, how does this correlate to making other students kneel? Are you perhaps trying to say that you will be the only leader among them? Are you that prideful?"

"On the contrary, I have no pride left in me, only rationality and a logical way to achieve my goal for the best result available."

"Pfff, do you have any idea how many people die for this reason? Bo please, continue to divulge it as gold, I would be more than pleased to see you among my rank, I can never have enough buffoons in my graveyard."

Lance threw her a disgusted look before addressing her. "Arcerola Ukufa, Etheral Archon, lower your tone when you speak to me." Immediately after, Acerola trembled as if she was about to fall.

But right after this attempt, Lance's body started to pale considerably. "Well if you want to play with me, why not make yourself constantly by my side!?" She asked with a disfigured smirk on her face.

"Alright! That's enough!" The blond girl screamed which made both of them stop before standing up as if nothing had happened. "Geeze, you're acting worse than a toddler and you dare call me childish."

Lance didn't even acknowledge her and he continued his speech. "What I wanted to tell before being rudely interrupted by another archon is that in order to accomplish my duty as perfectly as possible, some people kneeling is barely a cost.

"And what even is your goal actually? Do you want to protect everyone here from being manipulated, or do you desire to control them first before they can steal your prey?"

"No, I simply desire to create a hierarchy of power and to break their arrogance before it can be exploited by people wiser than them."

"…listen, I'm not a psychist, I can't understand you if you don't explain yourself."

I saw the black-haired girl twitch a little at this comment, but she kept her cold façade.

"Kyu. (It's Sabrina.)"

Oh? How do you know that name Pandora?

"Mimyu (She told me herself when I tried to find you.)"

Oh…well if she was ready to help Pandora find me with no initiative, then she must be a really good person!

"…kyu….mu… (Right…no initiative…)"

"Let me make it clear then, everyone here is an esper, being filled with power that surpasses the common man, this can easily lead to a really simple yet so easily exploitable weakness, a sense of pride." Lance threw a gaze at the people in the room. "Let me guess what most of you thought while entering your room:

"Wow, I was able to enter this super cool academy while so many others failed miserably, this must mean I'm among the strongest and make me someone who is special." Lance said in an extremely high-pitched voice, but it was rather comical as his expression didn't even change when saying this sentence.

When a minute…is it his actual voice? Is he just making it sound deeper so people take him seriously?

"Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't feel proud of yourselves, but I just want to mention that this is nothing more than a call to be exploited by those standing at the top."

"So…to resume what you just said…this is a warning to lower their ego to not let them get caught into a trap…am I hearing right?"

"You're partially right, as I wasn't able to finish my argument. As we have an added advantage at lowering their ego, as you know we are also living near powerless people, and in these turbulent times, it is the perfect opportunity to raise our reputation among the common people. But to succeed in this endeavour, we must make sure that no esper uses their power to intimidate those poor children."

"That's an interesting point…in fact, you should have started with this one from the start, I am all for protecting others from being bullied. And I agree that showing them a show of force helps demonstrate what will happen to them if they try to ignore our directive." The lime-haired boy analyzed while looking at those kneeling with a silent judgement.

"Oh…that's far more reasonable than I thought you were able to…in fact, I thought you would be the bully here, and that I would have to stop you, the usual…I'm glad I was wrong. But then why are we standing then? I know I'm not, but what tell you other people wouldn't be as arrogant?" The blond-haired girl said while pointing at me and Arcerola.

Sincerely I'm starting to get confused, they say they don't want the stronger to bully the weak, yet it is clearly what Lance is doing right now. Even Miss Olympia who did absolutely nothing wrong toward him was forced to kneel, or even Allister who I know wouldn't even be able to bully was also punished, and I'm sure there are multiple people here who didn't have any interest in it.

He didn't even think about the fact that kneeling like that can be quite painful and only thought about his self-righteous cause, but what I understand even less is why the two others agree…does it have something to do with their duty?

Or maybe it is just common sense here?

Well, at least I stole the sense of pain of Allister, so at least I know my friend would feel too uncomfortable like this.

The other? What about them?

I would have loved to do the same with Cynthia, but I'm still not finding her…well I'm sure someone as awesome as her can handle a little pain like this.

Lance looked at the lime-haired boy silently before sighing. "The reason why I'm talking with you as equal is because I know that you're the only one in this establishment who could pose me any trouble in my plan, so I prefer to make sure to at least make peaceful connections with each other. However, I would prefer if all of you join my cause instead, in this way, we could create a hierarchy of power among the students that will allow us to protect those weaker than us more easily.

"Fufufu, how noble of you, but why should I care about your ideal of peace? It's not our responsibility to care about how others will act with their power. Whether they are an esper or not."

"On the contrary, it is our responsibility, as we are currently the strongest people."

"Wrong, this would be our teacher. They are the stronger ones, and they are also the ones getting paid to help others, so I don't see a way I should involve myself in your fantasy."

"Because it would mean you're against me." Lance responded coldly while reaching for his belt.

Acerola gulped before looking with slight worry at Lance. "…didn't you listen to yourself? You can't dare to attack all of us."

"That would only be if he was alone." The prince, who was previously only listening silently at the conversion finally spoke with an amicable smile and an angelic voice. "While I disagree with his mean, I more than support his dream. I do not wish for our generation to cause any more conflict with each other, and I am ready to take responsibility for the peace inside our wall." He stood up from his seat and delicately stood beside Lance.

…his voice is nice to hear…but it also creates an annoying sensation inside my ear…I'm not sure if I hate it more than I like his voice.

The lime-haired boy hesitates for a short moment before approaching Lance. "…Well I suppose that as long as we want to protect the weak, I can agree on these terms. Just…just change your way of presenting yourself, I will prefer that when they look up to us, it is with respect that their eye are filled."

"You can't all be serious!" Acerola said in a panic as she saw the boy stand behind Lance, whose smile looked more and more satisfied.

"Understood Aaron Hisui, I do not think of myself as perfect yet, but this environment is perfect for me to learn how to become even more perfect to lead."

Aaron looked at him in surprise before putting his hand behind his head in a relaxed manner. "Glad to see you aren't as stiff as I thought."

"My appearance can be misleading, but it is necessary to build authority if we want to assure our authority." Lance dismissed before looking at the blond girl who looked extremely conflicted with the situation.

"You…you just want to assure their protection…then…then I guess it fine…" She said before also standing behind them. "But…but you will retract the statement about me being childish…alright?"

"It's not the time to be childish Korina."

Korina winched at his reply. "Urgh, why are you saying that…it means."

Arcerola immediately jumped on the opportunity. "Right, he is mean to you, so just quit his team!"

"Oh, why are you suddenly so panicked Arcerola, are you starting to realize people care more about peace than you thought?" Lance turned back just to smirk at her.

"Of course I am! Since when does anyone care about peace? That's just stupid! At least if you want to be stupid, don't force me into it. I just want to have a calm life inside the most luxurious place I can afford, not taking care of the life of other toddlers!"

"Mmmh, it seems like your ghost also lives in the past, so let's make it clear to you…no, everyone., I order you to listen to my world!"

Instantly, everyone who was kneeling was forced to raise their head toward Lance, allowing me to see their face of fury, shame or annoyance toward their situation.

Olympia was only annoyance by the way, I'm sure she could stand up again if she wanted to, but it would just be annoying to resist his command, so she just chose to lay down.

"Many of you seem to not realize it yet, but we are entering a new era, an era that will go beyond the era of fear you currently think you're stuck in. No more is the time when you have to fear for your life for simply walking outside, ended as the time when you could come back to your house just to see it being pulverized by a wild Tyranitar! Finish is the time where you must be scared of the whim of a heretic, and for one reason only, me!"

"My existence proves that these times are over, as it has chosen me to end them! I was born to lead you, as the Ancestral Archon, it is my duty given by god himself to make your existence a tranquil one."

"But it also proves one thing that most search to ignore, the fact that Arceus himself has accepted to forgive humanity for their transgression against his creation, as my existence was only allowed by him."

"However, if I want to respect his dearest wish, I must make some sacrifice, as making you learn that any of your actions can and will be easily punished by me, but compared to what I would be obliged to make you suffer if you thought the contrary, then it a pretty light sacrifice."

"…that some rather big word mister saviour of the world, could you make them simpler so I could ignore them more easily?" Acerola mocked him, even if she was obviously extremely uncomfortable with the situation.

"You should know it true Acerola, you who was born to appease the death should be aware that we cannot refuse our duty."

Acerola stayed silent to his remark before sighing. "Still not interested, your duty is toward the living, and I have no interest toward them."

Lance frowned at her and seemed quite annoyed at her, but Acerola kept her neutral face.

But I could sense her fear toward the situation, I mean…she must be really desperate to approach me of all people.

Lance also noticed that, but after throwing a single look in my direction, he scoffed before looking at the last individual still standing, Sabrina.

"What about you Sabrina Natsume? Do you wish to remain neutral as the Etheral Archon, or do you want to be antagonistic as the Gloom Archon?"

Mmh? The gloom archon? Who is the gloom archon? Well what is sure is that he sounds scary, I should not approach him if I see him…

"Kyu…mi (Luciel…please.)"

It's me, isn't it?

…ah, it seems he is already aware of my reputation then…I just hope he doesn't tell to anyone else, or else it will be harder to make friends, or even worse, I will make enemies.

I mean, Allister was already scared of me, imagine how much scarred he would be if he knew I was the Bringer of Eclipse.

I guess I can actually see it with Lance then, because why would he consider me as an enemy if he didn't know about it? I've done nothing since I got here…well except being shamefully carried by Cynthia…but that was against my will!

Yeah, better make sure he doesn't talk…should I steal his voice then?

…no, he seems to like to talk a lot, and I wouldn't want to make him even angrier…then maybe I could buy his silence with something, like I would buy friendship?

Let's see what he wants then, he talks about fulfilling his duty given at birth, so maybe helping him do his duty would make him not talk about it…no, he already considers me as antagonistic toward his cause. And even if he didn't, someone like him who considers might as his only notable qualification would only see me joining him as an insult.

Hmmm…does he consider Clair as someone important to him? It should be easy to take her as a hostage if that case…but that would probably she wouldn't agree to become my friend…and I can't throw away a potential friend, or else I would have fewer friends.

Mmmh…then what should I do?

No…what does he want?

Thinking back to everything he said, I found my answer.

A very common answer really, something also very similar to my progenitor.

He wishes to be right.

Even if he is wrong, he wants everyone to agree that he is right.

Now, I can't say I agree with his way of thinking, or else everyone will think that if even I agree with it, then it must be a stupid idea.

Then…then I should prove to them that he is right that some people will only use their power to bully those weaker than them, and that those even stronger than them have the responsibility of protecting the weaker one.

"Your responsibility under my guard would be to assure that our authority reason inside the academy, and whoever dares to think of causing trouble shall kill these impulsions with the knowledge that we will punish them severely."

I woke up from my thoughts with Lance answering a question that was never asked…or maybe it was.

I thought while throwing a look at Sabrina who stayed as inexpressive as before.

But by looking at Lance once more, I could understand that she was probably talking inside his head…or maybe everyone's head as no one seemed confused with Lance's answering.

I guess she just finds me repulsive and doesn't even want me to hear what she's saying, to the point where she's ready to create a network that makes her talk to everyone except me.

"Yes, we will probably have more duty with time, but I need to determine how the school will work before making any decision." Lance responded once more to nothing.

Lance suddenly frowned at whatever answer he got from Sabrina before throwing a look toward Olympia. "You can see for yourself, don't you, these teachers are weaker than us, they weren't even able to defend us accordingly during the exam. And this one isn't even able to stand up with the little might I'm showing, we can't rely on them. And they are already on the boot and heel of the current authority, we can't trust them to have our best interest as their priority!"

"…isn't it because she's injured?" I asked him, which caused Lance to look at me in utter disgust.

"You have a lot of gale to dare to address me you abomination!"

…sigh…evidently I would be hated.

"…Pandora…calm down please." I said, stopping one of Pandora's tendrils from piercing Lance's neck.

But despite the obvious threat right in front of him, Lance showed no reaction and simply looked at me defiantly.

Korina and Aaron jumped between the two of us. "Wow! There is no need to be so hostile!"

"Yes, I know he looks scary but there's no need to insult him like this!"

"Really? You really think that he is innocent?" Lance asked furiously. "Then who do you think caused these stampedes during the exam?!"

"…eh? I…I don't…him?!" Korina asked confused.

Well she certainly wasn't the only one confused, as I also didn't have a single clue what he was talking about…no, I do.

My progenitor often said that I was the cause of every stampedes that happened at the Sanctuary, so maybe I'm the cause of the stampede that happened during the exam…even if I wasn't even conscious.

"Do you feel any remorse after what you've done you monster?!" Lance pointed at me in anger. "Do you know how many people were harmed because of you!? Or even the number of dreams you broke because succeeding wasn't enough for you, you just had to make everyone else fail!"

But sincerely, I don't really feel anything toward that, no one I cared about was hurt after all. "No…I don't feel anything."

"Tch, it is because of people like you that confirm my point of view, that there will always be people that want to use their own power just to ridicule those weaker than them!"

…I really don't…I just feel nothing when someone falls beside me…I should probably just tell him that then…wait!

The thing he wants is to be right! He wishes that his point of view to be truthful! Exactly like my father!

I know how to deal with that then! I have a lot of experience.

The first thing to do is to make sure to never contradict his own world even if he is wrong.

Then I must accept every fault he blames me with, or else he will get even angrier at me for no reason. It's important to note I don't have to change my comportment, as he will find fault no matter what, so I don't have to worry about changing my personality, excellent!

"And the worst of all, is that despite doing all that, the school rewarded you instead of punishing you! I don't know what you did to make such a powerful organization betray their own value but trust me when I say I'm going to make you pay!"

"Lance! Calm down! Do you really want to show a bad example on your first day of your new organization?" Aaron said in a panic, which made Lance grow silent.

"On the contrary, it is an opportunity to showcase exactly what happens when someone bullies those weaker than himself." Natural suddenly intervened with a calm smile.

Aaron was perturbed by his comment and then looked at me with a conflicted gaze. "…how…how do you plan to punish him?"

"Hmrf, a very simple way. For daring to engender the lives of other innocent children, I will destroy all his pride completely!" Lance looked at me fiercely right as he reached for his pokeball.

"You were the only Archon I made the command to kneel, yet you didn't react to the order. But don't worry, I have other means to make you kneel!"

…There's no window here, I can't escape from this room…hmm, should I kill him then?

…no…I don't think I would be able to…should I try to call a teacher then?

Maybe Nurse Joy could help me?

"Hi Luciel, what happened here?"

I looked behind me to face the one who just spoke just to see Cynthia with an ice cream cone in her hand. "Do I interrupt something?"