Chapter 14: Helplessness and Rising Up

-It looks like a rescue, but something still feels unnatural.

Kaega's eyes were fixed on the book. After hearing Lyne's story about her past, he looked back at her but still voiced his observation about the situation.

-You sound just like Aunt Reyna. She said that although the Silver Masks' rescue seemed very natural, she didn't believe there were people in Aquila who would go out of their way to save a guild being purged by three major guilds.

-So what happened after that?

-Aunt Reyna decided to leave, not to merge with the Silver Masks. She said she would head south to the Ethanal Empire. She even asked if I wanted to go with her...

-A long journey, huh... though a bit dangerous, reaching Ethanal and leaving this country that's collapsing day by day would be better.... why didn't you go?

-I... I'm not sure... I usually don't understand my mother's actions... but I don't think she's someone who would do something without a reason... but then...

-You investigated in secret, didn't you?

Lyne turned her back to Kaega as if to hide her emotions, but her shoulders trembled slightly.

-During the time I intentionally let the Head Measurer use me, I went deep into the place where approved missions were kept. And I discovered a plan called the "Harvest of the Assassins' Guild and Lyne," proposed by the Head Measurer.

-So it was just as I thought...

-The Head Measurer had been watching the entire guild for a very long time.... and I was the special target he was aiming for. My talent and gifts were very suitable, so they did something to make my mother betray the guild during the year I was lost in the forest. Thanks to that, they had the opportunity to save the remnants and swallow up everything that was left.

Lyne trembled even more this time.

-He had planned it all. Watched me throughout my entire development, and my mother really did betray them. It was all his setup.... I tried to fight him, but he was too strong. I ran away but was caught again...

-And at that moment, you thought there was no reason to exist anymore.... revenge was impossible... running away was impossible... you could only be a puppet for the Head Measurer to control... in the end, death was the only way out, right....

Lyne turned back to look at him, her expression complex, her thoughts unreadable.

-So... do you think her guilty expression was because her conscience was pricked for betraying the guild...?

-I... I'm not sure... or rather, I don't want to believe it...

-Then just stop believing it.... I see many other unreasonable things in this matter.... like why you returned right when the Assassins' Guild was being destroyed, and I don't think the reason he targeted you was just because of your talent.

-What do you mean?

-Lyne, do you remember when you pressed the right button when I told you to press the button on your dominant hand?

-What do you mean? I don't see how that's related.

-Although I don't know why, I'm pretty sure your consciousness is being influenced by the Head Measurer...

-Consciousness.... what does that mean.

-According to the book on resurrection I'm reading, consciousness is the main thing that dictates behavior, habits, and the way people work... the first time I saw you lose control, you used your non-dominant hand.

Lyne suddenly realized that whenever the malicious voice spoke in her head, she always used her left hand. From the time she intended to stab Kaega in the neck while he slept after the second night, and when she was about to cut the rope tying him to her back, she also used her left hand...

-And I see your reactions are also erratic like his. When he meets me, someone he wants to kill, he will scream incessantly. As for you, although not the same, when you see his image, you can't act and are always afraid.

-So what does he want by influencing my consciousness?

Kaega couldn't deduce any further this time because there were no clues at all.

-I... don't know anymore. Consciousness is one of the necessary things in resurrection magic, but consciousness alone is not enough to do anything....

-Alright... I understand... it seems that guy wants to play with me until I die, huh....

Saying this, Lyne lowered her head again, as if in despair.

-I can't possibly understand how you feel but... I can understand the feeling of wanting revenge but being helpless because you're too weak.

Kaega thought back to the time he frantically searched for a way to make Thunder Powder, the burns that had tattooed his arms with indelible scars, the knife wounds on his back when he tried to escape after stealing ingredients...

-But now, as long as you sincerely cooperate and work under my direction.... I guarantee with my soul, consciousness, and body....

The smile of the purple-haired girl whose face he had forgotten...

-I will help you kill him.

Hearing that, Lyne didn't look up, but a glimmer of light appeared before her eyes. Then she looked up and saw the person in front of her was no longer looking at the book but directly at her. Her body felt as if it was filled with the will to live again as she replied.

-I will work for you with all my sincerity.

Kaega showed a victorious smile, his excitement was also clearly visible, no longer hidden.

-My turn, huh? But miss priestess, if you want to hear the story now, you should just come in. Sitting outside won't let you hear clearly.

Lyne was surprised that Kaega thought the priestess was outside. It seemed that due to being too emotional while recounting her story, she had let her guard down, a fatal mistake if this wasn't a safe place.

The door opened and Elina walked in, her eyes looked as if they had just been wiped.

-My name is Elina, don't call me miss priestess anymore.

-It seems this is the reason you didn't ask about my past before, huh.

-No, it's just that I was too busy. I didn't think you would let your guard down at this moment.

-Hey, don't ignore me like that. I saved you guys, after all.

Elina sat on a nearby chair and gently placed a hand to comfort Lyne about her past, hoping that God would always be by her side and bless her. Lyne suddenly felt lighter.

-This is a blessing....

-It's just what needed to be done.

Kaega watched as Elina performed the blessing for Lyne.

-Alright, if you're stable now, I'll tell you about my curse.

Kaega only briefly told her the reason he got the curse, mentioning Lira a little when he said he wanted to save the little girl, and didn't say anything about Morveth.

-That's the reason I have this curse.

-Hey, I was going to bless you if you had told me in more detail.

Elina showed her displeasure as Kaega only told her the reason for the curse and nothing more about his past.

-I'm telling this story because Lyne wanted to know about the curse I have and the reason I got it. As for me, I need Lyne to tell me in detail because I need to confirm some speculations and know the reason for her loss of control.

Kaega replied to Elina. For Kaega, his story didn't need sympathy, those were things of the past and he could move on after experiencing guilt or regret, and now he was here to continue living so that the deaths for his sake were not in vain.

-Ha..... you're too cold. It's hard to make friends like that.

-Thanks for the compliment.

-That wasn't a compliment.

Lyne was like an invisible person because the image of a serious, strong, and cold priestess Elina facing the madman Crambell was shattered after just one conversation with Kaega. And the three of them talked until Kaega felt hungry because he hadn't eaten anything for two days.....