Supreme Magus novel Chapter 228

After the training session was over, Friya, Quylla, and Orion spent some more time together in the park nearby. House Ernas had two training areas. One indoors, to practice during bad weather or run fighting simulations in different scenarios.

The walls and the ceiling were enchanted, allowing them to shapeshift to recreate caves, narrow corridors, or small rooms.

The other one was located behind the house. It was a large clearing, with no vegetation or furnishing outside training dummies. It was the perfect place to practice magic and sword techniques in the open under different weather conditions, with complete freedom of movement.

"Dad, there’s something I need to talk to you about." Friya sat on the ground in front of him with a sad expression on her face. Orion could tell there was something haunting her.

"During the last day of the attack, I killed a few undead. I wouldn’t even mention it, if not for the fact that they were people I knew." She told him about what had happened while she was looking for a Healer to save Phloria and Yurial.

"When I killed that woman, during the second exam, I felt terrible. Some days, I can still see her terrified expression the moment before I executed her. This time I didn’t feel anything. I know they had become monsters, but they were still my classmates.

"I should feel remorse, some pain for their deaths, something. Does this make me a bad person? Am I turning into a cold blooded killer?"

"No to both your questions." Orion shook his head without hesitation.

"It just means that you have got your priorities straight. On the battlefield, remorse or hesitation leads to premature death. Even if your enemies are humans, mercy is a luxury you can’t afford.

"You killed the first woman in cold blood, you killed the others in self defense while trying to save the people you love.The two events are worlds apart. Also, they weren’t your classmates. At least not anymore. They were just reanimated corpses, there’s no reason to feel guilty. I’m proud of both of you."

He hugged them, kissing the top of their heads.

"Dad, I have something to say too." Quylla had never had a family before. She still found hard to believe that someone like Orion was her father now.

Orion was brimming with joy. Quylla had finally called him dad instead of father.

"Surviving the god of death’s anniversary made me understand a few things. After so much death, I realized that I don’t like fighting. Unlike my sisters, I’m not suited for the battlefield. I want to become a Healer and help people."

Orion nodded.

"It’s good that you found your way so soon. Fighting is not everything. You must always think about your happiness and your future first."

"About that, I don’t want to spend the next year only studying magic." She said averting her eyes and fiddling with her hair.

"There’s more to life than grades and exams. Phloria is right, we have so little time left before our duty replaces our life. I want more. I can’t just wait for good things to miraculously fall into my lap."

"Yeah, me too." Friya chimed in.

"Honestly, I never thought Lith’s and Phloria’s relationship would last this long, nor that it would become so special."

"No one did." They both blushed in embarrassment. They had secretly bet against it. Quylla had given them a week before breaking up, while Friya’s wager was that their first date would also be the last.

"While we were at the mining town, I was so envious of them that more than once I daydreamed about being in Phloria’s place. So there’s one thing I have to ask you."

Friya looked resolute, making Orion worries go through the roof.

"So do I." Quylla became beet red. He could now only fear for the worst.

"Can you please bring us to social events during the weekends?" Friya said.

"I don’t want to marry yet, but I want at least to start dating. Please dad, can you help us?"

Despite only just getting to know them, Orion felt like he was already losing them. Inwardly cursing his bad luck, he could only agree.

***

’It’s time to hasten my recovery. To use Accumulation or Invigoration I need to be alone though. I cannot risk a breakthrough occurring in front of witnesses, it would raise too many questions. Loneliness is a luxury at the moment, but luckily, I know a heavy sleeper.’

Lith had noticed that his natural recovery had made most of his impurities nearly reach his core. Even if he did nothing, it was just a matter of time before a breakthrough happened. He decided to avoid relying on luck and take the matter in his own hands.

That evening, after a particularly large meal, Lith made his move.

"Mom, Lady Ernas, I’m really thankful for everything you have done for me so far. I think now I have recovered enough. It should be safe leaving me alone for a good night’s sleep."

"I don’t think that’s true, young man. You could still have a relapse. It’s better if someone keeps you company, so if anything bad happens, help will come immediately." Lady Ernas shook her head.

She was spending a lot of time with Elina these days. Which meant she also spent a lot of time with Lith and his sisters

He could clearly see what Jirni’s goal was and he didn’t like it one bit. Yet she was the reason why he had been able to improve so quickly while his family managed to remain so calm despite his situation.

Lith knew he was indebted to her and that she was going to use it as leverage to ask him for something in return at the right moment. It was exactly what he would have done in her shoes.

"Then what if only Phloria stays with me tonight? We have much to talk about, yet we never managed to get a little alone time." The cough was long gone, his voice back to normal too.

Yet Lith pretended to cough a couple of times, using that horrible raspy, hissing voice that had tormented him after he woke up to appear as harmless as possible.

Phloria and Elina turned beet reed, while Tista and Rena giggled like crazy. They whispered things among themselves that Lith had hoped his sisters would never think about him. _{freeωebnovēl.c૦m}