Chapter 80: Changing Wind

Later that night, Eryl was still driving the car. In the back, the girls had fallen asleep and Dora was looking at the moonlight. He closed his eyes and focused his energy.

"Are you here?"

He waited a few seconds, without getting a response.

"Are you mad at the Queen? There was no way out for us anyway, she had us all along."

"Sigh... What do you want?"

"I was just thinking..."

"Well, keep thinking then, I have something else to do."

He opened his eyes in surprise, not expecting such frustration from her.

"Did you hear what she said? You can leave the academy now, aren't you happy?"

"Great, thanks, do you want a medal? If that's all, leave me alone!"

She locked herself away again. Dora sighed and looked at an empty spot in front of him.

"That's not all, Midgard, can you come out?"

Midgard was silent for a moment then sighed heavily.

A shadow formed on the seat and took the form of the young woman.

"Alright, what do you want?"

She crossed her arms angrily, looking Dora straight in the eyes.

"... Nothing actually."

"... What?"

He laughed lightly and tidied up Zuri's hair.

"I just... I just felt like there was a void."

"What are you saying, can you make some sense?!"

"I mean, we had fun this afternoon, I'm glad to have such good friends, but I missed you."

Midgard was about to utter a curse when she shook her head and opened her eyes wide.

"... What?"

"Midgard, the Queen said you don't have to hide anymore, right? So I'd like you to stay out from now on... Well, more often I mean. Everything started with you, my power, our power, is you and me, so I would appreciate it if you could get more recognition."

Midgard looked at him in disbelief, blinking several times, not understanding the young man.

"Wait a minute... You've been acting strange since that fight, what does that mean? Why do you want me to be recognized? Didn't I tell you that I... Well, no matter what the Queen says: I am a danger to your world, to humanity! I will not stay out."

"I know, I won't force you, just know that I would appreciate it, okay? I don't care what the world thinks, you are my friend and I want to be close to my friends."

"... I'm your Player, PLAYER! Keep that in mind! There is no friendship between a Player and an Avatar, haven't you heard the Queen?!"

"I don't care, I told you, to me, you're my friend, and I trust you, so I don't care how you see yourself or what other people think. You, Zuri, Freya, Mercy, Marie, Lilith, Liliana, Morgiana, Wendy and Mom. You are what I would like to focus my greed on, I would like to see you all together in one picture..."

He looked melancholy at the moonlight, unable to notice the movement of the eyelids of the three sleeping girls.

Midgard placed a hand on her head, troubled.

"Is it Beta again? I shouldn't have let you awaken your powers after all..."

"Hmm? What do you mean Beta? What is it?"

"Uh? Are you kidding again? Please give me a break... But fine, I'll stay out more often, happy now?"

"Yeah, really, I really missed seeing you... It's so nostalgic."

"You're weird... And all your friends are girls? How funny."

She crossed her arms, smiling.

"No, I have a lot of bo... Guy friends, we're more like brothers and sons actually, but that's how close we are... By the way, your hair reminds me..."

Dora's eyes turned to Midgard who began to stare at him like crazy.

"... What are you saying?"

He looked at her, seeming even more surprised than her.

"... I don't know..."

He looked at his hands and then at the moon, more and more strange.

"Who were these people? Why do I remember this?

*

*

(Hope P.O.V.)

A few days had passed since the fight between Thomas and Dora.

At the academy, all the students talked about it every day.

In every room, in every hallway, someone was talking about Dora and his fantastic powers. historical

It is now said that he is no longer an E-rank, but that he would have worked hard to reach this level, at least that is what the teachers say.

Mercy and Freya accompanied him when the Queen summoned him, I thought he would be punished for what he did to Thomas, but a statement from the faculty brought me back to my reality.

*

*

"From now on, student Anesidora Carper will join our establishment but as a Royal personality! This is an announcement from Her Majesty herself, so please learn how to behave around him."

*

*

It made a lot of noise, the most problematic student in the history of the establishment became untouchable. I now understand what Thomas meant, this kingdom is rotten to the core.

I entered the combat arena, where Barron was finishing his training, a little further away, Thomas observed. He doesn't participate in anything after his loss, and surprisingly Iris was no longer there with him... But I know how to cheer him up!

"Hey, Cid!"

"Uh?" He turned back to me and frowned when he saw me.

"You don't rest anymore, it's good, with a rival like you I have to continue working every day so as not to let you surpass me."

Isn't having a good rival a great thing? The pressure of always doing your best, the thrill of the next fight.

But Barron looked at me weirdly.

"Surpass? Who? Do you think you're above me to ask me to surpass you?"

"Haha, it's the spirit! What if I tell you that I am? Do you want to find out?"

I took off my sword, I've been training a lot since my raids with Shining Sword.

I was rated D-rank a few days ago, so I'm very confident in my powers.

I can't wait to show it to Mercy, Freya and the Princess!

Barron shrugged and walked away.

"The worst part is that now everyone associates me with you."

"... Uh? Where are you going? Don't run away!"

I started to rush after him, but then he turned around and fired a bolt at me.

"Argh!!" I fell to the ground, slightly injured. "Hey! What was that for? If you want to fight, don't do such a sneak attack!"

"Who needs a sneak attack to beat you?!"

I stood up, so we faced each other. Thomas had to come to the battlefield and separate us.

I don't really understand why he intervened, Barron and I were like that, although lately, Barron has been very nervous.

"Guys, no need to fight, please, your nobles will visit the academy again this week, don't show them such a display."

Barron spat on the ground and turned his back on him.

"I don't receive advice from a loser."

"Hey! Don't talk to him like that!"

I tried to run towards Barron, but Thomas held me back.

"It's okay, Hope, let him go."

"But... You... We can't let him talk to you like that!"

"No, huh... He's not really wrong, I'm a loser who lost a fight he started, It will be a good lesson in humility for everyone."

He lowered his head as he said this. Thomas has never been the same since his defeat. The day after this fight, the Prince revoked his knighthood.

The reasons are unknown, but rumors are circulating that he is now unable to fight, and his statements about nobility have made the situation worse.

Looking down, I saw his left cheek a little redder and the corner of his glasses a little broken.

"Thomas... Is it true that you're being bullied?"

He looked a little surprised, then smiled and stroked my hair.

"Your eyes wander too much! For now, you need to focus on yourself and stop challenging others."

"Thomas, if you're being bullied, why are you keeping quiet?... I heard Lisa say it was you who brought this on yourself... How come the council doesn't intervene?"

"... Ah, Lisa and her sharp tongue... But yes, she is right, I am the idiot who insulted the nobles and lost my powers in a kingdom dominated by the nobles and the strong, I deserve my daily beating."

I was in shock to hear this. I don't remember the last time I felt my blood boil so much in my veins. Thomas noticed this and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Hope, I was the one who asked the others not to intervene."

"... What?"

"Look, I made a terrible mistake that day, a mistake that disgraced my entire family. Maybe you don't understand this clearly, because you're not a noble, but that's why I want you to keep fighting your way. In my case, I can never be freed from my cage, and now my life is just a little bad... But it could be even worse if I refuse this punishment. "

I couldn't help but tremble with anger. Thomas was my mentor, the one who introduced me to this world, the one I followed like his little brother... Seeing him so broken was unbearable.

"It's his fault... only his fault."

"Hope!"

He grabbed me by both shoulders, shaking me a little.

"That's what I really wanted to talk to you about, please don't try to get revenge on Anesidora!"

He grabbed me so hard that it started to hurt a little, surprisingly, for someone supposedly weaker.

"I know you are stubborn, but if you would respect me for once in your life, just a little bit, please!... This would be my last advice as a mentor... Nothing good comes from crossing his path."

I lowered my head in frustration, I was so angry at being so helpless.

"THEN GO AHEAD!!!"

A sharp cry startled us. We turned towards the entrance of the arena and were surprised to see Barron and Freya. When did she come back? And why was Barron so angry?