Chapter 984: Chapter 753: I’ve Seen It All_2
This is cruel, bloody, and unreasonable, as can be imagined.
"They never talked about their origins, just like you."
"They are afraid that once their background is known by their comrades, their comrades will mind their bloody past and look at them with the same eyes, also like you."
"And now that you know about them, will you treat them as outcasts?"
Upon hearing this, Ais almost reflexively responded.
"Of course not."
After giving this answer, Ais understood what Reiger was really trying to tell her.
"See, you don’t mind anymore, so why would you think others would mind this kind of thing?" Reiger pointed out directly: "That day, outside the head’s office, you also overheard my conversation with Theona and the others, right?"
"At that time, we had already associated you with the legendary great spirit Ellie, that her blood runs in you."
"But does anyone care about this?"
"Everyone still considers you family, whether you are human or a spirit, this does not change."
As he spoke, Reiger almost reflexively reached out and patted Ais’s head.
"Everyone doesn’t ask you about ’Ellie’ not because they don’t want to, but because everyone knows you don’t want to talk about it."
"So, including myself, no one has asked you about this."
"This is to tell you that, actually, it doesn’t matter what your relationship with the legendary great spirit is, and what your origins are, we are indifferent."
At this point, Reiger probably understood the complex emotions in Ais’s heart.
"The reason why you’re feeling so confused, besides the matter of the Polluted Immortal Spirit, is because you feel that your origins can no longer be concealed, and everyone already knows about your mother’s existence, that the Polluted Immortal Spirit faction is somehow fixated on you, so you’ve been troubled about whether you should explain this clearly to everyone, right?"
Since things have developed to this point, Ais likely feels that keeping everyone in the dark may not be very good.
Although she has realized that there may not be a significant connection between the Polluted Immortal Spirit and her mother, Ais is very aware that the Polluted Immortal Spirit has set its sights on her.
And being targeted by the Polluted Immortal Spirit, it’s very likely to implicate the family companions, this is what Ais is concerned about.
In such a situation, if she continues to hide her origins, letting her companions be unaware and opportunistically targeted by the Polluted Immortal Spirit, that might not be good, right?
This was what Ais thought about.
Coupled with Theona and Theone’s disappearance, and the matter of the [Immortal Spirit Six Circles], all sorts of complex emotions affected Ais, making her heart chaotic and at a loss, only here practicing swordsmanship, trying to restore her mood.
Understanding all this, Reiger naturally had a way to console her.
"Don’t worry."
"Theona and Theone were most likely captured by the Jari family, as long as we bring back the goddess Jari, we can exchange for Theona and Theone with the Jari family."
"I’ve also already cast magic to disrupt the [Immortal Spirit Six Circles], in as little as a month, or as much as several months, Orale will be safe and sound."
Reiger unraveled the factors that disturbed Ais’s heart, telling her.
"Don’t think too much, just do what you should do."
Hearing this, Ais lifted her head, looking at Reiger, with his hand on her head.
"What I should do?"
Ais murmured.
"Yes."
Reiger said calmly.
"As someone who inherits the blood of spirits, you should act on the allegiance of your lineage, sending the fallen kindred back to the embrace of the gods."
"As a member of the Loki family, you should fight alongside your comrades."
"And as an adventurer of Orale, you should protect the city, and disrupt the enemy’s plots."
"This, is what you should do."
These words, though extremely plain, were powerful as they reached Ais’s heart.
"..."
Ais was silent.
But the confusion and gloom were gone from the girl’s transparent golden eyes.
Seeing this, Reiger knew the girl had come to her resolution.
From this moment, Ais finally set aside numerous concerns, whether about the Polluted Immortal Spirit or the family affairs, all the same.
"...Thank you, Reiger." Ais thanked Reiger, saying, "I know what to do now."
Reiger immediately smiled.
"That’s good."
As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere between the two returned to silence.
Reiger then belatedly removed his hand from Ais’s head.
But watching this scene, Ais, without knowing when, suddenly reached out and held Reiger’s hand, the one he had just taken off her head.
Their hands clasped together, one soft yet firm, the other smooth and tender, prompting both to glance at their joined hands, then look back into each other’s eyes, falling into a subtle and indescribable atmosphere.
Pure black eyes with a hint of translucence looked into golden eyes.
Golden eyes with a hint of translucence also looked into black eyes.
In both pairs of eyes, there was a transparency difficult for others to perceive and remarkably similar features.
A bit indifferent, filled with resolution.
In this moment, both Reiger and Ais couldn’t help but recall the scene of their first meeting.
Back then, similarly at the Familia’s stronghold, Reiger was amidst the crowd, while Ais was returning with the expedition team.
At that time, the two also, just like now, suddenly locked eyes and discovered how similar their eyes were.
From that moment, the bond between these two strikingly similar swordsmen began.
Thinking of this, Reiger and Ais’s gazes softened in unison.
Then, their hands, initially just holding each other, intertwined their fingers.
Why things developed this way, no one knew.
Who initiated it first was also impossible to determine.
If outsiders had been there to witness this, they would surely have been surprised.
After all, neither Reiger nor Ais were the types to engage in such suggestive, ambiguous actions.
No, Ais might be.
This girl has always been naturally naive, perhaps unknowingly performing some astonishing actions, with no awareness of their suggestiveness.
Reiger, on the other hand, rarely engaged in such actions voluntarily.
Thus, this was indeed a very rare sight to behold.
One thing, however, was certain.
Both felt it natural and comfortable, not awkward or unsure at all.
Some things happen naturally, without deliberate effort.
The relationship between Reiger and Ais was clearly one of those.
Thanks to this, neither released their hand, nor did they feel it inappropriate.
"By the way," Reiger suddenly recalled something and asked Ais, "How is Rephia?"
"Exhausted, still sleeping," Ais answered without much hesitation, "She hasn’t woken since returning. Revilia said she might need to sleep a bit longer to recover."
"I see." Reiger frowned, hesitated for a while, then asked, "Can I go see her?"
Reiger was quite concerned about Rephia’s condition.
Among the Loki Familia, Rephia was the one closest to Reiger, aside from Ais.
Now, with Rephia still not awake, Reiger indeed wanted to see her.
However, since Rephia was resting in the girls’ dormitory, going to see her meant entering the girls’ dorm.
This naturally made Reiger a bit hesitant.
Ais, however, was quite straightforward.
"I’ll take you there."
After speaking, Ais led Reiger by the hand towards the girls’ dormitory.
That day, from the spire of the female members, came numerous screams.
Later, the members learned someone had been wandering through the halls dressed rather improperly, ending up seen by the young man brought back by the natural swordswoman.
This made many of the male members envious.
In response, Reiger couldn’t help but think to himself.
"I’ve already seen things far more extraordinary, so what’s this?"
Hmm... Reiger was referring to his experience using [Divine Eye] before.