Chapter 209: Kind Words

Howard had one day left before he went to go fight Armecolith.

It felt like over a year had passed though it had only been less than a hundred days. However, he couldn't help but worry about leaving Harkel alone. Reslan and Annibell still hadn't yet gotten back to their hundred percent, and Reslan was only spending a few hours outside the tent walking around. 

This was not all how he imagined the hundred days going! Even in his dreams, he was still having trouble lasting more than three attacks against Yesran's domain! He was feeling weaker and weaker as time went on and he was supposed to be getting stronger! Why did everything have to be so hard?!

He walked in to meet Annibell and Reslan inside of their tent in order to try and figure out what he needed to do next. He wanted them to teach him one more lesson before he left ! He didn't want to be the strongest right now! He wanted to be a student again without the entire weight of their nation on his shoulders!

"Howard, come sit down. You've grown so much. You're almost 1.9 meters tall now." Reslan smiled and stood up from the bed. It seemed like even setting his foot down caused him a tremendous amount of pain. "If you grow any taller, I might not be able to teach you anymore. Ow!" Reslan nearly fell onto the floor before Annibell caught him and gently put him back on the bed. "Sorry, I-I'm supposed to be the strongest of the Four Guardians, but right now, I'm still relying on this beautiful woman next to me."

"I-I can see that," Howard smiled, "However, I- I'm not here for you to train me right now. I'm here for you to teach me about how to be a leader."

"When I first met you, Reslan, you were so high up in the sky, whether it was in terms of your power or height. However, now, now that I'm almost as strong as you, I feel further behind you then ever. It's like before I knew who I was. A boy with horns that said a lot of strange things to girls, haha! However, now-now I'm supposed to be this man that defends Horned Nation and makes good tactical decisions and protects everyone? I've know I've gotten better at strategizing, but I don't see how I can be that person you all need me to be! I thought I'd at least be two times older before so much weight got put on my shoulders! How-how the hell do you deal with it? How the hell are you two able to look so calm right now?"

"Hmmm, I guess I can stand to tell you this," Reslan gently nudged Annibell aside and forced himself to an upright position. Though he had been walking fine the last few days, for some reason, in the morning it felt like his entire body shut down again and he had to begin the process of healing all over.

This, unfortunately, was because his Ki Hearts had not yet fully grown back and inside of him, a battle was being fought that Howard couldn't see. His Ki Hearts were only half restored, and because of that every movement was extraordinarily painful. Yet, right now, he knew that Howard needed him to be a teacher. He needed what every student needed more than any type of Ki Skill. He needed to learn how to be a man, and the least he could do is help him out now!

"Howard," Reslan endured the pain and walked with him outside.

Outside of the green tent, he pointed Howard over to a set of boulders and then proceeded to sit down on one of them. Smiling, he gently patted the back of Howard's head. "You are dealing with what I like to call true fear. There are many different types of fear, small fear, and big fear… I know this is strange, but I thought about this a lot!"

'True fear is fear that affects other people. You're afraid that if you don't become who you're supposed to be, who we want you to be, that we're all going to die, but the secret is, that fear is a good thing!"

"If you didn't feel that fear, I'd be very afraid. However, Howard, you should be proud! That's a sign you're not a lunatic hahaha!"

Howard slightly smiled and crossed his arms while looking up at Reslan. Was what he felt actually a good thing? He noticed Reslan's visage, towering above him, his brown hair flowing down, and tried to understand his point. He couldn't see the way he felt as a good thing, not yet! If he was confident, wouldn't he have killed Oclen instead of letting him live?

When Howard had first learned his Emperor's Domain, he was certain that his power had almost tripled. Yet, when it came to using that power, it felt like his abilities to act decisively decreased. Something about learning the Emperor's Domain made him feel wiser, and because of that feeling, when he attacked Oclen through his domain, he chose not to behead him.

He was hoping, deep down inside, that the person that took over Oclen could be killed. However, because of his hopes to save Oclen, his girls would be in so much danger when he left! Harkel's strength had barely recovered to the entry level of the SS rank, and Oclen had started using a strange domain against him. Even with the new array he'd created to keep Oclen at bay, he kept sneaking in as well and attacking them at various odd hours!

Was that decision he made out of fear a good thing? Really? Wouldn't it have been better to just act insane, and cut off Oclen's head! Then even if who captured his escaped, they'd still be able to rest peacefully right now! He just didn't understand what was going on in his head!

"Howard, you look like a lost sailor trying to find out how he just got promoted to a captain, hahaha!. But, You know, though, I'm sure you will find your way. All you're missing is being fine with wherever you steer your ship."

"As you grow older, you'll learn you can do two things, accept where your ship is heading, or look back and wonder if you took the right route. The longer you look back, for instance, and doubt why you didn't kill Oclen, the less time you'll have to go where you're supposed to be."

"We only have so much time, Howard. Now, for your final day, how about I watch you train for old times sake? I may not be able to use a domain, but I know more about Ki than you can ever hope to learn in a thousand years!"

"Hehe, I'd like that. I'd like to feel young," Howard said with a smile, "However, teacher, tomorrow, what do you think? Do you think I can defeat Armecolith? Or like Jenny requested, At least get a single one of his bones?"

"I think you'll be so terrifying for Armecolith to behold that he'll bow on his feet in fear, hahaha! Now, damn it! I can't suppress your Ki like I used to to make you stronger, but I sure as hell can shout! Go over there and start training in front of me one last time, Howard, or-or I'll punch you lightly or something like that! Now stop thinking so much and train!"

"Hehehe, thank you, Reslan," Howard smiled and gently rubbed his head against his large palm. I'm glad I'm here with you. Promise me, no matter what happens, you won't die?"

"Not in a million years will I risk my life or that beautiful woman in that tent again!" Reslan laughed and pushed Howard forward. "Now, damn it! You have 24 hours left before your fight with Armecolith! I want to see you work so hard that even I feel tired! Now get up and make an old teacher smile!"