Chapter 160: Banter (P3)

A wistful, thoughtful look spreads across her face as she looks through the shelve of books that line the walls of my office.

I figured Serue was quite the bookworm given the sheer number of scrolls, books, notes. If there's anything with a word written on it Serue is likely to have it.

I'm not sure what topic the books all cover though, some of them, to Hastra's thankfulness, cover some topics on administration.

At this point I'm not surprised that the people of this world would be civilized enough to understand the importance of knowledge transference and value such things like administration and strive to find ways to be better at it.

They're the same people who are civilized enough to know that having warm baths at an abundance is a luxury many would be willing to pay for.

Frankly, I'm a bit overwhelmed walking into this part of this world. For so long it's all been about running from village to village, trying to become more powerful or at the very least rich enough to afford a calm life, a struggle free life.

But it's all changed since Carbina. Now my option still remains to have power or die. No amount of riches will save me now, even though I have a vault of gold and silver and all the beautiful materials.

Running away and living silently…I don't think I can do it anymore, not after all that has occurred. Thankfully, I don't intend to either.

"I think it should be pretty obvious." Kaylin breaths, there's a light, nostalgic smile on her face. And like before with her mother, I realize that she's a very beautiful woman…despite her old age.

"Obvious how? I'm pretty lost here."

She chuckles, a bright and cheery sound, "No, obvious to me, not you. I want to lead this city because it's the place I've known as safe and as home and as where my people lie for over thirty years now."

"I don't think I can just give up the chance to address the real, active problems I have experienced, seen and heard of in this city for so long. I can't give up the chance to be a change, even on a scale as 'small' as this."

"Small? You don't think Aste is big enough for you?"

She scoffs, "I do, YOU think Aste is small, your goals are ever changing, evolving into bigger and larger things. I just want to take care of this."

It's my turn to scoff, "My goals haven't changed in the slightest since I told you about them back at Carbina. It remains the same, I'm building a Kingdom, one where everyone can have the chance to be who they want to be, to try what they want and not suffer for it."

"Really? You're not going head-to-head with some Goddess or some demon, you really aren't?" The derision in her voice and the truth of her sarcastic words hurts more than it should.

"What did Anselm say?" I groan, dropping all the work I've been looking through. The piglet farmers can wait.

The smug on her face is even more annoying, "See? You are headed for something, something far larger than any of this. But I don't think I can follow you on that path, Asher…" she trails off, losing her gained sense of righteousness pretty fast as she speaks what I'm hoping isn't her true feelings.

"Is this really just because you don't feel useful to me? In battle? Because that's not true, it isn't true at all."

"You've said so." She sighs.

"Yes, and I meant it. We're fortunate that for the time being the enemies we encounter can be swiftly defeated without your help, but I know for a fact that it won't be much longer until I desperately need you Kaylin."

She doesn't say anything at this so I continue, "Look where we're headed; I've essentially declared war on the entire Kingdom of Ire. I don't have an army; I don't have a dozen A-rank or B-rank Mages. All I have is myself, Anselm and you."

"And we're going to have to make due with what we have, each other, so Kaylin, I realize it's very selfish of me, I also realize that's mainly been my interaction with you, but I need you far too much to let you live out your dream of changing Aste."

I study her face intently, watching out for the horrified, disgusted, pained and hateful look she's bound to have after hearing this. 

But it isn't there. Instead, her lips have taken a deep downturn and her eyes no longer have the fiery, determined look I saw in them when we started this conversation.

"I'm sorry." I whisper, my hand reaching out to hers. 

She pulls away, dropping off the desk she nods. "It's fine, I knew this much might be the result."

We both stew in the depth of the awkward silence for a bit before I realize what I should ask next.

"What are you going to do?" Will she leave? I know Maylin will have her at any time.

She wears a strained smile and shakes her head, "No, uh…no I won't leave you Asher, I may not get to lead the city I grew up in but…I think you're right."

She pauses, catching her own words, "No, I know you're right. I can make much more of a difference across the Kingdom if I just stick with you."

"You don't have to…stick with me I mean." I mutter awkwardly, "I want you to, obviously and I know I'm being selfish by not letting you have what you want. But you don't have to stay beside me either."

Her lips open and close a few times and she blinks several times as well, "Uh…Uhm, I mean…"

I don't say a thing, choosing instead to stay silent and wait for whatever lightning strike her words will deliver.

She shakes her head, "If not me then who?"

"What?"

"Who do you have in mind to lead? One of the Five? Gerin doesn't have any hands and Daria is crazy, I think Yelenia might be the only right choice."

"Oh. Well, I'm going with Aren."

And in comes the fury.