59 Edmond's Path

"Didn't the A.A also tell you that it is a place that might change you in ways that you cannot comprehend? You might exit it as someone completely different, and it has the specific ability of…twisting any goal that one sets for themselves before entering it."

The official spoke up as Edmond said his piece, exposing the fact that he had been listening in on a conversation that was supposed to be private.

Aaron had been pretty surprised by Edmond's words, so, for a moment, he hadn't known what he was supposed to say.

Hence, the official speaking up was actually a good thing, as it allowed him some time to sort out his thoughts while Edmond pondered on what the official had said.

First of all, during everything that had happened recently, itself, Aaron had already figured out what he felt about Edmond. The guy had a quality of attracting trouble, and even though Aaron didn't regret his earlier choice, it was true that he would definitely have been better off without going through this entire thing.

True, it had exposed him to the heights that a Tera Master could reach, but he would have been just fine with going along and growing stronger while following his foremost purpose of finding more information about his parents by Walking the Stars and reaching the top, where it was supposed to be there.

His decision had solely been because of his hobby that he was actually quite attached to, and now that he thought about it, he realized that it might even be a weakness.

Yet, Aaron decided to not pass judgment on it, as he was also not sure whether going it completely alone was the best choice.

On this matter, he decided to make a decision later, but now, he focused on Edmond.

It all came down to one thing: Edmond had made his decision known, so it was up to him whether he wanted to forcefully enforce their agreement and make Edmond follow him.

The moment this occurred to Aaron…the answer became clear.

He was not that kind of person, and he would never do something like that.

Edmond's reasons didn't matter. Nothing mattered, in fact, except this, so clarity appeared on Aaron's face.

Turning to Edmond, he said, "Do as you wish."

He didn't see the need to say anything more. They had met by coincidence, and they had become companions due to that decision by Aaron to not kill Edmond. Now, they were parting because their destinations differed, and Aaron didn't know whether he would meet the man again.

Their bond wasn't so deep as to require a tearful farewell, and Aaron actually didn't feel anything out of the ordinary. All he did was remark to himself that he might need someone else to fill in for Edmond's duty.

It might have been different if they had spent more time together, but Aaron wasn't someone to think about things that could have been, and there was also no reason for his thoughts to go in that direction. He simply nodded to Edmond, as if the matter was settled, following which the official raised both of his eyebrows and said, "Well…that's that, then. If there's nothing else, follow me, kid. The old man wants you to be there when he talks to his granddaughter, for some reason."

Hearing this, Aaron nodded and began to follow the bulky man as he led the way back to the door through which they had entered.

As they left, Edmond could only stand there and watch their backs, and he was actually flabbergasted as he didn't even know what he had expected.

As someone who had grown up in the jungle, he had expected Aaron to be cold, but he had also wondered whether they had become…friends, over their journey here.

Yet, as he thought about it, he realized that he had probably only managed to bring more bad things than good, and besides, it wasn't like the two of them had been peas in a pod to begin with.

Only…Edmond wasn't willing to allow things to end like this. The man he had become now could not forget the debt that had been established when Aaron had made the decision to spare his life, and him breaking their agreement was actually quite dishonest.

Yet…this objective of his had become like a fire that was eating him up on the inside, and he hadn't been able to ignore it.

However, at that spot, Edmond made a vow.

He would go through everything that awaited him in that place, and he would grow powerful enough to bring meaningful change in this system of choosing heirs that shouldn't exist.

Also…he would repay the debt, no matter how long it took.

"Aaron…we will meet again. And I hope you don't slack off, because if-no, WHEN we do, I won't be the same weakling I am right now."

Muttering this under his breath, he strode to the other exit of the stadium with confidence filling his chest, and hope filling his eyes.