13 Unstable Mind

'Sometimes you have to lose something to gain something better', these are the words my master said when training me.

But what if you don't get something better? Why must we lose something to gain something? For what sacrifice do we need to gain something? Is there anything better that could be gained from trading our life?

Those are the question I asked my master who answered with a gentle smile.

"One day... When you find your answer, you will look back on the path you've been through, and there you will truly understand my choice of life"

"Why don't you just answer me?" (Ray)

With his gaze locked on the skies, he spoke

"Remember this Rayford... One day you will face much bigger adversaries than me, they will come more painfully and challenging than anything you or I could imagine. I am nothing but your stepping stone, the day I die will be the day I complete my life purpose"

"..." (Ray)

I didn't understand him. The choice that they made was not something I could understand.

Why must he die?

Why did you sacrifice your life?

Is your death the answer?

Even with your effort, this dimension was still destroyed. Is this the outcome you want?

How can you be happy in the face of death?

What did you want to achieve at the cost of your life?

Why did you leave us?

Why? Why? Why?

Writhing in despair, I remembered the thing that took my master life

If they don't exist... Will master still be alive?

"If I kill them all... Will the outcome be different?" (Rayford)

.

.

.

"...ayy"

"Ray! Wake up!" (Laila)

At the voice, I open my eyes. The eyes were filled with emptiness and were dull and unfocused. Slowly the pain I felt disappeared. Anger, sadness, and happiness all faded and dulled.

My emotion slowly dulled. Only the feeling of emptiness left persists.

Amid my instability, A gentle energy wrapped around me.

"I'm here with you where ever you go, so please... don't shoulder everything alone" (Laila)

With that words, I felt her warm body embracing me. Slowly my dulled emotion regained its color. My mind regained its stability. With a weak voice, I quietly muttered.

"Thanks..." (Ray)

With a warm smile, she gently caressed my head.

"Welcome back Ray" (Laila)

"Yeah..." (Ray)

Breaking the warm atmosphere, the door burst opened

"Prince!" (Anna)

Seeing us hugging each other in a... questionable position, Anna covered her face and sighed. Behind her, Mina also made a confused expression followed by the bodyguards behind them.

"Uhh...?" (Mina)

***

"So... the pressure from before was the prince doing because of his past life trauma?" (Anna)

"Yes" (Laila)

Turning her head towards me, I only nodded at Anna's questioning gaze. Beside her min with her arms on her hips, she angrily glared at us.

"Do you know how worried I was when you ran like that?" (Mina)

"I'm sorry..." (Laila)

Sighing at her words, Mina spoke

"I guess it was an urgent situation, there is no helping it. This may seem cold, but next time don't rush in like that, this empire can't afford to lose you both" (Anna)

"But..." (Laila)

"No buts, next time don't rush in like that. Do you understand?" (Anna)

"..." (Laila)

"The Prince too, you need to be careful when this type of situation happened" (Anna)

"..." (Ray)

Keeping silent, Anna knew that the two wouldn't listen to her. Seeing this, Anna inwardly sighed and vowed to become strong enough to follow them.

Remembering that pressure, she felt a chill down her spine. Knowing that the young lady she serves can move in a situation where she can't even move a muscle, she felt very pathetic.

"Anyway try to be more careful when I or Mina aren't around. I know that you two are very capable, but don't let that get in your head, do you understand" (Anna)

"Okay..." (Laila)

"I'll keep that in mind" (Ray)

As the bodyguards start to disperse, four people were left in the room.

Breaking the silence, Laila raise her hand and spoke

"Instead of being stuck in the mansion all day how about we go sightseeing in the city, this will also serve as a change of pace for Ray" (Laila)

"You can't" (Mina)

"Absolutely not" (Anna)

At Anna and Mina's firm refusal, Laila made a pleading face using her face to her advantage.

"Please..." (Laila)

With her round and clear blue eyes, she did a very cute pleading pose. Looking at her action I covered my forehead.

Turning my gaze toward the two attendants, I saw Mina suffering overload from Laila's action.

"Ugh..." (Mina)

As someone very weak to cute things, Mina was completely bewitched by Laila's appearance. On the other side, Anna slightly faltered but held on to her refusal.

Seeing that her action wasn't enough to move Anna, she opened her mouth

"Can you explain why we can't go outside?" (Laila)

"Did you realize how famous you are? The youngest human to reach <A+> combat ability, the prince of Aquinox Empire, and the eldest daughter of Celestina duchy. Do you understand?" (Anna)

"The point is, we just need to not be recognized right?" (Laila)

"...Yes" (Anna)

hearing her answer, Laila smiled beautifully

At that time, Anna instantly realize, she felled into her trap.

Seeing her face, I could tell what she was thinking without using one of the [Synchronize] skill functions.

Seconds after that, Laila used one of the skills available in our system.

[Realization <Partial>]

Because of the way she used it, Laila succeeded in only changing her appearance without enhancing her strength which at the same time reduced the amount of mental energy used.

At that moment, her body emitted a bright gentle glow. As the light subsided, Laila's figure slowly unraveled.

Seeing the figure of Laila, the two attendants gasp in awe. In front of them, an incomparably beautiful woman is standing elegantly.

She had her signature pure silver hair and clear sky-blue eyes. Her cherry-colored lips and milky skin were highly attractive even to the same gender.

As she smiles gently, she gave off a noble presence like a goddess that descended to earth. The appearance of Laila now is the same as her in-game appearance from AO. As the two openly admire her appearance, I only smiled at her familiar appearance.

"How is it?" (Laila)

Bewildered by her sudden question, Anna answered with a slightly faltered voice.

"C-Can the Prince also do that?" (Anna)

Without answering them, I did the same thing Laila did.

With a subtle glow, I revert to my in-game appearance. As Anna and Mina's gaze turned towards me, Laila smiled proudly as if showing off my appearance.

To describe Rayford's appearance. He is inhumanely handsome. He had black hair resembling the night skies and sharp purple eyes. His body had a perfect build seemingly optimize for battle.

His presence gave off a calm air that seems to be unfazed by everything.

"So can we go out now?" (Laila)

Failing to make a counterargument, Anna sighed and nodded her head.

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A/N: Hi the author is here, I'm just saying that I'll be uploading every Thursday and Sunday in the future. This might change at some point depending on my mood and time so the reason I'm writing this is to give you guys a feel of when I'll be uploading.

Thanks for reading my story, please give some comments to give me some motivation when writing.