It's just an energy

Chapter 15: It's just an energy

Bryce ended up in a situation where he couldn't use his strength. How could he raise his voice or push her to ask for more details or a better explanation to her question when Sharla seemed so unlike herself, her usual mood was nowhere to be seen. She just sat down next to him and revealed emotions bottled within her, slowly over time.

But at this pace, learning about her thoughts would take a day or two.

Fortunately, Sharla sat down close to Bryce, their shoulders were in constant contact, so Bryce stretched his hand, patted her shoulder, then kept his touch on her.

Feeling his warmth and support, Sharla peeked at Bryce, finding him looking at her deeply, and faintly smiled. It was clear now that Bryce had never been in such a situation, maybe even that close with a girl his age, it was quite unexpected as even without his heroic aura, Bryce was a handsome man.

"It's a past, you know? But when I saw you moving toward Arnold, your hero aura seemed wicked, and it made me recall my turning point," Sharla explained the cause of her melancholy mood, bringing Bryce to her childhood.

When she was a kid, Sharla lived in an orphanage, Bryce knew that much so he nodded, but he didn't know that Sharla went from one orphanage to another. She hailed from a big city where people lived in a much better environment, so her home was better.

But then, one noble family bought the orphanage, selected a few kids, and took them to their family while the rest were sent to the orphanage in the village. Sharla wasn't selected, so she went to much dangerous village, her life turning upside down as her new home lacked necessities such as beds and water.

Sharla did her best to live, though.

Luck was on her side as she became friends with a girl whose father was a merchant. Through this friendship, Sharla could eat healthy food every day at her friend's house; sometimes, she even slept there, but sleeping in the orphanage wasn't a problem either, as she received a blanket from them.

Sharla and her friend started thinking of ways to improve her life, then. But her friend was so kindhearted that she also wanted other kids in the orphanage to live better. At first, Sharla was stunned by that, but just for a second as she soon nodded with a beautiful smile and cherished her friend's dream.

But that turned out to be a nightmare, instead.

When the activities of two friends reached the ears of the priest, he entered the orphanage with fluffy pillows and blankets, gave them to kids, then told them that it was all because they believed in the Lord.

He naturally didn't give anything to Sharla.

The next day, the house of Sharla's friend went on fire, and her family nearly lost everything in that conflagration.

The priest came closer to the shocked Sharla and her friend and then whispered to them.

"It was because you wasted time over trivial things instead of praying to the Lord. We are lowly humans, born to believe in our Lord; as long as we pray, everything will be fine."

Sharla didn't believe him, for she had been praying every day, yet she lost her warm house and came to the village, and when she started changing things for the better for herself and others together with her friend, they both kept believing in their Lord and praying just before closing their eyes to sleep, everything still went in the wrong way.

She just couldn't accept it was their fault!

Unfortunately, her friend didn't share her thoughts. Urged by her mother, Sharla's friend left her alone for the remainder of her stay in the village; the lady hadn't exchanged any words with Sharla, then her parents took her away to another village.

Bryce then learned about her hardships, as no one wanted to associate themselves with Sharla. And when the good opportunity came, Sharla grasped it while hiding her feelings and slowly paved a path for herself.

"I still can use holy energy, so maybe the Lord believes in me."

Bryce hadn't said anything.

"If a holiness can really turn evil, then maybe that priest was muddled by that kind of energy; maybe he was so lost in that holiness that he believed praying is the only way to survive and would do anything to keep people praying every day." Sharla didn't know what she was saying, she found it hard to believe even her own words, and she kept muttering, finding excuses for the priest's actions.

And while she kept saying those words, Bryce looked at his right hand — his left was still on Sharla's shoulder — and, for the first time in his life, he found his hand repulsive. His heart trembled as though he really received another 'odd' feeling within himself.

But it was as though he had innocent blood on his hand, as though this hand had committed a crime he should be killed for, as though it wasn't his!

Bryce clenched his right hand. "It's just energy."

"Yes?" Sharla, disturbed by his words, lifted her eyes and looked at him.

"Holiness is just an energy, like demonic mana; they are both the same. It depends on a person whether he uses it for evil or good. Holiness is indeed warm, and it pushes people to do heroic deeds, protect people and fight for their cause, but it is far from omnipotent. The Freedom Metropolis is proof of it.

"So many heroes had escaped, heck, even those villains did, and they started their lives free from those shackles. So in the end, people turn energy into evil and holy." Bryce wanted to add that he had vampire skills, which were probably far from holy, but he had an inkling that he would be able to heal someone through some blood pact or maybe even bloody kissing.

That wouldn't do the job, though, so he just said, "That priest was a piece of shit. And in my eyes, you are better off as a girl who grasps opportunities." He raised his hand and ruffled Sharla's hair like a big brother. "I like you better this way. If anything, I would rather have you more ambitious, so we meet in the future."

Sharla's face lit up, and she became smaller after hiding her face in her knees.

Bryce stared at her with a chuckle, hoping she would strive to become better as he wanted reliable teammates in the future. Seeing good fortune in her, he didn't feel bad for pushing her into dangerous life, for he believed in her.

"Let's go back home and eat. I'm kinda hungry." Bryce said.

But as an answer, he got a growl from his friend, who sat still by Sharla's side. Gengo told Bryce to make dinner with his eyes alone, and knowing his intent, Bryce turned around and returned home first.

After he was gone, Sharla extended her hands for Gengo, hugged him, and whispered, "Good boy."

Gengo barked.