Chapter 114: What I mean By Weakness

"Phew…That worked out better than I expected," Aron exhaled, relieved. He was on edge observing the whole operation.

Watching his 'Treasures' getting injured wasn't pleasing to him; Aron struggled to restrain himself from rushing to their aid. Yet, despite his desire to intervene, he refrained.

He understood that assisting them would only cripple their progress and make the girls more reliant on him. Something he liked but at the same time hated.

There must be a balance between support and independence. While he cared deeply for his "Treasures" and wished to protect them from harm, Aron also recognized the importance of allowing them to face challenges and grow stronger on their own. It was a delicate equilibrium, where missteps could yield detrimental consequences for both sides.

"Oh! You look happy?" Thyra playfully remarked, noticing the grin on Aron's face.

"Yes…This means that I don't have to abandon any of them," Aron replied, his tone reflecting a mix of relief and determination.

Thyra narrowed her eyes skeptically. "Were you truly considering that?"

"Yes," Aron replied instantly, surprising Thyra, Victoria, and Mia.

The two maids assumed that Aron was saying that just to strengthen the girls' will and give them more reasons to try harder—a motivational tactic— But they never thought that he truly meant every single word he said.

Facing his mentor, Aron spoke firmly, "I have no need for weakness, Thyra."

Thyra clenched her fist and unconsciously released some of her mana. She didn't like the words coming from his month; they resurfaced old, forgotten memories and emotions.

"That's not a healthy way of thinking," she retorted, her tone laced with anger. "Not everyone is born strong, and if we judged things by your perspective, then you don't deserve to be my—"

"Stop! Stop!" Aron interrupted, raising a hand to quell Thyra's rising frustration. "Calm down. You misunderstood me, Thyra. That's not what I mean by weakness."

Thyra crossed her legs, leaning on her throne. "Explain," she demanded, not bothering to lessen the hostile aura around her. However, she was caring enough to contain it and not let it affect the others, especially Aurora.

Aron smiled inwardly at her display of care and explained, "What I meant was the will. The desire to grow strong. Tell me, mentor…" Rising from his seat and gently placing the sleepy Aurora on the throne.

"...How many people have you known or met who had everything to become the best of the best, yet their will was weak, and they didn't take advantage of the resources in their hands?"

Thyra remained silent, acknowledging the truth in Aron's words. Without a strong will, nothing else mattered. She knew people like this; some even approached, desiring her training, yet lacking that inner fire made them give up on the very first lesson.

"Look at them…" Aron approached the edge of the rooftop, gazing down at the Falcons building.

"Everyone possesses a burning desire for strength. An unsatisfied hunger, that fueled their will, making them able to reach this level. After all, it's impossible for an ordinary woman to turn into a decent warrior in just one month, but they did it."

Aron's words hung in the air, and Thyra couldn't help but reflect on his perspective. She understood the importance of willpower and determination in achieving greatness.

Closing her eyes, the hostile aura around her vanished. Thyra displayed a small smile, remembering an old man beating her with a stick while saying the same words about the will and the desire.

'It seems I forgot your lessons, old man.'

"You make a valid point, Aron," Thyra conceded, her tone softening as she acknowledged his insight. "Willpower is indeed a crucial factor in one's journey to greatness. Without it, even the most talented individuals may falter."

"Exactly that's why I have to make sure that—" Aron paused, sensing a disturbance to their left. Thyra also rose abruptly, focusing in the same direction as he was.

Puzzled by their sudden movement, Victoria and Mia followed their gaze but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

"HOO! We have an uninvited guest," Thyra declared, cracking her knuckles in anticipation. However, before she could act, Aron swiftly intervened.

FUSHHH!

Aron summoned a spear of dark crimson flames and hurled it towards the source of the disturbance. The fire spear surged forward until it reached a certain distance and then vanished into thin air. For a moment, there was silence, but then...

CRACK!

With a crack, the sky shattered revealing a red human skull. When the skull realized that her camouflage was destroyed and her presence was revealed, it attempted to retreat.

"I don't think so," Thyra said with determination, snapping her fingers. In an instant, a metal net materialized above her, which she expertly used to ensnare the red skull before it could escape.

"!!!" Caught off guard, the red skull struggled against the net, but Thyra's grip was firm. With a confident smirk, she tightened her hold, ensuring that the unwelcome visitor wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon.

"What's this?" Approaching, Aron asked.

"This is called Inferno Insight, a scouting spell, favorite by those who could harness the magic of hell," Thyra explained, materializing two small metal poles.

Aron nodded thoughtfully, rubbing his chin in contemplation. "So they were spying on us?"

Thyra shook her head. "Not precisely. In order for the caster to see, the skull must report back."

"Do you have any idea who they are?" Aron inquired, his gaze fixed on the captive skull.

"I do. Few possess the ability to wield hellish magic proficiently, but first," Placing a small metal pole on each of the skull's hollowed eyes. Thyra displayed a wicked grin.

"I must leave a little surprise for our guest, don't you think?"

She said, rubbing her fingers together to generate electricity. The crackling energy danced between her fingertips for a moment before contacting them with the metal poles. Instantly the electric energy spread through the skull, shattering it into countless fragments.

"That should suffice."

…

"AHHHH!"

Far away in the forest, a man wearing a red and gold hooded priest robe suddenly collapsed to his knees, writhing in agony. His companions rushed to his side, alarmed by his sudden distress.

"What's wrong?" their leader, clad in white and gold armor, inquired.

"One of my…Ughh!... scouts was destroyed," the man gasped, clutching his chest.

The Leader raised an eyebrow. "Destroyed? But that shouldn't affect you like this?"

"Normally. Yes...but whoever destroyed it possesses formidable mana control. They were able to send a shockwave through my connection to the scout."

"I see," The leader took a moment to think, he could name a few people who could achieve this, however, he didn't jump to any conclusions.

"Which scout was destroyed?"

"The one inside the town."

….

"Can you explain now?" Impatient, Aron didn't allow Thyra a breathing moment. He wants to know. No, he needs to know right now.

"Okay! Calm down," Thyra walked back, relaxing on her throne. "As far as I'm aware, only a specific group wields hellish magic with such proficiency," pausing, collecting her thoughts.

"Tartarus Custodians, a strange Paladin Chapter of the Holy Order of the Sun."

"Strange?"

"Yeah. They worship an aspect that hates anything that isn't pure, yet she allowed them to use hellish magic."

"Worship an Aspect?" Aron inquired.

"Yes. The Aspect of the Sun. Serenity Sol."

"!!!" The moment the name resonated within his mind, Aron was overcome by searing pain, forcing him to kneel, clutching his head.

"AHHH!"

"MISTER ARON!" Mia quickly rushed to his aid. Followed by Thyra and Victoria.

Thyra kneeled gently, lifting his head, and when they gazed at his face, they were shocked. The right half of his face was covered in black scales, his eye aflame with crimson, while the left side remained unchanged; the left eye was 'Dead,' blank devoid of life, with a bloody tear tracing his cheek.

"Aron! Are you okay? Speak to me?" Thyra implored, concerned for her sole disciple.

The right side of his face twitched, and words emerged on their own accord.

"Sun….Wings…Angel…Six."

Concerned about his well-being, the three attempted to assist him to the throne to rest. Yet when they tried to move him…

BOOM!

An explosion of energy erupted from him.

"HOW DARE YOU BETRAY ME, SOL!" Aron roared at the sky as if challenging an unseen adversary.

"ARON!" The trio was pushed back by the sudden surge of energy.

"DEATH WOULD BE A MERCY WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU!"

Fueled by rage, his features began to distort, the scales slowly began to cover his skin, and a lonely horn pierced his forehead.

Thyra, having witnessed such violent outbursts before, knew swift action was imperative to prevent escalation.

"Snap out of it, Aron!" Thyra's urgent voice cut through the chaos as she appeared behind him, delivering a powerful blow to the back of his neck, rendering him unconscious.

"Phew, that was too close," Thyra breathed deeply, carrying Aron to her throne and gently laying him down.

"Victoria," she called, shaking her maid from her shock.

"Y-Yes my lady"

"Notify the girls to conclude their mission swiftly."

"Understood," immediately Victoria vanished into the shadows.

…

In a mystical white garden, a woman with golden hair and eyes jolted awake from her massive bed, screaming.

"AHHH! What's happening?"

Feeling a tremendous amount of pain coming from her back, she summoned a giant mirror to inspect the area. Yet, upon viewing her back through the mirror, she found nothing.

"Nothing?...UGHH!...But the pain?...imposible!"

Realization dawned, and she summoned her wings. When they fully materialized, her heart skipped a beat and she broke into an ear-piercing scream.

"NOOOOOOO!"

Blood seeped from wounds across Sol's wings, dark crimson flames devouring from within, instantly forming a pool of blood beneath her. The half-wing that she was healing fell on the floor alongside another.

"MY WINGS!"