Chapter 117 - A Bond

After questioning me about my goals in the Tower, Veldor fell quiet. He was pretty quick to move on and suggested that we head back to the lower floors before we completely exhausted our supplies.

So after devouring the remaining Orcs, we quickly made our way down to Istoria. Turns out that the Orcs were pretty strong, not just in a fight.

{Strength Alteration Lv1} 

Out of the many locked skills that became available to me, that one was the only other skill that became usable after devouring those Orcs. A skill unlike any other that I had unlocked until then.

It's a skill that can temporarily switch my mana status with my physical status, supposedly able to give me a massive boost in might. Seeing it for the first time sent me into shock, I mean, just imagine it.

My mana at the time was nearly three times the number that my strength was at, by that math, I should be able to triple my strength using that skill. How could something like that not interest me?

As for the trip back down, it went off without a hitch. I was nearly out of commission after that fight but luckily I still had my health potions and revival creams left to use, which brought me back to perfect health.

Veldor didn't say much during that time, it felt as though he was actively trying not to speak to us. For a moment back there, I thought we had grown a little closer as comrades but…I guess I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

Finally, out of the Tower, we stepped foot into the fountain-surrounded plaza where the night sky graced us with its vast purple light.

"Alrighty! I'm beat, see ya later guys." Arga was the first to part as her head hung while walking away. She gave one final wave without looking back and disappeared out of the street's sight.

Veldor and I were left alone, standing outside the Towers doors with barely anyone else around. Apparently, in our absence, even time hadn't brought the adventurers' courage back. I wanted to leave, even if I had only an empty inn to return to, it was better than standing around with Veldor.

My eyes drifted down to my feet as I tried scrolling through the endless amount of excuses I could come up with as to why I should leave when suddenly–

"Rei…" Veldor drifted off.

His voice brought back that sincerity he had introduced before and delivered it two-fold once his eyes met mine. 

The dull blue glimmer of his eyes that usually carried next to no emotion suddenly held me in place and captivated my entirety. A bead of sweat formed at the side of my face, nervous as to what would come next.

Would it be another random question? Some kind of strange insult or statement that's just going to make me mad? What does he want to tell me so badly, that it made his face go that serious?!

The thoughts ran through my mind rampantly, trying to sort through the possible explanations. Not long after initiating that stare, he gave me my answer.

"You're a real idiot!" 

So it is just an insult…

"You're also reckless and a pretty crappy teammate for taking on all those monsters by yourself!"

Veldor laid into me, shouting one bad thing after another. My lip remained firmly clamped to the other because the worst part about it was, I had nothing to respond with. He was right about everything he said.

I was reckless and stupid, I was a bad teammate too.

"That being said, you're one hell of a guy."

Veldor's words raised my chin and I was drawn back into what he had to say with a fresh expression of shock. 

His eyes lowered to the floor as he spoke, but it didn't stop him from being angry though–no on the contrary–he grew more frustrated the further he went on.

"You're a rust rank, taking on dragons and demons and orcs! All things that would flatten other Rust ranks and adventurers much stronger than you and yet…" He clenched his fists and his teeth alike. "Even when you're supposed to lose, you turn it around."

Turn it around, is that really how he saw things for me? Did I completely judge Veldor wrong?

"..."

"There's no way in hell someone as dense as you could ever make it to the top floors, no chance!" 

His words cut deep, even from Veldor, they hurt like hell. 

"...that's what I thought until I saw you. Now, after seeing you fight monsters up close and pushing yourself further than you thought you could go, I'm convinced. You're not like any adventurer I have ever seen Rei, you're strong."

My eyes flickered open in surprise, unable to gather the words to respond I felt like an idiot just standing there silent.

"I didn't want to believe it when that air-headed smithy said you were special but, I'd have to be all kinds of stupid not to see it. You're not planning to stop once things get good, are you?"

My mouth opened and suddenly the words I needed to reply with came easier to me. "I won't stop until I reach the top." Those words flowed out clearly as if a fog in my throat had lifted.

Veldor let out a genuine smile, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't just seen it. Without giving me a second to react, he extended out his hand to shake mine.

"I want to see those heights you climb to...so that my masters will can live on. Help me get stronger, Rei."

My hand met his and the only words after that were my own. A bond formed as our gaze's met and the sincerity of our goals wove together.

"Let's both get stronger, together."