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Akashic Chronicles: Paradise Lost

"Attachments are unneeded" It was both the first and last thing my old man told me. To be an effective killer you must not feel for the enemy. To be an effective mercenary you must not feel remorse. A contract is a contract. The Client is god for us. To us the value of money is more important than ideals. Hope won't feed you. Sometimes those very same ideals could poison your entire being. Possess you into something more than what you aimed to be. Embrace nothingness, Coin is God. That was the mantra of every mercenary. That was what I believed for so long, until I met her. She pulled me out of that murky swamp. Shining an inexhaustible light, creating a solid path we could tread on to. She was the reason I could keep on moving forwards. The only reason I gave a damn about anything. However, soon enough, like all roads, it soon crumbled into rubble, nothing but relics of bygone memories remained. Plunging me back down deeper into that black and murky waters once more. I reveled in it. I let it consume me, become the very thing we swore to destroy. The very same thing my old man told me about. A monster borne from the hypocrisy of those ideals, yet desperately clinging onto it like a mad man. This is the tale of a fool who once known love, oh so beautiful yet poisonous it consumed him. A tale of a fool who yearns for redemption yet revels in his own self hatred. A monstrosity borne not from necessity, but from anguish.

ArlecchinoSIMP · 奇幻
分數不夠
99 Chs

It's You!?

Haruki watched Minerva disappear from beyond the door. Then He turned towards the three who was curiously looking at him. He grinned towards them, "Nice to meet ya! I'm Kaz! Freelancer by trade, A romantic at heart, and Handsomely made." He said as he raised his hand in greeting. Which made the three falter on their steps and fumble their next words.

The Bright eyed young man beside Haruki coughed and raised his hands as well. "I am Jacob Kazuhira! I dream of becoming a strong adventurer!" The young girl with a black hoodie took off her hood and let her long black hair tied into a ponytail breathe freely.

"Trish Stretta." She said simply. Making the two tilt their heads. "That's it? Well... I'm Marco Jimenez. Just your average office worker." They all talked with one another. "Is there any reason you picked these weapons?" Haruki asked making the three look at each other. "No, none in particular. I just went towards the weapon rack over there and suddenly I felt like this weapon is the one for me. I can't explain the feeling exactly." The two beside Marco nodded their heads in unison at his words.

Haruki rubbed his chin. "Hmm, I see. It might be the guild's magic or something." Jacob nodded his head and before he could spear the doors towards the arena swung open and a groggy elf walked out of the shadow. Rhistel was holding her head as she groaned in pain. The moment she raised her heads and stared at the three newbies in front of her and cracked her neck. "Alright newbies. From this point on I'd be assessing your combat capabilities. Once I've seen them I'd assign your training regimen and corresponding rank at the end of the week after your awakening."

Jacob was shaking when he heard awakening. Then suddenly he jumped in joy, "I knew it! I'm gonna become op--" Before he could finish speaking a large water ball splashed toward his face. "Quiet! I have a massive hangover!" Trish narrowed her eyes, "Is this the renowned adventurer? She looks like a mess." She muttered under her breath.

"What do you mean by awakening?" Rhistel looked at him and smirked, "You'll see. Before you can awaken though... You all have to earn it." She said as she narrowed her eyes. The moment her blue Gem like eyes met with Haruki they both couldn't help but mutter at the same time.

"Ah."

"It's YOU!?"

Haruki scratched his cheeks while giving a wry smile while Rhistel's eyes were wide open. "How the fuck don't you have a hangover!?" Haruki facepalmed, "That's your first reaction? Besides I got coffee." Rhistel clicked her tongue, "Well ain't you a lucky dog. Anyways you lot line up. I wanna see how you fare one by one."

Haruki was elbowed by Jacob, "You already bagged the beautiful elf lady? Damn, Niichan you truly are my bro!" Haruki facepalmed, "Get in line you idiot. Also don't say it like that it's bad manners." He sighed as he went towards the back. Rhistel tilted her head, "Where you goin newbie? You're goin first!" She said with a menacing grin.

Haruki tilted his head, "Is this payback?" Rhistel looked away, "Stop arguing and do what I tell you." He shrugged his shoulders and got into position. The moment he drew his bow he hesitated. In the end he opted to use the stance Bellona showed him. He inhaled as he aimed towards the target dummies.

Rhistel frowned while watching Haruki, "Is this the first time you're holding a bow?" Haruki nodded his head. Rhistel narrowed her eyes, "Fire." Haruki let go of the string as the arrow cut through the air and stabbed through the middle chest area making him frown inwardly. "It's so hard to aim with this stance."

Haruki fired a dozen of arrows all of them hitting their intended targets but not the places he aimed for making him frown even further. "You finally realized it have you? Your stance is dogshit. You got good aim but you lack the foundation." She said while crossing her arms.

"Sit over there. Now you kiddo you're up next!" She said towards Jacob. He was just swinging the sword towards the wooden dummy wildly. After a few minuites of that he wiped his sweat and with a wide smile turned towards Rhistel. "How was is Instructor? My Sword Blitz Hurricane was impressive no?"

She covered her face with her palms and sighed, "Sit the fuck down kid. I don't have the energy for your bullshit." Jacob dejectedly sat down on the corner from Rhistel's words. Trish walked towards the middle of the arena as she was beckoned by Rhistel.

"Alright kid! Show me what you're made of!" Trish spun the spear behind her as she breathed in. She closed her eyes as she kept the spear spinning behind her. When she opened her eyes she twisted and turned the spear like it was a part of her. It twirled around her like a snake as she repeatedly struck the training dummy.

After a few minuites she sat down on the ground while drawing sharp breaths. "You have good technique. However you lack attack power. Were you a martial artist back in your world?" Trish shook her head towards her question. "I was a baton cheerleader during middle school and high school." She said making Rhistel tilt her head. "Okay? Then you kid. It's your turn." She pointed towards Marco. He then beamed towards her words as he walked towards the center of the stage. "It feels nice to be called kid again. I feel young!"

Marco shouted as he weaved his body around and relentlessly punched the training dummy. He bobbed and weaved while standing still. After a few minuites he was holding his back and shoulders. "Ow! Ow! I think I pulled a muscle. My back hurts."

Rhistel on the other hand sighed. "What the fuck was that!? Move around you idiot! Staying stationary in close quarters would only get you killed!" Marco laughed dryly, "My legs ain't what they used to be. If I was only ten years younger I would still be called Speed of Light Marco." He said while daydreaming making Rhistel sigh further. Rhistel made them do warm ups and various exercises until the sun was almost about to set.

"Come back here early in the morning tommorow. I will personally train all of you until you've met my standards." All of them nodded and they one by one left. before Haruki could take another step however he saw Rhistel looking at him in the eyes. She tilted her head towards the corner of the arena. He nodded his head. They both waited for the three to leave. When their finally alone she stared Haruki straight in the eye. "Why were you holding back?"

Haruki opened his eyes wide, "I don't understand what you mean?" She clicked her tongue towards Haruki, "Don't lie to me Kaz. Those scars on your body aren't normal wounds. Freelancer my ass. You can only get those in battle." She said as she narrowed her eyes. Haruki on the other hand covered his body like a maiden, "That's sexual harrassment you know!" Rhistel kicked him in the legs, "Be serious!"

Haruki shrugged his shoulders, "Why do you wan't to know?" He said as he narrowed his eyes. Rhistel grinned, "Do you remember when we first met?" Haruki nodded his head, "You fell head over heels for me." He said sreiously. Earning him a punch to the face.

"The wind, no... the entire forest told me to run away. In that place you looked the most defenseless, however compared to the monsters roaming the forest. Nature has never warned me like this. So I'll ask again... Show me your skills then I might be generous enough to treat you to a meal." She said as she stared straight into his eyes.

Haruki sighed, "Alright fine... Don't regret it though."

He walked towards the weapons rack. All of a sudden he could feel a pull from various weapons instinctively telling him to pick them up. "I see..." He muttered while grinning as he reached for the spear. Rhistel watched him approach the weapon rack while grinning. "You can't hide your true skills anymore Kaz."

Haruki twirled the spear normally. He smiled at Rhistel, "Ready?"