The sun ca up the next day, normally the bringer of a new day, but to the awakened, it was reminding them of the impending trial.
Slowly, the ti trickled by, and noon ca, so Aren decided to head to the adventurer’s guild. Even if the trial was coming, he still had plans with Kira; they had agreed to see the city together today.
Leaving the inn, dressed in a casual hoodie and trousers, he made his way there, and right behind him was Zero.
"You seriously can’t co with ," Aren said as they walked.
"Hmm, I don’t see why I can’t," she replied. She walked over to his front, hands behind her back, while walking backward, facing him.
"Unless this is sothing romantic, my father told that romance is between two people and should be shared together till they die," she said.
Aren froze when she said that. He opened his mouth and then swallowed what he wanted to say.
"No, it’s not sothing romantic, I think so," he said, sounding unsure.
"You don’t sound too sure. When people aren’t sure, it ans they might be lying, or not sure if what they know is even true.
So it’s possible that you have feelings for this Kira, but you aren’t believing what you feel," Zero said.
"Can you stop analyzing my feelings like it’s so science project?" Aren asked.
"Nope, that’s the only way I know how to do things. Also, I’ve co to like pissing you off. Your reactions allow to see what you truly are thinking," she said.
"Oh? Then what do you think I think about you?" he asked.
"Oh, that’s simple. My presence worries you. To you, I am not stable and extrely unpredictable. But then again, you find it interesting, which is the reason that you have allowed to stay," she explained.
"I allowed you to stay because you threatened to stalk ," Aren replied.
"You are Shadow. You can suppress or even kill ," she said.
"I don’t kill, not without a need to," Aren said.
"Oh? Is that the morality you cling to?" she asked, turning around and walking by his side. "The trials took a toll on everyone, and they changed the way most of us see things. So of us are now cold-blooded murderers, while others cling to what little morality they have," she said.
"And where does that put ?" Aren asked.
"Oh, in a new group—those that think it will go the way they want," she replied.
Her reply shocked him. He looked at her with a confused expression. "What does that an?"
"You think you get to choose. You believe there is a choice that will soothe you every ti. Not killing the false Shadow, for instance, there was no reason to kill him, or not to kill him.
But one would have made sure she never takes your na again, and the other would leave a fake walking around and dragging people along his lie, which might get them hurt," she said and then looked at him.
"If one of those people that follow him because they believe he is Shadow gets hurt, who does the bla fall to?" she asked.
"Themselves. They made their decision," he replied casually.
"I can argue that it’s your fault for allowing them to follow a lie that was yours to fix. They could have been saved if you had just pushed self-morality aside and removed the issue.
Our want to preserve what we believe as humanity sotis causes more harm than good," she finished saying.
Aren found himself stunned by everything Zero had just said—every word she spoke, every concept she threw out. It made him pause and think, trying to process it all. But before her words could fully settle in, they had already arrived at the guild.
Standing right outside was Kira, waiting for him. She wore a simple black hoodie and blue jeans, casual and unassuming, her hair tied back in a neat ponytail. She glanced around, and the mont she saw Aren, she waved and called out.
"Aren!"
Her voice snapped him out of the thoughts he was drifting into.
Zero looked at Kira and tilted her head. "Oh, she’s quite cute," she remarked.
Aren shot her a sharp look. "Please don’t make this weird," he said.
Zero only smiled and followed behind him.
"Hey, Kira," Aren greeted.
"Hey," she replied.
"It’s been a while," he said.
"Just a few days," she replied with a small smile. "But yeah, it’s been a bit."
Her eyes then shifted to Zero, who was standing slightly behind Aren. She looked confused, trying to understand who this other woman was. Her gaze flicked back to Aren, silently asking for an explanation.
Aren noticed and quickly spoke. "This is Zero. It’s a long story... I’ll tell you as we walk."
Kira seed hesitant, clearly unsure about the unexpected addition. Who was this lady he had brought along at a ti that was supposed to be just the two of them?
But she masked her unease with a smile. "Okay... that’s fine then. Let’s go," she said, leading the way.
As they walked, Aren did his best to explain the situation with Zero, but not let anything about her being a true born slip. Other than that, he narrated to her everything that had happened, even concerning Shadow.
"Oh yeah, I saw the post of the fake Shadow," Kira said. "To think soone would steal your identity. Either way, I guess it’s fine now," she said and then looked at Zero. There was still so hesitation in her eyes, and she didn’t like the fact Aren was with a lady, but she swallowed it.
"Nice to et you, Zero. I’m Kira, Aren’s partner in a way," Kira said, making sure to put emphasis on partner.
"I’m Zero, and it’s nice to et you. Aren told a lot about you and the trials; you must really be close to him," Zero lied. She had already deduced that Kira was jealous, so she wanted to help a little.
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