Flora was smiling inwardly, looking at Noelle, who kept burying her face in her lap because she was too embarrassed to face anyone else.
At the sa ti, she didn't say anything, so Flora didn't know whether her presence would be useful or not.
It was probably because they had been together since childhood that the first person that ca to Noelle's mind was her. That was why she was here. So Flora just stayed here for a while.
Fortunately, the help she was waiting for had arrived.
Nathan was approaching them slowly, making a small gesture to tell Flora that he would take over.
Flora glanced at Noelle one more ti before leaving quietly.
Then Nathan sat down next to her. Unlike Brunhild, Noelle was the first one to speak. "Sorry."
"!!!" Nathan was startled but imdiately regained his composure. "Is there a need to apologize?"
Noelle paused for a mont. "It's because… I have been taking your kindness for granted."
Nathan saw through her imdiately. The reason for her sudden action must be Sullivan.
"Is that what your grandfather said to you?"
Noelle nodded her head.
"I see." Nathan smiled in understanding. "In that case, what do you want to do? If you tell not to do it anymore, I will respect your decision."
"NO!" Noelle scread. She hurriedly turned to Nathan but ended up tongue-tied.
Nathan remained patient. "What do you an by 'No?'"
Noelle bit her lips before sighing in disappointnt, not because of Nathan, but because of herself. "I'm sorry. It must be frustrating to talk to a woman like ."
"I don't see any reason you should apologize. If you don't tell the reason, I don't know if I should accept your apology or not."
Noelle looked down. "Since I was a child, I was talented as a summoner. They could see my ena when I was only eight years old. Ever since that ti, my parents and even my grandfather spoiled . I could do anything I want.
"I always idolize my grandfather… I want to beco soone like him. That's why the sword is all I have in my entire life.
"I don't know anything else besides swords. That's why I have been taking advantage of your kindness this whole ti." Noelle clenched her hands into fists. "It must be sickening, right?"
Nathan shook her head. "If that's sickening, I would have left you long ago. You have been saying that the sword is the only thing you have in your life. Then let ask you sothing. Do you still see it that way? If you see yourself that way, why do you have another familiar now?"
"That's…" Noelle couldn't answer that question.
"A wise person once said, the only thing constant in this world is change. For better or for worse, people change.
"Whether you are living or not, you will always change. Then, can you tell without a doubt that you haven't changed?" Nathan asked.
Noelle shook her head, knowing that he had also changed.
"Exactly. We found new things, and we learned from them. If you think so lowly of yourself, I don't mind you blaming yourself, but I believe you should change yourself to be a better person tomorrow rather than fixating on your past. In that case, what is the better version you have in your mind?"
Noelle looked down. As Nathan said, people found new things and learned from them.
In the past, Noelle would have said that the better version of herself was her stronger version.
However, after learning so many new things, along with her grandfather's harsh words, she finally understood one thing.
The better version of herself was not just about her. It was also for the people around her. If she wanted to improve herself, she should do it in a way that would also affect the people around her positively.
Noelle looked down, pondering his words carefully.
Nathan placed his hand on Noelle's head, startling her.
When Noelle abruptly raised her head, she saw Nathan smiling sincerely.
"Take your ti. Even though I said that change will always happen, I know very well that changes will take ti.
"You can treat as soone who brings new things for you to learn. In exchange, I will be waiting for you to change.
"There's no need to rush. I don't want you to have any regrets in the future.
"Once you manage to confirm it, if I am still in your heart, I hope you can accept at that ti."
Nathan wasn't as proactive as when he ca to Brunhild. After all, Brunhild had so experience in her past. Noelle, on the other hand, was a sheltered girl who only had her family and her sword in her mory.
He didn't force her to make a decision. Instead, he gave her ti to think about it. He didn't want him to be chosen because Noelle was pressured to make a choice.
Noelle bit her lips as though she wanted to tear up. She furiously nodded her head. "En."
Nathan smiled, satisfied. "In that case, let's go back to others."
"Yes."
Nathan stood up first and helped her up. However, he sneakily didn't let go of her hand and continued holding her hand while going back to the cave.
On the other hand, Noelle felt like she understood sothing else. She didn't know about it yet, but the way she saw Nathan had changed. Before, Noelle felt comfortable whenever Nathan was with her, but this ti, there was this hidden excitent that pumped her up.
…
Unfortunately, this peaceful atmosphere lasted only for a while.
Once they returned to the cave, Nathan gathered all the girls to discuss one important thing.
For this discussion, he even invited Layfon to be his witness and sothing else.
Nathan slamd his hand on the ground before stating with a serious expression. "The enemy is in the thousands. This is my decision as the leader of this group. We will exterminate the aliens in the valley before moving on."
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