The Avatars of Myth weren't the only ones who struggled with the unexplainable enemies they fought against. The sights they had seen were beyond alien. If anything, the ghost chs and the giant tentacled whale made them feel as if they had beco stuck in a fantasy drama!
When talking to lkor, Ves found out that ascribing all of the weirdness to the Nyxian Gap was the best way to go. This strange and perilous region already acquired a reputation for abnormal phenona. Blaming the Gap for everything was a convenient way to handle most people's doubts.
"I'm not sure, Ves." Commander lkor frowned. "The final enemy we've faced reminds us a lot of your glows. Is that a coincidence, or do they have sothing common with each other? Sohow, I don't think it's a coincidence that Venerable Jannzi's impressive energy projection just so happens to match the glow of her ch. Is that giant lizard the true source of your glows? Is this exobeast the sa kind of existence as the tentacled whale?"
Ves stopped in his tracks. He turned to his cousin with a serious expression. "I know you have questions. I know that many others are in the sa boat. I can't provide you with the answers you want to hear. So knowledge is too dangerous to spread. Knowing too much not only turns you into a security risk, but will also insert too many unnecessary thoughts in your mind."
"What are we supposed to do, then? Continue on with all these doubts lingering in our minds?!"
"Just deal with it." Ves bluntly replied. "There are many things that people like us don't understand. For example, I can tell you all about designing chs but I don't have much of a clue about biotechnology. The sa goes for ch pilots such as your Avatars. I am sure that they are good at what they do, but I don't think that any of them know how to put together a ch. That doesn't stop them from piloting chs with incredible skill!"
The examples provided by Ves put the problems into perspective. No one was capable of knowing everything. That didn't stop society from working.
Specialization was the key to humanity's rise as a race. Starting from their caveman days, humans learned that trying to do everything was worse than dividing specific tasks to specific individuals.
By allowing so humans to beco hunters, a tribe beca capable of filling more bellies.
Compared to generalists, specialized professions such as lawyers, artists and accountants beca capable of outputting much better work.
It didn't matter if a lawyer wasn't able to pilot a ch. He could let professional ch pilots do this job in his stead. In turn, ch pilots were always able to turn to lawyers for legal assistance.
This was how modern society worked.
Therefore, once lkor began to view the problem from this lens, much of his unease began to clear up. "You're right, Ves. Maybe it's better if I don't think too much about this stuff. Still, it would help if we could obtain more guidance."
"Talk to Jas Ylvaine."
"The Living Prophet? Are you kidding? Have you converted into a believer all of a sudden?"
"I'm still a Brighter, lkor. Don't worry about that. It's just that Jas is probably the best person to talk about your doubts. He.. isn't entirely delusional. Don't give that face! Talk to him first before you rule out this option!"
lkor clearly thought dubiously of this suggestion. Whether he followed it or not was his own business. Ves rely offered him another option.
Once they reached the sick bay, they moved to a recovery room. Several Avatar infantry soldiers in full combat gear stood guard. The importance of Venerable Jannzi was very clear to the Larkinsons. Safeguarding her life was one of the clan's highest priorities!
As Ves stepped through the hatch, he imdiately felt the difference.
A faint sense of protection and warmth dominated the compartnt. It was as if Ves instinctively felt he could rely on soone.
That soone happened to be Jannzi Larkinson, the first true expert pilot of the Larkinson Clan.
Right now, she was sitting on her bed while talking to Joshua, her boyfriend. Both of them turned to the newcors.
"Patriarch. Commander." Joshua greeted.
Ves studied Jannzi for a mont. Though she looked fatigued, Ves could clearly sense the rock-solid force of will emanating from her mind.
It felt as if she was always ready to solidify her force of will into a shield whenever necessary. Every Larkinson could count on her to step up and shield them from danger.
Of course, this wasn't entirely literal. Force of will was sothing intangible and only capable of affecting minds. In order for Jannzi to stop physical rounds and laser beams, she needed to rge her force of will with a suitable expert ch in order to change reality.
What Ves found curious was how Jannzi's force of will differed from that of Brutus.
Both of them possessed similar convictions. Yet they had differences as well. For example, Brutus was much more selective and judgental in whom he should fight for. As for Jannzi, Ves felt that she was willing to fight for every Larkinson without making any greater distinctions.
Venerable Brutus clearly developed a protective force of will, yet he opted to specialize in piloting rifleman chs. To him, his best way to protect his loved ones such as Gloriana was to destroy her enemies!
As for Venerable Jannzi, Ves had the impression that she was more inclined to adopt a more supportive role. That didn't an she eschewed attacking her opponents. After all, Qilanxo proactively attacked the Unending One at the end of the previous battle.
"Ves." She finally spoke after staring at him for a ti.
Her eyes conveyed much greater depth than before. This was sothing that Ves had seen in many expert pilots. It was as if they were much more capable of seeing the truth of matters.
Part of this was because of the force of will they developed. This empowered will was no longer locked within their minds, but could spread around them like glows. This force of will was able to inspect anyone who ca within its range.
Even now, Ves felt her force of will brushing against his mind, allowing Jannzi to subconsciously judge him by his spirit rather than his outward facade.
Ves tried his best to ignore the uncomfortable subliminal inspection. No one liked to expose their true selves to people.
"I am glad to see you are awake and unhard. I hope you'll recover as quickly as possible. Our clan is still in the inner periphery of the Nyxian Gap. With all of the losses we suffered, we need you to inspire our remaining ch pilots."
Jannzi frowned a bit. "Do you intend to stay in the Nyxian Gap?"
"Oh, no! Not at all!" Ves raised his palms. "Once we are done here at Ulimo Citadel, I imdiately intend our task force to leave the Gap. We have t most of the objectives after this battle. Our clan has already paid a heavy price and we truly can't afford any further losses."
Both Jannzi and Joshua looked relieved after hearing that. Just like many other clansn, the pair no longer looked forward to any further adventures in the Nyxian Gap. If they had to face sothing like a dark god again, the task force would probably be wiped out to the last man.
Ves began to sit on a chair next to the bed and asked so basic questions. He checked to see if there was anything amiss with her physical, ntal and spiritual state.
Though he couldn't say much about her physical state, spiritually she was already stronger and more vigorous than ever. Though she couldn't match the intensity of stronger and more established expert pilots such as Venerable Brutus, Ves knew that she had a lot of room for growth.
She flicked her eyes at lkor, Nitaa and Joshua. "Could you leave for a mont? I need to discuss sothing with Ves in private."
Ves had an inkling of what she wanted to talk about. "Joshua, lkor, you go ahead. Nitaa can stay. She can be trusted."
The two male Larkinsons suppressed their curiosity and reluctantly left the recovery room. Even if they wanted to stay, the will of an expert pilot had to be respected.
Rank didn't always matter. While lkor technically commanded the Avatars, of which Jannzi was a part of, the Larkinsons always revered expert pilots from their own midst.
They weren't unique in this. The ch Corps was very similar.
Ves couldn't ignore Jannzi's status either. Even though he stood equal to her as a Journeyman, the greater honor and renown of expert pilots ant that they always enjoyed a much better reception.
"I spoke to Qilanxo." Jannzi began. "Though we haven't talked for long, I learned so of the truth of who she is and where she ca from. I.. I never imagined my Shield of Samar and every other Aurora Titan ch is being watched by a giant lizard who transcended death."
"..."
Well, this was awkward. It turns out that Qilanxo wasn't shy in letting Jannzi get to know her better.
This shouldn't have co as a surprise. Qilanxo invested considerably in Jannzi's developnt. At this stage in their relationship, Jannzi deserved to know who supported her whenever she piloted her personal ch.
Ves activated his signal jamr.
"Well, since you know this much, I might as well stop holding back. Qilanxo isn't human. Despite this, she is a friend and ally to us. She is even a part of the clan." He stated and stretched his hand to Nitaa. His bodyguard handed him the Larkinson Mandate. "During the founding of our clan, she was with us and invested a part of her essence in this book."
After opening the large and heavy book, he rapidly flipped the pages until he reached the third-to-last page. He then transferred the to over to Jannzi.
She could feel the familiar spiritual signature in the page. This reassured her for so reason.
Nyaaaa?
Goldie looked curiously at Jannzi and began to nuzzle her cheek against the hand holding the book.
Due to her increased spiritual sensitivity, she actually felt the warmth and love emanating from the ancestral spirit!
Jannzi's eyes grew fuzzy as pleasant thoughts and emotions popped in her mind. Her will to defend the Larkinson Clan resonated with her current feelings.
A sense of peace and acceptance flowed from her body. She carefully closed the Larkinson Mandate and handed it back to Ves, who passed it on to his bodyguard.
"Thank you for letting touch your book. It was.. an enlightening experience." She softly said. "I can understand why you don't talk about this. Don't worry. I won't tell anyone about Qilanxo and where your glows co from. Just make sure to lead the Larkinson Clan better."
"The battle we fought is painful, but our clan has never shied away from taking sacrifices." He said. He couldn't very well tell her that he made a mistake! "Our clan will grow stronger because of this battle. Larkinsons died, but their sacrifices are not in vain. We will recover and beco greater after we return. As long as we are stronger, we are much more capable of surviving the challenges to co."
Jannzi frowned a bit. "You constantly talk about growing stronger, but are we getting happier because of it? How many clansn have lost their families? How many Larkinsons have lost their fathers, mothers, brothers or sisters? How many of us have lost our lifelong friends and comrades?"
"This is the greater hardship that our clan must learn to endure." Ves glibly replied. "It was no different when we used to be part of the old Larkinson Family. Many of our ch pilots fought against the Vesians, and not everyone makes it out alive. Despite that, our family kept sending our ch pilots to the ch Corps, because we knew that we were fighting for a greater cause."
"Are we fighting for a greater cause or are we fighting to advance your personal ambitions?"
Ves pressed his lips.
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