A minute earlier,
When Aria slammed into the thick trunks of the trees, she lowered her head, feeling a mixture of frustration and sorrow.
‘Why?’ She wondered aloud, not about Aether, but about herself. The question gnawed at her mind, demanding an answer.
She questioned why she always held back, why she never gave her all in any situation.
If she used her Arcane Card, she knew without a doubt she could defeat Kaelen. She had the power within her grasp, yet something always restrained her, holding her back like invisible chains… something she feared more than anything else.
No, it wasn’t Alaric… well, maybe a little.
Maybe she feared being alone again, lost in the vast emptiness of the palace where silence echoed through the halls like a haunting melody!
Maybe she feared the what would happen to her tribe!
But more importantly, she feared using… the Arcane Card!
Yes, she was terrified of Arcane; that thing had irrevocably changed her life!
That thing that ruined her life!
Not just once but twice!!
She was petrified at the thought of using it!!
That’s why she was determined never to use Arcane.
Yet,
“If she is caged, I will break it!”
When she heard those words, something inside her cracked, like a dam about to burst under the pressure.
“If she is a sinner, then I will bear it!”
Her hand trembled uncontrollably!
“And… Most of all, she is the most faithful woman I have ever seen!!”
Tears began to drip from her eyes, cascading down her cheeks.
“I am here for her!!”
Her eyes, filled with a mixture of disbelief and pain, stared blankly at Aether’s back. His words resonated deeply within her.
“A Hunter should Hunt, Not Prey!”
“….” She was rendered speechless, her eyes only focused on the gentle, smiling man who refused to give up on her, even in his dire situation. His unwavering support shook her to her core.
“Hah…hahahah…” She chuckled to herself, a sound tinged with self-loathing and a touch of irony.
It was almost amusing that she, who was older and supposedly wiser, should have been the one to support him. Instead, the situation had reversed, and now he was the one supporting her, giving her strength.
‘What kind of woman have I become?’ she thought to herself, the question piercing her heart. ‘Did I really let a man who wasn’t even stronger than me… protect me?’
She then remembered the times she spent hunting, the thrill of the chase, a gentle smile adorning her face as she reminisced.
But then, the vision shifted to a dark place… the loneliness of the palace, echoing her isolation. ‘Did I really stay silent, knowing that useless man had trapped me?’ She bit her lip hard, drawing blood, as she clenched her fist so tightly her knuckles turned white.
‘… How did I become this weak?’ She thought with a horrified expression, her eyes landing on the man who was fighting for her sake… just for her, not for anyone else.
This man, despite being a servant, kept standing back up, no matter how many times he was beaten by his master, no matter how many times others looked down on him, no matter how close to death he came, he stood back up with an unwavering determination.
‘Ba-dump’
[+4000 Affection]
Her heart skipped a beat as she watched his struggle, the fire in his eyes, and even more when she saw his smiling expression, as if he found joy in fighting against the odds.
‘H-He is just like me…’ She mumbled in an amused tone, then looked at her hand and realized it was itching to hunt, to fight, to reclaim her lost strength.
[+5000 Affection]
“Haaa…”
She let out a deep sigh, a mixture of relief and resolve, before facepalming herself and said with a light smirk, “I cannot show this ugly side to the man who showed me who I really am.”
Her blue eyes shone brilliantly, reflecting a newfound determination, as she muttered, “Ar…cane!”
Her chest glowed, radiating a mystical aura, and a rainbow card materialized before her, dispersing into shimmering particles. These particles coalesced into a green-colored recurve bow, crafted from the Mother Root itself.
The bow hovered before her, exuding an ethereal, almost otherworldly glow.
Aria smiled as she grasped the bow. It was her first time beholding her desired weapon since her card had transformed into a Rainbow one.
She reminisced about the past with her partner, her eyes softening with nostalgia. But then, a sudden realization struck her,
‘Crack’
Her grip tightened, almost cracking the bow. Aria spoke with an emotionless voice, “You are weak… The past me was really weak!!”
Annoyance surged through her as she realized her desired weapon was too fragile for her to wield effectively.
She then murmured to her weapon, her voice devoid of emotion,
“A hunter should hunt, not prey!”
The bow trembled in response, and a black, transparent screen materialized before her eyes:
[Desired Weapon recognized its Master’s Wish]
[Aria Zephyr shall be accepted by the Desired Weapon]
[Request: Modification]
[….]
[Affirmative]
[Initiating Origin Weapon]
One of the pillars, etched with an arrow mark in the underground chamber, suddenly brightened and pulsed with energy!
The Principal’s eyes widened in surprise as she sensed the tremor of power within the academy. ‘What the…? Someone already got the recognition?’ She shouted at others to reconnect the footage faster, her smile growing with happiness and curiosity.
Aria’s recurve bow dissolved into particles and began to reshape itself.
First, it formed a prototype of a longbow,
“Ugly!” She instantly rejected it.
The bow then transformed into a flatbow, but again she dismissed it…. after few more attempts… Finally, it took the shape of a Compound Bow.
Aria’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Sensing its Master’s desire, the prototype Compound Bow began to glow.
The transformation completed, revealing a dark, blackish bow with gleaming bluish camwheels that shimmered like enchanted sapphires, and a fine silver-white bowstring that sparkled as if woven from moonlight.
“A Hunter should hunt, not prey!” These words were now etched in glowing runes on its sleek, black body, pulsing with an inner light.
With a smile of satisfaction, she grasped the bow.
Instantly, her body was encased in elegant, hunting armor, intricately designed with mystical runes and glowing softly in the dim light. The armor was a perfect blend of protection and mobility, crafted from dark, enchanted leather and adorned with silver accents that matched her new weapon.
She smiled softly, gently touching the string and flicking it,
‘Diiiinnnnngggg!’
The sound resonated, a melody she had missed for an eternity.
She then focused on Kaelen and drew the bowstring. The camwheels whirred with a hiss, rotating at high speed like the wheels of a finely-tuned chariot, and a sharp, luminous arrow materialized out of thin air, its tip crackling with arcane energy.
“Wow!” Aria murmured, truly taken aback by the power and beauty of her new weapon.
With a single smirk, she released the bowstring. The camwheels spun even faster, propelling the arrow forward with a burst of energy.
‘SSsssshhhhhh!’
BOOOMMMM!!!
Aria clicked her tongue when she saw the crystal badge broken and saved Kaelen just before arrow even hit him, ‘Looks like it understood my attack would kill him’ she thought with smirk, she then looked at Aether who was staring at her motionlessly.
Her face suddenly blushed. Her armor and weapon disappeared with a soft glow, and she stood there, her expression a mixture of shyness and gratitude. Her ears twitched up and down, and her legs shifted nervously as if she were a maiden in love.
Meanwhile, Aether blankly stared at his notification,
!~Ding~!
[Survival rate: 16.9%↑]
!~Ding~!
[Congratulation for Completing the Mission: Save and Seduce Aria Zephyr]
!~Ding~!
[Reward: 100,000 Affection Points]
!~Ding~!
[Reward: Skill: Freedom]