Chapter 377 - Coming To An Understanding

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~~~(POV: Cera Adamo)~~~

~~~(Location: Campsite near Road to The Capital, Elven Kingdom)~~~

~~~(Time: 6:40 PM)~~~

We're camping near the road tonight. Everyone agreed that they needed a break from the carriage. I'm in the same boat as them. While Sally and I aren't in the carriage with them, that doesn't mean we're comfortable on the top. There are a few of us sitting around the campfire right now, and there isn't much talking going on. 

Sally and I have been enjoying the silence, but I can tell that Hailey and Jasmine are bored and slightly nervous. Mainly from how well Terox and Helda are getting along, which is to say they really aren't getting along. Terox and the rest are around the area doing their own things. Helda and Terox aren't an issue yet, but they might become one.

Talking to Helda about it now would be good. There isn't anyone to get in the way of my conversation with her. Aside from the people here, but they wouldn't interrupt... Well... Hailey would, but I'm hoping she won't. "Mind if we talk about something you don't want to?" Helda nods her head. Showing that she does mind and she doesn't want to talk about it.

She's looking into the flames of the fire, and she's trying her best to ignore me. My eyes never leave her form, and she's growing annoyed with me. "It's not my place to talk about it, but if it's interfering with our quest, then we'll have a problem. Mainly, the boot of Terox and you." She has no initial reaction, and I'm reminded that Helda has one of the best poker faces I've ever seen.

I'm not trying to make this hard or difficult for her. I want her to understand that this group has a priority system. "I get where you're coming from, Cera. That doesn't mean that I'm going to entertain this conversation. Despite the valid concerns you bring up, that doesn't mean Terox and I are making up." Challenging as ever, but I don't need them to make up.

Their relationship can be over for all I care, but they can't jeopardize this quest with their passive-aggressive attitudes and behaviors. It's just going to cause more anger to build up. "I'm not saying you have to be friends with her again. I want you two to really commit to putting your differences aside until all of this is done." She looks up from the fire and sighs.

While they made an agreement in Gradule, that's hardly standing up to any scrutiny at this point in time. "I won't have a problem with her, as long as she doesn't start anything. I won't start anything either." That's the best I can get out of Helda, and I can only hope that Terox can agree to the same things. I stand up and head in the direction I saw her going. Leaving everyone behind.

~~~(POV: Saliandra Orvello)~~~

~~~(Location: Campsite near Road to The Capital, Elven Kingdom)~~~

~~~(Time: 6:47 PM)~~~

My eyes watch Cera as he heads into the woods where Terox has gone. It's hard seeing him walking away... Knowing that he'll come back helps, but I don't like being apart from him... "Let's cut the crap. Cera may be nice with you, but I won't be. You need to get over it and move on." My worry spikes as Hailey begins talking to Helda.

Hailey is far more confrontational than Cera is. Their personalities are very different despite being siblings. Helda stares into Hailey's eyes, but Hailey isn't intimidated in the slightest. That's because if Hailey wanted to, she could kill Helda before she could blink. "You don't get it, and that means you shouldn't have any say in this. Not that you would even if you did understand." This is going to get ugly.

They're both women who aren't afraid to fight and aren't afraid to speak their minds. Helda is more composed, but that doesn't mean there aren't similarities in other places. "Yeah, well, guess what? This isn't going to be the last time this happens, and you're not the only one in the world who has suffered a loss. People go through worse every day." Hailey makes a good point...

Compared to some of the problems that people go through on a daily basis, Helda and Terox aren't suffering that much. "It's all about perspective, Hailey. My problems are bigger to me than they are to someone else, and vise versa. I'm not going to be a thoughtful person regarding how small my issues may be. In the end, if they involve me, they're important to me." That's also a good point...

Their eyes are locked, and I can see the growing frustration on both of them. "I can see why Cera is the favorite in your family. It's obvious with a personality like yours. Your parents would prefer Cera over you any day." Now that's a low blow. Hailey remains calm, but I can see the flexing of her temple from clenching her jaw.

It feels like I'm caught between a tornado of power and a meat grinder of violence. "You don't know the first thing about my family or me. I'm not going to add to the problem, so I will drop what you said. But, if you continue to act so disrespectful towards me, I'll make you respect me." It's hard to be this close to these two.

Helda looks back into the fire as if nothing happened, and Hailey leans back against the log she's resting on. "Why don't we all have something to eat?" My heart jumps as I hear Jasmine's voice. I completely forgot she was even here from how tense this entire situation has been. Helda and Hailey both ignore her. That's a little cruel to the kind girl just offering some food.

~~~(POV: Terox)~~~

~~~(Location: Campsite near Road to The Capital, Elven Kingdom)~~~

~~~(Time: 7:13 PM)~~~

Cera sits next to me as the rushing rapids of the river rises and falls every second, depending on how hard the water decides to rush at that moment. "Mind telling me why Helda hasn't come here herself to discuss this with me?" Helda and I are in a state we've never really been in. We blame each other for Manni. Despite how he's still alive, he's still going to die. 

Manni was important to both of us. After the death of my parents, he practically raised me. Manni took in Helda after her father and mother perished. He raised us like his own kids while always reaffirming how we have our own parents and how they loved us. "That's not something I'd know, but best guess... She's hurt, like you." That's one way of looking at it.

Some fish jump out of the river just to jump back in. Splashing around as they travel. "Have you ever had disagreements with the people you love? So much that you thought you'd never have the same relationship ever again?" There is silence, and I turn to see him struggle to hold his laughter in. Wow... That's not the reaction I was expecting. 

He starts to full out a laugh and not bother holding it in. My face becomes red, and it's embarrassing, especially given who Cera really is. "Are you kidding?! Have you ever met my sister!?" I don't know Hailey all that well yet, but from what I've seen, they have your typical sibling relationship. "She bit my nose the last time we had a fight!" Laughter bubbles up from my throat.

I've never had a fight with someone that I was driven to bite their nose. "I was holding her back from punching. She couldn't get out of my grip. So she moved her head forward and bit down as hard as she could. I pissed her off, but she started it." Now that sounds like something I'd have wanted to be there for.

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A/N: Below this line, I'll be keeping Cera's player information. That way, I won't have to place it into the story above anymore. It takes about 180 words up.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.196]

[Exp: 40/100%]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden)]

[Stats] [Strength - 7095][Endurance - 7045][Dexterity - 7215][Speed - 8240][Focus - 19,660]

[Mana aura control: 6/100%]

[Health: 76,560,000,000/76,560,000,000] [Mana: 216,600,000,000/216,600,000,000]

[Stat Points: 50] [Armor rating: 500]

[Inventory] [Dice of Wayland (Divine)] [Hardened Tree sap Armor (Very Rare)] [The Witness (Legendary Sword)] [Fenrir's Whistle (Divine)] [Sally's Dresses 5x] [Camping gear] [Food Rations 3x] [Dried meat 4x] [Fishing poles 2x] [Fish 8x] [Festival Garbs 2x]

[Passive Perks]

[Inheritor of the Sword] [Son of Heaven] [Slayer of Evil] [Holy Willow Trees Savior] [Finder of Legends] [The Divine who has Legend] [Destined for Greatness] [Dungeon Diver] [An Overachiever]

[Active Skills]

[Heavens light Lvl.59 325/5900] [Protected by Heaven Lvl.59 225/5900] [Slash Lvl..77 4600/130000] [Parry Lvl.53 80/5300] [Double Strike N/A] [Kingslayer N/A] [Raging Machine N/A] [Winged Glory] [Angelic Flight] [Divine Pressure Exertion] [Divinity Pulse] [Controled Fun]