Chapter 82 - Her Decision

"What did you say to my wife, why did she suddenly say that she wanted to train with you?" Raphael immediately looked for Alexander Gregovich at the resort to confirm the news he had just received.

He didn't expect to have to part with Valerie so soon. Besides, What was Gregovich planning? This was different from when he used to train with him and Caesar. Back then he was a teenager and not yet a Florentia knight. But Valerie will soon be active in the military in two months. She had even sent the complete documents for her to officially receive her knighthood.

Alexander, who was sitting alone smoking a cigar on the terrace in his pants and casual shirt looked confused. Even for someone who could walk to the past and future he could still find mysterious things that make him think.

"Lady Valerie? Training with me? Wait, I don't understand," Gregovich shook his head in confusion.

"Raphael!" Valerie looks rushed. She was a lady, so when she wanted to chase Her husband out of the room she needed to change her clothes and make up a little bit to be fresh. Besides, she was still feeling sore from Raphael playing with her for hours. Even her vampire regeneration ability also needed time to recover her energy.

Valerie caught up with Raphael, before he said some slightly awkward things to General of Avalon. But, she seemed to be a little late. Because the general had a confused look on his face. When she saw Valerie coming, he frowned and shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh my, this is embarrassing, Raphael, I was just asking you. I haven't confirmed that yet," Valerie whispered to Raphael awkwardly.

The commander didn't change his expression. As if what Valerie had just said didn't change anything that was on his mind at the moment.

"But you must have said something to her, that's why she thought such a thing," Raphael spoke to Alex.

"Well, I do talk to her a lot," Alex nodded.

"May I know, what is it?"

"I can't say it, and neither can your wife. You know what I can do, Raphael. Now then, about the training thing you were talking about. Lady Valerie, what do you mean?"

"You did something to her soul?" Raphael looked emotional.

"No harm to her, I guarantee it," said Gregovich again.

Raphael had known him for a long time, of course he knew what he could do. He was amazed by his abilities. But when he did it with people he cared about— Raphael couldn't take it.

"You must remove your spell,"

"No, I don't want to talk about this either. Can you two sit down?" Alex said fiercely.

Raphael immediately reminisced about his past as a teenager. The training he did with the general was not an easy thing at all. He nearly died and was crippled many times. He immediately obeyed and pulled out a chair to sit next to him.

Valerie, who was observing the interaction, was also feeling nervous at this time. She didn't mean to cause trouble. Her thoughts to train with Alexander was a decision she made based on her instincts.

"I'm sorry, sir. I was just wondering how he would think if I asked you to teach me how to use a cursed weapon," Valerie confessed. She felt a little stupid at the moment. Raphael was also too reactive. At least he should talk it over with his wife first before protesting to someone else who has nothing to do with it.

"Lady Valerie, didn't I tell you before that we have nothing else to do? I ask you to live your life to the fullest," Alex said with a smile. He hid the fact as if it was just a common thing any wise man could say. But Raphael didn't believe it.

"That's why I thought of getting some training from you, sir,"

"You're a Florentian,"

"What about Raphael?"

"At that time he was not a knight," said Alex again.

"Sir, I haven't actually officially joined the military either, I still haven't gotten my uniform,"

"Valerie, you'll definitely join, since you're wielding a cursed weapon, I've spoken to the generals about this. Besides, do you want to make your family worry?" Raphael reminded her. He was very reluctant to see Valerie continue her intentions. He didn't know what would happen if Valerie wasn't under his care. She was strong, but not strong enough to take on the Avalons. Raphael also didn't see Valerie as patriotic enough to resist any temptations from Avalon.

"I don't want to get into trouble, it's too much trouble. I think I should decline this, lady Valerie," Alex shook his head with a concerned expression.

"No sir! Please consider it," Valerie said again.

"What can you offer, Lady Valerie?"

Valerie was silent. Was she not important enough to the general? Maybe because he thought he had done it all and let her through her new destiny. Valerie already has a cursed weapon as she wanted, she also acts and helps Florentia as she planned. Now Valerie had become a figure to be reckoned with in Florentia— Even though her status was later discovered that she was not an official knight.

"I might be able to give you Avalon a chance to recruit me," Valerie said earnestly.

"Valerie!" Raphael snapped emotionally. He even stood up from his chair and looked at his wife.

"That's very tempting. So, does that mean you might still be able to change factions? Well, we always value the owners of cursed weapons. Making you my disciple would probably benefit Avalon," Gregovich commented.

Raphael was disappointed with the continuation of the conversation. He didn't return to his seat and decided to leave.

"You guys just finish whatever you want to talk about. I won't interfere anymore. Sorry to bother you, sir," Raphael said, unable to hide his sad tone before leaving.

"He's your husband,"

"I know,"

"I met him when he was young..but I knew that he wouldn't be willing to tie up a relationship like marriage with someone he didn't care about. Don't you think about his feelings?" Alex asked again.

Feeling? It was strange to hear an Avalon say such things to Valerie. She must be sad to do this too. She didn't involve Raphael in this — because this time Valerie wanted to make her own decisions.

"It's something I should try to do. I want to quickly become stronger so I can help Florentia..I'm not saying Raphael is a bad teacher, but I'm having a hard time bringing out Apollon's abilities," Valerie explained.

"Have you heard how I train my disciples? I won't go easy on even women. The student I'm training right now is also a woman, she's a commander. Of course she is very strong but he still asks for training from me. I'm not sure you can match that," Alex shook his head.

"Then why did you make me find Apollon? Did you think from the start that I would just be a war embellishment with a toy sword in my hand?"

"I'm giving you a second chance at life, hoping to balance Florentia and Avalon's strength but also not be too strong to surpass us. I want to see an alternative ending to this grueling war..I don't know if I'm willing to get too involved with you, Lady Valerie," said Alex again shaking his head.

"I want to do it, sir," said Valerie again.

The two of them stared at each other for a while before general Alexander looked away first. Valerie had a talent for mind manipulation. Even Alex was momentarily swayed by her persuasion.

He wanted to see Valerie become stronger, he wanted to know what was the limit of her potential? Will she be a pawn that changes history for the better or vice versa? Besides that, in the future Alex will also have to talk to Raphael about his demon DNA problem. So keeping Valerie, who was his wife, nearby seemed like the right thing to do.

"Alright, if your husband doesn't have a problem with that..I agree with it, and I don't want him to be disappointed in me, so you have to work that out before you talk to me again," Gregovich decided.

***

"Raph..." Valerie called out, as soon as she entered the unlocked door of her inn. He saw Raphael lying on the bed with a peaceful face. Although there was a slight frown of thought on his forehead. He wasn't really sleeping.

"I want to talk," said Valerie again.

The commander sat down and looked at her with a sour expression.

"I think I need some training from Sir Alex," she said a little quietly.

"You think I'm not a good teacher?" he asked.

"I didn't mean it like that, but he's your teacher. I want to be stronger than you, you'll understand what I mean," Valerie said again.

"I dunno, I don't know what you're thinking. Do you think you might move to Avalon?"

"I said that to make him agree with my request," Valerie said again.

"Okay, you can do it. But I'll be visiting you regularly..and you'd do it in fairly neutral areas like Lapella. One more—"

"What's that?"

"You have to remember, if you decide to switch sides, I'll still choose Florentia.. That means we have to split up," Raphael emphasized again.