144 Chapter 144

As evening approached, Aron and Lady Rose were still eagerly studying the serpent's corpse while taking note of any oddities.

"Well what do you see?" Aron asked loudly as he was currently standing on top of the creature's head examining its eyes while Lady Rose remained on the ground and was looking at the data her scouter had collected.

To properly investigate the serpent's insides, she had to shrink her scouter and send it inside then look at the data it recorded once it was out, which was what she was currently doing. "It's tissues and organs look far much more firmer but that could be a result of it's size. Hmm... and then there's the sheer amount of strange elements impended into it's heart and brain. They are most likely responsible for it's mutations." Lady Rose explained while taking note of said observations she was making.

"The creature's systems don't seem all that different, perhaps those elements impended in it it's brain did indeed cause it to have such strange behavioral traits along with mutations." Aron showed a look of disappointment and jumped off the serpent's head and landed cleanly on the ground before walking over to Lady Rose.

"You seem rather dissatisfied with that theory." Lady Rose turned to him and stopped writing notes clearly seeing that Aron no longer looked as eager as he did before they began.

"I am but it somewhat sheds light on the Newman Highland incident as well." Lady Rose raised her brow with interest and beckoned him him to continue. "Do tell."

"Well it should be already clear that the people of the olden era were onto something with the concept of mutating creature's but they did so rather crudely, wether on purpose or by accident is unclear but I personally feel it's the former."

"Those creature's locked up in the ruin back on Drotzi were all similar to this creature. Their habits were completely strange and although they involved to have intelligence they didn't look accustomed to their own abilities, even going as far as to cause self harm.

Lady Rose listened carefully and looked back on the experiments she herself carried out on a few creature's. "That theory does hold ground because I too found that the creature's I worked on had strange disabilities such as hearing sensitive to only certain sounds and other oddities."

"Then it's safe to say this creature despite it's strength is defective. This is becoming quite aggravating if I must say." Aron let out a sigh at yet another disappointment but it's not like it wasn't expected.

He knew full well that the knowledge he'd learn here wouldn't automatically make it so he can create beasts to do his bidding left and right and so did Lady Rose but discovering new knowledge required patience and many failures, Aron had even read an article on this before in Argos's library.

"So is the life of those who pursue greater knowledge, this is far from the last disappointment we shall face but the end result will always be worth it. I'm confident in that fact." Lady Rose closed her notebook and also heaved a sigh before turning to look at giant serpent one more time. "One day we'll be able to create such a thing but better, look forward to that."

"I thought your only interest is the books hidden within ruins and that's your purpose here. What do you mean by we and one day?" Aron raised a brow curiously and Lady Rose chuckled, this unfamiliar sight was a rarity of ever one. Her smile and the sweat melody of her voice were all alluring in that moment but Aron only waited for his answer.

"I mean just that, given what I've learnt so far it's no secret that you seek a way to Limbo nor should it be really as you wouldn't be the first. I care little for why you wish to do so but I am interested in learning and discovering more knowledge and you are as well so I'm simply extending my stay with you or do you not want my expertise?" Lady Rose's smile faded as quickly as it appeared and her strict manner of talking returned as she asked a question of her own and raised a brow.

Was her goal really knowledge in the end Aron wondered as he found it hard to read just what went through this woman's mind. One thing he was certainly sure of however was her value, the longer someone like her stayed around him the simpler things would become so he only chuckled himself and shook his head.

"No, I'd welcome it if you prolonged your stay so we can unravel even more knowledge Lady Rose. Partners?" Aron asked formally and she nodded after almost immediately. "Partners it is. Now if you'll excuse I need to carefully study and then document these fine sketches you drew." Lady Rose gave her consent on the matter and began to walk away before stopping after a few steps.

"Right and please refer to me as Rose from now on, formalities aren't needed between associates yes?" Aron only nodded but that was enough and she continued on her way.

'Associates huh?' Aron thought for moment while looking at her walk way.

"Big butt." Suddenly Evanora's voice resounded from behind Aron and caused him to turn only to see Evanora sitting high up on the serpent's head looking at him judgmentally. "Come down from there it should be almost time we went to this feast." Aron ignored her comment as he grew used to her blunt random statements.

'Maybe telling her to be more expressive about her thoughts was a mistake.' Aron thought whilst he and her also began to quietly make their way back to the airship. It was then that Evanora decided to make another comment.

"Evanora thinks small butts matter too."

"I see..."

...

Not long after that everyone gathered together and prepared to make their way towards the settlement holding said feast.

However during the journey some arguments did erupt. The one to spark them was none other than Riya who was in bad mood after Claudia seemed more motivated than usual, she didn't want her down but by being well and good meant her chance to shine slipped away.

"Gee it must be nice to not do anything and still be invited to a celebration for those worked their butts off huh guys." Riya commented loudly and was clearly referring to Juliet's crew who had also been allowed to come as they were seen as associates to Aron as well.

Riya and some of the others didn't like this at all and weren't afraid to show it since the other crew consisted of commoners as well.

"Gee must be nice to be weak and enjoy your leader's rewards huh guys." A member of Juliet's crew added equally as loud.

"Go mave your ma while don't ya!"

"What did you say to me? Come closer so I can hear you better."

"That's enough you guys, we're only making Aron look bad by letting them provoke us." Claudia who was walking slightly ahead along with the other higher ranked members decided to intervene.

"That's right guys don't stoop to their low level." Lucas also tried to bring peace to his side as the temporal vice leader but he chose the wrong words to do this as Claudia now scowled in his direction.

"Those are slick words from someone who chose to lick the ass of the people that tried to kill us during the journey. He's even calling our level low like he's better than us. Last I checked Aron completely crushed you and your leader so if we're low then what are you?" Before Claudia could speak Riya raised her voice once again and inquired of Lucas while receiving the backing of her friends.

"Don't you dare compare Lady Juliet to those people, she like many other aristocrats weren't part of that. Clinging to such hatred is why we can't ever hope to mend the segregation between commoners and aristocrats. Atleast I'm actually trying to rise up in rank and represent our people but what is he doing? Stealing airships, breaking academy laws and killing mindlessly!" Lucas now began to grow irritated and his reply to Riya showed his but his words again only worked to anger her.

Claudia felt she could no longer even intervene as the argument was now between commoners and she assumed it would only make it worse if she spoke.

"I don't care about the process just like the aristocrats didn't care. What matters is the results and hope he gives commoners like us, and you? What results have you produced? Temporal Vice leader? Tenth ranked? What a joke. Deep down you know you can't do what he's done so you're just making excuses and living comfortably. You're not one of us, you're just another aristocratic dog ready to carry out their comm-" The argument now escalated and before Riya said anymore Jin gestured her to stop.

...

Meanwhile a little further up front Aron ignored the happenings behind him with Evanora by his side.

"Aren't you going to intervene?" Juliet who was walking about a meter away on his right hand side finally said her first words to him since arriving.

"They are grown enough settle petty arguments, aren't they?" Aron replied with a question of his own with which Juliet agreed. "I suppose so." Juliet muttered and just like that the silence returned between them.