Chapter 81
This was something Yoren had to make Ifrit understand.
The course of history had already shifted, and the future held infinite possibilities—including the worst ones.
In this vast and uncharted sea, Yoren had no idea what he was truly up against. The most dangerous things in the world were often those unknown. This time, reason told him he could not stubbornly throw himself into protecting others as he had before. He had promised Hemer to protect Ifrit, but the black-and-white twins had only lasted until the thirteenth day. To put it bluntly, he was not certain. If he died, the situation would spiral into something far worse. Of course, he wouldn't know—he'd already be dead.
By then, it would be too late. If everyone was to survive, he had to rely on the strongest force available to him, and even then, the outcome was uncertain. He might die. Ifrit might die too.
Ifrit's understanding of the world was still immature. She needed to grasp the significance of what they were about to do and prepare for the possibility of death. Maybe that was an admission of his own inadequacy, but if Ifrit was going to die, he wanted her to do so with full understanding of why she had chosen to fight.
Hemer had taken great risks to protect her. Yoren had saved her more than once, risking his life. Now, he wanted Ifrit to understand what it meant to risk her own life for someone else.
At that moment, Puda came rushing out of the cabin, carrying a small box. Breathless, he cracked it open.
"Brother Yoren, here—four S-class Origin Stones and eleven A-class ones."
"Give me an S-class," Yoren said without hesitation.
"Got it."
Taking the Origin Stone, Yoren turned to Ifrit.