Chapter 94: Focus on Getting Stronger!
The morning after my conversation with Freya, I sat Lyra down to explain what had transpired. She listened intently, her usually animated face softening as I recounted Freya’s true intentions.
"So, she doesn’t hate us?" Lyra asked, her voice tinged with relief. "I thought... I thought she was pulling away because she didn’t care about us anymore."
"No, Lyra," I said, shaking my head. "Freya still cares deeply for us. She’s just trying to protect us in her own way. She’s putting herself through all of this to grow stronger—for you, for me, for herself."
Lyra’s eyes welled up, but she quickly wiped them with the back of her hand. "Freya’s always been stubborn like that. She wants to carry everything by herself... but we’ll support her, won’t we, Naoki-sama?"
"Of course," I replied with a reassuring smile. "We’ll give her the space she needs, but we’ll be here for her. And when the time comes, we’ll fight to bring her back."
Lyra nodded firmly, determination sparking in her gaze. "I’ll do my part. I’ll keep getting stronger so we can stand together again."
That day, we renewed our resolve—not just to support Freya from afar but also to strengthen ourselves for the challenges ahead. Freya’s decision to train under Cain wasn’t easy to accept, but if it meant she’d grow stronger, then we had to trust her choice.
Though Freya said she’d keep her distance, her actions spoke louder than words. Whenever our paths crossed in the academy corridors, she’d offer us a fleeting smile—warm but tinged with an unspoken sadness. I could tell she wanted to talk, but the invisible boundary she’d set for herself kept her from doing so. Lyra and I always smiled back, silently conveying that we understood.
Still, my heart ached every time. I clenched my fists. I won’t let this be permanent. Just wait, Freya. I’ll make things right.
To achieve that, I needed to become stronger—strong enough to challenge Cain and emerge victorious. The disparity between our Aura Force levels was glaring. Cain’s Supreme-tier Aura Force was leagues ahead of mine. I had to close that gap.
"Envi," I called out to the system in my mind. "How do I improve my Aura Force efficiently?"