Chapter 189: Hot Spring Village
"Thank you so much, brother Ryugetsu!" he exclaimed. "I promise I'll commit to those teachings of yours!"
"Good," Arthur encouraged. "Now allow me to ask: Do you have any friends?"
"Oh yes!" Sora eagerly nodded. "A few around my age, but I wouldn't really call them my friends. Also! Excuse me for my bluntness, but I want to be an example like you, brother Ryugetsu!"
"An example?" Arthur repeated, mildly surprised by the declaration. "What do you wish to demonstrate?"
"Courage and kindness, I suppose," Sora softly said. "When I meditate, I feel like I can protect others and help the temple. I want to grow stronger so that I can always stand up for what is right. Just like you fought against the occult!"
'What a sad little thing,' Arthur thought to himself.
While the young monk seemed sincere, a sense of pride could be felt.
"You're already being led in the right direction, brother Sora. It takes immense character to aspire to protect others, especially in a world that requires strength."
Sora beamed at the affirmation, and the atmosphere between them shifted as they both took another sip of tea. For a moment, it felt like all the external troubles didn't exist.
But Arthur knew better than to believe that.
"Do you think I could be just as strong as you one day?" Sora asked, hesitating briefly. "Or is it too hard to become like you?"