Chapter 438: Leaving Gritnia (I)
Ethan searched for the words to tell Wilson when Aliyah cut in before he could respond, "Ethan, anyway, I don’t think I share in whatever they’re doing, so I’ll stay."
"I don’t mind staying behind and watching over the guild."
Her expression then hardened as she turned and stared toward Percival. "And you could’ve at least talked to me before deciding that you were going to run off to the Demon Continent."
Percival was caught off guard with that. "Aliyah—"
But she was already getting to her feet. "Forget it."
She turned and began walking away.
"Aliyah," Percival called, letting out a sigh as he got up and followed after her.
Ethan said nothing further as he watched the entire situation unfold. He hadn’t expected the whole thing to turn into this much of a mess.
The room had also gone awkwardly quiet. Bettie said nothing, though she appeared lost in thought, while Hayley simply shrugged.
Ethan could only shake his head at the entire situation.
——
Meanwhile, Percival had already followed after Aliyah.
"Aliyah."
She ignored him and kept walking.
"Aliyah, come on."
"Leave me alone, Percival." She said as she continued toward the back of the house, eventually reaching the door that led outside.
Percival hurried ahead and stopped in front of her. "Where are you even going?"
"Anywhere. Far away from you." She said, turning her face away.
Percival sighed. "Oh, Aliyah, come on."
"It seems like you don’t even care about how I feel." Her frustration was very evident in her voice. "You just decided that you’re going to the Demon Continent and that’s it. You didn’t even talk to me about it."
"I didn’t exactly have much time to think about it." Percival said.
"But you had enough time to decide you’re going." She struck right back.
Percival opened his mouth, but Aliyah continued before he could answer.
"You know what that place is, Percival. We’ve heard enough about the Demon Continent to know that it’s probably one of the most dangerous places in the world. And Ethan literally just told everyone that he might not even come back alive."
She shook her head. "But you still decided on a whim to go with him."
Percival sighed, shook his head and looked at her, "Aliyah, it’s Ethan.... and he’s going with my sister. If they’re going somewhere dangerous, I’m not exactly going to sit here and pretend I’m fine with letting them go alone."
"But Ethan doesn’t want you there." She shot back
Percival went quiet.
"He literally just told you that he doesn’t want anyone coming with him because he can’t guarantee their lives," Aliyah continued. "This isn’t some ordinary mission. He said there could be dragons involved."
She stared at him.
"Dragons, Percivals... Actual dragons. Beings that, to us, might as well be gods living on this planet."
"No offense to Ethan," she added, her voice softening slightly, "I know he’s strong, and I know he knows what he’s doing. I’m not saying I don’t trust him. But if he himself is telling you that the danger is that serious, why are you acting like you have to prove something by going?"
Percival sighed. "I’m not trying to prove anything.... They’re both going to be on the other side of the world, walking into something that could get them killed."
"I know I might not be strong enough to fight some of the things they’ll encounter... I’m not stupid enough to think I can take on some dragon."
"Then why?" She cut in with a question.
"Because sometimes it doesn’t take someone stronger to make a difference." He answered, then added. "We’ve seen it ourselves. Time and again, one extra person, one extra attack, one person creating an opening at the right moment can completely change the tide of a battle."
He shrugged.
"I don’t know if I’ll be able to help them every time. Maybe there’ll be situations where I’m completely useless. But if something happens and I’m sitting here while they’re fighting for their lives, knowing I could’ve been there..."
He shook his head. "I don’t think I’d be able to live with that."
Aliyah’s anger had begun to fade, replaced by a level of worry.
Percival stared at her for a moment before saying, "I understand your concern"
"No, you don’t." She lowered her gaze. "You didn’t even think about how I’d feel."
He sighed. "Okay. You’re right... I probably should’ve talked to you first."
She gave him a look. "Probably?"
Percival smiled. "Fine. I should have."
She folded her arms. "But you still would’ve gone."
"Yeah." He nodded.
That answer made her sigh.
"The truth is, I don’t know how to explain it any better than that." Percival stepped closer. "It’s just something I feel like I have to do."
Aliyah stared at him for several seconds before finally letting out another frustrated sigh. "I really don’t like this."
"I know." Percival smiled. "I know."
He reached up and gently placed his hand on her cheek.
But this time, she didn’t pull away.
Aliyah’s expression softened.
Then he leaned closer and kissed her. They were like that for another half a minute.
When they separated, Percival smiled, and Aliyah returned the smile before lightly punching him in the chest.
"Ow" he winced, but then she stepped forward and embraced him.
Percival hugged her tightly.
After a few seconds, Aliyah pulled back slightly and looked at him. "I still hope Ethan changes his mind and never agrees to let you go."
They both laughed at the remark and hugged each other again.
***
——
Meanwhile, upstairs in Ethan’s room, Hayley peeked through the slightly open door before walking in fully.
Ethan turned his head toward her. "Hey."
He was standing beside his wardrobe, folding clothes into one of the bags he had prepared for tomorrow’s departure.
"Hey..." Hayley said back as she walked closer, watching him for a moment before her eyes wandered toward the open wardrobe.
"Hold on... Are these the only clothes you have?"
Ethan glanced at her, then turned toward the wardrobe as though only now realizing what she was referring to.
Most of the clothes inside were variations of the same style: white shirts, black trousers, black coats, and a few suits. More noticeably, almost all of them still had their tags attached.
Hayley stared at them for a moment. "And why do you have so many new clothes?"
Ethan chuckled lightly as he continued packing. "Yeah. I just prefer dressing like this."
He picked up another shirt and folded it.
"And Eduardo gets new ones for me every day."