Chapter 57: Training Arrangement
Back at the edge of the woods, Starius and Tara resumed their chat after their awkward reunion hug.
"I've been meaning to ask... but why did you never write to me? You could've at least informed me that you're still alive," Tara asked. She tried her best to hide the grievances within her.
The amount of guilt she had felt over Starius' "sacrifice" was not small. When she thought about how less stressed she would be if she had known that Starius still lived, that aggrieved feeling only increased.
The moment he heard the question, Starius put on a troubled expression for a few seconds. During that time, he thought about how best to explain his circumstances to Tara. He eventually sighed.
"This... is mostly to do with my master. He is an excellent teacher and a very good person, but he can get a bit stubborn at times," Starius said. He scratched his cheek.
Then, he adopted a more serious expression. "I really wanted to meet you again as soon as possible, Tara. Or at least communicate with you through letters... or... something. Unfortunately, my master really did not give me much of a chance to make contact with the outside world during my training years."
"I see..." Tara said. "What was your training like?"
And just like that, the two of them started talking about what exactly they'd been up to in their recent years – after their separation.
Tara couldn't help but lament the contrasting trajectories of their lives.
The fact that Starius had become a Hero of Goddess Selune had still not sunk in for her yet. Heroes were exalted beings. They were high and mighty. Even Rulers had to show some deference to Heroes. Heroes could freely move across the borders of the various Realms within the Divine Domain of their patron deity. No sensible Ruler dared to tell a Hero that they were not welcome in their Realm.
An involuntary sigh escaped Tara's lips. 'In comparison, I'm just a weakling with a Common Class,' she thought sadly.