Free Web NovelChapter 116: Trust [1]
Breaking through to Rank 2 was not actually a very grand process.
No, it was not grand, but it was painful.
Who would have thought that the technique called the Pain-Tempered Circulation Technique was actually painful?
What a shocker.
Ronan breathed heavily as sweat dripped down his brow.
He opened his status screen, confirming what he already felt.
[Rank 2 – Initial Stage]
"Usually people would look a little more happy after breaking through."
Aura’s voice cut through his lingering pain, and Ronan glanced at her standing near the window.
She had her arms crossed, expression flat, though her green eyes studied him with something that might have been concern if she were capable of admitting it.
Ronan felt no such emotion.
It was only Rank 2, and it was through no effort of his own. The Demon Leech had done the work while he lay unconscious, body broken, heart missing, and practically dying.
At most, it was a step in the right direction. The step from rank 1 to rank 2 was the easiest, it would only get exponentially harder from here on.
He stood, bones protesting far less than they should have after what happened. freewebnovёl.ƈom
Steel Bone Armament had left its mark, strengthening his bones. It wasn’t complete yet, but his bones were a lot stronger now. frёeωebɳovel.com
And now that he advanced to rank 2, he would be able to actually use the technique himself.
"We need to get going now."
Aura did not argue, which meant she agreed. They left the dark room together, and Ronan realized the place Aura brought him to was some backwater inn. The kind with stains on the walls and a receptionist who looked shady enough to ignore questions about bloodstained guests on the verge of death arriving in the middle of the night.
The receptionist gave Aura a slight nod as she walked out.
Ronan patted Aura on the back, a grin on is face.
"You’re more resourceful than I thought." Ronan paused for a second then grinned. "For a spoiled princess."
Aura grumbled to herself, but she did not look as mad as she usually would. Her ears even twitched slightly, betraying the emotion she tried to suppress.
A notification appeared.
[Aura Acheron’s Affection has increased by 1]
Is she growing fond of the nickname?
Ronan found that thought amusing. He’d have to catch her admitting to it in the future.
Ronan checked her character profile again, curious.
[Aura Acheron]
Affection: 7
Trust: -2
Loyalty: 15
Every stat had gone up now. While he was sleeping, Aura’s affection and loyalty stats had risen into the positives. Her trust stat was still in the negatives, but it was only -2 now, which was an improvement.
Lack of trust made sense, all things considered, so it was a good thing it was going up.
He would tell her someday. At least once that loyalty digit surpassed 50.
In the original novel, one of Aura’s core traits was her loyalty.
She treated Luca like her savior, and since Luca matched the image her mother had painted to her in the "prophecy" Helena gave Aura, Aura clung to him like white on rice, quickly gaining loyalty for him and his cause.
Interestingly enough, in this life Aura did not seem to like Luca very much. She did not dislike him either, she just thought him inferior, being a human. In ways she was nothing like she was in the novel, but Ronan was sure that if one trait were to remain, it would be her loyal nature.
Suddenly, Ronan stopped in his tracks.
Aura glanced back at him.
"What’s wrong?"
Ronan paused, then grimaced.
"I’m not in disguise anymore..."
—
Aura ended up lending him her shirt. She wore another layer underneath. Ronan used it to cover his face, wrapping it around his head like a makeshift mask. The disguise was poor, but enough. If someone he knew saw him, they’d probably recognize him. To the average person, though, Ronan Ashbourne was never here.
They walked in silence through the unfamiliar streets.
There was a question still unasked, and Ronan would have asked it earlier, if Aura had made it clear she did not want to talk about it.
The matter of the Blood Deity.
But they’d have to talk about it sooner or later, and this silence was getting them nowhere.
So Ronan finally broke it, asking the awkward question.
"You going to explain what happened there? What you know about this deity?"
Aura’s eyes darted toward him, then with a huff, she turned away.
Ronan tilted his head, genuinely confused, and this only made Aura glare at him for half a second before speeding up.
Now Ronan was really confused.
Not because he couldn’t figure out why she was mad – there were just so many reasons she could be.
Was it because he almost died? Because the inspection didn’t go how she wanted? Because he did something stupid? Because Maren had to die? Because innocents had to be killed? Reading the novel hadn’t given him a full understanding of Aura, at least not in matters like this.
He didn’t really care, but he needed her mood normal again so she’d give him the information.
With a sigh, he asked, "What’s wrong?"
Aura looked surprised. Then, a sudden realization crossed her face, as if she understood he was just trying to get the answers out of her.
She huffed and looked away again.
Ronan pinched the bridge of his nose.
Why was she acting like a child?
Did Aura really act like this in the novel? He couldn’t remember well, but Luca had a way of not making women angry at him.
Or more specifically, the author had given him perfect plot armor for dealing with them perfectly.
With another, heavier sigh, Ronan said, "The information is important. You’ll have to confide in me sooner or later." He added for good measure, "I won’t know why you’re angry unless you tell me. I’m not a mind reader."
Aura finally turned around at that, a quizzical, suspicious expression on her face.
"I almost think you are," she said sarcastically.
Ronan was confused for a second, but then he realized the reason for her ire.
"You’re upset because I’m keeping secrets from you, yet I expect you to tell me yours," he said in understanding.
Aura looked shocked, likely at his accurate assumption, but simply turned away again.
Ronan thought to himself that, at the end of the day, the title "Princess" for Aura had some truth to it.
She liked to act powerful and tough, but there were times she’d just act like a spoiled little princess used to getting what she wanted.
He still couldn’t tell her much, though. Not yet.
Ronan began to speak, but Aura cut him off.
"You recognized Mesmer."
This time it was Ronan’s turn to be shocked.
He didn’t let it show on his face though, keeping it completely blank.
Aura said, "I recognized it when I said his name, and your face lit up in recognition before you hid it in an instant. But I recognized it. Ronan Ashbourne knew that name."
She turned to him completely now, staring into his eyes. "I don’t care how you know about my mother, or what happened to my family. I’ll tell you everything I want to know about the Blood Deity, and whatever you want. But you have to tell me how you know Mesmer."
