Chapter 13 – Chains of Responsibility vs Burden of Guilt
Aenon lay on the massive bed in the mansion’s master bedroom, just staring at the ceiling above. Just like the rest of the mansion, it too had elaborate decorations and intricate carvings. But his mind was not focused on the imagery. He was lost in thought about the recent happenings, and how his life had upended so quickly. He had gone from a loner who shunned any human interaction to the leader of a city full of people. He could feel the subtle weight of the chains that were starting to wrap themselves around him. The chains of responsibility.
Even though he was ok with helping those that needed it, he did not want to be burdened by the wants and needs of an entire city. But these chains were harder to break than the others. He could break away from the control of tyrants without worrying about the consequences. Because then it only affected him. But this was different. If he was to walk away from this, the people who would suffer would be the ones who had no one to rely on. People who were in the same position as him and Harley after their parents were killed. And walking away when he had the ability to do so would burden him with guilt.
“So, the question is, do I don the chains of responsibility, or carry the burden of guilt,” Aenon whispered to himself. He wondered what his parents or sister would say about it. Would they ask him to do the right thing, knowing well that he would be restricting his freedom. Or would they ask him to care just for himself, ignoring the plight of the unfortunate.
“A question every Alpha has to face at some point,” Bane spoke up from where he was lying next to the bed.
“And how does one decide the right answer?” Aenon asked while sitting up in bed and turning towards Bane.
“There is no right answer, Alpha. You just learn to live with the decision you make,” Bane responded morosely.
“Well, that was helpful,” Aenon said sarcastically before falling back down onto the bed. But Bane continued.
“Let me rephrase my last statement. It depends on which decision can you learn to live with,” Bane said.
Aenon thought hard about what Bane said, and the answer was obvious. But it didn’t make it any easier to make the call. He had made it his life’s mission to live free, and this was deviating away from it.
“If only it were that simple,” Aenon replied softly. He grumbled internally while pulling up his stat sheet to finally spend some of his SP. He currently had 170 SP to spend, and his Tracking (woods) was at Expert rank. He also had a Tracking (urban) skill which he never used, which is why it was lagging at Novice rank. He spent 54 SP to bring both skills to Savant rank. That gave him Stealth (Urban/Woods), Tracking (Woods), and Tracking (Urban), all at Savant rank. And since all of them belonged to the Survival categories, he equipped all 3 and spent 40 SP to combine them all. He spent another 20 SP to boost his mana manipulation from Master to Savant rank and pulled up his stat sheet.
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Skills (Free SP: 56)
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Weapons (Dagger, Unarmed, Traps)
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Savant
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Stealth and Tracking (Woods, Urban)
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Savant
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Mana Manipulation
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Savant
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He immediately got a mild headache as the skill upgrades kicked in. But luckily since he had much higher stats, the effect was not that bad. He was still not sure what to equip in his last free slot, or what to spend the last 56 SP on. So, he let them be for now. Maybe he would find something useful while hunting the dragon. Speaking of which, he asked Bane the question that had been delayed for so long.
“How was your recon mission of the red dragon? With back-to-back fiascos, we never got around to talking about it,” Aenon asked. Bane sat up straight before answering.
“The dragon will be a tough opponent. I was not able to read its level, but I got the feeling that its power far exceeds ours. That includes you, Alpha,” Bane said solemnly.
“Heh. It is never easy, is it. Any idea of its abilities?” Aenon asked.
“From what we observed from a safe distance, the dragon never leaves its cave in the mountains. As such, we never got to see it in action except once. That was when an Earthen Bear stumbled into the dragon’s cave by accident. The aftermath was bloody, as the dragon tore apart the bear with its jaws. If it has magic, it never needed to use it.”
“Hmmm. Any chance the dragon would just surrender to let me set up my domain? You know, maybe go live further up north?” Aenon asked. He was willing to take on the dragon, but there was a chance it might anger the creature, forcing it to lash out at the settlement. He was annoyed that he had to start changing his approach to things just because of others. Earlier he would have just run in, spells blazing, not caring much about dying. But now he had to be more tactful, since his actions would affect others.
“I highly doubt that. The dragon didn’t do much talking before tearing into the Earthen Bear. Even though the creature was frozen in place,” Bane replied while shaking his head.
“Wait, the bear was frozen in place?” Aenon asked incredulously.
“Yes,” Bane replied while tilting his head in confusion.
That was because Aenon had a broad smile on his face. He had just gotten an idea on how to approach this problem. He would need to confirm his plan would work after his own observations, but if his assumptions were right, he would come without any injuries at all. Physical ones at least.
He quickly jumped off the bed and ran to take a shower, eager to get back on the road after making a few stops in the city he now owned. It took a great deal of self-control not to smash the obnoxious golden statues that decorated the insanely luxurious bathroom. It would just create more work for the maids and servants. He would ask Henry to melt those down later.
Getting dressed he was about to head out when he sensed multiple souls marching towards his room. He quickly asked Bane to dive into his shadow and turned to face the door. Henry entered the room with the maids in tow, carrying silver trays laden with far too much food for one person. Like a well-rehearsed dance, they went about setting the food before standing in line at the edge of the room. Aenon was flummoxed at how to address this. He had specifically asked that they not do over the top things like this. At least they all seemed well fed.
“I believe I asked you not to do these kind of things. Specially since I will be leaving the mansion for an extended period, and all this food is simply too much for me anyway,” Aenon asked the city admin curtly.
“I apologize on behalf of my men and women, but this is something they themselves wanted to do. To thank you for what you have done for them. And worry not sire, the food that you cannot finish can be packed for your journey. The head chef is a Master level Cook, and the foods will give many valuable buffs for the journey,” Henry replied formally with a bow.
Aenon didn’t know how to respond to that, since he could clearly feel the sincerity and gratitude radiating off all the maids and servants present. He was trying to come up with an appropriate reply when one of the maids, a twenty something woman of decently good lucks stepped forward and got down on one knee.
“Words cannot express how grateful we are to you, sire. We just wanted to extend a token of our appreciation,” she said politely.
“Very well then. I will gladly accept the gift,” Aenon replied while trying desperately not to scratch the back of his neck in embarrassment. His response brought a bright smile to her face, as she got up and bowed while guiding him to the dining table on the side of the room.
Aenon sat down and ate in utter silence, as the retinue of helpers served him from all sides. He bit down any rhetorical statements and simply tried to enjoy the food. And it was truly delectable, making him scarf down more food than he thought possible. His eagerness to eat though, delighted those around him. And true to his word, by the time he was done eating, he had a bunch of status buffs, such as higher movement speed, improved rate of skill proficiency improvement, and even additional stats. Too bad they were temporary and would expire after 4 hours.
Aenon almost burped out loud when he was done. If this was the food prepared by a Master ranked chef, he couldn’t imagine the food made by someone at Savant rank. He checked his skill list and saw his cooking skill. Having lived by himself for so long, and cooked a variety of wild game and stuff, he had fashioned himself to be a decent cook. Sadly, he was only at Adept rank. He immediately decided to equip his cooking skill into one of his slots. He would not spend SP to level it, but planned to raise its rank the hard way, if only for the satisfaction of enjoying delicious meals.
“Ahem. Thank you for this splendid meal. I have enjoyed it,” Aenon replied, trying his hardest to maintain a neutral tone. “But I do not think I have the room to carry all this food with me.”The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“You need worry about that. We will deposit all of this, and additional supplies into a storage ring that you can carry with you,” Henry said with a bow. He then directed the others to start the cleanup as he escorted Aenon down to his office.
Dread filled Aenon’s heart as he noticed the long line outside his office. They looked to be from all walks of life, from simple farmers to seasoned warriors, and even some nobles. They all looked like they needed something, since everyone looked impatiently at him as he passed.
“Am I meeting all of them?” Aenon asked casually, even though he was sweating internally. If he started meeting everyone, he would never get to leave the mission. And after his violent display yesterday, and the humble surprise from the mansion staff, he did not have the heart to spurn everyone.
“Oh, heavens no, sire. They are waiting in line for me,” Henry replied with a smile. “There is just one group you need to meet while I will address the others.”
Aenon breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that. One group was at least tolerable. And sensing who it was he was supposed to meet, he could potentially kill two birds with one stone. He followed Henry in and saw Agatha, and Eskad’s party stand up in respect. The guild head though was nowhere to be seen. Aenon quickly took his seat at the head of the table, followed by everyone else.
“How are your injuries?” Aenon asked Eskad before anyone could dive into the official business they no doubt were here for.
“I am recovering relatively quickly, thanks to Lady Agatha’s help,” Eskad responded while casting a furtive glance towards the soul mage. Aenon was sure, the sly woman had asked Eskad to mention that to Aenon to clear some of the bad blood between them. Not that Aenon cared one way or another. He was neutral when it came to the woman. He wasn’t overtly fond of her, but neither did he hate her. She had done what she felt was right. But he would always be on guard around her due to her powers.
“Good to know,” Aenon replied tersely to show his displeasure at the subtle hint of political scheming. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting? And where might your guild leader be?”
He could clearly see the assistant guild leader deflate at his response. She at least had the presence of mind not to shield her soul like usual in his presence. She hesitated for a moment before putting on a professional demeanor.
“The guild leader is still recovering. His injuries have been particularly difficult to heal,” she replied before pausing, perhaps expecting Aenon to lend a hand in healing their leader. But when Aenon said nothing, she continued in a defeated voice, “As such, I am the acting guild leader for the moment. Which is why I am extending an unconditional apology on behalf of the guild leader and I, for all our actions towards you. That of course is in addition to the reward that you are owed for your help in ridding the city of a significant menace.”
“I don’t need the reward. You can negotiate with Henry about it and extend it towards the Jadefall citizens to help them recover,” Aenon said dismissively. The lesser ties he had with the guild leadership the better. He would gladly interact with members such as Eskad, but he would choose who he liked. He did not want anyone to expect a favor in return.
“That… is very generous of you,” Agatha responded tactfully. Aenon could sense the turmoil within her soul, which indicated the meeting was not going as she expected. “Which brings us to the main reason we are here. The elf. What do you intend to do with him?”
Aenon stared at her in silence. The elf was currently being held in the mansion’s dungeon. But he could pick up on the unasked question with ease.
“You mean, do I intend to execute the elf too?” Aenon replied while interlacing his fingers on the table. Everyone tensed up at his statement.
“Ummm, yes,” Agatha responded hesitantly. “Unlike the mayor and Mave, the assassin elf is well-known figure amongst some powerful political circles. The deaths of the two can perhaps be negotiated, but the death of…”
“So?” Aenon asked calmly.
“I… I don’t follow?” Agatha asked in confusion.
“Are we supposed to let him go with a slap on his wrist because of his connections?” Aenon elaborated.
“Uh, no that is not what I meant,” Agatha tried to explain uncomfortably, but Aenon cut her off.
“Then what did you mean?” Aenon asked fiercely.
“His life can be a bargaining chip when dealing with those powers. We can do a prisoner swap or ask that the deaths of Balindor and Mave be forgiven. It is only a few months before this planet is open to all. We will need political leverage if we are to survive the oncoming storm. Surely you see that,” Agatha pleaded.
Aenon looked at everyone in the room. They all had various degrees of fear on their faces, including Henry. It was clear what decision everyone wanted him to take but were too afraid to admit it. Trying to reason with him instead. And Aenon understood where they were coming from. Not everyone had the spine to go up against impossible odds like him. Everyone sat with bated breaths, waiting for him to decide.
“Bane, bring me the bargaining chip,” Aenon said towards his shadow. Everyone jumped in alarm when his shadow, Bane, started slithering down towards the door. When the shadows disappeared, everyone turned to him expectantly.
“You know, I have been thinking a lot lately. About what I should do with this new life. I am not someone who likes being tied down in any way. But I also cannot simply turn a blind eye when someone is suffering while I hold the power to stop it,” Aenon said while standing up and heading for the window. He looked at the city as he continued, “The best thing about freedom is that you do not need to worry about anything or anyone. You can live as you please, and even die on your own terms. That is what I crave above all. Unfortunately, everything has a price.”
Everyone looked at each other in confusion, not sure where this was heading. But no one dared to interject either, even when Aenon went silent for the next three minutes. As everyone was getting more restless, a shadow erupted from the ground as bane emerged and tossed the elf to the ground. The man had a wild panicked look on his as he looked at Aenon’s back, before turning to everyone with pleading eyes. He probably wanted to beg to get out but couldn’t since his mouth was muzzled shut. Aenon finally spoke again after a minute.
“The desire for freedom in me is screaming to abandon this town and break away from the chains of responsibility. But I know I will have to live with the guilt of having left those who needed me behind,” Aenon said. He finally turned to face the crowd. “But I would rather be tied down in chains than live free in regret. That is why I took up this position.”
Aenon looked at each person in the eye after he said that. He needed them to realize his position before deciding on what was about to come next. The elf, not having heard the full conversation, was confused. But knew that it was somehow related to his life and death.
“And letting this man live because of someone far stronger would burden me with guilt. And I absolutely refuse to do so,” Aenon stated with conviction. “So, I will let you choose. Let him live and cut ties with me forever. Live your life the way those above you dictate. Or end him and tie your fates with mine.”
Utter silence reigned in the room. Everyone was stunned speechless, for it was not what anyone had expected. Many were probably under the impression that Aenon would force them to comply with his demands, or at least threaten them with dire consequences. Everyone except four people.
“Heh. Just like last time, eh?” one of the dwarves from Eskad’s party chucked loudly.
“But instead of a coin, the cost is a target on our backs by the strongest powers in the multiverse,” Elara added with a smile.
“But so is the prize, isn’t it?” Eskad said further confusing everyone.
“What are you all talking about? Coin? Prize?” Agatha asked with a frown. But no one responded, too engrossed in staring at Aenon.
“He saved us the last time too under similar circumstances. And when we saw who he was up against, he gave us a choice. To follow him or leave. That is the kind of man he is. Helping others without any expectations. But refusing to compromise on his principles,” Eskad said with respect in his voice.
Aenon stayed silent since Eskad was right, he was like that. Even when he helped Jenny the first time, he had given her a choice. The cost of his help was that people followed his principles. And there was no way he would ever compromise on them.
“What good are principles if they lead us to our deaths? I too came to this world to get away from the power-hungry monsters. To finally have a chance to do some good. And you want us to throw it all away while trying to follow a mad man?” Agatha asked in anger and frustration.
“And what good will your actions be when the tutorial ends? When the same power-hungry monsters you mentioned are unleashed upon this world? You think this tiny city will survive the coming tsunami?” Eskad countered.
Agatha was taken aback and floundered around for words. But there was no refuting it. Although it was obvious she cared deeply for the citizens, she too was drowning in fear. Fear of the empires and insanely strong monsters out there, who would raze this planet to the ground with just a thought.
“I am a Berserker. The Mad Berserker. I have never feared monster hordes or insurmountable odds,” Eskad said while looking down at his raised palm. “Berserkers are known for their lack of fear. But I have never truly found my path, since deep down I was afraid. Afraid of standing up against those at the very pinnacle. Fooling myself into believing that I was not ready to stand next to you. But not anymore,” Eskad said as his skin started turning red while he clenched his fist. He grew taller while his skin started emitting heat. He was in his Berserker’s Rage form. But unlike last time, Aenon could clearly sense that the man was in absolute controls.
“I am The Fiery Witch of the Endless Dunes,” Elara stepped forward next, placing her hand on her husband’s scorching shoulder with ease. “I have tamed fire and gone on impossible missions with my husband more time than I can count. But not once have I truly felt free from the shackles placed upon us. Despite my power, I was utterly helpless as I watched my husband’s soul being ravaged. The burden of guilt, I know it all too well. But not anymore,” she declared proudly as fire started circling her as she looked at her husband’s proud and adamant face.
“We are The Twin Peaks of the Undergrowth. We started as three but lost one to the cruel machinations of those far above us. Fear, guilt, regret. That is all we have felt all our lives. But not anymore,” the dwarves said as one, their voices blended into a chorus while the ground them shook vigorously.
“I shall never fear anything,” declared Eskad.
“I will never let anyone harm my love while I watch helplessly,” Elara announced.
“We shall make the ones who dare look down on us tremble and shake in fear,” the merged voices of the twins echoed throughout the room.
Aenon’s eyes narrowed as he took in the strange sight before him. The berserker in his controlled rage form, the fire mage summoning fire without her staff or any fire wisps present, and the ground responding to the dwarves without them calling on it. It threw his deductions about magic out the window completely. But the strangest thing was the way their souls appeared. He could see hairlines cracks in the shells of their inner soul space. Similar to what he had seen on Jenny after the party had left her in Reality’s Edge. Something was happening, but he didn’t know what. All he knew was that they were somehow stronger now.
“How?” Agatha asked weakly while stumbling back. She had her mouth agape in wonder and shock. But no one paid attention to her in the slightest. The elite party surrounded the cowering elf and spoke as one.
“We tie our fates to yours,” the elite party said as one while unleashing vicious blows that ended the pitiful elf who was cowering amidst them.
The world froze again as tendrils flew out of the world shard within Aenon and flew towards the party of four. It touched their frozen forms and lingered but a moment before dissolving. The world started moving again, but only Aenon sensed it. He was concerned that maybe his powers might control them the way the Overseer did.
But he knew it, somehow. That what he was doing was not control. It was a connection, just like his link to the world tree and the wolves. He wasn’t entirely certain what it meant or did. But he knew it wasn’t something bad. He was torn out of his thoughts when a single notification window popped open without his prompting.
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And so, the inferno spreads!
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