Chapter 17 : You are a Warrior, Right?

  As the little convention went on inside the room, time passed slowly until finally the time to end it had come.

  It has been decided that the attack is going to happen in 2 days, which is the day after tomorrow, and they would launch it at the designated hour and place as they have discussed before.

  At the Yamara Hills.

  That was one of the crucial, strategic locations that the Guardian’s Way acquired. According to the information that they had accumulated, Guardian’s Way had placed the very item that they were looking for in this place.

  And the Ring of the Highlands…

  That was the ring that Aron had been sought by Buldrudz himself because having that ring would be an advantage for them, an advantage that would absolutely tip the scale over them.

  An item that would buff the owner when the location was at the high grounds, of course they would be very happy to have their hands on it for this case, even if they did not need to actually possess it.

  Just using it at that planned time would be worth it even if they need to pay a certain price.

  The strategy had been laid out meticulously, with contingencies for possible outcomes. Everyone had their role to play, and each member was acutely aware of what was at stake. They knew clearly that failure was not an option, not with the stakes so close.

  In the end, the players in the room began to disperse one by one, their expressions a mix of resolve and anticipation. Some left immediately to gather their gear, others to speak with their contacts or coordinate with their respective units.

  Suddenly, as Aron set out from the room, a woman approached him, her footsteps quiet but also obvious. He had heard her coming, but he felt her presence first before he even saw her.

  She stood just a few paces away, her expression unreadable, her posture straight but relaxed, as if she had all the time in the world. The faint glow of the light lining the hallway cast shadows on her features, making her seem almost illusory.

  “Leaving so soon?” Her voice was smooth, but there was a faint edge to it, something that didn’t quite match the calm demeanor she projected.

  "Elysia, huh...: Aron muttered lowly.

  "You know me?" Elysia replied with a raised eyebrow.

  “Not personally,” he said, a slight chuckle escaping him.

  "Alright, give me some peace, I'm just here for business, that's all." Aron added with a small smile.

  Elysia didn’t reply immediately. Instead, she took a small step closer, her boots making soft sounds against the stone floor as she closed the distance between them.

  "You are a warrior, right?" Elysia said interestedly.

  Aron raised an eyebrow, his calm smile never faltering as he looked at Elysia. "Quite perceptive of you," he said, his tone light, but with a touch of intrigue. "Though, it is kinda clear for many to see."

  "Many huh, I wonder about that,” Elysia scoffed hearing what Aron said. She knew that the man in front of her was somehow trying to hide his class, which interested her naturally.

  “You know what I'm talking about, you are not a tank, the warrior that doesn’t use shields, but the one that uses swords only..." Elysia said with her eyes never leaving Aron.

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  Aron blinked, looking surprised by the reply. He gave a wry smile, half amused by how easily she seemed to assume him.

  Yes. That is correct. Aron had a shield and a blade on his sides.

  It was understandable that, at first glance, people would assume that Aron was a tank-based class. After all, he carried a shield, a not so big one on his left arm, and the sturdy looking, worn out piece of armor was a pretty clear indicator of someone who specialized in defense. The weight of it, the way it hung at his side, seemed to reinforce that idea.

  But Elysia wasn’t fooled by the shield. She knew things better. While most would have assumed Aron was a typical tank, Elysia recognized him for what he was. A warrior-type class, one that didn’t lean on defensive tactics. His stance, the way he carried himself, the way he gripped the shield, the fluidity of his movements, it all told a different story. It wasn’t the familiar, rigid stance of someone who relied on their shield for defense.

  Elysia knew that Aron was a warrior type based class that doesn't rely on shields. No, more like, she could feel that Aron was not using the shield as a defensive weapon.

  A warrior who used the shield not as a crutch, but as a tool to enhance his strikes, to battle in the battlefield in ways others wouldn’t expect. Naturally his shield could be used as a defensive weapon, but Elysia could feel that Aron was not a so-defensive type of player.

  "Is that what you think of me?" he replied, his voice low and calm.

  Elysia raised an eyebrow, her gaze piercing. "You don’t look like someone just getting by it. You’re too... too deliberate.? Is that the right word for that? Anyway, it’s in your movements, they don’t lie..."

  “I honestly don’t quite understand what you were saying but still, don’t you think that you’re reading into things a little too much.” He shifted slightly as he looked over the window.

  Elysia's lips curved into a knowing smile. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just seeing things more clearly than you think." She tilted her head, her tone growing more thoughtful.

  "You really do like to make assumptions, don’t you?" he said finally, smirking himself. “But fine, if it’ll make you feel better... let’s just say you’re right.”

  "Mmm... It's not that I want to do anything to you, it's just that I am interested, that's all. After all, getting to see another fellow collaborator is a nice touch, isn't it?" Elysia replied with a smirk.

  "Hey, ain’t your loved one gonna be jealous if you keep on talking to me?" Aron replied with a half smile.

  "Oh? And what exactly makes you think I have anyone to be jealous over?" she replied, her voice smooth.

  Aron shrugged his hands with his eyes closed and his half smiling voice, “Yeah, how the turns have tabled.”

  "Ahahah…I guess it's not just me who likes to assume things..." Elysia replied with a laugh, it was hard to say which she was laughing the words at.

  “Alright, what I’m trying to say is that, I hope we can respect our own business here, nothing else, nothing more. What do you think about that?”

  Elysia spoke with a smile, though her eyes seemed to be a bit sharp.

  Looking at how the woman in front of him was acting, Aron wanted to laugh for a reason.

  “It’s not that I’m having a problem with you and all, but I’m afraid that you are not acting toward what you want me to act. What do you think about that?”

  Aron replied with his serene eyes calmly.

  Elysia narrowed her eyes as she looked at Aron deeply.

  “I hope we are respecting our own lines, so that an accident is not going to happen without any caution whatsoever.” Elysia replied with a sharp glint in her eyes. Her right hand, subconsciously or not, rested on the handle of her blade beside her.

  “Yeah, I hope that the sayer is not the doer I guess.” Aron shrugged his shoulders away with the smile still attached on his face and started to walk away.

  Elysia watched him go, her lips pressed into a thin line.

  His steps looked serene and all, walking around the crowd until finally his form was gone from Elysia’s eyes.

  “Morality Mortalized, huh… Hmph…”

  Nonetheless, she didn't have time to dwell on Aron at this moment. She had her own responsibilities, her own preparations to make. The attack on Yamara Hills was looming, and she needed to be ready. She turned and walked towards the strategy room, her mind already focused on the task at hand.

  …

  Aron, or the ingame name Morality Mortalized, arrived in front of a building. It was a nondescript structure, its facade weathered and unremarkable, blending seamlessly into the surrounding cityscape. No clear sign proclaimed its purpose, no lights shone from its windows. It looked abandoned. Yet Aron still went here.

  “I will just finish this quest of mine first I guess…”