e-booksonline Chapter 491 112.1 - Don't see him within me
Chapter 491 112.1 - Don't see him within me
Chapter 491 112.1 - Don't see him within me
"You've done it. You've mastered the [Cyclone Stance]. I never thought I'd say this, but you're on par with me now—at least when it comes to the [Tempest Fang]. But don't think this is the end."
I wiped the sweat from my brow, my chest heaving as I tried to steady my breathing. The sting of fatigue was present, but there was also a sense of accomplishment coursing through me. Dakota's words rang in my ears—words I'd been striving to hear for weeks now.
But I knew better than to let my guard down, even after such praise.
"I know this isn't the end," I said. "This is just the beginning. There's still so much more to learn, to master."
After all, while I had mastered the [Tempest Fang], it was most likely the beginning stages of an art. Or at least, the art was not of a higher grade.
That was to be expected. After all, if not, it would not be easy to master such an art in just three weeks.
"You brat.....Don't be serious all the time."
SWOOSH! Her hand approached me at a rapid speed, trying to slap me from my back. But there was no way I would let her hit me like this.
'It hurts like hell.'
Since it hurt.
Dakota grinned as she watched me dodge her attempted slap. "You're getting quicker," she said with a smirk. "But don't get too cocky. I'll let it slide for today since you've graduated for the time being."
I gave a small nod, still catching my breath. Despite the exhaustion, there was a sense of satisfaction in knowing I had reached this milestone.
Dakota glanced at her watch, noting the time. "It's 7:24 A.M.," she said thoughtfully. "We've been at it for hours. I think it's time to rest a little."
I raised an eyebrow. "Rest?"
She chuckled. "You've earned it. How about we hit the baths? You could use a good soak after all that training."
I blinked, slightly taken aback. "Bath?"
"Indeed," Dakota confirmed with a grin. "There's a specialized bath for Wardens. It's designed for comfort. Consider it a reward."
Dakota was a warden, so it made sense that she would be awarded specifically for her achievements and her contributions.
It seems a special bath was one of those.
"You do know, you are basically inviting me to your home, right?"
"I do. But so what?"
"Is there a problem?" Dakota asked, her expression genuinely puzzled.
I studied her face and body language, realizing she truly didn't have a clue about the implications of her words. There was no teasing or ulterior motive behind her invitation—it was just a straightforward offer from someone who didn't overthink such things.
"So, you're saying I should prepare myself for that when I start going on missions?"
She smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Yeah. Missions are tough. You'll work with people you might never see again. You'll be in high-stress situations where you can't afford to let your guard down. It's not like this, where you have the time to build connections."
The idea of constantly changing teams and the lack of stability wasn't entirely surprising, but hearing it from Dakota made it feel more real. "Sounds like a lonely life."
"It can be," she admitted, her voice softer now. "But it's also necessary. We do what we have to do to keep the world safe. But when you do find those rare moments of connection like this, you learn to appreciate them."
I leaned back in the water, letting her words sink in.
'There are people with all those different goals in life....' Somehow, looking at her like that, I once again was reminded of my reasons. With all this constant training I had over these past three weeks, I had forgotten about it a little.
At least, it was safe to say that I was able to get rid of my thoughts.
I had lived all my life for the sake of revenge, at least up to this point. But, recently, I was feeling a little different...
It was hard to put into words.
"Do you miss it? Having more consistent connections, I mean?" I asked, curious about how she truly felt.
Dakota was quiet for a moment, her gaze fixed on the ceiling as if searching for the right words. "Sometimes," she said finally. "But I made my choice a long time ago. I chose to dedicate myself to this life, to this cause. And I don't regret it. But yeah, there are times when I miss the simplicity of just... being with people. Not as comrades or teammates but as friends."
Her eyes somehow contained a sadness as she looked into my eyes. And then, she suddenly stood up, spilling the water around the bath.
As Dakota stood up from the water, her movements slow and deliberate, I could see the water glistening on her skin, highlighting the defined muscles earned from years of intense training. There was something in her gaze, something ignited—a mix of desire, longing, and perhaps a trace of something deeper, something unresolved.
I'd seen that look before. It wasn't unfamiliar to me. It was the gaze of someone searching for something they'd lost, something they were trying to find in another person.
Dakota stepped closer, the distance between us shrinking. Her bracelet should have activated, covering her body as it had done before, but it didn't. It was as if she was doing it on purpose, letting her guard down in a way I hadn't expected.
The naked body was laid bare right before me as if to tempt me. It was, indeed, tempting as her body was sculpted by an artist.
At least, that would be for a normal person.
Her approach was slow, almost hesitant, as if testing the waters—both literally and figuratively. Her eyes, though intense, carried a sadness, a desire for connection, for something more than the life she had chosen.
But as she neared me, something inside me told me to stop her, not out of discomfort or fear but because I could see the truth in her eyes. This wasn't about me; it was about someone else, someone she was trying to find in me.
"Stop," I said.
She paused, her eyes widening slightly as if surprised by my words.
I didn't let my gaze waver, keeping my eyes locked on hers, refusing to let them drift to her exposed form.
"I don't know who that person is," I continued, my tone steady. "But you should stop seeing him in me. You should let it go."
Those words were for both her and me.
'I should stop seeing her in other people as well.'