Kapitel 36: Understanding the Aspect.

Lying on a fallen piece of rock, Liala chewed a piece of meat. Her back against the ground, her face twisted with various expressions such as remorse, dread, anger, and disgust as she ate.

THUD!

She missed the synthetic paste provided at the academy to get sleepers accustomed to the bland flavors in the dream realm. Calling it bland wasn't entirely accurate. Lacking in flavoring agents like spice, pepper, and primarily salt, the meat was tasteless, but that didn't make it easier for her to eat. Not that anyone specifically asked for it in the Academy anyway.

THUD!

Back in the Awakened Academy, there was no shortage of good food, but the scrumptious taste spelled disaster for her. Delicious flavors turned sweet and only sweet, forcing Liala to resort to the synthetic paste which was rejected by everyone, often having to ask someone to get more of it.

THUD!

Now, water and bland meat were her only companions in this deserted continent. She missed the paste. The usually bland taste of it was like vanilla ice cream to her.

....

Getting up from her firm beddings Liala turned to the now silent source of noise.

"Is he done?"

Effortlessly performing a backflip into a front flip as she got off the rock, Liala leaped towards now silent sound's source using her aspect.

Landing amidst broken-down small bits and pieces of rocks, she looked ahead and saw larger pieces of broken rocks surrounding a humanoid figure. Covered in sweat, Raian looked tired, leaning against a piece of stone with his right arm limping downwards.

Scars of a gigantic bite marred his chest and back, glistening under the light.

His right hand was bleeding from the knuckles. After an uncounted number of hits, the skin was flattened and ripped from the impact, causing blood to slowly trickle outwards.

Hearing Liala, Raian turned to greet her, but the moment he looked up hastfully, the sweat on his forehead dripped into his eyes. Trying to wipe it away, he used his right arm but accidentally smeared it with blood from his knuckles.

Visibly confused and annoyed, Raian tried to use his left hand to clear it, but it only made it worse. Blood mixed with sweat was not wiped off his left hand, only mixed and spread.

Amused by Raian's strange act, Liala walked closer and summoned a memory to pour water on Raian.

Feeling the fresh water from head to back, Raian thanked her while cleaning his face. The sensation of having a clean face was quite refreshing, putting him in a peculiar mood.

After pouring enough water, Liala dismissed her leather pouch. "Are you done training?"

"Yes."

"So?"

Guiding his wet bangs backward, Raian stretched. "I'm getting the hang of it. If I keep up my pace, I think I will be to learn the basics in a month."

Covering his own eye with his left arm, Raian's body visibly quaked. Breathing in and out, he said in a shaky voice, "But I am hungry."

A little confused by Raian's odd behavior, Liala slowly pulled out the leather bag holding dried meat and offered it to Raian. "Here, eat as much as you need. Food is not a problem, you know."

Instead of taking the leather bag, Raian grabbed Liala's forearm. Letting his left arm hang, revealing his was hidden eyes, his voice turned serious. "Not like that. I'm starving for a battle. During training, I imagine a variety of creatures, thinking and planning ways to kill them. But every time I do that, something stirs in me."

Increasing his grip slightly, he continued, "I feel hollow... And I finally understand." Finishing the sentence, Raian let go and walked towards his leather bag full of dried monster meat.

Feeling her forearm slowly, Liala stared at him suspiciously. "Understand what?"

Grabbing the bag, Raian slung it over his shoulder, letting it hang in front. "You let me fight the next abomination we meet. I do not care what rank they are. It doesn't matter if they are stronger than me or weaker than me. In fact, I prefer them to be stronger."

As he walked forward while talking, Liala silently followed, wearing leather garments and choosing to keep her armor dismissed. With a source of fresh drinkable water, her face looked nearly spotless. Despite the dreadful day when they could encounter almost anything and the haunting night when the dark sea flowed through the plains, Liala somehow managed to appear neat.

"The last few days, I have been sitting back and letting you deal with most of them. Even when I carry my weight, it doesn't feel right. Perhaps I have grown complacent. Now I will not. No, I refuse to."

Turning towards Liala, he spoke. "The next creature we meet is mine, understood?"

Thinking for a bit about his proposal, Liala agreed with a frown. "Wait, what happens if you start losing? Want me to save you then?"

Scoffing heartily, Raian thumped his chest. "No need. Your assistance won't be needed. Any rank standing against me shall fall," he said confidently.

Rolling her eyes at Liala's responding expression, Raian added, "Even if I start losing, do not interfere. If you think I'm going to die, then I prefer you leave me instead of saving me. Whatever happens to me then is losing Raian's problem."

Now it was Liala's turn to roll her eyes, scoffing at his overwhelming confidence, perhaps arrogance. "Confident much?"

"Of course. How could I not be confident in myself? You have many memories to rely on, but for this guy," he pointed at himself, "I am alone."

Smirking toward Liala, he continued, "Even so, I want strength. People follow the law, and the government enforces it, but that only works up to a certain point. Move above it, and the difference between higher districts and slums becomes quite blurry. Only strength matters from there."

"Of course, there are many types of strength, but I'm not getting into that. What I mean is, I am sick and tired of following behind you. Either I win by proving my worth, or I don't. Simple, no?"

Seeing how resolute Raian was, Liala leisurely accepted his request. Shortly realizing how close it was to night, they hurriedly ran towards higher ground.

The act of climbing before night had almost become a habit for them. The disaster that is the Dark Sea felt more like a one-time trick to them. With no knowledge, it's horrifying, but with some experience, avoiding it becomes quite simple.

Only when facing the dark sea offensively does it become terrifying.

Armed with such information, before dusk fell, the two of them began walking yet again.