Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Leiah's suggestion carried a very true reality, Rain would benefit from having someone alongside him, providing support and assistance during their forthcoming tasks. Terra's presence seemed particularly fitting for this role, considering her capabilities and closeness to Rain.

Despite the significance of Leiah's words, Terra didn't react or show a visible response to the suggestion. Instead, she maintained a composed demeanor, contemplating the underlying message conveyed by Leiah's statement. Terra was astute enough to recognize the implications behind Leiah's recommendation.

"I can't do that, Seara will annoy me for that," Terra said. "We should all get together when the time comes."

"That is for the best, or maybe not. Some more chaos on Rain's life should teach him a good lesson." Roan said. "Anyway, what are your plans now?" Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire

The sudden shift in Roan's demeanor caught Rain by surprise. His father's previous approach had been less serious, often supportive of Rain's decisions and actions. Rain had anticipated the continuation of this dynamic, assuming that his father's mature and supportive attitude wouldn't. However, Roan's change in behavior signaled a departure from this pattern.

Rain realized this shift as a deliberate decision on Roan's part. It seemed that Roan was purposefully altering his approach, perhaps motivated by a desire to avoid repeating past patterns or outcomes. Rather than offering unwavering support for Rain's decisions, Roan appeared inclined to adopt a more critical perspective, seeking out areas for potential improvement.

This change in Roan's attitude implied a shift towards a more discerning and constructive approach, where he aimed to identify areas where Rain could develop or enhance his decision-making process. It reflected a more nuanced and critical outlook, suggesting Roan's intention to help Rain refine his strategies and actions by offering valuable insights and constructive criticism.

"I am planning on doing some investigative work and see what the dragons are up to," Rain replied after rubbing his chin for a short while. "I also want to find traces of the guy who started the war… after one hundred years in silence, it is clear that he had a grudge against me, but perhaps he didn't do anything else because the dragons took over."

"There are those guys as well… I had forgotten about them," Terra said. "I suppose it will be easier to find them by yourself and perhaps silently kill them as well."

"I don't like this… why do we have to split up just when we reunited?" Leiah asked while raising her eyebrows.

"We can't relax now, we are still at war… and we can't let the enemies start the war once more when we are unprepared," Roan replied. "We need some time to absorb and try to improve what we learned from Rain now, we will need all the strength that we can get and then some."

Rain acknowledged the necessity of their decision with a nod. The prospect of splitting up once more raised a sense of melancholy and difficulty within him. They had attempted to pursue a semblance of a normal life in the past, striving for a sense of peace and stability in a world fraught with immensely powerful creatures.

However, the harsh reality persisted—true normalcy couldn't be achieved while these formidable beings existed, constantly posing threats and challenges.

The recognition that their path demanded continuous struggle and perseverance settled heavily on Rain's shoulders. They had no choice but to persist in their fight against these powerful entities until a time when genuine peace and tranquility could be secured.

The decision to part ways again, while emotionally challenging, resonated as the most pragmatic choice in the pursuit of a future where they could finally live without the looming shadow of perpetual conflict.

The idea that genuine peace could only arise through the extermination of certain powerful beings weighed heavily on Rain's mind. It was a bitter realization, acknowledging that in a world dominated by magic, where humans possessed the least innate talent, there seemed to be no middle ground.

It appeared to be an unalterable reality—a stark true of kill or be killed, or perpetuate the never-ending cycle of war.

For Rain, it was a troublesome truth to confront. The necessity of eliminating certain powerful entities loomed as an unfortunate but seemingly inescapable solution. In this world achieving lasting peace seemed contingent upon neutralizing or eradicating these threats for good.

This harsh reality forced Rain to grapple with the moral complexities and grim choices inherent in their world. It was a somber acknowledgment that their quest for peace demanded difficult sacrifices and decisions, prompting them to confront the daunting challenge of balancing survival with the pursuit of a harmonious existence.

"We are going to decide who are going to use the dungeons now, let's go," Terra said. "The first to leave will use this dungeon."

The group, had the task of determining the order for using the dungeons, resorted to an unconventional method—rock-paper-scissors. What initially seemed like a simple and fair decision-making process soon devolved into a prolonged issue. Each member was adamant on having their chance on the first round, leading to an endless cycle of ties and repeated rounds.

The repetitive nature of the game revealed a stubbornness that persisted among the group members, resembling a humorous display of determination that bordered on absurdity. The stubbornness led to a comical impasse, transforming an ostensibly simple decision into a prolonged ordeal… still, eventually it ended when everyone else picked rock and only Annie picked paper.

"Hell yeah, today I am going to kick the ass of the beast queen," Annie said while shadowboxing.

Rain wondered if Annie would be fine by herself… at the same time, the others looked more troubled by the fact that they would have to cross the snowstorm toward the other dungeons. In any case, it took one more hour for decisions to be made and everyone began to prepare for the departure… when that was done, Rain said bye to them… it was time to prepare for the next battle with real actions.