After the slime exploded, Sora found himself back in the ‘Naruto’ styled mental dungeon facing the crucified Valentine. His eyes were glistening wet.

“That is it…the limit of my power…” Valentine said as she breathe heavily. “These restraints are too strong…”

“Well get used it….” Sora snapped at her. He didn’t care; after all she tried to take control of his body (repeatedly). Though Sora didn’t snap at her because she tried to kill him…in fact if she didn’t try killing him Sora would find it out weird.

Valentine liked Sora’s angry reply – possibly a masochist?

Right now Sora was angry; his memories were back. He remembered everything….also the reason why he lost control… the Abbe was no more. He was simply venting out his frustration and anger at her.

Sora took a deep breath; Think about it logically. I did not see him die. So it can’t be him….the black butler is a demon from hell. He may be able to use magic or some deceptive art…if I think about it like that the Abbe may well in fact be alive.

This was not true, Sora knew that he had a lost the Abbe. The feeling could be described similar to when one’s girlfriend ditches one on the second date…. No matter how much you deny it; the hollow feeling still rings out within. The Guardians and Sora shared a mental link, they could not communicate telepathically but they knew if the other was alive through that link.

Sora would have pondered about these matters much longer but he strengthened his resolve. This was a life and death game – where the stake is his life; he thought of himself as a fool to let his guard down. While he casually triumphed over the Erito forces, he got too lax about his own Guardians safety. In the end, the Abbe paid the price for Sora’s complacency.

Although this was not true, but to Sora who has never tasted defeat, be it in life or in Royal Road, this was a first. That is not to say Sora never lost but there are ‘strategic retreats’, as Sora calls them and victories. As long as one understands the risk one takes, it really isn’t a risk but one of the probable outcomes….the Abbe’s death was the unexpected outcome.

Sora did not think he would lose someone so important so early on the game…Sora knew introspection was needed; if this complacency became a habit it would one day mean the death of him.

The Abbe was a pawn – a very useful pawn. I may have lost him but I am yet to realize the value of the loss. Given my understanding of him and his abilities he was special. It doesn’t come across as coincidence that he was a spy for the Alliance and Maylon is so strong. No…if I bit the pieces of information together …he should be the equivalent of the instructor I met in the Citadel of Serabourg in Rosenheim Kingdom…

Based on Sora’s experience, the Abbe was the sword instructor’s equivalent. This implied it was likely that the Abbe carried with him a secret quest or something of great importance which would have been revealed to Sora; if Sora met certain conditions…. Sora was feeling bitter. He may have lost out on an important quest.

Sora was indeed angry about the Abbe’s death; which is why he lost control but in hindsight what stung him was that he didn’t get full value for his investment.

Sora had decided, some time ago, to consider the Abbe, who saved him many times, as no more than a pawn or an investment….The more he thought of the Abbe as a real person the more it affected his judgement.

For example, if he thought of the Abbe as a real person he would have to accept all the other NPCs and monsters as real creatures too. Sora knew he was not a murderer but if he accepted these NPCs were living people just like him then….then when required he knew he would not be able to kill them.

Hence, the Abbe was a pawn…a mere tool and enough tears had been shed for his loss….Sora felt hollow...and in that hollowness something dark was ‘reborn’…a desire to seek revenge.

Revenge is a complex emotion – for Sora it was more straightforward. Complete annihilation of those who hurt him…

The Kuro-Butler, may have thought he stepped on a landmine and gotten away but sadly the truth was he just activated the Sora nuke.

If you are ever involved in my affairs …there is one thing that must be remembered; you may be an uninvited guest who meddled in my affairs knowingly or unknowingly but once you have made yourself my target then there is no escape from the whirlpool of chaos and destruction I swear to bring forth in your life.

Sora wore a very crookedly yet pleased smile on his face. A dark mischievous side of him that he had kept locked away had been re-opened.

Valentine shuddered in fear as she felt something about Sora change – the simple aloof aura that shrouded Sora disappeared and a more sinister aura clouded Sora.

Has the devil been awakened?

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