Chapter 238: The One They Chose

Some time ago, on the day the trial details were finally announced, which was also the day Talia lost to Moon in the duel for leadership and authority.

That day, she returned to her room, which was currently empty.

Boa was too angry at the entire sequence of events that had led to the current outcome; she was also strongly disapproving of the way Talia had given Moon the right to stand as his equal and even fight under such conditions that allowed him to exert almost all of his strength.

Talia had put herself at a disadvantage, only to lose the duel, along with her proof of authority, to a nameless hooligan from the first floor.

Talia let her body collapse on the bed, closing her amber eyes for a moment.

She was tired, too tired.

Closing her eyes, letting the feelings of both disappointment and relief sink in. She had fought long and hard; she also knew too well.

She couldn’t win.

Talia opened her eyes, and her status window shone upon her face in blue radiance.

She stared there.

At a certain section, her eyes didn’t leave. As if she was calculating something or estimating a possibility.

Vital Data

Strength: 14

Agility: 15

Stamina: 14

Echo: 15

Talia’s eyes went through the numbers one time after another.

"Almost at the peak of what’s allowed for a second floor ascender to achieve," she whispered.

Without the gifts of ascension, the numbers would soon hit a wall that could not be broken, no matter what.

Just like the limit she had mentioned to Moon regarding Echo. It couldn’t go past 16 for a second floor ascender.

Even if Moon broke that number thanks to external means that didn’t belong to the Tower, it was something only he, himself, was aware of.

As for Talia, she was proud of the numbers that had put her on par, or even a little higher than the Power Standards of the third floor while still a second floor ascender.

Though, at the end of the day, stats weren’t everything.

She closed her eyes again, and the image of Moon slipping through her guard, landing hits only to evade her attacks one time after another.

Talia sighed. "Like chasing a ghost," she said bitterly before adding,

"At least 5 more points if I want to win against him through stats alone..." she concluded.

If Talia wanted to overpower Moon without any Echo, she would need that many more stats to guarantee a win.

Even with the insurance her attributes provided, it seemed the bare minimum if she desired to win.

But what made it bitter was that he was just that talented.

Talia couldn’t see a way for her to perform as well as Moon did.

She was afraid to admit it, but was it even possible to reach that level of combat mastery?

Her heart was growing heavier by the minute.

She had now missed the only chance to win against him, for now, this young ascender. The one who came from the brutal first floor, ragged and malnourished, with nothing but skin and bones, was now outside, enjoying the benefits of ascension.

He was now under the blessings of the Tower, and his growth was just about to take off.

She suddenly felt her ring, and a call notification appeared before her eyes.

Talia sat up, then gently tapped the ring once with her thumb.

In front of her face, a screen appeared showing the face of a man whose hair was black and short, looking at her with his green eyes.

A face that looked both old and young at the same time, even if it had not a single wrinkle.

"Master," Talia said, lowering her gaze. Looking ashamed, as she should.

"Talia," the man called with a deep voice, yet it lacked the anger Talia was expecting. "That was an... Interesting fight to watch."

Talia raised her gaze slowly, not sure what he was implying. He was supposed to be angry, and this call was to set her punishment.

Or so she expected.

Watching the confused gaze of his young apprentice, the man smiled. "Don’t be too bitter about it; you chose to fight under these circumstances, so suffer for it as a responsible adult would."

"You didn’t call to give a punishment?" She asked dubiously, with a frown written all over her red eyebrows.

The man she called Master chuckled. "No, there are two old men in the branch you happened to be at," he said. "These two." He paused for a second.

"Let’s say I have some history with them, though they may be forgotten now, I had the chance to work with them and be on good terms."

Talia didn’t seem to understand. Her master was also far from done.

"There’s a teacher and cook working in your branch; these two crazy old men picked that kid you just lost to," the man said slowly.

"Understand it however you would, but if they happened to choose someone... That person is bound to bring a change, just like they once did."

"If anything, maybe my own shortcomings as your mentor are the reason for your loss," he added.

His words came out more cryptic than the last; the confusion in Talia’s eyes didn’t diminish at all.

In the end, she understood her master best. The man would only say what he had to say and nothing more. Thus, she decided to ask the important question now that she wasn’t receiving a punishment.

"Does Father know?" she asked.

"If it’s about the duel, yes, and don’t worry; I spoke this out with him," the man said, even though the fight was only over recently... Only a little over 30 minutes had passed.

"If you’re asking if he knows the two I spoke of, then no... Your father is too young," her master said.

Listening to this, Talia’s mouth twitched. It wasn’t common to hear someone call her father young.

"You’re no longer a child, so, consider my words as advice rather than an instruction." The man began. "The child these two chose wouldn’t necessarily bring forth good changes to the Tower, if he could bring any at all."

"Master, I don’t understand," Talia said politely.

"Just observe and do whatever you want; if he’s one to bring any good change or not... for maybe he would bring a disaster instead... In the end, it’s your own judgment and decision."

After going back and forth with her master, the only thing she could conclude at this point was that he thought highly of Moon and the two old men in the branch.

She had met Samuel a few times, but not once had she seen the other one who was either cooking or smithing without any official interactive role with the ascenders.

Talia had no business knowing these details, but an important question pressed her instead.

"Wait, Master, how do you know?" Talia asked again.

"About that—"

Back to the present, Talia stood before Gustav’s question, feeling conflicted.

"Boss, I’ll prepare firewood," Basil said, running somewhere.

"Come on, come and help us... If it gets cold, skinning it will be a bitter nightmare," Moon said, calling for others to come forward to help.

The prey was far too big for one or two people to work on, and the skinning process needed to start with the hooves all the way up to the stomach. Then the back.

The skin was very tough, so Fisher and Moon worked hard to hack the initial opening.

Markala joined right away, working his way up from one foot with a short blade that was very sharp, separating now the tough skin from the meat.

Gradually, one after another started to take a role in the work they were doing.

Amidst the lively yet pleasant chaos, Talia opened her mouth.

"His background is rather too complicated for me to explain; please ask him yourself."