Chapter 55: Hidden Emotions, Apparent Conflict

(A/N: There's quite a bit of dialogue at the end of the chapter but don't skip it. It won't extend to the next chap though)

A talented and adventurous man once walked on the crust of Aigas. He was bold. Not afraid to reach out to many races and embracing their cultures as he learned. He fought powerful beasts and had his name included in many records of many cities as a hero, a legend, a teacher.

His exploits were bed time stories for young children in multiple establishments, small or large, sprinkled around the world and his tales inspired young men and women to embrace the idea laid forward by this man as what a true adventurer must be.

This man was named Eobald.

He was dashing and handsome. A calm and collected character that loved to wear a flashy smile that would make women swoon at the very least.

One of the perks of having a deep understanding of mana that transcended the Foundation Stage.

After seeing that going on his own, being a one-man show was getting cumbersome and feeling the need to move with a group that he'd groom personally, he put out a call for adventurers with a powerful resolve to join him.

A single piece of paper with his signature and message caused chaos to ensue as many adventurers sought to join him within the same community.

Most adventurers were usually below the level of Foundation, as those that transcended it were not quite common and preferred other occupations.

From the thousands that responded to his call, fifteen particular individuals managed to get picked after Eobald approved of their resolve and determination for what was to come.

Among these were Irlen, Denille, Reon and Benzard who didn't know each other at the time. 

This party grew under the leadership of Eobald. He taught them how to improve their strength, removed their weaknesses and gave them a greater appreciation of their bodies.

He also taught them his philosophy. That after his many years of being an adventurer, he had discovered that all life was precious, but all sentient things simply lacked the capacity to keep it thriving. He said that through his travels, every race always had those that suffered in the streets without help.

Those that died of hunger while the rich fed themselves and slept on full bellies.

That slaughtering was condoned in many places without defence for those that faced it.

That a new order was needed where equality could be established and that it started with the Ideal Ark, a beacon that would indoctrinate the entire world and save it.

It was inspiring. The grand view of a man who had travelled the world.

They all believed.

In his party, the one who hungrily devoured this knowledge and made himself a monster only second to Eobald himself was Benzard. He and Eobald became close after he was chosen to become the vice leader of the party that became famous across the region, calling themselves the Ideal Ark.

Denille, like every other woman in the group, fell in love with Benzard's charm and ideology that promised a better tomorrow if only she followed him. However, she was the only one who managed to reach his heart, becoming his lover.

Reon who came from a powerful family of Knights where the one who awakened the Imagining Technique was sentenced to decades of isolation to groom the strength to perfection, was glad to have the company and be part of something bigger than the confines of his home.

Irlen was a normal shield bearer who grew to be the lead tank, being especially reliable and having a loyal character.

For four years, the Ideal Ark thrived, becoming more like adventurer saints as they did one grand deed after another.

On one expedition spearheaded by Eobald, the growing group had managed to secure two Keys that were divided between Eobald and Benzard, Eobald suggesting a legacy he knew of that he wanted the group to try and find with these Keys.

It seemed like this was the next grand thing that the Ideal Ark would accomplish.

Yet...

It was not.

A single day proved this when Eobald invited Benzard to his abode. After grooming him the most out of Ideal Ark, Eobald expected Benzard to understand.

He knew of Benzard's tragic past. A man who grew up in a dark society based almost solely on exploitation.

Benzard sought and strength and peace above all else. He was a true patriot of the Ideal Ark. All this could be accomplished when Benzard joined him and lead the others slowly to follow suit.

Eobald expected Benzard to understand his affiliation and purpose that he disclosed after having summoned some of the members of his hidden affiliation to account for anything unexpected.

Benzard... did not agree.

He was enraged.

He was furious.

The man that he called a brother and entrusted his life to was nothing more than a twisted heathen that wanted to level the world and welcome Undeath to everyone as a form of equality!

He was a member of the Green Neolists.

A notorious organisation whose origin was unknown and whose activity were terrifying.

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That was what Benzard had been invited to.

After he had raged out, Eobald's fellows had tried to subdue Benzard but he slaughtered them all and escaped before Eobald could stop him.

Telling this to his fellows didn't yield Benzard any meaningful results as they trusted Eobald with their lives but proof in the form of a magic art called 'memory projection' made the hearts of most of them budge.

A confrontation that led to Eobald being forced into a corner after being besieged by his entire group garnered not only a crazed confession but a demonstration that Eobald was blessed with the class of...

Necromancer.

All he had done.

Spreading his influence.

Creating a powerful group.

It was all in preparation of the first grand movement of the Green Neolists that Benzard and company only discovered after a rough fight with Eobald where spilled some of the detail before he fled!

However, they pursued him, being led to the Tremur Forest as they eventually caught up.

Benzard didn't have the heart to kill Eobald. Four solid years of toasting after killing high tiered monsters, saving lives, gaining recognition and strength.

It might have been a lie but Benzard still felt a twang of pain when he had seen his brutalised former leader who still stood proudly for his ideals, justifying himself as if he was the one who was wronged.

Yet, Benzard no longer cared. He had merely wanted the Key that Eobald possessed so that he could get the weapon that could aid him and the remnants of the Ideal Arc in fighting off the horrifying plan that the Green Neolists would pull off.

Yet...

He had slipped away, killing many of his own people in the process and dying a sad, worthless death in the end by the hand of a certain Discount Human.

***

Benzard faced the two who refused to assist him and wore a scrunched up expression. Even after all that they had seen. After all they had learned, they still...

"Hypocrites..." he muttered. "I'm trying to fight against the problem that Eobald propagated and all you can say is 'you're tired' and start demeaning me when I'm the one who fucking saved you the trouble of having to discover that we were on the wrong path before it was too late?!"

"So what?! He... told me that he wanted a better world! I believed him! He truly cared and he was genuine! We forced his hand! That's why everyone died... that's why..." Denille said with a broken voice.

Benzard's eyes flared with a hot and bright flash of lightning as he felt enraged.

"Piss off! Did he inject his ideals into you with his rod?! You turned into an idiot the day you believed everything he said! Just like me! The difference is, I woke up from it, because I never lost sight of myself!"

Reon slid over to stand before Denille with a pained expression as he looked at Benzard. 

Irlen also looked at this with a complicated expression.

"I never would have thought that you who were the smartest among us would justify this? Why did you stand by and fight with me if this is how you felt?" asked Benzard.

"I never cared about all that. About Eobald and his philosophy. I was only happy to be part of a family that didn't have some messed tradition just because I awakened a rare power within the family. I was willing to fight Eobald because I hoped... we would still be the Ideal Ark after this but... this is all that's left. So yes... I'm tired," Reon said with a subdued voice.

Denille pushed him away and pointed at Benzard angrily while she boomed.

"You... at least we actually cared about this family. We had attachments that we believed that we won't give up so easily but you... all you've been thinking about is that damned legacy instead of anything else! We are grieving! I don't want to do this! Eobald was right! At least he truly wanted things to change but you... you're obsessed with nothing but strength... admit it!"

Benzard's eyes sparked as he breathed out a hot breath that cooked up the soil as he then spoke.

"That's right. I'm obsessed with strength. I've always been. But unlike a pretty bag of roses like you or a prodigy from a famous family, I grew up in a horrible place where the worst of humanity thrived."

"I sought strength because I wanted to free myself. None of you fuckers know the true evil that humanity can resort too. Even wolves will look pretty in comparison. Unlike you, I came into this knowing that life isn't some pretty ideal where you fight and kill monsters while the world sings your praises all the damn time. That's why I believed Eobald more than every fucking one of you!"

"I believed that what I had experienced in my youth would be a thing of the past when Eobald actualised his plan but look at us now...!"

An expression and tone that was unbecoming of the calm he exuded before surfaced.

Benzard's presence became even more intimidating as he took a single step forward that made Denille shrink and back away.

"Now I don't give a damn about your sentiments. You can cry and regret all you want after we are done with this. You can quit for all I care but right now, you're going to get your asses there and pump every last bit of mana you have to keep that man alive! Or so help me, I'll send you to Eobald..."

There was a silence afterwards as the argument drew to a close. 

All that was left was to oblige.

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