Wrath's Virtue

Aurelion continued to stare at Roric. Roric, in turn, kept his eyes closed, processing. Finally, he opened them.

"I believe you, Aurelion," he said, his voice was heavy. "I believe what happened to you, and I believe why you hate and distrust Primordia. But... it is the will of this world. If the invaders are our enemy and they are do you think Primordia is their ally?"

"No, but-"

"Is it using us?" Roric cut him off. "Does that even matter?"

"Doesn't it, Captain?" Aurelion shot back.

"If you had been born twenty years earlier, you would understand what I mean, Aurelion," Roric said with a deep weariness in his voice. "The invaders are coming to destroy this world."

"How do you know that, Captain?" Aurelion asked. "Did Primordia tell you? Or did one of the ones you killed confess?"

Roric leaned back in his chair. "The energy of those who attacked us was like a disease, Aurelion, destroying everything it touched. I don't know what their goal was, but I know they didn't come to conquer this world. And against them, Primordia is on our side. During the war, the wildest of beasts in this world came to our aid. You may not trust Primordia, and for that, I can't say anything to you. But against the invaders, Primordia is an ally. For that, I am certain."

Aurelion didn't reply.

"We will speak of this later," Roric continued.

"You know she has a hand in the Shadow Canyon and the Storm Pass, don't you?" Aurelion added.

"Most likely, yes. I believe you, brat," Roric said. "But I don't need to tell you that you must not speak of this to anyone, do I?"

"I know," Aurelion said. "Then tell me about the Laws, Captain."

Roric paused. "That's... a complicated subject. But I'll give you a simple summary." He leaned forward. "Fire," he said. "It's hot, isn't it?"

"Yes," Aurelion replied, waiting.

"The fact that fire is hot... that is a Law," Roric stated.

Aurelion just stared at Roric. "...And?"

"The more you know what fire is, the more you understand it, what it means to you... in short, the better you can understand and feel its definition in this universe, the more you begin to understand the Law of Fire."

"Is that it?" Aurelion asked.

"It's not that simple," Roric said.

A smirk played on Aurelion's lips. "'Understanding, Captain? Fire does not have a spirit or a mystical definition. It is a process. Think of it like a recipe. It has three ingredients. Fuel, air, and enough heat. If you take one away, the fire dies. The heat you feel is not the power of a Law. It is simply the hidden power within the wood being released as it turns to ash and light. It is not a feeling. It is a result. It has a formula, Captain. And if you know the formula, then you understand it."

"You arrogant brat," Roric grumbled, though without any real heat. "Then tell me this. Do you think the law Primordia sensed in you was the Law of Fire? If you know so much about what fire is, why do you have no Understanding in its Law? Knowing how fire works allows you to manipulate it, but it does not grant you Understanding in its Law."

"These Laws resonate with a person's mind," Roric continued. "After a certain point, you reach a state where you could watch the thing you love most in this world burn, and you would watch it with awe. Understanding in a Law isn't a physical thing, brat." He pointed a finger at his own heart. "It is spiritual."

"Then how does one learn this... Understanding in the Laws?" Aurelion asked.

"You need to ponder and think on a specific thing for a long time, brat. In time, you can gain Understanding. At the same time, the things you experience in life can also trigger it. But it is not something that can be grasped quickly."

Aurelion looked at Roric. "And what Law do you understand, Captain?"

Roric's voice was flat. "The Law of Steel."

Aurelion wasn't surprised. He thought of Roric's metallic skin, the way his body seemed to take on the properties of metal when he fought, his disciplined, unbending nature as a warrior. It wasn't that he knew. It was that no other Law could have possibly fit him better. "I understand this concept of Understanding better now," he said.

"And how did you know you were compatible with the Law of Steel?" Aurelion asked.

"You feel it," Roric said. "And at the same time, it reflects in your abilities. My arm turning to metal like my weapon when I attack, for example."

"Why can't I feel mine, then?"

"This process can change from Law to Law," Roric explained. "If you have possessed a Law compatible with you from the moment of your birth, you will probably understand what it is."

"And what do you think it could be, Captain?" Aurelion asked.

Roric looked him over. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "Stubbornness. Arrogance. A lightning intellect, perhaps. Judging by your energy, something aggressive. There are too many options."

Aurelion paused, considering. "No," he said finally. "I don't think it's any of those."

"Keep the matter in the back of your mind and think on it from time to time, but you don't need to focus on it. This is not something you can grasp just by thinking," Roric advised.

"In that case, the mission is complete," Aurelion said, standing up. "I am going home, Captain."

"Take the things you've collected home and rest, brat," Roric said. "You will take them to Faelan later. And at the same time, you need to recover before the Talent Tests. You used Limit Breaker, didn't you?"

"Of course," Aurelion replied.

"Alright," Roric said. "Go home and rest."

Aurelion walked to the door. "Have a good shift, Captain," he said, and walked out.

Aurelion walked out of the garrison building, passing between the two Silver Guards who watched him go.

Rolf and Finn were waiting outside. As Aurelion walked past, Rolf spoke. "The potion was part of the mission, Aurelion."

Aurelion didn't stop. "So is covering the expenses," he replied, and continued on his way.

He made his way toward the Upper District. As he walked through the familiar streets, the house finally came into view.

He stopped in front of the door, staring at it for a moment. "Tsk. This is going to be annoying," he thought, and knocked.

A voice came from inside. "Coming!"

Aurelion recognized it instantly. "Sigrid..."

The door opened, and Sigrid looked at Aurelion. The welcoming smile on her face froze. She just stared while her eyes wide with shock.

Aurelion broke the silence. "What's up, Sigrid. Is there any food?" he asked, and stepped inside.

As Aurelion walked past her, Sigrid finally snapped out of it. She knelt and cupped his face in her hands. "What happened to your eye? Are you okay? What happened to you?..." She started firing questions, her fingers gently probing the edges of his bandages.

Aurelion pushed her hands away with his own. "Cut it out, Sigrid," he said. "I just want to eat."

At that moment, Brynja approached with quick steps, her brow furrowed as she took in the sight of the bandages. She looked at Sigrid. "Let's feed Aurelion first," she said. "We can look at his eye later."

Sigrid slowly straightened up, composing herself. She then put a forced smile on her face. "Come, Aurelion," she said, and they headed for the kitchen.

Aurelion settled slowly at the table and leaned back in his chair. In the background, Brynja worked quickly to prepare more food, while Sigrid immediately began placing ready dishes before him. Aurelion ate with a ravenous hunger, finishing each plate as soon as it arrived.

Each time he emptied a plate, Sigrid would place another one in front of him. Finally, Aurelion held up a hand to stop her as he swallowed his last bite.

Sigrid put the plate down anyway. "Eat this too, Aurelion. You need it," she insisted.

"Yes," Brynja's voice came from the kitchen, where she was still cooking.

"You're exaggerating," Aurelion said. "Eating all of this won't fix my eye, and I can't eat another bite."

"Even if not for your eye, your body needs it," Sigrid said softly.

Brynja sighed. "Aurelion is right, Sigrid," she said. She came out from the kitchen and walked toward Aurelion as Sigrid turned to look at her.

She fixed her gaze on Aurelion. "Let's tend to your wounds," she stated. "Let's get you to the bath. When you get out, we'll check your injuries."

"I used a Rank 4 potion," Aurelion said. "There's nothing more to be done."

Brynja shot a look at Sigrid, a silent command in her eyes. Together, they each took one of Aurelion's arms and began to guide him upstairs toward his room.

"Stop this nonsense," Aurelion grumbled, trying to pull away.

Sigrid opened her mouth to speak, but it was Brynja who finally exploded. Her voice, which normally so calm, was filled with a fierce, exasperated affection.

"You've been gone for a week and you show up in this state! Stop being stubborn, Aurelion! You're in our hands today!"