Chương 60: Is this an interrogation

Ethan walked through Highrocks, the guildmaster beside him. Despite saying she would come with him, the woman hadn't spoken a single word. Ethan had expected something. Anything really. But the complete silence threw him off. So it came as a surprise when she finally spoke up, not long before they were set to reach Mark's residence.

"I don't believe I've had the chance to properly speak to you." Ethan turned to regard her. She wasn't watching him, instead she looked over the settlement as they walked and he could see the regret in her expression as she took it all in.

"Indeed, we haven't, but it's good to finally meet you." Ethan paused, coming to the realization he had never actually gotten her name.

"I'm Ethan by the way," he continued, while leaving the ball in her court to guide the conversation. She smiled slightly.

"You can call me Mia." Ethan nodded, hoping he wouldn't forget it again. Not that he should, considering she was the most powerful person on this level.

"I have a few questions for you," she continued.

"But first, Alex told me it was you that guided him to the Colossus. So I just wanted to say thank you. It helped a lot. I feel like I owe you."

"You don't. Just have Alex keep our deal and all is good," Ethan responded.

"You don't understand," she stated, while turning to look directly at him. Her blue eyes caught in the sun, creating tiny sparkles. Ethan wasn't sure where to look.

"I hate the fact that I owe someone something," Mia continued.

"And I can't stand the thought of not having it repaid. I don't care what you think. This is just how it is." Ethan paused for a moment, though he could understand what she was saying. The thought of owing someone anything never made him feel great either. In fact it was a dangerous situation. The person could always feel like they have one over on you. Which created a rocky relationship at best.

"I get it. So what do you want to do about it?" he asked. Mia tsked at him.

"Well, pay you back obviously."

"I don't feel like I need anything from you," Ethan stated.

"My motivations were entirely selfish to begin with," he continued.

"Think of something," Mia answered immediately, and looked back at the settlement. People were back out on the streets now. Plenty were cleaning any damage but most were looking around aimlessly. There were just too many people here to have control over the entire situation. Especially with Mia having been gone for the last few months. He could see it grated on her. They walked in silence for a bit longer. Ethan really didn't have anything he needed from her. Though there was plenty he could come up with.

Like perhaps a rarer sword, though his was fine. Or perhaps an item. However, he didn't see her being able to get her hands on anything he would really want until at least the second level. To be honest, with the guild war settled, all he wanted to do was leave this level. He couldn't gain much more from being here. Sure there were still lots of class levels he could acquire. But what he really needed was to keep pushing his cultivation. Which wasn't going to happen here. He looked at Mia again.

It was speculation, but Ethan had been around hundreds of core cultivators before. Plenty of them being at the second tier. So through his admittedly lacking senses on the matter, he felt like Mia advancing her core with the colossus heart and lacking ambient mana, had hindered her power. The mana he could sense inside of her still felt strong. Far, far stronger than his. But compared to his memories, it was lacking. He didn't want that for himself.

"What are you looking at? Have you thought of something?"

"Not yet."

"Alright then." She paused.

"Another thing. Why did you enhance yourself to reach me so fast. Do you know that woman?" she questioned. It sounded like just a normal conversation but Ethan knew it was anything but. Luckily it had taken quite a while for this to be brought up, so Ethan had plenty of time to think about how he would deal with this situation. And also plenty of time to realize he had been an idiot to rush forward like that. He was just lucky he had created goodwill between him and the guild. Ethan cooled his expression.

It was time for him to lie. Something he was never any good at but felt he was getting better and better. Which made him feel slightly guilty. But what could he do. It's not like he could say he knew her. And that he had mixed feelings about having her killed. Or that he knew who she worked for and how dangerous they were. So he fudged the truth.

"I haven't met her. But I do know about her," Ethan stated.

"Back when I found the Farscribe book, the necromancer told me about his companions. The poison blade and the juggernaut—""There's no way that's their names," Mia cut in, looking at him like he was mad.

"And also are you talking about the book Alex has?" The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Ethan nodded, stepping out of the way as two men walked past, carrying a large plate of chitin.

"That's just what he called them." Mia snorted.

"And you what? Took one look and knew it was them?" Ethan rubbed the back of his head.

"I mean yeah… the dude was like seven foot. And I saw the poison hit your cheek. It wasn't too hard to put two and two together."

"Okay. So why did you want to be the one to kill her. Want the levels?"

"What no. That's fucked up," Ethan stammered. And truthfully he didn't have a good lie for this, so he didn't answer.

"What's with all the questions anyway?"

"I'm just trying to figure out how you fit in to everything."

"What do you mean?" he questioned. Mia swirled on him. Ethan felt for his mana.

"I mean, what the fuck is a—what? Sixteen-year-old—doing running around in a knight outfit and solving shit no one has the answers to." Ethan took a step back as she moved closer. He really didn't want to fight her.

"I'm just trying to stop people from dying. Is that so bad?" he questioned, a little heat coming through. Mia's brows scrunched and she paused, before clicking her tongue.

"Look at it from where I'm standing. A literal child walked into my guild. Convinced my second in command to go hunt something that no one has managed to kill before, all to help with a breakthrough you should have no idea about. Then you proceed to uncover whoever the fuck that poison bitch works with, stop an entire army. Killing the new guildleader, in what I hear is a fucked up display. Before appearing before me with your sword out and mana flaring." Ethan looked away. Feeling a little flustered.

"I mean, when you put it like that…"

"So what is it? Who are you?" Ethan rubbed his palms on his armor.

"I'm just… me. A boy who got thrown into the trials. Overheard some shit and decided to use it for my benefit. Everything else has just steamrolled from that." Mia rolled her eyes.

"Whatever then. But just so you know. If you fuck with my guild you'll have to answer to me. I don't care how young you are." Ethan also wanted to roll his eyes. But knew it wouldn't do him any good. He was actually probably older than her. Or at minimum close to her age. She couldn't have been a day over thirty.

"Just think of a favor," she stated, turning and walking in the direction they had been heading before whatever the hell just happened started.

"Can it be for you not to try and kill me?"

"No." Ethan sighed and awkwardly led the way to Mark's. As he walked, he thought over their conversation. To be fair, he could see where she was coming from. But he felt he had done enough for the Broken Dawns for them to give him the benefit of the doubt. The main issue seemed to be because he looked so young. Which he really couldn't do anything about. But Mia at least wasn't hostile towards him. Showing he had earned enough favor.

The door to Mark and Sarah's came into view, so Ethan stepped forward and gave it a light tap. He felt a little silly about being back here so early, after saying he wouldn't be returning for a few months but things had changed. He could hear little footsteps rushing to the door, followed by larger ones. The door creaked open, Mark chanced a look outside, while holding Tom back behind him. When he noticed it was Ethan, he relaxed slightly.

"I thought you had left?" he questioned.

"Hello to you as well I guess," Ethan muttered.

"Is everything alright with you guys?" Mark opened the door completely, and paused slightly when he noticed Ethan had company.

"Everything is good. We've just gotten home from the guild. Who's this?" he questioned.

"Right. Sorry. This is Mia. She's actually the guild leader." Mark did a double take, looking at her again. However he didn't stammer or get funny. Likely unaware how powerful the woman next to him was. Instead, he gestured for them to come in. While thanking Mia for giving them a roof over their heads. Even if they had to work for it.

"So what brings you back here?" Mark asked, while walking back towards their living room, Tom close to his legs.

"I actually can't stick around. I need that antivenom from earlier," Ethan stated, not wanting to say exactly what it was used for. Mark looked between them.

"Right. We do still have it, Sarah wanted to hold onto it for emergencies." He looked over to the bassinet for a moment.

"I'll just go see if I can find it. You're alright in here?" Ethan nodded, so Mark turned, heading down the hall. Ethan looked at the bassinet. Towards where humanity's strongest lay. Mia followed his gaze.

"Fucked up, isn't it," she stated, paying no mind to Tom who hadn't followed his dad and was instead watching the two of them, while sticking close to the couch.

"Sure is," Ethan replied, though for a completely different reason.

"Mom said it's not good to swear," a small voice whispered from the side. Ethan looked down at Tom, surprised the boy had spoken. He was an unusually quiet child. Mia regarded him.

"Just as well your mom's not here."

"It's not good to swear," Ethan said at the same time, before narrowing his eyes at Mia.

"Where is your mom anyway?" he followed up. Tom reverted back in on himself.

"She's with the healers," a deep voice answered. Ethan looked up to see Mark entering the room once more. But this time carrying a small vial with a deep green liquid in it.

"God knows the place needs it," Ethan answered. He stepped toward Mark with his hand stretched out.

"I'm glad to see you're alright. But I really am in a rush." Mark handed the vial over. Ethan inspected it, a shiver ran up his spine at the thought of awakening his body cultivation. Ethan buried the feeling and closed his fist around the antivenom.

"I'll come back when everything settles down," he stated.

"You're always welcome here," Mark responded. They turned to leave just as Tom called out.

"Bye." Ethan turned to see him waving his hand shyly.

"See ya kid." They exited the house. The cure for Alex's pain still clutched in his hand. Mia had been oddly quiet. Though Ethan was beginning to think she just didn't speak all that much. They cut their way back through the settlement and towards where they left Alex and the others. When they arrived things had noticeably calmed down. A lot of the injured had been taken care of. Mia turned to him.

"I'll leave this in your hands. It's about time I went and helped Ari with getting everything sorted out." Ethan agreed, unsure why she hadn't been doing that in the first place. Mia gave a glance to Alex who was still a few yards away, and looking to be in quite a bit of pain, before turning around and walking out of the healing bay. Ethan made his way over. That whole scenario felt rather strange. Maybe the guild leader was just weird?

"I've got the anti venom," Ethan spoke up as he arrived in front of them. Nivia let out a worried breath, and visibly relaxed as Ethan unscrewed the cap and moved over to Alex.

"Open wide," he said. Alex winced as he opened his mouth. Ethan poured it down his throat.

"Good boy." Nivia kicked his leg.

"Can you like, never do that again." Ethan laughed as he watched Alex visibly relax as the antivenom started kicking in. And only now, did he allow himself to feel a small fraction of happiness.