The Gamer's POV-Chapter 232: Karma Essence

Cedric smiled, then as he continued to weave the lower half of the braid, he said after a moment, "I still can’t figure it out, though." He leaned closer to her side. "Any idea how it works?"

Aika thought for a few seconds before replying. "I’ve been trying to figure it out while you were recovering, and although I haven’t fully grasped everything about it, I have noticed a few things." She looked out over the city with a thoughtful expression, then continued after a brief moment. "In our case, our subjects of influence are all those we’ve ever brought back to life, so we can only get essence from them. As for how we get essence, I think it has to do with their karma."

"Karma?" Cedric asked, arching a brow.

"Yeah. Just like how our authority revolves around karma points, we get essence from the karma they generate through their actions."

Cedric slowed his hands, considering her words. "So if any of them do something good, we receive essence, and if they do something evil, we also receive essence?"

"Exactly," Aika nodded. "The more intense the act of kindness or absolute evil, the more essence trickles back to you."

"Oh..." Cedric’s voice trailed off as he grew lost in contemplation.

Aika turned back slightly. "I think that it’s not limited to actions. Even just having the thought and intentions alone is enough to grant us essence. Though, I think it grants a very tiny amount."

She held up her hand, gesturing with her fingers to show just how small the amount was.

Then, her eyes widened slightly as she suddenly remembered another point. "Oh, and also... It’s the same if they inspire it in others. If they lead others to good or bad, you get essence too. The amount varies depending on the number of people they influence."

Cedric smiled.

At first, he wasn’t exactly thrilled about resurrecting the cadets, but now, he was thinking that it wasn’t bad that he decided to bring them back. They were now indebted to him and were going to pay that debt to him in essence until they died again.

He pulled the last few strands through, finishing the braid with a deft, careful motion. Then he gripped her shoulders and turned her around to face him. His expression was bright and a bit restless.

Leaning in, he spoke excitedly.

"Use my eyes and tell me. Do you like it?"

Aika blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden shift in his energy. After a few seconds though, she focused, drawing on their connection to see herself through his perspective.

When she tapped into his eyes, she saw the reflection of a girl with a perfectly woven braid resting over her shoulder, her pale skin slightly flushed, and her blue eyes shimmering with a mix of surprise and burgeoning joy.

Her smile returned with a new warmth as she whispered. "It is beautiful."

"Right?" Cedric chirped as he turned his head so that she could see the full view.

When he stopped moving, Aika tapped out of his eyes and looked back at him with her own eyes, then added with a soft giggle, "You really surprised me there with a splendid job."

Cedric sniffed in air while rubbing under his nose with a finger as he said proudly. "See, I told you I’d make you look even more beautiful."

Aika smiled, looked down, and brushed her hair with her fingers, admiring it. Then, as she lifted her eyes into Cedric’s, she said genuinely. "Thank you... Ced."

Cedric smirked and tapped her shoulder. "Anytime."

After that, he exhaled quietly as he slowly pushed himself off the ground until he stood upright. Then he extended his hand, tilted his head and gestured away, "Come on, let’s go train."

Aika reached out and took his hand, letting him pull her up.

Then he confidently pocketed one hand into the pocket of his long coat, and with the other still holding hers, he began leading her to the edge of the keep.

They stared, smiling at each other for a brief moment, then together, they gracefully stepped off the ledge, plummeting toward the courtyard below.

However, while in the air, both their forms began to slowly disperse into a flurry of beautiful black feathers that were carried away by the wind.

***

The days went by in tense anticipation.

Everyone spent them training and preparing for the raid that would determine their fate.

Already, the grade two territory was horrific enough, but now, they had no choice but to go through a grade three territory if they wanted to return home.

To be honest, there were some among the cadets who had gotten cold feet and made up their minds to remain in the safer parts of this realm, rather than going to die in the grade three territory while attempting to go home. Despite having the hollow ones fighting alongside them, they still felt that the risk was too high. Their confidence and morale were really at an all-time low.

Princess Aurora and Leon had their hands full trying to talk to them and boost their spirits, assuring them that the hollow ones were fighting with them and that they would survive. They did everything they could to keep the group together.

Of course, there were a few cadets who still didn’t trust the hollow ones. They just couldn’t bring themselves to trust monsters of this realm.

There were questions like, what if they betray us?

What if they turn on us in the middle of a fight?

Luckily, Leon was able to convince them by saying that, using his eye, he could confirm the hollow ones really were on the side of the cadets.

That aside...

Apart from the doubtful few, many tried to keep hopeful, determined looks on their faces. They trained hard every day with the hollow ones. They trained both in physical combat and their exclusive skills. Actually, many focused more on their exclusive skills since the creatures in the grade three territories didn’t have the same immunity as the hollow ones.

They decided to use this time and try to max out the levels of their skills.

And so, as they trained and leveled up their skills, the days turned into weeks.