the beginning after the end perfect duo

CHAPTER 26

So, Arthur, Lilia, and I gathered around and started the discussions.

"Adam won't be the one for us because he's just irresponsible, and he might try to get a good warm-up by fighting us instead of protecting us," Arthur said, emphasizing the word "warm-up."

"We'll probably beat him again, but I agree," I said.

"Whatever you guys think, I don't know anything about them," Lilia said.

We took a quick glance towards them again.

"How about that woman with blonde hair?" Lilia pointed out.

"You mean Angela? Well, I think she will treat us far too nicely," I said.

"Well, that's what we want, isn't it?" Lilia asked.

"She'll basically become your second mother, and I don't think others will take us seriously as adventurers when she's with us. We want someone more serious and firm," Arthur said.

"How about that one then? She looks serious," Lilia pointed out towards Jasmine.

"Agree," I said immediately.

"Well, we think that Jasmine would be a good pick if she agrees, of course," I said, turning quickly towards them.

"You didn't ask my opinion yet," Arthur said, poking my shoulder.

"It's 2 vs 1 on votes," Lilia said.

"So, what do you think, Jasmine?" Helen asked.

"It's fine," she said casually.

"All right, and that settles it," I said.

I turned around to leave, but Lilia held my hand.

"Settles what? We still didn't ask Mom, you stupid," she said.

"Oh yeah," I said.

"Where are they, by the way?" Arthur asked.

"Probably in the main hall," Lilia said.

So, I turned around again, headed straight to Jasmine, and held her hand.

"Jasmine, please go with us. We need you in order to convince Mom," I said.

She placed her hand on top of my head and said again, "Okay."

And just like that, we went all together to the main hall, directly to where she was.

"What's the reason for the sudden surprise? Weren't you all training in the backyard or something?" Mom asked.

"Well, we need to tell you something, something important," Arthur and I said. Lilia was silent because her turn isn't now; hers is against her own mother, soon.

Mom's face quickly transformed into a more serious one, her calm demeanor changed, and now I was seeing the same version my father had to convince when we were coming to Xyrus for the first time ever.

My father wasn't here yet, so we didn't have to worry about him anytime soon.

"All right, what's the matter?" she asked.

The chair she was sitting on suddenly transformed into a high chair, and she was sitting on top of it while we were at the bottom.

"We want to become adventurers," Arthur said.

"No, strictly no. You just came back after a long time, we just got you back, and yet you want to go out there and risk your lives. You just can't do it. And you, Tom, you have seen the state we were in after your brother got lost. We thought he was gone. Do you want us in the same state again if anything happened to any of you?" Mom said.

"We're not going to be on our own. We've got Jasmine with us. She'll make sure we're fine. Plus, Arthur and I aren't weak. We're strong, and we're going to make sure nothing bad happens to any of us," I said.

"The life of an adventurer is never safe. It's always filled with surprises and dangers. Even if you were the strongest ever, a single mistake or a moment of surprise, and it's over for you," Mom said again.

"But Mom, I have already wasted several years of my life in other places. I didn't even have the chance to go out there and discover what this world looks like. You and Father wanted to be adventurers, to discover the world and have fun out there. You guys even met there," Arthur said.

"But still—"

"You had that opportunity, so why not us?" Arthur said.

"You just don't understand," Mom said.

And then she started crying.

Arthur and I hugged Mom. Lilia joined as well, and then Ellie did too. I don't even know where she was.

"We won't go now. We would wait until our birthday," Arthur said.

"And we would visit you every month, and we promise to stay safe."

"You promise?"

"We promise," we said.

"Mom, why are you crying?" Ellie asked.

"It's nothing, Ellie, nothing," she said after gaining control over herself again.

We went directly to target Tabitha as our next prey.

She was in her room, so Lilia knocked on the door quietly. We waited until she allowed us to enter, and there she was sitting on her bed.

"What's the matter with you? I just heard some loud voices down there. Is something wrong with you guys?"

"Well, we want to become adventurers," Lilia said.

"That explains the voices I heard. And how did it go with Alice?"

"She allowed us after telling her that we wouldn't go until our birthday in three months, and we would come to visit every month at least once. We would go out there until we're of age to go to school," Arthur said.

"Jasmine would also go with us," I added.

"Yeah, and that too."

"Well, there is no point in refusing then. Arthur, Tom, just promise me something."

"You would never let my daughter get harmed, okay?"

"We promise you, Aunt Tabitha," we said.

"Well, that settles it," Arthur said.

"We still need a few things," I said.

"Which are?" Lilia asked.

"Well, we need to train you first, obviously, and we still need to get a sword for Arthur and appropriate clothes for us," I said.

"When are you going to start my training?" Lilia asked.

"Tomorrow. We don't have much time," Arthur said.

"Ok, I'll start my preparations," she said.

Lilia then proceeded to leave.

"As for the sword, remember that long stick Sylvia got that time?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with it?" I asked.

"It turned out to be a sword when I used Sylvia's will."

"Well, here's one task done."