Hearing Vahn's words, Chloe just shook her head slowly as she put away her daggers. While keeping eye contact with Vahn, she said plainly, "I'll explain in more detail later, but assassination is actually my profession. Are you surprised?" As she asked, Chloe tilted her head playfully but Vahn could see her aura fluctuate slightly. Though she was acting casually, Vahn understood she placed a lot of weight in his response.
Releasing a sigh, Vahn said, "I'm sure you have your reasons, and one day I'd like to find out. For now, the only thing that really matters is that I know you are a gentle and thoughtful girl that likes to be spoiled." Vahn smiled as he spoke and Chloe could see that there was no hesitation or judgment in his eyes. Though he couldn't see it on her face, Vahn knew she was happy since her aura had stabilized.
Vahn reached down and placed his palm on the area where Laverna had fallen and asked, "I really am sorry, Chloe... you had to do something I didn't have enough courage to do myself... I'm a coward." Strangely, when he spoke, Chloe laughed slightly as she walked over to him and squatted down next to where he had knelt down. Before Vahn could ask, Chloe pushed his shoulder a bit and Vahn fell onto his butt with a stupefied expression on his face.
Chloe looked at Vahn with squinted eyes and said, "Cowards don't run into enemy territory on their own and save damsels in distress, Vahn. Do you think Milan and Tina would believe the words you're saying right now?" Hearing her words, Vahn felt a bit of hesitation and considered her words before trying to speak.
Seeing that he was trying to find his words, Chloe continued, "Tell me, Vahn, after you saved Milan and Tina, how many people did you kill?" Though Vahn was confused at her question, he answered after a brief hesitation, "None..." After he answered, Chloe pulled down her face mask and smiled as she said, "You're unable to kill people unless its to protect other people...even if those people are trying to kill you." When she spoke, Chloe poked the unconscious body of Kuji that was nearby.
Verifying that he was still alive, Chloe continued, "You're a good person Vahn... you aren't a coward, nor do you lack courage. If anything, you're closer to a hero that lacks common sense than anything else." Chloe began laughing at her own words before she calmed down and showed Vahn a gentle and concerned smile and said, "I'm sure you've realized it yourself, but there are a lot of people drawn to you... do you know why that is?"
Vahn furrowed his brows slightly before responding, "Because I'm nice to them and try to make them happy...?" Hearing his response, Chloe began laughing as she sat next Vahn and rested her head on his shoulder. After a few seconds, she said in a quiet voice, "It's because you can empathize with people...you're very perceptive and thoughtful to the concerns and needs of others, and you're always trying to consider things from their perspective..."
Chloe grabbed Vahn's left hand and began fiddling with his fingers as she asked in a lazy manner, "Isn't that the reason why you couldn't kill that goddess?" Vahn remained silent for several seconds as he contemplated her words. As she said, even though he wanted to act out to release his pent of emotions, Vahn couldn't do it after learning Laverna's Divinity and the fact she didn't specifically order Milan's torture. Her greatest sin was negligence, but she wasn't inherently evil...just someone that had been twisted by the whims of fate.
Releasing a long sigh, Vahn asked, "What do I do, Chloe? I don't want things like this to happen anymore, but I don't know what I can do to stop it..." In response to his question, Chloe also sighed and explained with a sad expression on her face, "There really isn't anything you can do, Vahn. The brighter your light shines, the more prominent the darkness around you will become. Even if you tried to extinguish the darkness and went on a crusade to eliminate evil, it wouldn't be long before you became tainted by the very same darkness you sought to destroy..."

YOU ARE READING
endless path, infinite cosmos
FantasyVahn was an atypical youth. Due to a rare mutation, his blood had the potential to target and attack ailments within the human body. Touted as a universal cure, people had elevated his status above the norm and given him the classification "Panacea"...