Chapter 53. Changes I saw Chloe swinging her sword around, hitting trees that she had marked. The way she was moving was similar to the fighting style she showed during our spar session. Quick movements and short exchanges. She was already covered in sweat, and blood flew from her hand as her swords moved. She had to be here for a long time to end up in this condition. "Are you not going to sleep?" I asked her and she flinched, a short scream almost leaving her mouth. I laughed seeing that, and she too had a good laugh after seeing it was me. "Don't scare me like that, I almost had a heart attack!" She said as dramatically as possible. "There could be monsters around here, I haven't killed the stronger ones these last few days." "I am scared of sleeping," she said. "Every time I close my eyes, I hear my brother saying 'run, leave me behind' while he tries to stop the people chasing us further. I feel like a burden that he had to carry, he even gave his life to protect me. I feel useless." I didn't say anything, just stay quiet and let her finish. "Death, guilt, loss, anger, all of these are negative emotions but they are the emotions that have the effect the people the most. I was clumsy, lazy but these recent events and Chris' death have changed me the most." I let Thorn flow out, and got ready. "You are mainly going to fight people if want to keep going on this path, so I will help you. Come," Chloe was taken aback but didn't refuse and just rushed in, I dodged her attack and punched her right in the gut. I wasn't fighting her with equal strength this time, it was full try-hard mode. She coughed and kneeled on the ground. "The people you are trying to kill are all stronger than you, and it doesn't end there. The people who allowed them to be so brazen, the people who support them, the people who covered for them and supported them. Every single one has a hand in killing Chris. So be sure to 'look after' them, if you start something be sure to end it. Come!" Chloe had puked five times, two of the five pukes were blood. But throughout the whole ordeal, she didn't complain, not a single time. The most she stayed down was for one minute and she got back again right after that. We stopped only when she passed out. I carried her and let her rest under a tree looking over her until she woke up. She was cheerful, hardworking, and ready to go to any heights just to achieve her goals. This was what most people lacked and ended up staying normal, background characters for the rest of their lives. Luck could be a factor but I did not like depending on it too much. I looked at her face and something happened the next moment. Never had the two voices in my head agreed to something, they remained in conflict trying to belittle the other. Trying to come out on top, dominate the other side and make me choose one aside once and for all. But today, at this moment, for the first time they agreed to something. The two voices echoed out simultaneously, saying the same exact thing. *Never lose her, never lose your guiding light.* ^Never lose her, never lose your guiding light.^ The first rays of sunlight fell upon her face as she opened her eyes. "You were unconscious for two hours." Chloe sat up properly and leaned against the tree, "Sorry, you had to look after me." I didn't reply to that statement and got up, returning back to the city. I paused and said, "Same time, every day, here." She stared at me for a few seconds and then looked down as tears fell from her eyes, "Thank you, thank you so much." She said as quietly as possible but I still heard her. Something in me wanted to support her, help her achieve her goal. I walk into the city to see Arthur, Luke, and Lucy gathering everyone and moving towards the ground that had been cleared to be used as a training area for the army. They hadn't seen me for now, so I stayed hidden and followed them, curious about what they were up to. They reached the ground and divided people into three groups, one big and two about the same size. When everyone was divided into groups, Arthur gave them some directions. "Warm up your bodies, then we start spars. The big group will be handled by me, while the other two would be under Luke and Lucy." Some people scoffed and made fun of Arthur saying that weak people shouldn't be the ones talking so big. Many still thought that I was the leader of this town, which I was but it was because no one else was capable. Now when Arthur tried to take everything under his control, they mocked him. But Arthur handled everything well. "You there, the one with two swords and bog beard. Yes you, come out." He called out the loudest one, "We can spar right here. If you hit me even once, I'll bow down to you and apologize." "That isn't enough, I want you to like my shoes only then will I be satisfied." The man said and the people behind him laughed. "Sure, but if you don't land a single hit, you die. Do you still want to do this?" I was taken aback as Arthur talked about killing someone, and so was the man in question. He hesitated but hearing the people cheer on him from behind, he agreed. 5 seconds. That was all it took for everyone to shut up. The man ran forward with his sword, Arthur dodged and put his leg forward. The tripped and landed right on his face. Arthur stepped on the man's back and raised his sword. "Now, you die." The sword fell.