Records of Rebirth

Chapter 314 - Uncertainty

Ding!

[Quest - Earn Ophelia's trust. Complete!]

[Quest Reward 400XP has been issued!]

I was surprised it was that simple, since all I did was share my snacks and listen to her.

She really seemed to love anything sweet, much like the dark fae.

But then again, Ophelia always had a favourable impression of me, and she seemed to be the easy going type…if you ignored her occasional bouts of intensity. She was possibly the easiest one to win over, considering the different personalities of nestlings I'd encountered so far.

Now, if only that grumpy and moody Typhon was so easy to deal with. 

Ding!

[Emergency Quest Issued!]

I frowned. What now?

[Earn Typhon's respect!]

[Adept Level Quest - Defeat Typhon in a hunting match. [Reward [450XP]]

Progress: Kills [0/50] Time Limit: [5 minutes]

Oh... This looked fun!

For an Adept quest, it was quite easy.

Ding!

[Adept Level Quest - Defeat Typhon in a sparring match. [Reward [400XP]]

I spoke too soon. I should have known this wasn't all of it.

However, a sparring match could also be interesting.

I've wanted to test his strength for a while but never got the chance. Typhon would put up quite a fierce fight and I'm excited to find out how strong he has gotten since the last time we both went hunting. The nestlings could also learn many things from watching us.

They were endlessly curious about my abilities, and this seemed like the perfect way to show them. I would win obviously – there was no question about that, but it would be fun to see how long Typhon would last.

The thought of it already made me grin, a sparring match was indeed the best choice.

But Ophelia who stood watch high up on a branch, immediately glided out from between the leaves to land at my side.

[You're smiling.] She tilted her head in suspicion. [You're not thinking of leaving again, are you?]

Um.

What was it with these brats?

|[No. I just had an idea.]| I replied. |[It would be nice to do something fun when we get back. Which is best, a hunting competition or a sparring match?]|

Ophelia lifted her head in thought, her feathers swishing excitedly. [Will you join?]

|[Only for one match…]|

But then. 

Ding!

[Adept Level Quest - Set an example! Kill Typhon for his insubordination. Reward [500XP]]

Woah.

What the heck was this?

[What's wrong?] Ophelia asked.

|[It's nothing.]| I replied and she didn't press any further.

It was obvious I wasn't going to kill Typhon. It didn't matter how much the nestlings liked me, their respect stemmed from their fear, but Typhon on the other hand was admired for his courage and leadership. 

Killing him would only establish my image as a tyrant, not a leader. 

And it would hurt Ophelia, whose trust I just gained.

I glanced over at the white serpent who had her face nuzzled against her feathers, like a sleeping kitten. Compared to Typhon, she was gentle, but she wasn't any less respected among the nestlings than he was, her influence was just more subtle.

If she turned against me, I didn't know if I would be able to kill her so resolutely. 

Just one wrong move on my part could wreck this hard won peace.

And for such a stupid quest to have the highest reward – this default system was crazy!

Did it think I would be tempted?

It was wrong. 

But, I had to wonder the reasoning behind such a quest. 

Unlike Sensei, the default system wasn't biased. It must have recognised some threat in order to suggest killing him, perhaps as a means to weaken his influence over the others or to increase mine.

And yet, as abrasive as Typhon was, he was a great Commander. His only crime was that he could be a little too forward sometimes, especially with what he believed was right.

But weren't they all?

I couldn't name a single nestling who was docile, except maybe Aquila, and even then she was fiercely loyal when it counted. 

In reality, Typhon and Ophelia were the glue that kept the unruly ones from dying or worse, killing each other. And since I was the person they chose to follow, I had to recognise that effort.

If punishments were this severe for something so minor, I would lose their respect very quickly. Besides, there were two absent nestlings who were considerably more irritating, and deserved to be punished much more so than Typhon. 

I sighed. The days until Sensei returned couldn't pass by quickly enough.

I was getting tired of these insane quests.

[Typhon would know best.] Ophelia suggested when she saw my lifeless stare. [I can call him back – he's just embarrassed by what I said.]

|[No need.]| I quickly put away the system window. I didn't want to think about it any longer.

|[Where do you want to go later?]| I asked her.

Ophelia perked up immediately. [Cygnus mentioned a place without any plants. All you see are sands that never end! He also found a place with winged monsters larger than Sylrin. Oh! How about we start the monster hunt by entering the cave he found? It's so deep underground, there's a forest inside!]

In her excitement, her feathers kept sticking up with each new idea she proposed. But I was more astonished by how far Cygnus had wandered, and how quickly he came back each time.

|[Do you have a monster in mind?]| I asked.

[I do!] Ophelia grinned. [I fought a strong monster with ice magic once, but it got away. I've been trying to find it ever since to test my strength!]

Ah! That sounded like a rivalry in the making.

I had no problem with this. No nestling could keep up with her abilities since her change and I was sure she was finding it difficult to challenge herself.

|[Then, let's find that monster.]| I agreed without hesitation. |[And trap it together.]|

Ophelia immediately flung herself at me, her numerous wings fluttering in excitement.

[I can't wait.] She raved. [Come back quickly, there's so much I want to tell you.]

Once again, she was too ticklish, so instead of telling her to keep her distance, I let her cling onto me. But as soon as she stopped, I felt a creeping sense of discomfort. 

Why was my first instinct to help, rather than refuse?

Morgana and Arsinoe should rightfully be left out in the cold since they disobeyed me and yet I'd agreed to help them.

It wasn't because Ophelia was cute, it was simply because she'd asked, and I wanted her to be happy.

I frowned. 

Perhaps I'd spent so much time with them that they were becoming too…familiar.

If the system's quest was any indication, Ophelia and Typhon were a threat I should stamp out early, and yet I found myself wanting to protect them. All of them. Even the ones that defied my orders.

It was certainly a strange feeling, and I wasn't sure I could get used to that uncertainty again.

[We should tell everyone! They'll be so excited!] Ophelia urged me to return to the cave with her, already taking off into the air.

I sighed. If only I was as optimistic as she was.

On entering, the cave was much louder than usual. Typhon was in the middle of a group of nestlings who I realised were his chosen team. 

They consisted of Cygnus who looked noticeably bored, Cassio and Andromeda who were smiling smugly to themselves, and our healers, Lyra and Europa, trying their best to remain inconspicuous – both uncomfortable with the attention they were getting.

However, on the other side, there were several more who seemed to be dismayed over his choice. 

As soon as they saw us, they rushed over to surround Ophelia and I, a teary Aquila leading them at the forefront. [Please let me come!] She cried out. [Morgana will need me there with her.]

Artemis was quick to intervene, immediately cutting across to stop her from approaching further.

[I doubt she's thinking about you.] He bluntly said, before hissing in a low voice. [You shouldn't even be here.]

[I wouldn't have to if you all didn't shun her.] Aquila complained. [She has no one!]

At her words, Ophelia flinched, her face sullen. 

But she didn't agree or disagree with anything Aquila claimed.

[Please let us come too.] Otreia added. 

Oteiza nodded in agreement beside her. [Arsinoe didn't know any better.]

However, aside from the sympathetic nestlings, there was another that protested even louder.

[It isn't fair. We should all get to go.] A surly Demos commented, his words echoed by cries of agreement from several. Among these were mostly nestlings who were recently named. 

They were all eager to prove themselves to me in one way or another, with each one unwilling to give up their chance to be useful.

There were also those who felt personally slighted at being overlooked. 

Delphine kept glaring at Cygnus like he'd betrayed her. [Why do they get to go, and I don't? I'm just as strong as they are and I can swim.] 

She then turned her attention towards Lyra who hid behind Europa. [She can't even fight! You don't need useless serpents who can't fight! Choose me!]

[We're more important than you.] Europa calmly corrected her. [Who's going to heal them when we find them?]

Cygnus remained calm even when Delphine looked fit to burst in her anger.

I took in all of this and sighed, these nestlings were more troublesome than ever. I then looked over at Typhon who stood apart from them. 

He already had his team members ready and was indifferent to their plight, and like him, they were just as unbothered and content with watching the tantrums of their fellow serpents with glacial calm.

I didn't blame Typhon for picking them, but perhaps Aquila had a point.

I couldn't overlook the fact that these serpents were all those with no love for Morgana, and it showed.

Lyra and Europa had been buried by her and left to die, Cassio and Andromeda fought alongside Typhon to contain the chaos her reptiles created, and Cygnus was severely mauled by them, only surviving due to Lyra's healing.

I was confident they would drag Morgana and Arsinoe back by their tails in record time with little care for sympathy or their survival, which left me wondering if they would actually help if I wasn't there.