Eternal Freedom's Ascension

Chapter 203: Look in a mirror... What is your color?

There was a moment of silence after Kaiser spoke, and he finally raised his eyes to look at Maya.

Was she looking at him with wide eyes? Stunned? Afraid? Horrified? Pitying him? Or even, hating him?

He blinked, a hint of surprise flashing in his own eyes.

Maya was staring at him with crystal clear eyes. Her usual, warm smile was still present.

Kaiser tilted his head. "Did you hear everything I just said?"

She nodded, "I did. Everything."

Kaiser’s brows furrowed. "Did you understand everything?"

This time, she shook her head. "Not everything, but I get the gist of it."

Kaiser was a bit astonished, staring at the seemingly simple, pink-haired girl before him.

"After hearing everything... you do not fear me?"

She shook her head. Her hand was still resting on his—warm, and gentle.

"Even after knowing how many have died at my hands?"

Maya shook her head again, further surprising him.

His gaze lowered to her hand that was holding his. It looked small and pure. Meanwhile, his own hand was a hand dyed with the blood of over a thousand people.

The contrast made him smile bitterly.

"Are you not scared that I might hurt or kill you for knowing all these?"

Maya didn’t answer immediately, seemingly considering the situation.

"Now that you mention it, that’s a plausible thing. But I don’t think Kai would hurt me."

Her confident words made Kaiser frown, and he looked up to her face.

"What makes you say that?"

Still wearing that warm smile, Maya replied to him.

"It’s because you’ve never done anything to harm me. And I trust you."

’Trust...’

Kaiser paused, the word ringing in his mind like the Nullweave Carapace’s whisper.

He sighed and raised his head, staring at the distant ceiling of the library.

It wasn’t plain, but designed with art that depicted a sun shining behind a tall mountain. It was a simple art, but easy to understand and admire.

’Trust...’

The word echoed again. Kaiser had never trusted anyone. Ever since he had been born, he hadn’t trusted a single creature.

The Patriarch, Izael, Gomez, Chairman Jonathan, Hazel, or even Maya herself.

Hearing that someone trusted him... felt foreign. Especially after knowing everything about him.

How could she be so... naive? Trusting him... a Solace Clan heir?

A light pinch on his hand made him look at her, and he realized she had a displeased expression on her face.

"What? You must be thinking I’m too innocent, aren’t you?"

Kaiser didn’t say a word, letting his silence speak for himself.

Maya sighed. "You wouldn’t understand either. Just like how I don’t understand why your family—no, clan, is so complicated."

Adjusting her glasses, she crossed her legs beneath the table.

"You see, trust is in two ways. It’s either instinctive—impulsive, even—or it is accumulated over years. If you’ve known a person for a long time, and they’ve never done you harm, you tend to trust them."

"And sometimes, it is usually impulsive too. You just met someone, and you feel like you can trust them."

"The trust I have for you is a mix of both. To be honest, I don’t understand why the other classes are scared of you—especially your classmates."

"You haven’t really done anything harmful—at least compared to the things you said you’ve done. So, I have this feeling... that I can trust you."

She leaned forward, staring into his mysterious blue eyes through her lenses.

"Kai, you aren’t a bad person—at least, to me."

After saying that, she opened her pink water bottle and drank some water.

Kaiser tapped his finger on the table, the sound clear in the silence.

"I didn’t know you could say that much."

Maya froze, shooting him a mild glare.

Seeing that expression, a chuckle slipped from his throat.

"I guess it’s not bad expressing myself, as you say."

Hearing this from him, Maya smiled brightly.

"See? And about your desire... let me guess. Your ability is related to freedom or being unrestrained?"

Kaiser nodded flatly. "My ability is ’Freedom’."

"Eh?" Maya gasped, quickly covering her lips and lowering her voice.

Although they were alone in the library, the librarian could still scold them for raising their voices.

"It’s that straightforward? Now I’m starting to suspect that the Nirad System is a Wish-granting System."

Kaiser chuckled again. His lips moved to form a small smile.

Propping her chin on her palm, the pink-haired girl continued.

"Regardless, your desire is indeed a bit vague. I can’t say I know much, but I think you’re focusing on something else."

Something else? Kaiser blinked, confused.

"You said you wanted freedom, right? And that’s the thing you call color. But... have you ever looked at yourself and asked, ’What color am I?’ Have you?"

Kaiser opened his mouth to speak, but fell silent. No words came.

Maya continued. "You’re focused on finding people with color... even if I still don’t understand what that is."

She shrugged, rolling her eyes with a chuckle.

"You’re trying to find people with the potential of having color. Yet, you never considered yourself as one of them. Isn’t that a bit... ironic?"

Kaiser blinked a few times, then lowered his head.

"It’s because... I’ve lost it."

Maya seemed to sense something, and her smile dimmed.

"Lost it? Your color?"

The blue-haired boy nodded, looking oddly weary. He was usually so distant and indifferent. Yet now, he looked like someone being confronted by a cold truth.

"What do you mean? I don’t know what made you conclude that, but I think you’re wrong."

She pressed a hand to her head, acting like a therapist addressing a patient.

"To me, you’re quite... colorful. Uhm, let’s not use the word ’color’."

She chuckled again, staring at him softly.

"You’re a free person, Kai. Look around you, you’re the richest, probably the strongest, and the only first-year with such an influential background. I’m sure a lot of people are drooling to be in your shoes."

"Ignorant." Kaiser scoffed coldly, "They know nothing about being in my shoes."

Shaking her head, Maya said. "You might be right. They might be ignorant. But... I think I know what you want."

Kaiser slowly met her gaze, staring deep into her green eyes. "And what is that?"

"You simply want more freedom—like a bird dreaming of flying in space."