To the Depth of Abyss

Chapter 103: The anger behind his smile

Saint Arcane Church / Library of Preliminary Record

Night / 

When it is the time to get rest, there are still two certain male students who spent their time in the library. Though one of them is resting his head on one table, almost ran out of battery.

"Can we just continue tomorrow, Aiden?"

His friend, Kane, is dying to sleep, but Aiden is still going on his searching for a certain book.

"I'll finish after this one shelf."

"Make it quick then. Hoaamm~ Master Arsen's training is so tough. It even made the twin sleep earlier than usual."

"You can take a nap while I finish this."

"I take the offer then."

Kane closes his eyes for a quick sleep. However, Aiden got carried away and continued his search on the next bookshelf.

That can't be helped. The book about Sword Caster-ing record is so important for their future training. They need that book for their reference, because they cannot always relying on their sword master, Arsen. 

"Aiden?"

Aiden got shocked when a familiar grown woman's voice suddenly shows up. 

She is the senior female teacher everyone afraid of, or who has other status as deputy administrator of the church, Liliana. 

"Mrs. Liliana, I am sorry! I will be back to the dorm in a moment!"

Liliana look at Aiden in wonder, but not in the usual everyday look; the killer teacher's intimidating eyes that will scold you if you made a mistake. 

"No, go on. I know you are also looking for that book, right?"

That kind and friendly side surprised Aiden. "Y-yes, the [Sword Caster-ing record]."

Liliana folded her arms, then leaned back against one of the bookshelves.

"Though the book is not finished yet, but Professor Nathan probably wrote everything that he accomplished back then. Though after his dead, no one interested in that dangerous Arts anymore."

Nathan, the Legend Hunter that found a unique way to use Arts by utilizing sword, died because at that time Abyssal Breathing hadn't been refined yet. His research resulted in him getting an infection, even so he did not give up, and continued his research until his body could not bear the infection that resulted in death.

"The sad thing is, Saint of Staff perfected Abyssal Breathing the moment after his death."

If the man did not die, maybe now he will become a professor in the church. 

"And he will be the one who teaching you."

Aiden mused in silence. There is a special place for the man in his heart. But now the [Sword Caster-ing] is the only legacy that the man left. 

Liliana realized that she made the teenage apprentice grieving. 

"How about the new physic teacher, Aiden?" 

That's where she changed the topic to the present. 

"Master Arsen?"

"Yes, he is so mysterious. But I know he is truthful."

Arsen came to the church in unusual and mysterious way. But just like Liliana said, he can be trusted. 

Aiden tries to compose sentences of his impression of the sword master. 

"Just by looking at him, I can feel Master is a really strong man. Indeed, he is so mysterious because he seems try to hide his identity."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[ID Card: [ABYSSAL HUNTERS]]

[NAME: Arsen]

[ID: - ]

[SEX: Male]

[RANK: - ]

[JOB: - ] [ROLE : Sword Master ] 

[Family: - ] [Role: - ]

[Exp: - ] 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The only thing Arsen shows in his ID Card is his name, sex, and speciality. He seems really doesn't want other people to know his identity.

"But when I crossed swords with him, I immediately understand that he's been through a lot that makes him strong."

Everyone speculating that he is a Legend Hunter. Although [Aging] didn't really hit him, the fact that he could beat a Platinum Hunter in an instant said it all. 

"Then, do you have any other impression of him? Like, his character, or the way he trains you?"

They had only met for two days. It's hard to judge a person's character in a such short time.

"But there is one thing from him which is very complicated, I think."

"What is it?"

"He seems always smile and try to look sincere. But I can feel a huge anger hides in his smile."

"You are not wrong about that."

Liliana also felt the same impression of the mentioned man. 

"It must be because of his past. Maybe he lost his lover, or so much of his friend. It is common for a Legend to hold their anger because of the past fight. But I really salute him because he can still look strong while moving forward."

With Arsen joining, there are four male professors in the church. Of the four of them, Arsen is the youngest and could get close to the students.

It's like having a military veteran elder brother who will teach you how to be strong.

It made Aiden proud to have a teacher like Arsen.

"But, it is the time for you to come back to your dorm. You still have so much activity tomorrow. So it better for you to get sleep now." 

Liliana walks to one certain sleeping student. Then slap the student's shoulder hard that made the student jump from his sleep. 

"Aiden, what the f - !"

Kane opens his eyes, then finds the killer teacher is the one that hit him. Meanwhile, his friend is about to leave him.

"Yes, mam."

Aiden leave first to go back to their dorm. Kane is still half asleep, but he cannot bear on standing face to face with the killer teacher. 

"Yes, mam!"

He ran away because he could not stand the pressure from the atmosphere.

When he finally get close with his partner, "Man, why did you leave me and let her hit me?!"

"Sorry, I'm too sleepy to stop Mrs. Liliana."

"I can't believe you've done this!"

In the middle of the night, the two of them walked into the dorm at a time when the church is so quiet.

The men's dormitory located in south of the church. Meanwhile, the women's is the opposite direction.

When finally they get inside the dorm, they being stopped when going through the lounge.

"Still wasting your time on that stupid Arts teaching I see, Aiden!"

One familiar voice from someone that stopped them. Who else but the boss of the boys, William. 

William relaxing on the sofa, reading a book. While the boys are playing. William is the only one who did not waste his time to play around even though it is the time to get a rest from school stress. 

They are the one who is in the conflict, but it was the surrounding people who were feeling tense, like Kane. Even though both of them did not see each other in faces. 

"I actually just came back from the library."

"Looking for that useless book, huh? What a waste of time."

In term of strength, Aiden's group is the winner. Because all the boys are priest apprentice. Aiden's group is the only one who takes the physical lesson of all the church students. 

However, in such a conflict, you cannot just win with strength only. You are considered superior if you have higher quality than others. And William's group is the winner of that term. 

"Why waste time studying Arts that can kill you quickly? We all know the usual way on using Abyssal Arts is the proper way that Saint of Staff gave to us."

That is true. 

On the first day Arsen opened the physical class, he told them that: 'Indeed, Sword Casting is the stronger way on using Abyssal Arts. But studying it may cause you to always get hurt, or even lost your hands.'

Aiden did not understand the meaning of Arsen's second sentence.

'You will know the time you practice that Arts.'

They just started their class for two days. So it might still take a long time for Arsen to teach them Sword Casting. While waiting for that moment:

"Why afraid of doing something new?" 

Aiden is not going to lose his cool until the moment he learns [Sword Caster-ing] come. 

Not wanting to linger in conflict, Aiden starts walking again to their room. Leaving the priest boys in annoyance. 

Their dorm consists of two pairs of bunk beds, a big wardrobe for their clothes, and a small table for the lamp holder.

On the other side, the twin: Harry and Henry, been sleeping since earlier soundly. 

Kane who is jealous of them immediately climbed into his bed, which is above Aiden's bed.

"Aahhhh~ It's so good to see you again, bed."

Kane fell asleep by the time he closes his eyes. Leaving their leader who still awake. 

Laying down awake, Aiden still wondering about his conversation with Liliana. 

"What makes him can smile while holding back his anger?"

Aiden cannot understand the way of thinking of the strong. That is why he choose to quickly going to sleep, maybe he can find the answer of his question tomorrow. 

_____________

Grand Cathedral of Longing / 

"Can you ffffffungg stop controlling me like I'm your toy?!"

"You are my slave."

Ars releases his anger that he holds for the entire day. 

"It's so fffffffffasss tiring to always smile and act nice all day!"

"That is the cute part of controlling you."

His jaw felt cramped, and it is quite painful.

"Aren't you a holy woman of this place?!"

"Yes, but I am a devil to a rascal like you."

Upon Ars's anger, Maria always smiled back at him. 

That raises Ars's temper.

"You bbbbbblihh!"

"Don't be naughty and accept all of these lessons. You will get reward if you do everything well."

That calms Ars down a little.

"That better be a good reward and no different kind of sssshhhhaahh!"

Ars could not stand to face Maria chooses to left. Leaving the devil woman who still smiled in an evil way.

"Don't worry, my greedy rascal. But that will take quite a long time from now. I hope you did not disappoint me by running away."