Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground

Chapter 1389  Question

Kaino's fists tightened as he nodded. "We have a deal. But!"

The Sentinel paused.

"We bind ourselves! And… I want half now."

The Sentinel nodded, as though it were a simple matter.

Kaino smiled, the kind of smile that anticipated a long awaited future. Now, he would finally be rid of that accursed lineage.

As the screen cleared, and Kaino vanished, there was a moment of silence. Then the Sentinels began walking out of the room without uttering a word.

"Sir!" The warden saluted, and Thora did the same, though her eyes were focused on them as they left. Her mind was a churning mess.

'Two hundred thousand will stones…'

Such a reward!

And the fact that they had actually offered it so easily shocked Thora. The world of the Sentinels was a thrill, and she felt pulled. She asked herself the same question.

'Them… or him?'

She could feel it deep in her bones. The answer to this question would change her life forever.

…

Anorah appeared in the underground training cavern below her grand palace.

The intensity of her eyes had dimmed significantly. The power of Logoth was one that required a lot from its user, during, and even after use.

The power to act without the distraction of emotions didn't mean the emotions simply vanished. Quite the contrary, they were only set aside. The moment Logoth was deactivated, the emotions came crashing back with full force.

It was a brutal consequence. But one Anorah would gladly stomach for even the slightest moment of clarity during battles.

'I had to rely on it again.'

The power of Solvath was one that disgusted her. The fact that she had to rely on a power not hers, one that sought to control her, grated at her being.

But Anorah was nothing if not a sentient being. And like all of her kind, survival was instinct. She would choose survival over pride anytime.

'I wonder if he would do the same.'

Anorah needed to take her mind off the events of tonight. Which was why, as soon as she was done dealing with the surge of emotions, she had come down here. To him.

Her eyes landed on the figure sitting cross legged in the middle of the room, eyes closed, body serene, and she found herself smiling.

'He's done with the second lesson.'

What shocked her was more the time he took to achieve it than anything. It was at a record pace.

Not even her father, who didn't hesitate to boast about how fast he'd learned from his own father, had achieved them this fast.

Anorah found herself growing increasingly curious about this man the more time she spent with him. Who was he, truly? The mark of Solvath gave them an unprecedented boost to their potential, yet Atticus had only just awakened.

Which meant, he had reached this stage all by himself?

Her mind flashed with their clash at the gilded debt. His hot, searing will. His unshakable eyes. His indomitable will. Such a man.

Anorah reached the entrance to the room and rested on the doorway. She stared at the anomaly like one would a curiosity.

'Who are you?'

As though he could hear her thoughts, his eyes flickered open.

'His eyes are clear.'

As Anorah met his intense purple eyes, her smile widened. Atticus was currently in the trance, he was watching Solvath's memories, yet there was no trace of emotion on his face.

"You've achieved the second lesson. Congratulations."

Atticus took a moment to speak. As though observing.

"Observation."

Anorah nodded. "Observation."

In actuality, Atticus had passed this lesson since the first time he accurately observed and analyzed each of Solvath's emotions.

 However, Anorah had ordered that he keep repeating it until she told him to stop.

The purpose was to make it second nature. For him to master observation to such an extent that he could observe without even seeing.

Then, he would have truly mastered it.

But Anorah would never have imagined that it would, more or less, backfire.

"You're distressed." Atticus suddenly said with certainty. It was then she felt his piercing look on her.

'He's observing me…' Anorah frowned. In any other case, her fists might have dug into Atticus' face by now. But somehow, she didn't mind.

'Why?' Anorah couldn't help but ask herself.

"It's been a long night."

"Want to talk about it?"

"Doesn't sound like it'll help the case, so I'll pass."

"You'll be surprised. Plus, you did promise to fill me in on what's happening. Are you not a woman of your words?"

Anorah scoffed. "You play dirty."

She began walking towards the seated Atticus, who smiled.

"I learned from the best."

"Have your balls shrunk so much that you take life lessons from a woman? Men should take life lessons from other men. You disgrace your gender."

"Well, I'm not sure about that." Atticus smiled. "This woman's pretty amazing."

Anorah froze. "I'm sure you're overhyping her."

"I wish," Atticus said, shaking his head. "She's one of the most sophisticated women I've ever met. Strong, fierce, determined… the kind that would spit in the face of gods if she had to. And also—" his grin widened, "she has an uncanny liking for men's balls. She's great, isn't she?"

Anorah coughed and quickly turned to the side. She tried hard to hide her face. How was she… she! The leader of the resistance, blushing!? She had received compliments all her life. What made this different?

"Alright, alright. Enough ass kissing," she muttered. "I'll tell you."

…

Atticus had long admitted this to himself. He was drawn to sophisticated women.

Women who, notwithstanding, could not be read at a single glance. He'd seen women who were only interested in him because of his perfect appearance. Some due to his power, and others due to some crush he had no idea how it formed.

Those women, Atticus believed, he wasn't drawn to. Once he identified them, he always found himself never looking back.