I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1335: Hand of Forgiveness and Generosity

Northern stretched after thinking about fetching Nyssira. He took a moment to once again proudly appreciate the scenery of the shadow-consumed forest beneath him—the way darkness pooled between the trees like liquid, the silence that hung over everything he’d claimed.

’I’m awesome, goodness! I need to glaze myself more.’

He often forgot how much of a powerhouse he was. Forgot way too many times. Moments like this helped him remember.

Northern exhaled and exited the top level where he stood. The inside of the Storm Bastion had transformed as much as the outside. The roaring engines were gone, solidified into impenetrable walls and floors. The structure of the rooms had rotated, switched into a leveling pattern—eighteen levels of floor in total, with Northern’s level being the topmost.

He descended to the mid-level where the Power Room of the Tower was.

Oland was alone inside, standing before the control interface. It had been hours since the Tower spawned and the airship was no more. Northern had shown him to this room—the brain of the Tower—and Oland still wasn’t sure why. What possible reason could Northern have for revealing such a place to someone like him?

But there was one thing he understood from staring so long at the cascading displays, the webs of information that branched and reconnected in patterns too vast to hold in his mind.

He was never going to understand.

He was just never going to be able to understand what exactly this room did. Which made him truly wonder—what kind of mind would be able to contain the sheer vastness of the Tower controls?

And he was sure that Northern understood. Which made Northern too much of a terrifying being when he thought about it.

It was at that moment that Northern entered the room.

Oland wasn’t aware until Northern tapped him.

"Hey."

He shook, slightly startled by the sudden presence. His heart hammered against his ribs.

Northern frowned as he beheld Oland’s face when the man turned.

"What’s wrong? Are you sick?"

’Does changing the structure of the Tower affect the people inside it?’

Oland quickly shook his head.

"No, I’m not. I’m just..." He paused, looking at Northern. Then he glanced back at the incomprehensible displays. "I’m so sorry... this... it’s just too vast."

Northern observed the man with slight confusion and raised a brow.

"Is it?"

He didn’t want to believe that Storm Bastion was like that. Indeed, when he’d first encountered the Tower of Trammel’s control room, it had seemed impossible—but all of that feeling quickly vanished when he merged with the Tower authority itself.

Maybe it was just the Thunderhead Dreadnought that Oland was privy to. Which was a bit sad. Northern wanted him to have a grasp of everything properly and even be able to make it change base shapes when needed.

Meanwhile, Oland’s jaw went slack. Northern had asked the question so casually that he felt he might go out of his mind.

"You really do not know?"

Northern chuckled and tapped his shoulder.

"Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it very soon."

’Even now, he’s dismissing it like it’s nothing.’ Oland was confused and truly could not understand Northern. The gap between them felt less like a distance and more like an abyss.

Meanwhile, Northern spoke again.

"I came here for your help."

Oland quickly paid attention as Northern’s voice got serious.

"It might probably never happen, but still—you’re the most ordinary person I can ask..."

He paused, looking at Oland quite keenly.

"There are times where I might be too busy. My mother, Judgment, Ellis, my friends that’ll be around. I want you to help me protect them and pay attention to them."

Oland stared. The words didn’t make sense at first—they couldn’t possibly mean what they sounded like they meant.

Northern tilted his head, slightly confused.

"Is it too much to ask?"

Oland quickly shook his head.

"What? Of course not. I–I—" He hesitated and pressed his lips together, lowering his head. After a while, he met Northern’s eyes, struggling to suppress the sorrow and pain that climbed his face.

He stuttered:

"I’m j–just... I failed–d... I betrayed so many students that day. Even my own self—I betrayed myself... all for what? Some wages I was going to get paid? I could have resisted the orders. I could’ve just said no."

His voice cracked on the last word. The guilt had lived in his chest for so long that speaking it aloud felt like vomiting something rotten.

Northern shrugged.

"And you would have suffered for it. And someone else would have still done the job." His voice was calm and casual. "Don’t beat yourself up for surviving... I had to survive myself."

Oland’s eyes widened, and silence prevailed between them—strange, heavy.

Then Northern added:

"I believe I have grown considerably past that. Please stop dragging me back to the past." He chuckled shyly and tapped Oland’s shoulder, playfully. "Well then! If there’s nothing else, then I shall leave the wellbeing of my people in your hands."

All the while, Oland continued to stare at Northern with a shocked and amazed expression on his face.

’How could he... why...?’

Oland had never in his life felt a generous and forgiving hand extended to him so casually. Like it cost nothing. Like it was obvious.

He had been ready to accept his sentence, serve as a prisoner for a long time. But not only had Northern given him the opportunity to live his dream job—he was even going to pay him.

Now, he was committing the wellbeing of his family to Oland’s hands.

Oland felt so valued and important despite being someone who had sinned so much. The feeling was almost too large for his chest to contain.

’Great stars, if I can get an opportunity to be strong... and to matter just one bit. I’ll use it all to serve him and his purpose!’

Stars ignited in his eyes as he stared at Northern. Something had shifted inside him, settled into place like a bone finding its socket.

Northern meanwhile stared back with a little smile.

"So... we good?"

"Yes sir! We are very good! Trust me! I will protect them!" Oland replied energetically, his voice cracking with fervor.

Northern tapped his shoulder gently.

"Calm down, calm down, okay? I can sense the energy... don’t try to overdo it. My mom can probably protect you instead. Each of these people can protect themselves. I just need you to pay attention to their behaviors and mundane needs. Anything that you think I need to know, don’t hesitate to tell me."

Oland still beamed with the stars in his eyes.

"Yes sir!!"

Northern observed him with a concerned look. He hesitated before pulling away.

"Okay, I guess."

Afterwards, he bid Oland farewell and descended to the lower floors.