POV: Aria Akari
With Envy defeated, my stress began to relieve as I focused my attention back to healing Sarah until she was able to regain consciousness.
Please, Sarah.
You have to wake back up!
Amidst healing Sarah, I was startled by Everett groaning in pain as he pulled out Gluttony's dagger from within his forearm with tears beginning to well within his eyes.
"Let me see your arm." Arthur said, deactivating his Aspect and sheathing his swords into their respective scabbard as he pulled out a roll of bandages from a pocket within his jacket while Everett extended his arm towards Arthur.
Upon grabbing Everett's arm, he began wrapping his forearm as Everett winced in pain from the pressure being applied.
"Thank you, Arthur." Everett mentioned unsteadily once Arthur finished wrapping his wound by tying a knot at the end as he then placed his hand onto Everett.
"I'll admit that I underestimated Lust. You almost lost your life because of my arrogance and for that, I'm sorry." Arthur apologized earnestly as Everett was left speechless from his unusual behavior, rousing a smile from me until I noticed his expression tense as he directed his attention towards Rai, who emerged from a nearby area of the forest as his clothes were tattered along with a few scrapes and scratches across his body.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked with concern as Arthur's expression was aware of something that I wasn't.
"It's nothing." Arthur answered, brushing my concern off in a casual manner as Sarah suddenly began coughing, grabbing my attention as she slowly opened her eyes, bringing forth a joyous grin onto my face as she struggled to raise herself into a sitting position.
"Sarah!" I cried out as she reciprocated my happiness with a faint smile, activating her Aspect as she began healing herself.
"Thank you, Aria." Sarah mentioned in a hoarse tone as her purple aura flowed steadily around her wound, healing at speeds significantly faster than my own Aspect as Rai approached the group in silence with a daunting gaze that I was unfamiliar with.
After what felt like a terrible nightmare was now resolved as everyone was together again, inspiring me to finally let out a sigh of relief as I was grateful that everyone had survived.
Thank goodness everyone is safe.
As Sarah remained silent in order to focus on healing her wound, I began listening in on Everett pestering Rai with questions of his fight against Sloth as his curiosity amused me, but as they conversed, a sudden thought came across my mind as I tried to recall all of the moments that I had focused my attention towards Rai's fight with Sloth.
I'm surprised that Rai was able to defeat Sloth, but how come I couldn't see or sense his aura?
The density of one's aura depends on their Aspectual Power, but despite how weak Rai claims he is, I'm certain that he's unable to hide his own aura as mastering Aura Manipulation is something that even heroes still struggle with.
Even among the strongest heroes in the world, who possess extreme control in manipulating their own aura, still struggle to completely hide their aura.
Rai may be stronger than he comes off, but there's no way that he's able to completely hide his aura, meaning-
"Are you alright, Aria?" Rai asked with concern, noticing me staring at him in thought as I nodded quickly, flustered from being caught in the act.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." I answered, taking a deep breath to regain my composure as I glanced at a cut on his forehead, which seemed to still be bleeding as blood trickled down his face.
"Do you want me to heal your wound?" I asked halfheartedly, expecting Rai to decline my offer once again.
"I'm aware that you're approaching your limit, so don't concern yourself with healing me as with a simple wound like this, I can just wrap it with my bandages." Rai answered as he began unwrapping the sullied bandages around his right arm before taking a seat onto a nearby log.
That's weird.
How does he know that I'm about to reach my Exhaust Limit?
As Rai wrapped his bandages around his forehead, I was unable to resist glancing at him as his enigmatic nature sparked my curiosity, making me wonder what kind of character he truly was.
"We should leave now while we have the chance. Is everyone ready?" Arthur suggested as everyone nodded with the exception of Rai, who stood from the log and faced towards the distant forest that led further into the mountains.
"What's wrong, Rai?" Arthur asked skeptically as Rai continued to gaze into the distance before answering.
"The details of this mission have been false about everything so far, but if there's a chance that there are actually innocent children being kept somewhere within this forest, then I'll take that chance as I don't have it in me to leave them behind knowing that I could have saved them." Rai replied as he turned to face Arthur.
"Take everyone with you and tell Ryan that I made the decision to stay behind." Rai ordered as his demeanor shifted into a cold one filled with resoluteness, but Arthur made it obvious that he didn't agree with his order as he clicked his tongue in annoyance and began approaching him.
"What are you saying, Rai? Don't be irrational. We may have defeated five members of the Cardinal Sins, but if their leaders were to show up, we wouldn't stand a chance against them in our current state." Arthur rebuked as he approached Rai before grabbing the collar of his jacket and bringing Rai's face closer to his own.
"I don't know what you're hiding from us for you to be this confident in your capabilities, but you're sharper than this, Rai! I'm strong, but I'm not delusional enough to believe I stand a chance against the two of them in my current condition and by the off chance you are stronger than me, there's no way in hell you can take both of them on your own!" Arthur added, raising his tone as he released Rai from his grasp, but Rai wasn't pleased with Arthur's response as he gritted his teeth and grabbed Arthur by the collar of his shirt with a cold, infuriated glare.
"So you expect me to just abandon them, Arthur? They wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for these worthless heroes that exist in our society today! Have you ever thought to question why we, students, are sacrificing our lives out here instead of the Hero Association sending out an S-Class hero in the first place?!" Rai rebutted as his grip on the collar of Arthur's shirt tightened.
"It's because they don't give a damn about anyone else other than themselves! Are you oblivious or purposely ignoring the fact that all it would take is one, just one, S-Class hero to defeat the Cardinal Sins and yet, they decided to send inexperienced students to fight against these monsters! While they relish in their fame and power, they want everyone below them to take care of their own problems! I don't care what the rest of you do, but I absolutely refuse to allow myself to become like those bastards that represent what you all consider to be "heroes". Rai added harshly as he released Arthur from his grasp and began walking further into the forest.
Rai…
There was an awkward moment of silence until Arthur unsheathed his swords and activated his Aspect, startling everyone as he then released his Aspectual Force directly towards Rai, who was unfazed as he turned to face Arthur.
"It seems there's no other way." Arthur said as Rai unsheathed his sword, their eyes locking with one another as they refused to come to a compromise.
"What are you guys doing?! We have to escape now while we still have the chance!" I shouted anxiously as Everett and Sarah stood silently behind me, watching nervously as Rai's eyes sharpened.
"He's already made up his mind, so I'm going to take him back by force, Aria." Arthur replied as he slid his foot forward and positioned himself into a two-sword style stance, fully intending on stopping Rai, who remained still with his guard relatively open.
"I gave you an order." Rai said as a chilling breeze swept through the forest.
"And I'm disobeying it." Arthur answered firmly, tightening his stance as he took a deep breath, watching Rai's every move with intense focus.
No...
We have to leave now!
Please…
Please don't fight!