"Do you think I'm a fool, Roman?" Amrita snapped hastily.
"The Academy would never send you into the Origin World unprepared," she added firmly.
Roman sighed inwardly. It wasn't surprising—an elite soldier like Amrita would naturally know far more about the Origin World than the general public.
But Roman wasn't just anyone—he already had the perfect counterargument ready.
"We're not from an Awakened family, Aunt Amrita," Roman replied calmly.
"People die in the Origin World, Roman," she shot back, her voice sharp.
"If you die, what am I supposed to tell your parents?" she added, her tone heavy with concern.
Hearing her words, Roman felt a flicker of conflict stir within him. But he quickly steeled his resolve, strengthening his mentality.
"A soldier's duty is to protect and, if needed, die with honor, Aunt," Roman said, then paused, locking eyes with her.
"If I, as a soldier, become a coward in my own trial—before I even begin protecting the innocent—how could I ever serve them properly?"
"Still!" Amrita exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly before rising again.
"If you completed your training at the AIIA campus, you could face your trial with the dignity of a true soldier. At least you'd have a better chance at survival!" she shouted, then added in a strained voice,
"I've seen many elites die on their first day in the Origin World. Even those who were fearsome on the battlefield—they leave with shattered armor and broken spirits after just one encounter. Mind you, they were far stronger than you, me, or any other cadet. In the real world, they could tear through Zyphorids like paper. But in the Origin World... they died, Roman. Just from being there."
"I understand you're worried about me," Roman said softly.
Oh boy, I'm losing this argument, he thought. He had no real counter left—by the Academy's rules, he'd have to wait more than a month before he could enter the Origin World.
Absolutely not! That wasn't an option.
His peers, those from Awakened families, would already be in much higher positions—higher ranked, better equipped, and with every advantage. If he managed to surpass their tier rankings within just two or three months of joining the Academy, it wouldn't just offend them—it would humiliate their pride. And for that, not only he, but his entire family might suffer.
The monarchs and other powerful individuals wouldn't care. Drunk on power and blinded by dreams of freedom and domination, they had been waging this war for fifty years. In that time, atleast over a hundred thousand C-rank soldiers had already died.
Although the number was hypothetical, it wasn't far from the truth. Whether they were military soldiers or Awakened, they could all be replaced.
If Roman suddenly died—along with his family's disappearence for merely bruising the ego of someone influential... no one would bat an eye.
Other than that, the most important thing on Roman's mind was whether AIIA would even provide him with weapons for his journey into the Origin World. If they did, how much debt or favor would they expect in return? He didn't know—and frankly, he didn't want to.
One lifetime of student loans was already enough for him. He couldn't bear to take on another burden like he had in his previous life. He'd rather die than be saddled with such a huge problem again.
With that thought in mind, Roman decided to confront Amrita with his true feelings—something the previous version of him would never have dared to do. Especially with one hand less, how would she react? How much guilt would she carry if he said it?
"We don't have the money, Aunt. Or if I put it plainly, I don't have the money to become a proper Awakened." He paused, looking directly at her.
"You and I both know how we're living, even after Mom and Dad send money to us. Everything's so expensive. Now, if I had to buy a weapon to protect myself in the Origin World, we'd have to sell the entire building just to afford a low-rank weapon. Now, think about what it would cost to live as an Awakened."
He continued, frustration creeping into his voice, "You and I both know how the government treats us. We're nothing more than products—replaceable ones. Do you think that even if they gave us a free weapon in AIIA, it would be worth anything? It would be the lowest rank, and in exchange, they'd send me to dangerous places, having me defend as an Awakened warrior, giving me more than I can handle."
He exhaled sharply, then added, "Forget all that. Do you really think other Awakened families would leave me alone? My father once told me, 'An unpolished gem in a beggar's hand is still a gem.'"
"If an Origin family or a noble wanted to control me, do you think they'd give me something for free?"
Roman continued, his voice heavy with frustration.
"They'd take everything I have and then come as if they were saints, offering me a place. What could I do at that time without money or power?
I'd be nothing more than a sheep ready for slaughter."
Hearing his words, Amrita was momentarily stunned. She sighed softly, muttering, "You think too much. How could such a thing happen so easily?"
Roman was taken aback. "I just laid my thoughts out for you, and all you say is that I overthink?" he thought, feeling dumbfounded.
Sighing inwardly, he added, "But you agree with the money part, don't you?"
At that, Amrita fell silent. Her eyes seemed to darken, as though she regretted not being able to protect someone she cared about. Roman, understanding her silence, reached out and gently placed his hand over hers.
"I'll try to be safe," he promised. "It's only a couple of hours, after all. I promise I'll survive."
Amrita nodded, and for a moment, the atmosphere was heavy.
Aeilia, still lost in her thoughts, looked between them, her expression tearful and confused. Why are Aunt and Brother arguing?
But she understood her brother going somewhere which is dangeorus just like her Fatger and mother.
Kissing aeilia in her head roman said "I'll be going now," Roman said, trying to lighten the mood.
Both girls nodded.
"Please be careful out there, Brother!" Aeilia called out.
Roman smiled and nodded in return.
Closing his eyes, he focused his thoughts, and a bright light enveloped him before he vanished completely.
The two girls stood in silence for a moment. Aeilia, still puzzled, asked innocently, "Why did Brother vanish?"
"Because he's an Origin Warrior, Aeilia," Amrita answered, her voice soft yet tinged with something else—worryness.