“I don’t need you to protect me. I can wipe the floor with you any day.” Aurora’s voice echoed in the empty room. She could feel the people’s disbelief as they looked at her. No one believed her words, not even her dear Clove.

And it hurt badly.

But most of all, her words seemed to have pissed Quince off. Those narrowed eyes spoke of trouble and a promise of hardships that had yet to come. But Aurora was not afraid of those eyes. She had faced the worst.

“MUHAHAHAHAHAHA

And suddenly, the tension around the battlefield was cut by an annoying yet familiar laugh. The current Abyss leader had decided to grace their small group with his presence.

If there was one obstacle Aurora needed to crush, it was this man. The Abyss tower was an overbearing power, but it was because of this man that it had the influence it did.

Aurora also knew that this man would be the biggest obstacle in her aim to set up her academy.

“What a surprise to see someone this young brimming with such power. Hey brat, where did you find this girl?” the old man forced his way into the circle. Aurora could see the interest in his eyes brimming.

Aurora instantly upped her guard, not allowing her emotions to escape. She might not be able to control her aura, but she could limit her mind from being read.

This crafty elder was not one to be underestimated at any time. He may have sensed the power brimming inside Aurora and decided to check it out.

‘Darn it. I need a way to be able to turn this power off. I wish I had some kind of interface that could help me with it’ Aurora cursed inside her mind as she remained calm on the outside.

If she showed even a hint of weakness, the other would jump up on it like a tiger on its prey. And while Aurora did not have anything to fear from him, the same could not be said for Clove.

“U-Uncle. I thought you said you were not going to come. Do you have any business with my friend here?” Clove interfered in the situation before it could get heated. Her sweet wife positioned herself to make a barrier between the elder and Aurora.

Her wife had been one of a kind. Aurora felt glad that she had not lost it even if she no longer had her whole soul.

And that was why it also stung that Clove could not be a part of her revenge. If Aurora decided to recruit Clove now, she would always doubt Colve’s loyalties.

Aurora needed to give Clove time to decide what she wanted to follow. A betrayal like her past life would shatter her.

“Ah, a friend of yours? Where did you meet this ‘friend’? And how long have you known her?” the old man asked, his gaze moving all over Aurora.

And for the first time, Aurora felt angry. The elder was trying to probe her mind for answers. It made Aurora feel violated.

But this elder would lose something precious soon if he did not leave Aurora alone. She did not have enough patience for his tricks.

“Hey, old man. It’s not important right now. Weren’t you required to run an urgent errand? Mom would be worried that you are late” Aurora was sure she could even feel surprised by anything Quince did. But if she could, she was close to it.

Never in her life would she have expected Quince to be the one to save her. His world was just loud enough for the nearby people to have heard. It was evident that he had done it on purpose.

Quince gave her a glare that clearly stated, ‘I did not do this for you, but she could feel that her aura was affecting Quince. It was making him act out in a way he had never before.

He had not built up any resistance against a goddess’s passive aura. Aurora’s seemed to be potentially rabid and untrained. Aurora could see why Quince did not want her anywhere near the group.

The ‘old man’ could not refuse that claim without losing face. His position did not leave him any choice but to agree.

“That I do need to do, my boy. But why don’t you and your friend join me? And maybe bring your new friend with you as well? I know your mother would be interested in her.” the old man asked. His words made it seem like he was joking about this issue.

But anyone who knew the leader could tell that it was no joke but a command. The leader wanted Aurora to follow him. Everyone else held their breath to see what would happen next.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot. I have prior engagements I need to get to” Aurora did try to sound sorry. She did not even try and mask her words.

No one could take it for anything else than it was – a dismissal of the elder’s words and actions.

“I see. It’s too bad then, but it’s good for me. Quince, Clove, let’s leave now. I’ve found a third member for your starting party. Oh, and miss, make sure you find yourself a ‘nice’ party. It won’t do you to die so young and beautiful.” the old man warned.

And instantly, everyone staring looking at Aurora in interest changed the direction of their gaze. No one wanted to be the one to look her in the eye and become a target of the old master.

What a cheap trick the abyss leader was playing. Just because he was alienating Aurora from the Abyss’s people did not mean a thing to her.

It was not like she was going to stick around any longer.

But it was alright with Aurora. Anyone who would fall for the leader’s trick here would not be an ally to her. And Aurora had no intentions of partying with traitors this time around. She had enough of it her last time. There was no way she was teaming up with anyone under his rule.

No, she would seek out people she knew she could trust and that deserved a second chance at life. She had been hopeless last time.

This time she was a goddess. She knew what she could do. She could offer people power and fulfil their wishes.

Some people could change this world. Some people could do so much good but did not live that long.

Aurora would take them all in and make her academy a success.

And Aurora watched the people go, her eyes locked on the form of her wife, well, former wife. Aurora vowed that this was not a mistake. She would set up the academy, change the world and get her wife’s soul back.

And maybe, just maybe, she felt a little ashamed to be facing her wife right now. It had been her selfish wish that had taken Clove’s soul away by parts.

Clove left the area.

Aurora felt her heart become heavier.

And since her wife was no longer here, there was no point for Aurora to stay here any longer. There was nothing else she wanted from this place. She had already sensed the power level of the Abyss Tower’s elites.

And really, these people were too under the Abyss’s thumb to even think of going against him. Aurora would just be wasting her time even if she did stay here any longer.