When Kyle returned, he heard from Selene that everyone had split up for now.
Apparently, Falk and Lily had a lot to talk about, and it would be better if Kyle didn't disturb them.
"Oh, is Lily finally willing to confess?" Kyle asked.
Selene looked with surprise at Kyle. "I'm not sure? Do you think she's in love with him?"
"Yeah, you never noticed?" Kyle asked. "She constantly looks at him, and her criticisms are the harshest towards him, even though he doesn't deserve them. She's a total Tsundere."
"Tsun…dere?" Selene asked.
"Somebody who has no idea how to confess their love," Kyle said. "They want to interact with their crush more, but they don't know how to, which is why they just attack them all the time."
Selene looked with confusion at Kyle.
That sounded… dumb.
"Some people are like that," Kyle said with a shrug. "Dunno why, but they exist."
Then, Kyle smiled. "Anyway, I'm happy we might have an actual pair in our team. By the way, where's Michael?"
"He's talking with a couple of soldiers. He said he wants to take some time for himself," Selene said.
"Oh, okay. Then, let's all take a day off. I mean, we completed our mission. The Captain said we can do whatever the fuck we want until our shift ends," Kyle said.
Selene nodded.
"Anyway," Kyle said. "Since we are having a personal day, I'm going to focus on looking at some of the fancy ores in the surroundings. I'm not focusing on them yet, but it can't hurt to get some experience."
"Sure," Selene said awkwardly.
"See ya!" Kyle said with a smile before running into the tunnel.
Selene just looked at the tunnel with a worried expression.
In the tunnel, Kyle dug up a couple of ores and started to experiment with them under Theodor's guidance.
Theodor didn't know the Fragments related to these high-quality pieces of ore, but he still had more experience.
Time passed by in a flash for Kyle.
"Kyle," Selene said as she approached him inside the tunnel.
"Yeah, what's up?" Kyle asked.
"Can you come outside? The team wants to talk to you," Selene said.
"Sure thing," Kyle answered.
Selene and Kyle went back to the team.
Michael nodded towards Kyle.
Falk looked with a complex expression at Kyle.
Lily just looked at him with annoyance.
When Kyle saw Falk and Lily standing closely beside each other, he had to smile.
"I'm going to leave the team."
Yet, before Kyle could congratulate them, Selene said that she would leave the team.
Kyle glanced at Selene, but he wasn't really shocked.
"Well, that's faster than expected," Kyle said. "I thought you would wait until our shift ended."
"Might as well say it now," Selene said. "As you all know, I have an Aristocrat's Body, and my secret got out. The only safe place that allows me to grow stronger is the army. Going back to the Stark Brotherhood would lead to my death, and most likely, also your deaths."
"I'm sorry."
The other three seemed quite sad, but not overly so.
The reason why they weren't so sad was simple.
"Lily got an offer from the army," Falk said. "She knows how to mine valuable ore, and she was near the Ether Essence already. With her help, the army can gain more control over the Ether Essence."
"And, well, you've probably already noticed, but Lily and I have decided to enter a relationship," Falk added.
Then, he sighed.
"So, I'm going to stay with her."
Kyle sighed when he heard that. "Makes sense. Did they give you a good offer, at least?"
The other members looked at Kyle with evaluating expressions.
"What?" Kyle asked when he noticed their expressions.
"Are you not surprised?" Falk asked.
"Of course I am," Kyle answered. "I didn't think that we would suddenly split up."
The others looked at Kyle for a bit more, and Kyle looked back with a raised brow.
"Don't you think it's bad that the team is splitting up?" Falk asked.
"Yeah, well," Kyle said. "It sucks, but whatcha gonna do? I mean, it all makes sense. Lily can achieve more in the army. You're in a relationship with her. Selene has to stay here. Nothing I can do."
Falk furrowed his brows. "Nothing you can do?"
"Yeah," Kyle said. "Everything you said makes sense. If I were in your situation, I also wouldn't stay here. If not even I am willing to stay in such a situation, how can I ask you guys to stay?"
Falk just looked with a disappointed expression at Kyle.
"Nothing you can do," he repeated. "You truly think that?"
"Yeeeeees?" Kyle slowly answered.
"How about asking us to stay?" Falk asked.
"How would that help?" Kyle asked.
"Because it would show us that you actually cared," Falk said with an annoyed tone. "To be frank, we didn't get an offer yet. I lied. I just wanted to see how much you cared about the team."
Kyle grew a bit annoyed. "What's with these toxic relationship tests? What, you gonna say that you're pregnant next and then go, SIKE, just wanted to see how you would react?"
For some reason, Lily didn't seem bothered in the slightest by Kyle's answer.
It was like it didn't matter to her what Kyle said.
"Well," Falk said. "It's been nice with you, Kyle. You're probably the best leader I've ever seen, and anyone in your team can consider themselves lucky to have you as their leader."
"But I didn't want a leader."
"I wanted a friend."
"A human."
"And you can't fulfill that role."
"So, yes, it's been nice, but that's it. I wish you all the best."
Kyle rolled his eyes.
"Sure, whatever," he said.
Lily and Falk looked at Kyle some more.
Falk had just destroyed their friendship.
Yet, Kyle didn't even seem to care.
His emotional reaction was as strong as if he had accidentally broken a dinner plate.
"I hope you can find people like yourself," Falk said.
"Whatever that means," Kyle said casually.
Falk just shook his head.
He was deeply hurt inside by Kyle's disregard.
"Let's go," Lily said with a caring voice to Falk before throwing a venomous glance at Kyle.
"Sure," Falk said.
Then, the two of them traveled to the fortress.
Kyle just sighed before looking at Michael.
"I assume you're also going to leave?" he asked.
Michael just bitterly smiled. "Two people are not a team, and I think I can make use of a gap in the market. It's quite difficult to find Spells for unaffiliated Sorcerers."
Kyle sighed yet again. "Makes sense. You can probably earn a lot of money with that."
"By the way, regarding the insurance business…" Michael said.
"I don't care," Kyle said. "Keep the money. What am I going to do with that bit of money? As things look, we will not be lacking any money in the future."
"Oh, I said we. Guess I should get used to saying I again."
Michael just smiled politely. "I'll see how I'll deal with the business. I want it to be fair."
"Sure, whatever you want," Kyle said casually.
"Then, I will also take my leave," Michael said.
"Wish you all the best," Kyle said. "You've been a huge help."
"Likewise," Michael said with a smile.
"Then, farewell, leader," Michael said.
"Goodbye, Michael," Kyle said.
Finally, Michael also left.
That only left Selene and Kyle.
Selene sighed. "I'm still your friend," she said. "If you need anything, you can find me in the central battlefield. If you ever need support or help, don't hesitate to reach out."
Kyle smiled. "Thanks, and the same is true for you. If I ever get the power to help you, I will repay you for everything you've done for me. "
The two of them looked at each other with smiles.
They each gave their last well-wishes.
And then…
Selene also left.
After Selene had left, Kyle just scratched the side of his head.
"Yeah, well…"
"Guess that's the end of team Sandstorm."
"It's back to just Kyle and stone-in-brain."
Theodor snorted at the comment.
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