Chapter 70: Frustration
Coming out of her thoughts, Ava glanced toward Alicia, whose expression was more than clear—she didn't want them to come inside with them. Alicia's face had a look that could literally speak for her, conveying her reluctance to let them tag along. It was as if her entire demeanor screamed, "No, they should not come in."
Aiden, noticing the situation unfolding in front of him, felt he had to act. He couldn't just stand there doing nothing, especially because his Aunt May had specifically instructed him about the importance of these soldiers. She had emphasized how they were elite, sent as protection for them. They were trained to never abandon their mission, even if it meant risking their lives to protect others.
Aunt May had insisted that he must treat these soldiers with respect and consideration.
Having extra security, Aiden thought, was always better than having none at all. Even though it was generally considered safe inside, the idea of additional protection gave him peace of mind. And while weapons weren't allowed inside, people certainly could enter.
He had to stay highly vigilant, keeping an eye on everyone until the world had evolved enough to ensure no mistakes were made—especially before obtaining any real magical power. There were risks everywhere, and he couldn't afford to take any chances.
Despite his concerns, Aiden felt a growing sense of excitement. The day he had long awaited for over a year was finally within his grasp within a week. Now he had to attend the entrance ceremony, the beginning of his time at school, but in his mind, he had already decided it would be his last day in school before the world changed due to its impending evolution.
He was convinced that the transformations in the world would make this traditional system of education crumble, and he had prepared himself mentally for the end of this chapter of life, despite it just beginning for others. The anticipation was almost overwhelming.
He knew he couldn't afford any slip-ups before evolution, so he subtly nudged his older sister, Alicia, trying to get her attention without causing a scene.
He didn't have the luxury of time to engage in a lengthy conversation with her. The ceremony was fast approaching, and he needed to be punctual, not because he was overly eager for school, but because he knew this might be the final chance to attend such an event in a pre-evolution world. So, he chose a more direct and effective way to get through to Alicia.
Alicia, feeling the light tap on her shoulder, immediately assumed her younger brother wanted to let the soldiers inside. The thought stirred up a flurry of emotions within her. This wasn't what she wanted at all. Her mind raced with questions and concerns, each one more troubling than the last.
'Does Aiden know these female soldiers?' she thought, her brow furrowing in suspicion. 'Is that why he is about to ask me to let them in?'
'Why would he know them? Has he been secretly meeting this group of female soldiers behind my back?'
'No, no, that can't be possible. I've kept track of him. I know where he is every moment because of the GPS tracker I had put in his birthday watch.'
'There's no way he could have met them without me knowing. So why is he so insistent on them coming inside?'
The more Alicia thought about it, the more paranoid she became. Her thoughts began to spiral in an irrational direction. 'Is Aiden attracted to them? Could he be hiding his feelings from me?'
'If that's the case,' she thinks in a grimace, 'then I have to do something about it. Yes, I need to get rid of them and make sure Aiden stays with me.'
Alicia's eyes widened with an unsettling realization. 'Yes! I'll lock him away, and once we're alone, I'll make sure he forgets all about them. We'll be together, just the two of us, forever.'
The longer Alicia thought about this, the more delusional she became. For the past six months, ever since Aiden had come of age, Alicia's desires had grown increasingly immoral. Every day, she fantasized about doing things with him she knew they were already committed, but her feelings had taken control of her.
Gathering her courage the most she had dared to do thus far was kiss him on the lips, but even that wasn't enough. She wanted more, and the frustration of not being able to have what she desired had been eating away at her sanity.
Aiden, completely unaware of his sister's inner turmoil, continued to give her space, thinking she just needed time to sort out her thoughts. But this only made things worse. Alicia's mental state had been deteriorating due to her unresolved desires, and Aiden's patience and misunderstanding weren't helping matters.
Alicia had become particularly sensitive, and earlier when she saw Aiden interacting with other women. The sight of him talking to a girl who blushed in his presence without saying anything to her had triggered her jealousy further. She had been on the verge of snapping, and now she was at a breaking point. She was trying, with every ounce of willpower, to control the growing frustration inside her.
But if Aiden did something that crossed her boundaries, the outcome would be nothing short of catastrophic. Alicia was on the verge of a violent outburst, and while she may not have the intention to kill, it would certainly result in a bloody confrontation. She wasn't one to be underestimated either, as her combat skills were second only to Aiden's.
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Even their Aunt May had acknowledged Alicia's talent, having trained with them occasionally over the past five years. She had praised Alicia's natural fighting abilities, saying she had great potential. As for Aiden, Aunt May had remarked that while he wasn't a natural-born fighter, she was impressed by how quickly he picked things up.
He was almost on par with her in terms of learning new techniques, which was a remarkable feat.
To Aunt May, most natural-born fighters develop their skills over time, but Aiden had an uncanny ability to mimic her fighting style perfectly, little by little. She took pride in her own close-combat techniques, which she had refined over the years, and Aiden had managed to learn them little by little, almost effortlessly.
Realizing this, she decided it was best to teach both Aiden and Alicia her personal fighting style. It was, in her opinion, far superior to anything Alicia would develop on her own, and she wasn't entirely sure if Aiden was a natural fighter. So, teaching them both her techniques seemed like the best course of action.
Aunt May's style, which she called the "Equilibrium Combat Style," was a blend of various martial arts techniques. It incorporates of core fighting elements of Taekwondo, Muay Thai, boxing, Sambo, kickboxing, judo, Tai Chi, Aikido, Kung Fu, Wushu, Kenjutsu, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The key to mastering it was finding the perfect balance between these techniques and knowing when to use them.
Aiden, with his exceptional intelligence, was able to grasp the combat style with time. After breaking through the limits of human capacity, his mind could process calculations at a rapid rate, allowing him to learn new moves and techniques with astonishing speed. His body adapted just as quickly because of his physique, enabling him to execute the techniques with the closer precision of Aunt May.
Neither Alicia nor Aunt May fully understood the extent of Aiden's abilities. They simply assumed he was a fighting prodigy, much like his intellectual prowess. Both were immensely proud of him, and they never questioned how he was able to keep up with the flow of battle. For Aiden, the best strategy was to copy the most effective fighting styles and use them based on his opponent's attack patterns.
It was a system that worked brilliantly for him, given his ability to think faster than anyone else.
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Aiden, speaking in his captivating voice, said with a mixture of concern and a hint of anxiety, "Big Sis, can't you let them in just this once? I want you to always be safe, so we can always be together. It's good to have them around to protect us in case something unexpected happens—something even we can't handle."
He took a deep breath and acted as if he were shy, trying to soften her resolve. "So, please, Big Sis, will you let them in for me? We're running late. Pretty please?"
The vice president, standing just a few meters away, observing everything, had a sudden nosebleed at the sight unfolding before her. The other girl around her was also blushing deeply, unable to hide their admiration for Aiden.
Meanwhile, a boy standing nearby, seeing the vice president and his childhood friend swooning over Aiden, could barely contain his frustration. His thoughts raced in anger.
'Ugh! I can't even deny it! This bastard, with his angelic looks and that infuriating charm, makes everyone go crazy! Why does he have to look like an angel with that perfect physique and long hair? He's impossible to ignore!'
He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his misery. 'Why, why, why! Why isn't this guy in heaven already? He looks like an angel and acts like one, and yet he's here, cursing our lives and making every other guy's life hell in this school!'