Chapter 328: Faintly Feathered (1/2)

Mike quickly summoned up a small air elemental and had it follow Sera with instructions to let him know if she got in trouble. Of the two other members of the group, he was more concerned about Morris, since the current Sera could probably handle most of this dungeon by herself.

Thankfully, the bard had unintentionally entered a safe zone with only a single entrance, and was staring intensely at the slightly sodden walls, his body language showing that he was still deeply upset.

Unsure of what precisely he should say, Mike walked over and joined him. They passed a few moments in silence before Morris finally spoke. ”I know I'm acting foolishly, and I know I put myself in danger for no real reason, but I couldn't...I was about to do or say something I would have regretted, so I had to get out of there.”

”I get it, man. Everyone loses their cool once in a while. Hell, if I had a gold piece for every time Sera broke down on me-”

”You don't need to try and console me.” Morris cut him off. ”It was cowardly and immature of me to react that way, and I should have known better.”

He looked down at his hands for a few seconds, clenching and unclenching them a few times. ”She's right, of course. As one would expect from an Oracle, she saw right through me...”

Mike wasn't sure what to say.

Morris turned to face him. ”By trying to reject him in everything I can, am I doing exactly what my father wants?”

”...Honestly? I don't know. He's pretty devious, so I wouldn't put it past him to try to manipulate your behavior with reverse psychology, but even if he is, so what?”

The bard spun towards him and grabbed his collar. ”So what?! I should just let him make me a pawn in his games?!”

”This is exactly what Sera was talking about. So long as you continue to feel like this, you are already letting him control your life.”

With a roar, Morris pushed him away, walked over to the nearest wall and threw a heavy punch at it. ”I know!...How could I not?!”

Mike winced at the impact, knowing that it had likely done serious damage to his friend's hand. ”Then it seems like you should know what to do next.”

The bard glared at him.

”You need to stop living for him and start living for yourself.”

”Easier said than done.” Morris growled and continued to glare at him for several seconds before he finally sighing.

He sagged against the wall, tension flowing out of him in a wave. ”I've got a few issues, don't I?”

Mike gave him a sympathetic smile. ”Yeah, but if it makes you feel any better, I think having issues with your father is pretty common.”

”Heh.” Morris chuckled and then winced. ”Ugh, I think I broke my hand.”

”Certainly looked like it. Need a heal?”

”Thanks...By the way, is it alright to leave Sera alone?”

Mike walked over and sent a burst of Life Magic into his friends hand, knitting a cracked metacarpal bone back together. ”I have a summon watching over her. So far she's only been venting her frustrations on the dungeon monsters...Got to give credit where credit is due, she's gotten a lot more lethal since we started training together.”

”Quit your bragging already.” Morris grumbled while testing his newly healed hand. ”Shall we go join her?”

Mike hesitated. Based on what he was hearing from his summon, it might be better to give her some space.

”...Alright, but I recommend we walk slowly. I think she's still got a bit of stress to work out.”

With that thought in mind, they leisurely worked on catching up to the Oracle. By the time they finally did, she'd already discovered the stairs to the next floor and was waiting for them with an impatient look on her face.

”You two finally ready to do this, or should I just clear the rest of this place by myself?” She grumbled once they'd come into view.

Mike was about to admonish her, but stopped when Morris patted his shoulder and stepped forward. ”I'm ready.”

Sera looked him over once and then nodded. ”Seems like it. Let's go, then.”

”Before we do, I have something to say.” Morris said hurriedly to keep her from ascending the stairs.

”If you want to give me some long spiel about how I opened your eyes to something you've been hiding from, you can save it. I don't want to hear it. If you really want to apologize for earlier, prove it by doing your job on the next floor. I want to clear this place by the end of the day.”

With that, she vanished up the stairs to the next level.

Chuckling, Morris followed after her, muttering under his breath. ”Thanks.”