Ethai's words didn't sound the least pleased when she said them. In fact, Eva was sure that she had touched on a subject that didn't entertain Ethia at all.
Eva wasn't intending to actually make this mysterious individual angry but since she found something she could use against Ethia, she might as well use it to the full. Of course, that came with its own risks and things that could make it go south.
'It's either a fight or a safe landing.' Eva thought to herself.
"Yes, that's what I believe. Divinity needs to stop its attempt to make Origin a world known thing. Nobody is ready for such a drastic change." She added.
Ethia's eyes squinted slightly before she sighed and crossed her arms. "I thought better of you, Miss Eva. As someone with power, you should be the most aware of how amazing Origin is. It's the very thing that makes this world magical, unique, and beyond the scope of understanding. Normal humans would never think that someone can climb a building with a single jump, punch a hole into a mountain or think tens of times faster than the normal capacity of the brain."
"And so what? Does that mean that it doesn't have its flaws?"
Ethia shook her head. "Everything has its flaws. Some more than others while some have so little flaws that we might as well ignore them and Origin is one of those. Imagine a world where people can protect themselves. A world where illnesses don't destroy families and weaknesses don't put human life at risk. We won't be scared of nature catastrophes. We can expand our scientific achievements, travel to other planets, explore the sea and do many more things that our weak bodies could not let us do."
Ethia's face returned to her usual smile as she talked about Origin and its vast possibilities. She seemed completely obsessed with the idea of the future where Origin is normal.
'What a twisted person… Does she not realize how idealistic her idea of the future is?'
"Do you think giving people power will make them use it responsibly? Look at the world now. Wars, famish, poverty and all kinds of crimes. All of these problems come from greed or obsession with power. People that aren't supposed to have power gain it and then abuse it. Imagine if everyone got what they wanted. The world as we know it will be no more."
Ethia's entire monologue halted when she heard those words as she stared at Eva with confusion.
"Everyone will have the power to defend themselves. Nobody is better than the other. Wars will never start because no one is stronger than the other. People will be able to get what's rightfully theirs."
"... You… You've never seen the ugly side of humans, did you?" Eva asked with a frown. "You've never actually seen how much could corrupt a human without them even realizing."
At first, Eva thought that Ethia was simply in this plan for personal gain like she assumed Divinity to have that intention. However, the more Ethia talked, the more Eva realized that Ethia wasn't simply after control, she genuinely believed that this plan would save humanity.
That meant that Ethia had never actually seen how humans could be. She had lived her entire life unaware of how people aren't always meant to have power.
'How… She seems like a smart and level-headed person. How can she be this naive?' Eva couldn't understand it at all.
"You… Sigh, forget it. You do you and I will do me." Eva shook her head.
"Why are you so sure that I will let you live?" Ethia asked with a curious look.
"Because you never had any intention to attack me, did you? Or we would've never talked here, would we?" Eva asked as she reached the edge of the building before she looked back. "You really should learn about the world around you. Not everything is a rainbow and flowers."
After that, Eva jumped from the edge, leaving a confused Ethia behind. The woman stared at the last place where Eva stood and then rubbed the back of her head.
Eva's words didn't leave her head at all as they truly made her think.
'What does she mean?'
***
A few hours passed before the boat finally reached the shores of one of the cities. The moment they landed Kai quickly pulled out his phone and messaged Eva.
Luckily, the message reached her and she replied. Kai knew how happy she was to hear from him but he told her to meet him at a particular location. After that, he took a plane back to the city.
He knew that his disappearance along with Kaya and Aria was extremely suspicious but he had already thought of a good excuse for it.
The moment they reached their destination, they headed back to the academy as fast as they could. Kaya had already told the headmistress about their return and she arranged a meeting with her in her office.
Reaching the office, they were allowed inside. Ethia's office wasn't that much different from Kaya's office except for the fact that it had way more files and stacks of papers.
"Oh, Professor Kaya! I'm glad you're fine! You really worried me." Ethia welcomed them with a wide smile as she looked at Kai and Aria. "You too! What a coincidence that my students and also my tenants ended up in such a bad situation. I was really worried that something happened to you."
"We're fine. We ended up getting stuck in the desert for a few days because of the weather." Kai giggled awkwardly.
"Oh, it must've been quite the weather." Ethia rubbed her chin.
"Yes, we couldn't move at all or even do what we were there for." Aria barged in and said.
"I did take care of them so no problem arised." Kaya added.
The headmistress nodded at her before she turned around and walked to her desk before she rested her back on it.
"I shall report your return to the HQ. You must be tired so you can go now. You can have the day off tomorrow too."
"Thanks, Miss Headmistress."
"Anything for my dear professor and my dear students. Oh, before you go, Jack, can I have a moment with you if you don't mind?" She asked, catching Kai's attention.
Aria and Kaya also looked at her. But, to not raise any suspicion, they still turned around and left. Kai can deal with the situation himself.
When they closed the door, Kai stared at Ethia again with a confused smile. "How can I help you?"
"Do you know someone named Eva Lavine?" She asked.
Kai raised an eyebrow for a moment before he rubbed his chin as if he was contemplating the answer. "Hmm, I think I heard of that name before. Is she some kind of celebrity?"
"Yes she is."
"How would I get to know a celebrity, Miss Headmistress?" He asked.
"Just asking out of curiosity. Forget that I asked. You can leave."
"Sure. Have a good day."
After that, he turned around and left the room. The moment he closed the door, his smile disappeared and he returned to his stoic expression for a split second.
'Eva already told me that she met her but I didn't think she would be this suspicious of us. Tsk.' He thought to herself.
The worst thing that could happen was that Ethia realizes that he knows Eva and they were this close from falling into that disaster.