The System Mecha is so unscientific

### Chapter 21: Return from Blood Valley, Part 1

The day broke slowly over the hills surrounding Blood Valley, casting a pale golden light over the devastated landscape. The aftermath of the battle lingered in the air like the scent of burnt earth, thick and acrid. Da stood at the mouth of the cavern, watching as the rest of his team began to regroup, their faces weary but resolute. The echoes of the combat hung in the silence, a stark reminder of the struggle they had endured.

Yet, even amid the chatter and camaraderie, something gnawed at him. The Tome of Lucifer, hidden securely from view, was a shadow that danced at the edges of his consciousness. He could still feel the gravitational pull it had exerted on Kai, the way its very presence sent ripples through their fragmented lives. But for Da, the tome was nothing but trouble, and he was more determined than ever to distance himself from its dark allure.

"We need to assess our casualties and check for any remaining threats," Da called out, snapping himself back to the present. As much as he wanted to let the weight of their recent victory wash over him, the knowledge of the hidden tome sat like a stone in his gut. It was a burden that shouldn’t have been his to bear.

Kai joined him, subtle steps leading him closer. “Is everything alright?” he asked, an eyebrow raised in concern. He probably sensed the shift in Da’s demeanor, but Da couldn’t afford to let him know how deeply unsettled he felt about their decision to hide the tome.

“It will be,” Da replied, keeping his voice steady. He turned to face his friend, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “We just need to focus on the next step. Let’s not forget why we came here in the first place.”

A nod, but Kai's gaze betrayed his conflicted thoughts. “I know, but…” He hesitated, the words clearly burning at the back of his throat. “We have the tome now. We could figure out its secrets, use it to strengthen ourselves against the cult.”

Da shook his head sharply, cutting off the conversation before it went further. “That’s not our mission. Our mission is to return from Blood Valley and ensure we stay alive in the process. The tome will only bring about more trouble.”

“I get that, but Paul said—”

“Forget what Paul said,” Da interrupted, his voice firm but lowered to avoid drawing attention from their comrades. “You and I both know we’re bound by deals and obligations we never signed up for. I didn’t choose this life, Kai, and I’m tired of being tied down to it.”

There it was again: the weight of his connection to Paul Grimheart, the young master of the Grimheart family. This bond felt more constraining each day, pressing on his shoulders like a heavy cloak. Paul’s vision was noble—good even—but it constricted Da’s freedom and clouded his judgment with burdensome expectations.

“You can’t just walk away when this is done,” Kai replied softly, his eyes piercing. “There are lives at stake. Our lives.”

“I know that,” Da said, defensive but quick to soften. “But what are we really trying to do here? Fight a never-ending war against darkness? There will always be another cult or another tome or another monster lurking in the shadows. I just want a chance to breathe—to live freely outside the chains we’ve forged.”

Kai considered his words, the tension between them palpable. “We made a commitment, Da. You can’t just do this alone.”

“This isn’t just about you and me,” Da replied, trying to keep his emotions in check. “The more we dive into whatever the cult and that tome are concocting, the deeper we sink into their chaos. I want out. I want to find a way to shield myself from everything breaking apart.”

“That’s a luxury we can’t afford,” Kai said, frustration edging into his voice. “We’re already in too deep.”

Da inhaled deeply, steadying himself as he shifted his focus back to their comrades. “Maybe. But once we’re back, I’m distancing myself from this whole thing. I need a plan.”

“Then where does that leave me?” Kai asked, visibly mentoring between two conflicting paths: loyalty to the Grimheart family and loyalty to a friend desperate for escape. “Are you saying you’re willing to let it all go after everything we’ve been through?”

Da paused, his heart racing at that moment of raw honesty. He cared deeply for Kai’s well-being, but they faced a precipice. The more they bonded over the trials they endured, the harder it was to decide where duty ended and personal choice began. “I don’t want to lose you to this,” he admitted, the vulnerability surfacing as he faced the reality of their choices. “But I can’t lose myself either.”

The rippling silence held them both captive as they processed their thoughts, the weight of their words settling heavily between them.

“Let’s focus on getting back,” Kai finally said, his voice steady despite the turmoil. “We have a mission to finish, one we can’t fight while caught in these thoughts.”

“Yeah,” Da nodded, grateful for the resolution. “We regroup, assess the situation, then we push forward. Just keep the tome between us, understand?”

Kai agreed, though his expression bore the weight of unspoken worries. As they turned back toward the others, Da couldn’t shake the resentment forming at the edges of his consciousness. They had fought off the immediate threats, but new ones rolled in like waves at the shore—threats that stemmed from the darkness they had all chosen to confront.

Everything felt unsustainable. The relationships, the commitments, the ever-present shadow of the Grimheart legacy. Da's resolve strengthened: He would distance himself from it all, back into a life free from the clutches of darkness. All he needed was the right moment to slip away unnoticed, to reclaim a life that was truly his own.

But as a chill swept through the air, he couldn’t help but wonder if freedom was nothing but an illusion born from a desperate fight against a darkness that always loomed, always beckoned to pull him back into its depths. For if the Grimheart family had taught him anything, it was that shadows would keep chasing, and there was no true escape from one’s duty toward the light.

As the two of them approached the others, a sense of resolve washed over Da. They were fighters, yes, but even the bravest soldiers could lose their way amidst the tumultuous tides of war. And as the reality of their next steps settled in, Da prepared to navigate that storm, no matter the cost. The cavern might have been a battleground, but the real war was only beginning.@@novelbin@@