Sacrifice: Time of Mine

Avion was deep in thoughts from what Naron said earlier. It heavily hit him.

If he did not use his powers, he would immediately feel tired much earlier than Temon who is considered the weakest of the three.

Avion was extremely weak. This is because as long as he would become tired, he would revert his state.

Before he came to that world, Avion could control the universe's time without any effort. His daily life was easy due to his power and there was nothing that could make him tired.

He was weak both physically and mentally.

When Avion heard Naron's words, it inspired him and made him realize what he was lacking the most. That was strength. Not just physically, but even mentally.

Avion was impulsive and would act on thought. That was because he couldn't bear to become uncomfortable for all his life everything went his way. It suddenly became clear to him - How his deaths taught him a lesson.

'It's because that is something I can never remove. That pain, that fear...' Avion thought, 'It was horrifying and I don't want it to happen again. Before, if I have a choice to remove that memory, I would immediately do it. But now...'

Avion began to understand something and the path towards strength. If he always tried to escape and remove the pain, he will never learn and will always encounter it again and again due to his own fault.

Thankfully, he cannot remove his memories. Although that made him suffer as it traumatize him, it made him realize the common phrase "No pain, no gain"

'So that's where the sadness was coming from...' Avion lightly laughed in his head, thinking about his stupidity.

He finally realized where the sadness, the loneliness came from.

While the three with him were having a hard time, he, on the other hand, was using his cheat ability, making his like easier. While they were using all their effort, thus feeling weak, Avion was still lively as ever. While they were being tempered, on the other hand, Avion... stayed weak.

Ever since Avion came to this world, he had been observing other people. How they act, how they behave, etc. He found out about relationship and its nature of give and take.

However, that was the end of his understanding after a day or so in that workd.

'Friendship... it's a wonderful thing.' Avion looked at the three. Even though they were working hard, profusely sweating, and their bodies shivering in fatigue, they were having fun.

Avion could feel it. In comparison to his previous life, where he got everything and nothing goes in his way, he felt loneliness and sadness.

But now, even though he was physically near them, Avion couldn't connect to the three. He realized that's where the sadness came from...

The day was finished and the four completed the mission, bringing back ten buckets of coals to the guild itself. It is for the guild to sign the mission approval paper, instead of the client themselves.

Naron, Temon and Fobo received their first income. Even though they were tired for the day, they celebrated and caused a ruckus in the guild.

"The bottom-eaters finally succeeded in their mission?!"

"Yeah and it's Difficulty Level 3. Although it isn't much but aren't they always failing at Level 2 and even 1?"

"This cause for a celebration!"

The guild members, the Riskers cheered while some treated them food and not just left-overs. A Water Elementalist cleaned their dirty look as they danced in joy and tears came out of their mouth.

"What's the secret to your success!?" one asked.

They even made speeches in front of the Riskers which they received applauses.

Feeling fulfilled for the first time in all of the years of their hard work, the three were especially happy.

Meanwhile, Avion was at the back. He does not feel any of their accomplishments. For him, it was easy.

On their way home, the three came home with pride and middle fingers up. However, they did not dare to show their acquired reward. After all, these people here are nasty and itchy in from of money

The three somehow understood the commoners who were always wary of them when they walk on the streets outside.

"Wait, what's this? Why are they so smug?" the men who mocked the three that morning were all dumbfounded.

Hearning them, Fobo took the chance and proudly announced "We finished a Difficulty Level 3 Mission!" 

"What?!"

"Woah!"

"Mommy, what's a Difficulty Level 3 Mission?"

"They seriously did it!?"

"HAHAHAHA!" as if they forgot about Avion, the three laughed their lungs out as they walked the muddy road until they reached their house.

Men who mocked them were turning red from shame while the women were admiring the three, but mostly, Avion, thinking that he was the one who helped them.

Feeling this admiring stares, Avion felt uncomfortable. He didn't deserve this...

Although their self-confidence and self-efficacy rose up, the three were still very respectful to Avion while Avion felt they became distant.

After thinking about his realizations all night, the morning came fast.

The slums were having a war again for Miss Tamya's free breakfast. This time, by Avion's lead, the four did not compete and the remaining loafs of bread were given to them.

Ready for the day, they came back to the guild, asking for the only Difficulty Level 3 Mission which was the mining of coal.

The guild members cheered as they went out their way. Meanwhile, Mettany was forbidden to see Avion for the time being while she was on her one-year cleaning duty. 

Going through the same procedures, the four was back again at the mining site.

This time, Avion was sweating and felt fatigue covering his entirety just a few minutes of giving his all.

The three looked at his weak state and that was when... Suddenly, they remembered the time when Avion waved at them.

Even though he was in a different league, he chose to be with them since they were already friends.

"This is... hard..."

"You can't use your power?" Naron asked, his behaviour towards Avion somehow eased up.

But Avion shook his head, "I learned from what you said yeaterday. If I continue to use my powers, when will I truly get strong?"

In the end, their time on the free cave for mission was nearing up while Avion only finished one bucket. After a few blackouts, the three helped him complete his part of the job.