LIGHTNOVELONLINE XIII. The Coachmen
The Leopard had teleported to a monochrome marble building that looked exactly like the chamber he was in before. He enters through a massive set of double doors. The Owl intercepts him.
The Owl: So... You're back. Have you located the boy?
The Leopard: Located...? I was with him.
The Owl: Oh, with him, you say?! Well... What do you think of him?
The Leopard ponders for a moment.
The Leopard: It's too early to say. Although... I suspect the curse has already manifested itself.
The Owl is surprised, his head quickly turns towards the Leopard.
The Owl: It has?! But... This means we may not have much time...!
The Leopard: It will all depend on his resilience.
The Owl: But... How do you know this? How did you meet with him?
The Leopard: He is under the grasp of the local slum lord, who is having him battle in a fighting arena. On his first day, he managed to break half of his ribs and finish the battle unconscious... It was by the skin of his teeth that he survived. I'll keep a closer eye on him, but I'd be surprised if he lasts for even a couple of weeks fighting like that...
The Owl: Leopard, you must be careful! If the child dies, there goes our golden ticket...
The Leopard: I advised the slum lord to spare him from fighting for the next couple of days. I'll be back there tomorrow, and plan to speak with him then. I trust no harm should come to him until that time. He seems to have attracted the attention of at least one capable warrior that is more than willing to defend him...
They keep moving through a white hall. The Dragon overheard their conversation and joined them.
The Dragon: Well, well... Did I hear that right? The boy almost killed himself going all out on an arena...? That could be a great omen. Tenacity like that is quite uncommon!
The Owl was clearly displeased with their new-found company.
The Owl: Eavesdropping on passers-by, Dragon...? Careful, you might get mistaken for the likes of the Snake behaving like that...
The Dragon: Tch... I just happened to overhear you, is all. Look Leopard, if you need some extra protection, let me know. I'll be there in a flash!
The Leopard shakes his head.
The Leopard: You have your hands full as it is, Dragon. This is my mission. I know how several members distrust me due to the actions of the Puma... Let me handle this. Let me prove to them that I am on their side.
The Owl places a hand on his shoulder.
The Owl: The dogs bark but the caravan goes on, my boy... Let them say what they will. You know your worth, don't you?
The Leopard smiled behind his mask.
The Leopard: Thank you for the kind words, elder... I do.
The Dragon yawns.
The Dragon: You and your proverbs! You're not the only one who knows 'em , you know. Leopard, don't ever forget: a bird in the hand is worth two in the nest!
The Leopard and the Owl look at him, confused.
The Owl: You mean "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush", perhaps...?
The Dragon: The meaning is the same! Better be safe than sorry, is what I mean.
The Owl: Well, then you could have just said that instead.
The Dragon: Shut it, old man!
The Owl: But you know, one could always then say "nothing ventured, nothing gained"...
The Dragon: I'll show you were you can venture, you damn-
The Leopard: I appreciate your concern, friends. But you can trust me with this -- I'll do everything I can to ensure the boy is ready to pass the sword's trials...
He looks down at the ground.
The Leopard: ... Everything, and anything.
The Owl and the Dragon look at each other, in worry.
The Dragon: What exactly do you have in mind, Leopard...?
The Leopard: Nothing to be concerned about...
He changes subjects.
The Leopard: Elder, there is something I've been meaning to ask you. Do you truly believe that any wielder of the sword of greed could be trustworthy...? Would they not always be evil?
The Owl: ... He who claims one of the seven deadly weapons must be the true embodiment of the sin it represents, that much is unavoidable.
The Dragon seems somewhat surprised.
The Dragon: Hang on, then how are we supposed to trust someone who is the embodiment of greed itself?!
The Owl laughs.
The Owl: Do not make the mistake of tying yourself down to any one definition of the seven deadly sins... You need to truly examine their defining concept to know what it takes to wield such a weapon. Any person wielding one of the deadly weapons can be good, or evil, or anything in between... Being the embodiment of a sin does not inherently dictate your alignment. How you choose to manifest that sin, does. I will give you an example. Imagine this boy, Virno, wields the sword of greed. This would mean that he himself is the embodiment of greed. So, how would you you imagine him to behave?
The Leopard: I would assume he would act selfishly, and only to his own benefit. So I fail to see how he could be good in any capacity...
The Dragon: Right...
The Owl: Because both of you are too tied to the common definition of greed. Greed goes beyond being selfish for one's own benefit... The essence of greed is the overpowering desire for something. A desire that overcomes all else. A desire so powerful that nothing but death will stop the person from chasing it. To stop at nothing to see your desire come to fruition... That is true greed. The desire itself does not matter, what matters is one's determination to see it through.
The Leopard: So if Virno's desire is to restore balance to our world, for instance...
The Owl: ... Then I believe we can fully trust him with the sword.
The Dragon: But... What if Virno turns out to be selfish, or evil? What if he reveals himself to be far too dangerous to entrust with the sword?
The Owl sighs.
The Owl: Well, we would need to bring that matter up with the Lion. It wouldn't be the first time one of the council's decisions has to be amended... And should that be the case, I fear the only course of action would be to do as the Snake suggested. We would most likely need to kill the boy, to ensure he would not claim the blade.
The Dragon and the Leopard remain silent for a while, until one of them breaks the silence.
The Leopard: But how likely would the boy be of claiming the sword...? Without any guidance whatsoever, I mean.
The Owl: The exact trials of the sword of greed vary from individual to individual. All we know is that Virno will be pushed to his absolute physical and mental limits...
He takes a deep breath.
The Owl: When you consider the hardships he has already been through when it comes to his family, and his determination to push his body beyond its limits... I'd say he's definitely a contender.
He turns his head to the Leopard.
The Owl: You must be very careful with how you aid him. In order to be successful, he needs to be able to push beyond his limits, but not so much that his body or mind break... The trials themselves will already take enough of a toll on him. All you need to ensure is that he can take them.
The Dragon shakes his head.
The Dragon: I do not envy you, Leopard... Your mission sounds like a proper challenge.
The Leopard takes a deep breath.
The Leopard: Don't worry. I'll think of something...