Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

"You must have been pretty made when you were alive, to transfer your spirit such a disgusting combination of things," Rain said.

"While I don't like the fact right now that I did such a thing, I understand it thanks to that memory alone," Elisabetha said.

Indeed, Rain comprehended the gravity of Elisabetha's past experiences and actions. He acknowledged that the memory revealed a life lived without the luxury of considering most things. Elisabetha's existence seemed dedicated to a singular mission: the eradication of dragons by any means necessary.

Her focus and determination stemmed from an intense drive to eliminate the creatures that had caused such destruction and made her life become a living hell.

However, Rain realized that Elisabetha's relentless pursuit was fueled by a deep-seated hatred towards dragons. Her consuming vengeance led her to see these creatures as her most hated adversaries. Yet the dragons she hated might not have been the worst ones, hinting at deeper complexities and a more layered history than she initially perceived…

"I am starting to understand things now… the relics that are made with those disgusting materials were able to harness their power better," Larisa said. "Vessels like mine and Maxime are weaker because of that, and thus, the power that we can show is smaller."

"Considering that the dragons sealed some weapons, I would understand why they wouldn't be able to destroy materials such as that one, but the hammer and the gloves shouldn't have been impossible for them," Rain said. "It is also suspicious that they were able to create those dark cubes… perhaps… not, it is nothing."

"Anyway, you are going to fulfill your part of the bargain, right?" Elisabetha asked.

"... You fell for it, fool!" Rain said. "Haha, just kidding… I said that I would, but I never said when!"

"Don't take too much time," Elisabetha said.

Rain found himself troubled by the weak response. He realized that his words often didn't carry the weight he intended them to when he wasn't being serious, especially when behind a joke or a funny remark. Despite his attempt at humor, everyone present could see through his facade. They knew Rain wasn't one to idle around or make empty promises. He valued his word and honor quite a bit.

Deep down, Rain understood the importance of following through on his commitments. He might tease or jest, but when it came to fulfilling promises, he was resolute. Acknowledging this, Rain set aside his jokes and began working on the project, fully intending to assist Elisabetha and the others in their quest to uncover their forgotten past and make them move a bit more by themselves.

Rain opted for a practical solution. He crafted extensions of the weapons using the crystals as materials, it was a substance known for its excellent mana infusion properties. These extensions didn't retain the abilities and functionality of the relics but had the additional feature of being able to move independently within Rain's domain.

Given Rain's necessity to fuel the crystal with his mana within his domain, the weapons didn't have total freedom, but it was enough. Interestingly, they demonstrated a level of autonomy, seemingly capable of controlling themselves quite well. This unique skill intrigued Rain, sparking the thought that they might become as useful as an "auto farm" function in a dungeon.

With their self-control and mana-fueled capabilities, they could potentially assist Rain in various tasks or combat scenarios, similar to automated functions in a game.

"Happy now?" Rain asked.

"It is enough for now," Elisabetha said while spinning in the air.

"It is almost refreshing how suspicious and cautious you are," Vanessa said.

"I am still a beginner when it comes to being suspicious and cautious," Rain said while shrugging.

Most things in life works better when they are balanced. Rain maintained a balanced approach when it came to caution and suspicion. This equilibrium came from a combination of personal principles and lessons learned from a figure he respected deeply – someone whose level of skepticism bordered on paranoia.

The individual Rain admired had instilled in him the importance of questioning motives, scrutinizing intentions, and being wary of unexpected consequences. This mentor figure had taken suspicion to an extreme, to the point of demanding immediate healing for even the slightest scratches and harboring distrust even towards seemingly innocent individuals, including children.

Rain recognized the value of a healthy dose of skepticism but also understood the limitations of going to the extreme. While he admired the thoroughness of this figure's approach, he didn't want to become excessively paranoid or mistrustful.

Instead, Rain aimed to strike a balance between being cautious and maintaining a level of trust, especially with those who had proven their loyalty and sincerity.

"It looks like the plan didn't work," Roan said when he approached and saw Rain watching his kids from a distance sparring against each other. "Considering your report, I didn't think that something bad happened during the mission, but…"

"I guess things are just like that," Rain shrugged. "They didn't grow to become that close to their parents and grandparents. How were things in the last one hundred years?"

"Once we split up, we only talked about training and how to get stronger…" Roan said while furrowing his eyebrows. "I guess it makes sense that they are like this."

"Instead of worrying about that, I am more worried about their future, it is fine if they aren't that close to me, but they should have a more normal life now," Rain said. "Sealyn found someone, but what about Danny and Annie?"

"It might be difficult for them to stop and look for something like love since they got from you mainly your work discipline," Roan said.

"I am worried about Dana, Kei, and Gila,"Rain said. "Dana didn't have a boyfriend back then, did he die?"

"No, he survived, but they split up since he stayed behind with Luana and Meiro," Roan said. "They had other boyfriends over the years, but ordinary people had a hard time keeping up with them since they are also good when it comes to magic."