<h4>Chapter 11: Meeting the Protagonist 3</h4>


    "The butterfly effect"


    A concept poprized by chaos theory, suggests that small and seemingly insignificant actions or events can have far-reaching and unpredictable consequences, resulting inplex situations.


    ''I was currently experiencing it right now''


    Who would''ve thought that a simple interaction could result to this.


    "Haah" I sighed


    A giant gori made of rock and stones was currently hugging a beautiful girl with blond hair and pink eyes.


    A colossal ming snake, ready to swallow some two unknown thugs.


    And our dear protagonist holding his sword unable to process the absurd situation he was facing.


    Then there''s me who was watching all this just behind our dear protagonist.


    ''Now how should I deal with this situation?''


    "Stop what are you doing," said Tristan His de shimmering with a dense blue aura that illuminated the scene.


    It was a testament to the absolute mastery he possessed over his own aura, a manifestation of his unwavering resolve to protect those in need.


    ''Gulp'' If I were to get directly hit by that without my authorities could I survive?


    ''I don''t know''


    ''Damn this munchkin protagonist why are you already so strong?''


    ''It''s just the start of the story, you should''ve at least nerfed him with something dear author!''


    "Wait don''t hurt Cecilia!" Screamed Louise, her voice rang out, a plea to spare the creature that hade to her defense.


    "Cecilia?" Tristan questioned, his features etched with confusion as he tried to make sense of the name and the bewildering circumstances that had unfolded before him.


    Louise, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination, gestured towards the two stunned thugs who had been at the center of the altercation. Her trembling hand pointed directly at them, her voice quivering as she spoke


    "She was only protecting me from these guys."


    As the realization dawned upon one of the thugs, he regained his senses and tried to seize control of the situation.


    Paned his voice as he cried out for help, desperately attempting to shift the me away from himself and hisrade.


    "Please help us, th-this girl attacked us all of a sudden!" he stammered, his fear palpable.


    Hispanion, upon grasping hisrade''s intent, chimed in with a simr narrative, his voice trembling with fear.


    "Ye-yes, that''s right! This girl killed our friends!" Their ims were wild and unsubstantiated, but they clung to them as a desperate attempt to escape the consequences of their actions.


    The colossal snake, Cecilia, hissed ominously in response to their words, its fiery eyes narrowing with a dangerous intent.


    The threat of the serpentine guardian hung heavily in the air, serving as a silent reminder of the power at its disposal.


    Amidst the chaos and usations, Louise''s voice wavered as she fought back tears, attempting to exin the true nature of the situation.


    "Please trust me. These two are my spirits," she began, her voice quivering but resolute. "They don''t typically harm anyone who doesn''t harbor any negative intentions towards me."


    Tristan, now able to assess the situation more clearly, lowered his sword slightly and turned his attention to the two thugs.


    His eyes, which had previously shimmered with a dense cerulean hue, began to transform, taking on a golden shimmer. It was a subtle shift, but it signified his growing understanding and the deepeningplexity of the situation.


    "Is that true?" Tristan questioned, his voice firm but not usatory. His golden eyes bore into the two thugs, seeking the truth amidst the tangled web of ims and counterims.


    ''Right, he had that skill, or should I say authority?'' Ipletely forgot this


    "Veritas Auris" His eyes were the instruments of divine justice, a gift that allowed him to see through the intricate tapestry of deceit, lies, and illusions that shrouded the world.


    This was a skill or an authority, he used on vol 4 when he fought the beast of the night Kaksan.


    ''And I can already guess who gave him that authority'' I thought bitterly, a distinct edge to my internal monologue.


    The mere thought of the person behind Tristan''s unique gift really pissed me off.


    ''So, he already had that since the beginning?'' I wondered, my mind racing to piece together the timeline of Tristan''s adventures.


    The realization that this remarkable authority had been at his disposal all along left me pondering why he hadn''t wielded it sooner.


    ''Then why didn''t he use it on vol 2 when he fought the illusionist, Be?'' The question gnawed at me like an insistent itch, demanding an answer that remained stubbornly elusive.


    It was a moment in Tristan''s journey where such a power could have turned the tide of battle, and the omission raised doubts and curiosities.


    "Ugh, so many questions, so little answers," I grumbled to myself in frustration.


    My thoughts buzzed with unresolved mysteries, each one a piece of arger puzzle that refused to reveal its secrets.


    Veritas Auris, Tristan''s selective use of his abilities, and the motivations of the Goddess who had granted him this extraordinary power all coalesced into aplex tapestry of uncertainty.


    The thug''s voice quivered as he mustered the courage to respond to Tristan''s inquiry.


    With a shaky breath, he uttered, "Yes, please believe us, Mr. swordsman; this girl is a murderer."


    The weight of his usation hung heavily in the air, a bold im that cast a sinister shadow over the unfolding scene.


    Tristan remained stoic; his golden eyes locked onto the trembling thugs.


    He didn''t jump to conclusions, but his unwavering gaze was a testament to hismitment to uncovering the truth.


    His sword, which had initially shimmered with a dense blue hue, still hung at his side, a silent but potent reminder of the authority he wielded.


    Desperation clung to the thugs like a second skin, and they grasped at any straw that might help them escape the dire consequences of their actions.


    "You guys are students, right?" one of them continued, his voice fraught with urgency.


    "A murder has happened in broad daylight. Please, call the authorities." Their appeal to Tristan was both a plea for mercy and a gambit to shift the responsibility onto others.


    The mention of authorities added ayer ofplexity to the situation.


    It was a dangerous game they were ying, for involving the authorities would mean a thorough investigation into the incident.


    Tristan''s golden eyes seemed to pierce deeper into the thugs'' souls, evaluating the credibility of their ims and the sincerity of their desperation.


    Tristan then closed his eyes.


    "Click"


    The sharp, distinct sound echoed through the alleyway, a solitary note that resonated with a sense of finality.


    Apanying that sound, a brilliant blue sh emanated from Tristan''s sword, its gleaming de returning to its scabbard with a fluid, practiced motion.


    The thugs let out piercing screams that cut through the air like a discordant symphony of despair and agony.


    "AGhhhh!!"


    "Ahhh!"


    One of their arms fell to the ground, and they cried out in pain.


    "Go, this is the only mercy I can show you guys," Tristan said with a cold finality. His voice bore the weight of judgment, and his blue eyes, which had returned to their original color, bore into the two trembling thugs with utter indifference.


    There was a certain icy chill in his words, a chill that sent a shiver down the spines of the defeated men, who now cried out in pain as they fled the alleyway, their flight marked by the echo of their anguish.


    As the thugs retreated, leaving behind a trail of fear and regret, my thoughts returned to Tristan''s eyes.


    ''They''re blue again?''


    ''No, it''s shifting from gold to blue''


    Although his eyes returned to their original shade of cerulean blue, subtle sparks of golden hues could still be seen on his irises.


    Tristan then turned his attention to Louise, his concern evident in his voice and his demeanor.


    "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentler and warmer than it had been moments before.


    Louise, herposure regained after witnessing Tristan''s awe-inspiring abilities, replied with unwavering determination.


    "Ah, yes, I''m fine." She brushed the dust off her robes and bowed to Tristan, gratitude shining in her eyes.


    "I''m really sorry, and thank you!"


    "Wa-wait, you don''t need to thank me," Tristan protested, waving his hands in denial. He was quick to deflect the praise, his humility and integrity shining through.


    "It is I who should be sorry," he admitted, his voice tinged with remorse.


    "Sorry I almost jumped to conclusions," he added, acknowledging the momentarypse in judgment.


    In that fleeting moment, the tension that had gripped the alleyway began to dissipate.


    The mysteries surrounding Tristan''s abilities and the strange events that had unfolded remained, but for now, the immediate danger had passed.


    The connection between Louise and her enigmatic spirits, as well as the enigma of Tristan''s powers, had brought them together in a most unexpected and remarkable encounter.


    As the tension from the intense confrontation began to subside, Tristan and Louise found themselves locked in a momentary gaze, their eyes meeting in an exchange that felt oddly intimate.


    Their eyes, reflecting the myriad emotions and thoughts that had passed between them, revealed a mutual curiosity and a trace of warmth that began to thaw the residual unease.


    Bing aware of the somewhat awkward situation they had found themselves in, both Tristan and Louise quickly averted their gaze, a flush of crimson creeping onto their cheeks.


    It was as if the intensity of their eye contact had ignited a spark that neither of them had anticipated.


    In an attempt to break the burgeoning silence and diffuse the palpable tension, Tristan cleared his throat and, with a bashful smile, introduced himself.


    "I''m Tristan, a first-year student at thebat department," he said, extending his hand in a friendly gesture.


    Louise, still blushing slightly, responded in kind by epting his hand and shaking it with a gentle grip.


    "Oh, I''m Louise Obelia, a first-year student at the summoning department," she replied, her own smile mirroring Tristan''s warmth.


    Their hands sped for a brief moment, a symbol of the newfound connection they had forged amidst the chaos of the alleyway.


    As their smiles lingered, it was as if the weight of the recent confrontation had dissipated entirely.


    In its ce was a sense of camaraderie, an unspoken understanding that they were both students navigating theplexities of their respective departments.


    The chance encounter had brought them together, and in that moment, they shared a genuine and sincere appreciation for the unexpected friendship that had blossomed between them.


    Just as Tristan and Louise were deep in their introduction and the newfound connection they were forming, a sudden interruption pulled their attention away.


    Another hand, grasped both of them simultaneously.


    "I''m Adrian Vulter Tellus," I introduced myself with a confident smile, my presence was a surprising and unexpected addition to the unfolding moment.


    "Oh," Tristan and Louise chimed in unison, their previous conversation momentarily forgotten as their attention shifted to me.


    ''Yup they forgot about me''


    It was as if my arrival had caught them both off guard, their initial connection now shared with me who had entered their lives in the blink of an eye.


    The trio stood there, hand in hand, a peculiar scene of newly formed bonds and unspoken questions.


    The alleyway, once a ce of tension and uncertainty, had now be the backdrop for a serendipitous encounter, bringing together three students from different departments, each harboring their own mysteries and stories waiting to be told.