Cross and Conflicts

CHAPTER XXXVI: Strength of the Weak

He definitely wasn’t joking—well, apparently, Cross is the kind she least expects to be endowed with humor. He left her to her devices, and he was straightforward serious when he said that she needed to figure out how to be strong on her own. In all honesty, she anticipated that he’d teach her even the basics in martial arts or about how to properly use a gun, but none of those occurred. Perhaps—she hopefully supposed—he wants to test how she’ll make use of whatever resource she'll discover in the Dunong residence. Or, it could also be that he just doesn’t want to be involved with her. He may have said that he’d help her kill her father, but the words didn’t guarantee that he’d also train her.

She hasn’t seen him since the night before. When she asked the house’s owner where he was, the doctor only smiled and told her that it would be good for her not to meet him for the time being.

Cross, indeed, is a living enigma, and she could consider it a rare opportunity that she even got to talk to him. This has to be the will of the fate—she thinks. It may be her destiny to meet the vigilante, and in exchange—sadly for her—she’d also have to be murderer.

As Noumenon pondered her future and the immense weight of her decision to kill her father, she found herself grappling with conflicting emotions. Her years spent as a novice in the convent had instilled in her a profound sense of morality, compassion, and a commitment to peace. The teachings she had embraced were now at odds with the path she had chosen.

She sat by the window in her room at the Dunong residence, watching the rain cascade down the glass, lost in thought. Memories of the convent flooded her mind: the peaceful mornings spent in prayer, the sense of community among the sisters, and the feeling of solace in the simplicity of their lives. She had dedicated herself to a life of service and devotion, seeking to embody the virtues of love and forgiveness.

But the reality of her mother's and Sister Lita's brutal deaths gnawed at her. The injustice of it all demanded retribution, and her heart burned with the desire for vengeance. How could she reconcile these two opposing forces within her? How could she honor the memory of her mother’s while adhering to the principles she once held dear?

Noumenon understood that she needed to find a balance. She could not simply abandon the values she had lived by for years, nor could she ignore the call for justice. Perhaps, she reasoned, there was a way to achieve her goal without completely losing herself to the darkness.

She rose from her seat and began to pace the room, her mind racing. If she was to confront her father and bring him to justice, she needed to be prepared—both physically and mentally. Her training was essential, but so was her ability to remain true to her principles. She would have to find a way to be strong without losing her humanity. But, she thought, as much as how much she needed to be able to kill a person, she also needed to be able to defend herself. That’s why, tonight, she decided that it was time to talk to Cross again.