CHAPTER 203: MEETING SOPHIE AGAIN

Riven sat inside his room. It had a faint smell of flowers, something that wasn’t there before, and it made him think about what could have caused the smell. Was someone specially cleaning his room?

Well, it seemed like it, because there was not even a speck of dust inside the room. He got on his feet, ran his finger along the table, and it was perfectly clean.

Knock knock.

He heard a knock on the door. He looked at it, his gaze lingering for a few seconds before approaching. Hands on the doorknob, he twisted it and opened it.

Much to his surprise, as the door opened, he saw Sophie standing there, a soft smile on her face, her hands behind her back. She tried to bow, but before she could, he ran into her arms and hugged her.

She was stunned by this, even Riven himself was stunned by what he did, but his body had moved on its own the moment he saw her.

"I’m glad to see you," he said, his head rested on her shoulder.

"I’m happy to see you as well, young master," she replied, her cheeks slightly rosy. She ran her hands through his hair a little and finally let him go.

Riven stepped back. "I’m sorry for jumping on you like that. I was just really happy to see you," he said.

"I could tell, master," she replied. "May I come in?" she asked.

"Yes, sure." He moved out of the way for her to enter. He closed the door after her. She turned to look at Riven. "I don’t know if it’s my eyes or something else, but you have changed a lot, young master. It seems you are finding yourself," she said.

"Yeah, I’ve been through a lot, Sophie, more than you can imagine. It had been one issue after the other. I’ve not even gotten the time to enjoy the academy," Riven said. He walked back to his bed and sat down.

She walked to his study chair and pulled it out before sitting down. "And why have you been in issues?" she asked, shooting him a questioning gaze.

"Because it just keeps coming my way. I can’t evade it," he said.

"Why do you think you can’t evade it, young master?" she asked, looking around the room. "I cleaned it every day. The local detergent shop also had a flowery-scented soap, I started using that," she said while Riven thought of a response.

"I can’t evade it because it comes too fast," he said, then fell backward onto the bed, hands spread out. The flowery scent filled his nose, relaxing his muscles.

"Is it coming too fast, or are you moving too fast? You’ve never understood that fact," she said. She leaned back into her chair. "It’s been not more than four months since you awakened your ability, yet in four months you have done what takes others many, many years," she said, looking at him on the bed.

He turned his head in her direction. "Sophie, are you saying I should slow down?" he asked.

"Yes, that’s what I’m saying. There is no other way to interpret it. You are rushing too much," she said.

"You are speaking like you know everything that I have been through so far. It’s unsettling," Riven said.

"I didn’t know before, but I knew yesterday after that teacher from your academy came here. He saw me cleaning your room and then spoke with me.

He asked me to speak with you when he discovered that I was someone you actually listen to. He told me everything that you have been through," Sophie said.

"Everything?" Riven asked to confirm.

"Yes, everything," she replied.

"That stupid queen," Riven muttered.

"He is only looking out for you. Tell me, Riven, why the rush?" she asked.

Her question hit Riven. It was the first time he had really been asked that question. Everything for the past few days had been trying to tell him to slow down, but nothing had really looked into why he was actually rushing.

He looked at her for a few seconds. The answer didn’t come to mind. He turned his head and then looked at the ceiling. "Why do I rush? I think I’m trying to rush because I feel if I go slow, I’ll allow those I love to get harmed. I don’t want that," Riven said.

"And who gave you that responsibility?" Sophie asked.

Riven opened his mouth to answer. He was sure he knew the answer to that question, but as he was about to say it, he froze. It all didn’t make sense anymore.

’I thought it was my responsibility since I changed the story, so it was my cross to carry to make sure that everyone was safe. But in reality, no one actually gave me that responsibility. I took it upon myself.’

"I gave it to myself," Riven said. That was the only reasonable reply that he could think of at the moment.

"And since you gave yourself this job, doesn’t it mean you make the rules, not succumb to the rules that already exist?

You decide when to attack, you decide when to stop, you decide when to smell the flowers. No one is judging your performance aside from you, Riven, no one.

You might be scared that people won’t appreciate you for not helping all the way, but the person that doesn’t appreciate the little you do isn’t deserving of your help in the first place.

Your family, your friends, the people around you, do you believe they can live a happy life if they know that you died to make them happy? They’ll only carry an eternal sadness and pain.

Don’t give them that pain in the process of trying to help them. Why not walk with all of them and finally reach your goal? I know it’s not your style, but please, listen to me," she said and got on her feet. He sat up, and she kissed his forehead.

"You haven’t thanked me for cleaning your room all this while," she said with a soft smile.

"Thank you," he replied, and she left the room.