Souls Online: Mythic Ascension
Chapter 208: Crystal Logic

Chapter 208: Crystal Logic

When Leo put his phone away, he noticed that everyone was staring at him.

"It was Adam. Apparently the Patch has been released. We should probably head back and get some sleep so we are ready in the morning."

The others nodded their heads in agreement while Greg scratched his chin, feeling incredibly awkward and honestly a little left out.

"We should probably head home now and get some rest so we can get a headstart on everyone else in the morning."

Lily remarked, rotating her shoulders as if she was stretching out a kink in her neck. Crystal nodded her head in agreement though she too felt a bit awkward.

"I should probably head home myself then. I can’t impose on you guys for more than one night in a row."

Rachel scoffed and replied

"Pfft~! Be like me and be shameless. I would like to sleep on a bed tonight this time please!"

Greg’s eye narrowed, shooting a Leo a glance as if to ask ’What was that about’

Leo simply pursed his lips and gave a meaningful look back, signalling to him that it was better not to ask.

Rachel threw her arms over her head and yawned loudly, then turned and gave Luna a pointed look. "We should probably stop at a convenience store for snacks right? For that one."

She motioned with her head to Lily who was a whimpering mess on the ground. Her entire body ached from exercises she didn’t want to do and was absolutely terrible at. She looked up from the floor with puppy dog eyes, making herself look as pitiful as she possibly could.

Luna let out a sigh, her head tilting to the ceiling as she groaned "Ugh! Fine...Eyes like that are cheating"

She grumbled in frustration.

Crystal let out a small laugh as she watched the interaction from the side, clearly amused. "You’re going to spoil her."

"I already have," Luna muttered under her breath, reaching down to help Lily to her feet. "Come on. We’ll get your stupid candy."

Lily perked up instantly, latching onto Luna’s arm like a lifeline. "I want the fizzy ones this time. And maybe some chocolate too."

"We are not getting the whole aisle," Luna snapped, but there wasn’t any real bite behind her voice.

Aria giggled lightly as she folded up her wings and followed behind them with a soft melodic hum.

Rachel stretched again and fell into step beside Aria, tossing a glance over her shoulder at the others. "Come on slowpokes. If we don’t hurry, she really will buy the whole aisle and make us carry it."

Crystal hesitated to follow along as despite all that had happened in such a short time, she still felt a bit like an outsider. She had a home to return to, even if it was empty, she didn’t have a reason to stay. She felt that this blissful and fun environment that she had found herself in would disappear if she made even one small mistake.

Leo noticing her lagging behind stopped and with a tilt of his head asked

"Aren’t you coming Crystal? Or is something the matter?"

Crystal looked up, surprised to see Leo waiting. The others were already halfway across the gym, their voices bouncing off the walls in a relaxed rhythm that felt effortless. She tightened her grip on her water bottle, hesitating.

Leo tilted his head. "Aren’t you coming? Or is something the matter?"

She gave a small shrug, eyes drifting toward the exit. "I don’t know. I don’t want to push my luck."

Leo blinked, then stepped closer with a faint smile. "Push it. You’re already in. That wasn’t a question."

Crystal let out a short breath, half a laugh. "Feels like I just showed up out of nowhere."

Greg, who had lingered nearby without much to add, chimed in with a quiet grin. "Sometimes that’s how the best stuff starts."

Crystal glanced at him.

"What you’ve got here is something special," Greg said, his voice softer than usual. "Don’t talk yourself out of it before it’s even yours."

Crystal looked down, her voice a little more guarded now. "But I actually have a home to go back to."

Leo folded his arms but didn’t press her. "Yeah? What’s waiting for you there?"

She hesitated before answering. "Silence. An empty house. My parents are never home. They leave early, come back late, or sometimes not at all. It’s just... quiet."

Her voice dipped, and for the first time, the cracks showed. "Sometimes I wonder if they’d even notice if I didn’t come back."

Leo looked at her with a quiet kind of understanding. "Can it really be called a home if no one’s there to welcome you back?"

Crystal didn’t answer right away. Her fingers fidgeted with the strap of her bag, and her eyes stayed fixed on the floor.

"Look," Leo said, nudging her gently with his elbow. "The door’s open. If you want to walk through it, no one’s stopping you. But don’t think for a second that you’re not wanted here."

Crystal looked at him then, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. "You’re really bad at letting people go, you know that?"

Leo grinned. "Yeah, well, I’m worse at seeing people walk away when they don’t have to."

She let out a small sigh and finally took a step forward. "Fine. But I’m not carrying any of that candy."

Leo rolled his eyes exaggeratedly to lighten the mood. "Good luck with that~!"

Crystal cracked a reluctant smile. "Fine..Then I get first pick!"

Leo walked beside her, matching her pace as they moved toward the exit. "See? You’re a natural."

Crystal gave him a sidelong look. "Don’t push it."

Ahead of them, the rest of the group was already playfully arguing about snacks and who had to carry what. Laughter echoed through the gym, and for the first time in a long time,

Crystal didn’t feel like she was an outsider in her own life anymore. She finally felt like she had a place to belong. It was a messy chaotic life but it was undoubtedly her own and she was going to enjoy it as much as she could.

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