Rise of the Crusader

“I don’t plan on it using on anyone,” Aurora paused, “Well, unless it is necessary.” She said.

Raphael nodded his head, he held the white top he was wearing and was about to pull it off when Aurora’s voice rang out.

“Y-You... What do you think you’re doing?!” Aurora exclaimed as she saw Raphael wanting to strip himself in front of her.

Raphael paused, and he raised an eyebrow as he stared at Aurora. “I intend to change, is that a problem to you,” Raphael muttered.

A second after Raphael spoke, he shook his head, and then removed the top he was wearing. He then walked over to his wardrobe, pulled over the pant he had on, and began changing into a new outfit.

Throughout the entire time, Aurora’s mouth was opened slightly. She seemed to want to speak, but the words weren’t just coming and as she stared at Raphael, she took a deep breath.

“He does have a very good structure, and that place...” Aurora immediately covered her mouth with her hands as her mind wandered to that region.

She quickly then shifted her gaze from Raphael and began shaking her head. “No, no, no, Aurora, you can’t be staring at him that way.”

.....

“He is proud, selfish, and arrogant. Most especially, he also hurt Elisa very badly.” Aurora mumbled in a low voice.

Raphael was completely oblivious to the effect that he had on Aurora. It was when he was done changing into new clothing, and he turned towards her, that he saw the look on her face.

“Let’s go,” Raphael said.

Aurora raised her head when Raphael spoke, she, however, didn’t stare at him, and with a nod, she walked out of the room.

As Gus came onto his shoulder, Raphael moved as well. For some reason, a light smile appeared on his face as he left the room.

...

It then only took the both of them about ten to fifteen minutes, and they arrived inside a building.

Much to Raphael’s surprise, this place wasn’t the tech division, but the appliance that was in the room wasn’t in the slightest bit inferior to that of the tech division. And if Raphael was being honest, this place was more convenient than the tech division.

There wasn’t a single person in the room apart from him and Aurora, and as Raphael continued to stare at the tools in the surrounding, he seemed to be like a child who had just gotten a new gift.

As Aurora saw the look on Raphael’s face, she couldn’t help but let out a smile.” This is my personal building space.” She said.

“I asked the academy for one, as some of the gadgets I work on are classified. Anyway, they immediately agreed and gave me my own space with all these machines, and I didn’t even have to pay a diner.” Aurora blurted.

While Raphael was like a kid who had just received a new toy, Aurora was like a child who had been wanting to brag about her toys but had never gotten the chance to do so.

Raphael began walking around the room, as he stared at the room that was covered with steel, his eyes twitched and his mouth opened.

Merely glancing at the steel, Raphael could, in fact, tell that this steel wasn’t just plain steel, and was perhaps one of the best steel out there. Raphael had to admit that the academy really invested heavily in the tech division students.

Even the elite division wasn’t so ‘Elite’ when compared to the resources handed to the tech division.

“Hehehehe!” It would be a lie to say that Aurora didn’t find the expression that Raphael had on his face amusing. She had a prideful demeanor around her, as well as a smile on her face.

Suddenly, Raphael turned toward Aurora and said, “I still find it very strange,” Raphael blurted.

“What is it?” Aurora asked.

“You have all these machines and appliances in here, and you can request for any items you want, so how come is it that you still can’t make anything useful with it,” Raphael said. “It’s really bizarre, don’t you think.”

If stares could kill, then Raphael would have died numerous times. Aurora stared at him, as though she wanted to rip him apart, but was apparently holding herself back from launching at him.

It then took a few rounds of words from Raphael and Aurora was unable to contain the rage any longer, and she lashed out.

“Well, it’s not like I can’t blame them, you’re the only decent person they have in the tech division, so they would try to please you in any way,” Raphael said.

Aurora’s eyes squinted, “Y-You... Arrogant bastard!!!!!” Aurora yelled.

“I’m going to show you something, and let’s see if you’re still going to act this pompous. Or if you still think you’re better than I.”

As Aurora spoke, she walked over to the door and placed her palm on the plain steel close to the door.

Raphael was about to retort to Aurora’s words, by saying, ‘he didn’t think he was better than her, he knew he was better than her’ when a strange scene suddenly occurred in the surrounding.

A form of life appeared in the middle of the room.

The entity that just emerged had no organic body, but as Raphael stared at the form of life, he could instantly tell that its consciousness was preserved through the processor and memories about any device in the surrounding.

“I am Gideon, an interactive artificial consciousness.” A female’s voice rang out.

Raphael was still staring at the somewhat blue head that had just appeared when Aurora’s rang out.

“I don’t have to explain what an artificial intelligence is to you, but whatever expectation you have for Gideon, I say you triple it because that just how amazing she is,” Aurora exclaimed.

“And you know you what, this badass over here was created by me. Me!!!!” Aurora paused, “Even though it isn’t the first artificial intelligence that has been created in the academy, this is the best among them all, and everyone approves of it.”

“So, stop mocking me and acting like you’re better than everyone, and I’m some piece of shit because I’m not. I worked for all this, and I completely deserve the attention I’m getting from the academy.” Aurora exclaimed with her hands clenched into a fist.

She glared at Raphael, who for some reason had a smile on his face, and she couldn’t help but bit her lips hard.

Suddenly, Raphael walked toward Aurora. And as he got in front of her, Aurora didn’t back away from him nor did she take her eyes off him, she continued to stare at him with rage written evidently on her face.

“Y-You...” Aurora stuttered as a few seconds after Raphael appeared in front of her, he placed his hand on her hair and rubbed it gently.

“I didn’t say you didn’t deserve the treatment you’re getting from the academy,” Raphael said.

“You didn’t have to say it, that was what you were implying,” Aurora responded.

“No.” Raphael paused, “And If I’m mocking you, then it means I think you are above average. You can ask Gus, I don’t waste time with people unless I find them intriguing.” Raphael said.

The look on Aurora’s face softened a little when she heard Raphael. She, however, found it strange that Raphael would tell her to ask Gus.

As Aurora turned toward the owl that was standing on top of one of the machines in the area, she was surprised to see the owl nodding its head several times at her.

“It’s fine,” Aurora muttered. “Whether you choose to believe it or not, I, for one, know that I’m better than you,” Aurora said.

“Hahaha.” Raphael had wanted to hold the laughter, but he just couldn’t as Aurora was simply hilarious.

And then it wasn’t just Raphael that burst into laughter, Gus was also snorting and shaking his head all over the place. Aurora glanced at the both of them and then took a deep breath.

“Gideon is my number one invention among everything I have ever worked on. If I’m not better than you, why don’t you tell me what your biggest creation is, and let’s see if it can match up to Gideon.” Aurora said.

Whether it was Raphael or Gus, the both of them immediately stopped laughing, and instantly went quiet. As Raphael stared at Aurora, his lips curved inwardly.

Raphael could see the mocking expression that had just emerged on Aurora’s face, and he said, “Don’t flatter yourself, Aurora. While, this artificial intelligence you have created isn’t so bad, it is still lacking in comparison to what my greatest accomplishment is.”

“Hmm,” Aurora wasn’t displeased by Raphael’s words. “These are merely just words, you have to prove it if you want me to believe you. And if you can’t, then stop assuming that you’re better than me.” Aurora said with a smile on her face.

Raphael shook his head.

“It’s not that I don’t want to show you.” Raphael paused, “It’s that I can’t show you.”

“My biggest creation is a piece that will forever change the dynamics of the world, and perhaps even give hope of immortality. So, how can a trivial artificial intelligence compare to that.”