Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 1927 Broken

Date- 18 April 2321

Time- 06:49

Location- Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City, TSR Guild Headquarters, Blood Rock Cave Dungeon

Any form of relationship was complicated, it would be easier if people involved were honest with each other. For that to be possible there should be trust between the people. However, it was hard to trust a stranger. Hence, the games. They make relationships bothersome and fun at the same time.

The best way to thread through relationships would be to reciprocate what you expect from the person in the relationship to them. If you expect unconditional loyalty from them then give them your unconditional loyalty, if they acknowledge and reciprocate it then congratulations if not it was not meant to be.

Many people would not agree with this but this was how Wyatt dealt with his relationships. For this to work one cannot be partial and selfish, otherwise the relationship would turn into an abusive or toxic one. This was why Wyatt felt it was important that he gave his friends what he expected from them.

This was why, even if none of his friends blamed him for the Handsome Fox incident, Wyatt never forgave himself for what had happened. It was one of the motivating reasons why he did not hesitate to get aid from the Southern Royal family and the rest of the Card World to hunt down Gideon Grim, a.k.a Handsome Fox. Believing the only way for him to redeem himself in his friendsʼ eyes was by putting the person who harmed them six feet under.

”Woah, by that logic, one mistake, and I am dead to you. Dude, thatʼs cold and dark. Arenʼt friends meant to be people who like or tolerate you despite your quirks and shortcomings? If I am not allowed to make mistakes among friends, then when am I allowed to make mistakes? Among my enemies?” Cortney did not like Wyattʼs words and his take on friendship one bit.

Cortney felt Wyattʼs friendship was calculative, weighing gains and risks, like a business deal. As if demanding I gave you good money now you give me quality goods, otherwise I will no longer do business with you.

In Cortneyʼs books, friendship was nothing like that, her version of friendship was instinctive and intuitive, you do what feels right at the moment. If your friend needs help, if you can you go help, if you canʼt you find a way to help. No questions or excuses. If your friends screw you over, you grab them by the collar, punch them silly, and demand an explanation. Never turn your back on friends.

”This is my friendship, it is ugly but it works,” Wyatt said sticking to his version of friendship.

”Asshole, that kind of friendship doesnʼt work. All it is doing is hiding the fact that you are a coward. A coward who is too afraid to trust the people you call friends. Some peopleʼs fear is obvious like being afraid of entering a dark room but you are afraid of trusting and fear betrayal and heartbreak. Only those closest to you can see it and feel it. Wyatt, it hurts knowing that you cannot trust us,” Cortney said, as she gazed at Wyatt with pity.

”Cortney, you are mistaken. It is not that I donʼt trust you. But my trust in you only lasts till you keep it. Unless you betray it, I will unquestionably trust you till the end of times,” Wyatt corrected Cortney.

Wyattʼs take on relationships might appear calculative like a business deal, but actually, he was just unforgiving. He was not only intolerant of othersʼ mistakes but his own mistakes too. Which was my he couldnʼt forgive himself for putting his friends in harmʼs way.

”No matter, how you put it, Wyatt, I am worried about you. I fear you will never know the joy of truly trusting someone.

I was abandoned and survived the streets by myself, while you lived in a cozy home with both your parents till you reached your legal age. Out of the two of us, if someone is allowed to have such a skewered take on friendship or any kind of relationship, that should be me. How come I turned out fine while youʼre broken?

I donʼt know who or what broke you but I promise I will help you regain what you lost because unlike you I donʼt need something in return to be somebodyʼs friend,” Cortney declared with resolute eyes.

”Good luck with that, sweetie. I have lived longer than you and experienced a lot more things than you. Yes, I canʼt beat your tragic childhood but when it comes to trust, regardless of who it is, they have only one chance if they fail to cherish it then they donʼt deserve a second chance. Besides, why are we wasting our time debating this? I will let you two catch up,” Wyatt prepared to enter the seed world but he paused when he heard Cortney ask, ”What if that someone is Anna or Susan?”

”They would never knowingly and willingly betray my trust, if they do then you know my answer,” Wyatt replied heartlessly.

”Donʼt you love them? Can you be this decisive if there was such a time,” Cortney asked with a smile since Wyatt had already fallen into her trap.

”My love cannot become a reason for the suffering of other people whom I care for and who trusted me,” Wyatt said turning to look at Cortney, she had dug up a very sensitive topic.

”I see. It is reassuring to know I have such a caring friend,” Cortney nodded, closing her eyes momentarily. Then, she opened them again, squinting slightly, as she asked, ”Did you know about Handsome Foxʼs plans beforehand and were you willing to let him harm me and our friends?”

”No, I did not know Handsome Foxʼs plans beforehand. If I had known, he would never have succeeded,” Wyatt replied resolutely and sincerely with clenched teeth, he felt enraged just recalling that incident.