Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

Over the course of the next few weeks, the group split across the city to play the games that would benefit them the most. While they separate the people in the games that they were the best at, they also split everyone in the areas that would challenge them and improve their skills. They had to partake in those games several times a day, and it was almost mandatory.

At the same time, Sealyn kept staring at her father, hoping that he would get a clue, but whenever that happened, he would just smile and wave his hand like an idiot…

"Are you playing dumb, or do you truly become an idiot when our kids are around?" Seara asked.

"A bit of both…" Rain forced a smile.

"Does it bother you that much the job of taking charge of things in the place of Esmeralda? Even if only temporarily?" Seara asked.

"For more than one reason, it does," Rain shrugged. "I don't want to risk causing more problems than solving them, and I don't want to deal with the possible deaths of the people following me."

"At least the reason isn't something nonsensical," Seara said. "We always knew that you were struggling to deal with the worries since you returned after our loss. You didn't try to recreate the raging Phoenix, but we didn't think it would be this bad…"

Rain could only nod in response to Seara's observation. He had always been reluctant to show vulnerability or weakness, but he found lying even more annoying. The burden of leadership came with privileges, but it also carried numerous duties and responsibilities. Rain had been in a position of power before, and his past failures haunted him.

His inability to protect his family had caused immense suffering and pain. That experience had led him to believe that he wasn't cut out for large-scale leadership.

The scars of the past weighed heavily on Rain, and the fear of repeating those mistakes kept him from readily accepting a role that might lead to more significant consequences. The mere thought of being responsible for the lives of others triggered a sense of unease and reluctance within him.

"You overthinking this. People can only follow others if they let themselves. People can also only follow those they think are worth following," Terra said. "We all failed back then, but no one regretted our actions or choices. Given the circumstances, we did pretty well in avoiding total extermination. We all share the same responsibility for the final result."

"Well, even so…" Rain said.

"Just shut up and listen for a moment… you can't live a life thinking that you won't make mistakes and make excuses for them all the time when they happen," Terra said. "You can't just think that you will make them eventually, either. No matter the outcome, we just need to keep pushing forward while doing our best.

If you keep trying to take all the responsibility for the past failures, you will take the chance from the people and grow away from them."

Terra's statement suggests that dwelling on past failures and assuming all the responsibility for them can be more than a little bit detrimental. The emphasis was on the idea that progress and growth require moving forward and doing one's best rather than being bogged down by the weight of past mistakes.

People should think about the belief that success will naturally come, emphasizing the importance of continuous effort and resilience. Furthermore, it highlights the danger of shouldering all the blame for past failures, as it can hinder personal growth and create a distance between oneself and the people one is trying to lead.

The key message was to focus on the present and future, learn from mistakes, and avoid letting the past dictate one's ability to lead and connect with others.

Rain knew all that in theory, but it still bothered him that his next failures would lead to the death of others. Even if he still didn't care all that much about their new allies, he still couldn't lead them and not feel bad if they died… it was so much more comfortable to focus on the small-scale problems that he could solve by himself…

"If only I could use the shadow clone technique… it is annoying that those guys didn't even have such a technique," Rain muttered under his breath. "You guys could try leading too, you know. It isn't like you lack any experience."

"Nah, too much of a pain," Terra shrugged. "I am used to letting you deal with that kind of annoyance."

"I am also fine in doing more of a support role," Seara added. "I am satisfied in looking after you and Sealyn behind the scenes to make sure that the weight of your worries won't smash your shoulders."

"At least you are all honest…" Rain said and then sighed.

Rain's thinking continued, and he found himself recalling memories of the war against the dragons. The loyalty and dedication of the Raging Phoenix during that time left a profound impact on him. The thought of leading people who were willing to fight until the end, believing it was worthwhile, weighed on him.

He pondered whether the current circumstances required a different approach, one that involved relying on the strength and determination of those who chose to follow him rather than shouldering the entire burden himself. The memories of the Raging Phoenix fighting alongside him, despite the inevitable sacrifices, echoed in his mind.

As he contemplated, he also considered the dynamics of the current group. Each member had unique skills, experiences, and strengths. Perhaps it was time to acknowledge that leadership could take various forms, and he didn't have to replicate his past roles exactly. Still, he had to be that kind of figure that would make people naturally follow him once more…

"In the end, I guess I have to complete those paths… it is the only way to be sure that I won't regret it in the end," Rain thought.