Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim all rights to all characters (save for those of my own creation) in this emotional exchange… especially for the one who sorely needed to get things out.
~保護者~
"Vent"
~保護者~
Everything was quiet as Shadow and Toru slept. Soren and Lia were spending time together in Soren's room, playing on his handheld game system. Satsuno and Myriu were asleep on the roof. Seiko had chosen to relax in the bedroom she and Satsuno shared. All was peaceful and relaxing. However, a small sound interrupted that relative silence across the room from Shadow's bed.
Up against the wall was a wood desk. It was nothing fancy or expensive, just a small and simple piece of furniture with an equally minimalistic chair. The desk had a set of three drawers on one side of it. One of those drawers, the top one, began very slowly opening. The dragging sound of wood against wood made Shadow's ear flick, but aside from that and him shifting a bit, he didn't react to it. being in Toru's hold was more than enough to convince him (so to speak) to stay asleep.
The drawer continued to slowly pull open. There was no magic at work. No Darkness. No Light. No other powers of any kind. There certainly wasn't some invisible intruder, either, for Shadow's security systems would have detected them. The only other remaining potential culprit was one of the spirits Satsuno had some time ago mentioned were hanging around the house. Whoever or whatever it was pulled the drawer open the rest of the way, and then there was quiet again.
It didn't last long. Moments later, a leatherbound book levitated out of the drawer. It turned over in the air so that it was facing the proper way and then it opened. Pages flipped rapidly and yet soundlessly, stopping when they reached one page in particular. The number "29" could be seen at the top left hand corner of the left page. On the right page was the number "thirty". Both were visible from the bed because they had been written darker than the rest of the words.
The book floated, still open, across the room. Rather anticlimactically, it was then dropped in Toru's lap. Nothing else happened aside from an additional ear flick from Shadow in response to the soft sound. Toru blinked once at this, raising an eyebrow. What the fuck…? Deciding that this was easily one of the less weird things he'd experienced since meeting Shadow, he instead used his Darkness to hold up the book and begin reading.
Given the context of what was written on the first page and how new the ink looked compared to the more faded ink on the pages that had been flipped through earlier, it seemed that this had been written fairly recently. The context of the passage only further added to that notion and gave a more definite time frame for its writing. Namely, a short time after Shadow had been rescued from Gerald's clutches.
29. Don't react.
Don't feel.
Don't earn punishments.
Don't argue.
Don't fight back.
Don't resist.
Don't think, just do as he says.
My thoughts, feelings, opinions, and desires don't matter.
He is in charge.
He is in control.
My life belongs to him.
I belong to him.
I have to obey.
I have to obey.
I am his weapon.
I have to be perfect.
Failures aren't tolerated.
Mistakes aren't tolerated.
When I fail him, I deserve to suffer.
When I serve him well, I suffer less.
My life belongs to him.
Weapons have to obey.
Weapons don't feel.
Weapons don't think freely.
Weapons don't have opinions or desires.
Weapons don't fight back or argue.
Weapons have owners, they are not free nor do they deserve to be.
Weapons have to be obedient, they are not in charge or in control.
Weapons should never have flaws, should never be less than perfect.
Weapons endure no matter what their owner sees fit to do to them.
Weapons don't fail.
Weapons have no emotions.
Weapons have no free will.
Weapons aren't people.
This immediately struck Toru as something to do with Gerald, and he kept himself quiet so as to not bother Shadow at all. Reacting to this would only stir the hedgehog. He chose to move on to the next page. On that page, the writing was… different. The vaguely shimmering words appeared to have been transcribed there with magic. And, given that Shadow had only barely begun scratching the surface of learning how to use magic in general, this meant that everything on the page had to have been written here subconsciously - a true look into his thoughts as they had (whether noticed or not) passed through his mind.
30. I don't… have many issues with the Black Arms. My main problem with them is how the few surviving members of the hive decided to be alright with me being kicked out and excommunicated. The ones that were revived, however, I am alright with. I remember some of them. Ukorik used to show me around some parts of the hive that I could not easily access on my own. T'chalik protected me when Father was busy and started teaching me how to hunt. He even used to let me climb on him, and would carry me around… for some reason. Sla'tiil used to tell me stories. And Father is… Father.
The more time I spend with him these days, the more I think I can remember about my life with him. I didn't used to remember anything, long ago. Prior to his revival, I remembered only some things. Now I suddenly recall the things I wrote above. I remember my time with Father even more clearly than those things.
When I was small, I for some reason used to like being carried around by him, and he indulged me very often. He seldom needs to sleep, but when I was born he went out of his way to build a proper bed so that I could rest comfortably. He carved toys out of stone, bones, metal, and other available materials when I was old enough to want to play, despite only having vague knowledge that playing is something non-Black Arms children do. He gave me a proper name during a ritual days after my birth, despite that ritual being saved normally for Black Arms who gain standing in the hive as more than mindless beasts. I could have easily been small, weak, and naïve for the rest of time, and at that point there was no way to know for sure. But he named me anyway.
I remember… when I started learning to talk and understand his words better, he used to put me to sleep with stories about the places beyond the hive that he had seen. He told me of planets, societies, and peoples the likes of which I had never seen before. Now I wonder if some of those stories were of Ghune and her people.
I may remember all of this, but… I'm still bothered. I can't place exactly why. People view the Black Arms as mindless, bloodthirsty beasts. That is incorrect with most of them. But at the same time, I can't deny the knowledge that this belief does exist for a reason. In the past, the Black Arms were a murderous scourge. Father had created them, but not intentionally, during a time when he was less a person and more a creature. Even when that latter detail changed, he remained as violent and the like as the rest of them for a many years. It had been different for a long time by the time I was born, I think, but even so the past remains set in stone.
It didn't used to bother me. I don't know why it does now. Espio and most of the other people I know don't even know they exist, meaning I've heard no opinions from them. Amy, Sonic, Father Kaden, Mother, and Tails know, but aside from Tails none of them have ever had much (if any) reason to give that knowledge any second thought. Tails only thinks about them in terms of science and research, so his opinions are strictly borne of that mindset.
But Toru is… different. I don't blame him for instantly disliking the members of the hive that still existed when he first came into contact with them, especially the one that thought it wise to strike him. Yet even after that, he expressed his hatred of the Black Arms and lack of desire to ever change that opinion. It's nothing I can fault him for, but it bothers me and I don't know why.
When we were talking not long ago, he did bring up the Black Arms. I didn't mention anything I've written above, but I did… let Gerald's own thoughts get to me. I spoke in a way that wasn't entirely different from how he always talked about them. It wasn't intentional, and I didn't realize immediately that it had even happened. And for some reason, during the discussion, he argued with me over what I said and spoke about how peoples' opinions needed to change. Why would he say that when he himself is one of the people who hates them? I don't understand people, or emotions, well enough to figure it out.
The argument was more serious, albeit only for a very brief moment, than any disagreement we've had before. That was the first time I've ever heard him raise his voice. I know that he wasn't trying to do any harm. He couldn't have known that Gerald used to yell and scream at me. But it still… made me feel that same old fear again, for just a moment. I remembered Gerald the instant it happened, though hearing Toru talk again after that pulled me back.
When I left, everything went to hell. That's not something I'm going to think about. Memories like those are best left buried and unacknowledged.
Toru frowned a bit. I didn't realize that bothered him so much… After meeting Black Doom and… whoever the other was, I realize that they're not all… like that first one. I can't hate them. His thoughts on the Black Arms were mixed, certainly, if only because he'd only met approximately four of their kind, but in the end he had to admit that they weren't everything he'd initially thought. And to think that me raising my voice in that way upset him because of that… Fuck.
He chose to slip out of the bed to put the journal back where it had been, doing his best to mimic how he thought Shadow might have put it in when he stood upright. Someone was outside the house, and for some reason his hearing was sharpened (likely due to his emotional state) to the point where he could hear their footfalls. Yet even still, Shadow somehow still wasn't bothered. It was likely just due to how generally tired he was, but it was rather miraculous regardless.
The chameleon moved out of the room and drew his blade, teleporting outside and confronting them immediately. What he found was… another female vampire. What…? "Who the hell are you?"
"Someone dropping by to check on Shadow," the woman said. "You're the chameleon that was sitting on the couch staring off into space. You alright?"
She was here when I was seeing those memories? Toru tightened the grip on his blade for a moment before sheathing it. "I'm fine, and Shadow's sleeping. You're not gonna wake him up."
"You don't have any idea how he's actually doing, do you?" the woman asked slowly. "Because, from my understanding, he's not only pregnant and recently became a vampire, but he's also suffering from other issues likely related to trauma, and that's only what I know from what Ghune told me and what I could smell when I dropped by the first time. He's not doing all that great. You realize that, right?"
"It's fine," Toru replied, narrowing his eyes slightly. "I'll handle it."
"Oh, that's rich," the woman replied, chuckling to herself. "You, the emotional handbag filled to the fucking brim with emotional fluids just ready to burst? You're not gonna help anything."
"I'm sorry, who the hell are you?" Toru asked incredulously. "I didn't ask for someone to walk up to me and act like I don't know what's going on in my life and my boyfriend's."
"Ryint," the woman replied. "And it's honestly kinda cute how much you think you're helping. Do you understand at all how fucking terrible your emotions are? They're seeping throughout this house and infecting people. There was a kid in another room who felt like shit. Are you not gonna pay any attention to that?"
"That is my sister, and I don't want you to have anything to do with that," Toru snapped. "You stay away from her."
"Because you are gonna help her? You and every fucking problem you refuse to let go of? You're progressively losing your cool because I'm pointing out the facts. Be a man and don't get defensive about it. You want to help and protect people? Act like you're a person, too," Ryint replied coolly. "You have emotions and bottling it all up leaves the stench of sewage around you."
Toru let out a low growl. "Get the hell away from my home."
"Why? You can't handle someone telling you how things really are? Are you actually that defensive about your pride, or is it because you're scared?" The moment he swung a fist, she forcefully teleported them both away, grabbing the swing and deflecting it. "Got a lot of nerve to be swinging on a woman. Think this is gonna solve anything?"
"You don't understand anything that's happening!" Toru snapped back, throwing a hand up and tearing apart the environment around them with his Darkness, forcing Ryint to take to the air to avoid it all. "How the hell is any of this supposed to make sense?"
"You tell me!" Ryint exclaimed, grabbing her bat and slamming it into his sword when he suddenly shot into the air after her. "You're the one with problems!"
"There's a man literally back from the dead that's been terrorizing Shadow," Toru bit out, grabbing her hair and headbutting the woman. "I'm so sick of how this is affecting him!"
Ryint didn't even flinch at the contact, simply returning the favor with her own headbutt and sending him backwards a few feet in the air. He'd already shifted into a dark state, so it was about time to fight back a bit. "Oh really, and this is the solution?"
Toru wrapped threads of Darkness around her bat and ripped it out of her hands… not that she fought to keep it held. His sword collided with her hand, and he pressed forward. "And I bet you totally understand that Nareish is behind all of this and keeps adding to the torment! C'mon! Tell me you just know this!"
He's not thinking clearly. Ryint clenched a hand around the blade, refusing to let go. "What has she done?" she demanded, leaning in close. "Because you aren't getting anywhere like this."
When Toru tried to pull his blade back, he found himself unable to wrench it from her grasp. How she did that, he wasn't sure, but it didn't matter. He let go and kicked out, throwing her to the ground. "She's the entire reason Shadow is even pregnant! She forced my blood into him, and guess what? Now I have to be worried about his safety because he's practically bedridden due to pain and being tired from his struggle to sleep! I'm worried sick!"
The chameleon did not expect Ryint to be up so fast, nor did he expect her to be up in his face in this short time. Her knee collided with his nose and he was hit several times in the head before being tossed some distance away. "Yeah? What else you got? I'm not hearing anything of consequence." It was a lie, and she knew it to be, but it wasn't like he'd catch on before this was over. Pushing him seemed to be the only way to get him to talk.
Toru picked himself up from the gouge that had been dug in the earth, shaking his head a little. God, she hits really fucking hard. "It doesn't help that his father is missing, also because of Nareish. He gets kidnapped and it all just adds to the to what he's going through-"
All at once they were both locked into a stalemate, punches being thrown and matched fairly evenly between them both. Ryint was having an easier time, however. "Sounds real concerning," she scoffed. "Surely there's something important."
His fist suddenly crashed into her wrist and shattered the bones with a sickening crunch as he grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the ground. "How about this one?!" He utilized his newfound advantage, pummeling Ryint while she was pinned. "He might take after the Black Arms and have a physically traumatic birth! Pain, bloodshed, and hours of effort! I am scared, alright?!"
Another surprise hit him, that being her hands catching his and returning the favor he'd so kindly given to her wrist. "Oh, and that's my problem? I'm supposed to care?" She flipped the roles, pinning him to the ground and giving him the exact treatment he'd just given her. "You're fucking pathetic!"
Toru was having a hard time recovering from this, putting up his arms to defend himself. "I just found out that something I said has had a bad effect on him," he replied, his tone leveling itself out finally. "I said I hated the Black Arms, but now I don't. It bothers him that I said it before and that I've suddenly changed my mind."
"You thought about talking to him about that?" Ryint questioned, grabbing him by the face suddenly and shoving his head further into the ground briefly. "C'mon. You know there's something else."
"I don't know how to handle the feeding," Toru forced out past her hand, trying in vain to push back against her. "At first I was okay with it, but now with everyone seeming to think it might be dangerous for me, I'm scared that something will happen and that it'll hurt him."
"You're terrified," Ryint corrected. "You've bottled up so much that you swung on a stranger and proceeded to get your ass kicked. You're a goddamn chameleon, and you lost to someone who didn't use anything more than strength. Do you realize how unfocused you are?"
It all made sense, but he didn't know how to process her words right now. "I don't want things to keep happening to everyone I care about, and it bothers me. I used to have the strength to protect everyone I cared about, but now I'm getting thrown around like I'm nothing and I hate feeling so damn useless."
"Then make yourself useful in a different way!" Ryint exclaimed. "It's foolish to think that your strength is the only way to protect people." When Toru tried to retort, he was swiftly silenced. By her hand, of all things. "That kid has definitely suffered already, and you're making it all worse. Shadow is on the receiving end of everything you're feeling, and god knows who else is getting fucked over by you being such a fool! Get your ass in gear and pay attention!"
He shoved her hand away and growled. "It's kinda hard when one of the only other people I've been close to in my life is being shoved toward a path of evil. He is my best friend, and seeing him repeatedly pushed that way is terrifying!"
"Then go and be a friend to him!" Ryint replied. "My best friend waged wars against entire races for evil reasons and now she sits in a castle with people who will listen to her every word! Nobody ever said you can't help him!" Toru didn't have a response for that, and by this point he realized just how much information he'd divulged. The chameleon went silent, and only then did Ryint stand up and hoist him to his feet. "Dumbass. Never do that again, or I'll knock your head off."
Toru huffed a little, crossing his arms. "Sure. You barely even fought."
"Same goes to you. Get the hell back to Shadow and go rest. Might also want a shower. You smell awful," Ryint huffed.
The chameleon rolled his eyes a little, but chose not to argue, teleporting himself back. Had he really been so pent up that he had chosen to go that far? That was decidedly not something he'd ever done before, and he really didn't want to do it again. God… I really fucked up, didn't I? Toru walked through the house and chose to spend his time now taking a shower, hoping to rid himself of whatever Ryint had smelled. If she could smell it, there was a chance Shadow could, too. It was best not to smell like anything that wake him. Not when he was finally sleeping somewhat well.
~保護者~
Something's up with Jet." Wave bit the tip of her thumb in thought and tapped a foot. She and the Aether were currently in the lost Hex, as she had wanted to show her newest friend the sort of magic she used. "Should we go to A'latria and check on him? I know he altered the planet badly a while back, but he's seemed okay lately. Now, though… I just can't shake the feeling that something's going on."
"There is," the Aether said softly.
"Should we go check on him?" she asked a second time.
The Aether nodded. "Certainly."
Returning the nod, Wave teleported. The Aether went with her. They arrived on A'latria in an instant, and Wave involuntarily shivered at the way the very air on this planet now made her feel. And to think I used to only shiver from the cold… Still, she tried to focus. "They're… They're not here."
"Oh, no," The Aether murmured, grabbing Wave. "Stay very close to me," it said. "I think I know where they are."
"Where?" Wave quietly demanded, taking in a steadying breath to ease her growing alarm.
Rather than answer, the Aether teleported them both to where it somehow knew the Void and Jet to be. Oh, dear. This is… not good.
Their presence earned a near-instant attack from the Void, but enough of Jet's usual personality remained in tact for him to forcefully knock the blast to the side. The explosion made Wave flinch, but not as much as the aura her friend was giving off did. Oh my god…
The Aether had drawn up a barrier around itself and Wave, and it was glad to know that hadn't been immediately destroyed. "Uh… Jet? What's happening here?"
"Nothing," the hawk muttered, ethereal purple eyes looking at the entity with no small amount of disdain. "I have nothing to say to either of you. Leave me be."
"We can't do that," Wave told him, clenching her fists. "You know that."
The Aether nodded. "I'm not leaving."
Jet narrowed his eyes at them. Despite having just protected them from an attack by the Void, he himself struck them just then. He didn't do substantial damage, but he did knock them back a large distance before vanishing. The Aether did its absolute best to protect Wave, grimacing. Still, the pair of them landed hard, causing Wave to unintentionally grunt. That went… badly, Wave thought.
The Aether recovered quickly, having deformed itself to avoid landing so roughly. It immediately righted Wave and looked at her. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she murmured. "Are you?"
"Yeah. Do we go after him or stay away?" it asked immediately.
"I was actually going to ask you that," Wave admitted. "What do you think?"
"I want to," the Aether replied.
"Then… if you think we can survive it, let's go," Wave said. "But we should be ready to bail the instant things get too dangerous."
The Aether nodded to her. "I understand."
"Can you track them again?" Wave asked. "Wherever they just went is too far for me to sense."
"I can tell based on where the Void is, that's all," the Aether replied.
"Think you can get us there, either way?"
"Are you ready to go after them?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." The Aether nodded and teleported them both, settling itself between Wave and any threat somewhat.
That proved to be a good decision, as the Void instantly tried to lash out at them a second time. Just like with earlier, Jet prevented the attack from connecting by diverting it away. This back and forth between protecting them and attacking them himself struck Wave as erratic behavior, which only deepened her fear for him. None of this is right. This isn't like him.
"Can I try something risky?" The Aether asked quietly, leaning into Wave. Wave nodded subtly. The Aether slowly separated itself from Wave, looking to Jet. "Jet, I need you to listen to me for a second. Just long enough for me to explain something." He turned his head to level the Aether with a frighteningly baleful glare, but for some reason stayed silent.
The creature slowly shifted into a form similar to Wave's, Hexan-like body and all. "Just like I'm tied to Wave, the Void is tied to you, and it's affecting you right now. You never would have attacked her before. I can help, at least a little, but I can't do anything unless you're okay with it or want me to."
"I don't want your help," Jet muttered with a voice full of spite. "Nor do I need it."
"Yes, you do," Wave argued, though not harshly. "You do need it, Jet."
"You can undoubtedly see the difference in your views in the world," the Aether added, "the universe, and the people you care about. I know enough to know that you don't like being pushed to do things you don't want to do, and you don't want to do this."
"Shut up," Jet told it darkly, wisps of energy gathering around him.
Realizing that he was potentially ready to attack again, Wave felt a rush of despair, fear, and concern all at once. We can't just leave him like this, but… "I don't think we can stay much longer," she whispered in undertone to the Aether.
The Aether looked at the Void, only knowing where it was due to being able to sense its counterpart. "You can't do this forever."
"I'm doing nothing," the Void responded.
There was a slight shift in the Aether's expression, but it didn't allow its emotion to be visible. "Of all the people and all the beings to know, I'm one of the few that will understand. You know that the two of you need to work together in a way that will allow you both to achieve what you want, not just your desires. What does Jet want? What would Jet want if your influence wasn't there?"
"We want Nareish and others dead," the Void said while Jet irritably rolled his eyes, visibly fed up with this dialogue. "And we will get what we want soon enough."
"That's not all of it," the Aether said, shifting back toward Wave. "I believe in you, Jet. If there's anyone strong enough to exert their willpower in the way that needs to happen, it's you."
This assertion earned a scoff and then a similar blast backward to what had been delivered earlier. "Stay out of my way," was the only reply he gave while again vanishing.
Wave hit the ground hard, much harder than before, and winced. He didn't hold back nearly as much this time. "I don't… think we should risk that a third time."
The Aether held Wave softly, gently allowing its energy to wrap around her. "I did what needed to be done. It's okay."
"How can it be?" Wave asked it, her eyes a bit big from all her emotions. "You saw how he's acting. It's like he's being controlled, and there's nothing we can do about it."
"Let's go talk to the guy from the other timeline," the Aether replied.
"Steam?" Wave carefully picked herself up off the ground. "We can try to find him if you think we need to."
"I think he can make this make more sense," it murmured, moving with her.
"Maybe." Wave stretched her senses out, then blinked twice. We're in another realm? "I didn't know you could teleport between realms. I can't even do that, with a few specific exceptions. Like the Lost Hex."
The Aether blinked a few times at this, standing up straighter. "I… didn't know I could either."
"I swear, you get more and more interesting all the time," Wave chuckled weakly. Then she said, "I don't know this place. Think you can get us back out of here? I might not be able to."
"Sure can try," it answered, teleporting them back out. With them now back within the realm where worlds like Mobius could be found, Wave was able to teleport them straight to Tails's house in search of Steam.
The Aether gently grabbed ahold of Wave's hand and quite literally walked through the wall with her, stopping for a moment to knock on the door after phasing through beside it. Wave blinked. "Why knock on the door after you brought us inside?"
It seemed to have an answer initially, but ultimately said nothing substantial. "I'unno."
Wave chuckled and looked around. "Seems like most everyone is outside somewhere… or holed up in the workshop, as per usual. Steam's in the guest bedroom, though."
The Aether nodded. "Alright." It walked forward towards where it sensed Steam and knocked on the door a few times.
The hedgehog took a lot longer than usual to answer, eventually calling out, "One second!" He sounded distracted, and it showed when he opened the door and was visibly focused on a message he was typing on his communicator. "What's up?"
"...Just… finish whatever you're doing and meet us in the living room, okay?" Wave said. "This is important, and it kinda needs your full attention."
That was enough to prompt him to look up, frowning. "Alright. Give me a second and I'll be right out, okay?"
"Sounds good." Wave turned and guided the Aether away. Once out of the hall, she muttered under her breath, "Note to self… ask Cyril what the hell he did to the house and why." From there, she shifted her focus onto the Aether. "You should probably stick to a smaller form in here, even if he did expand the house. Just in case, you know? So nothing gets broken."
"Yeah," the Aether agreed immediately. "Also, he seems to have expanded the house with his magic. Maybe it was to put more rooms in temporarily?" It's gaze swiveled to look around before adding, "Oh, and Eila's room is the only one untouched. The rest were added by Cyril."
"No, not all the rest," Wave corrected. She moved to sit down on the couch. "The one Steam is in and the one right across from it were already there. Those are the original two rooms that Tails added when he built this place."
"I meant the magical ones," it chuckled, nudging into Wave and sitting beside her.
"Well then say that, dork," Wave teased. "When you don't specify what you mean, people can and often will make assumptions, even when you think your meaning is clear. Sometimes it's better to spell things out even just a tiny bit to make sure you get your point across."
"Oh," the Aether said. "That makes sense."
"It's okay," Wave reassured. "You're doing really well at learning all of this stuff. I don't think you should worry about it."
It smiled brightly, then looked over as Steam finally left the room he was staying in and walked to them. He took a seat as well, looking to Wave. "So, what's happening?"
Her amusement dying, Wave took in a deep breath. "We went to check on Jet. Steam, he… attacked us. He held back, but less so the second time. He's behaving erratically and violently, like the Void is controlling him somehow."
"Wrong," Steam said immediately. "The Void and Aether are incapable of exerting control, much like how Light and Darkness users aren't controlled by their energies. He's being heavily influenced."
I can't decide if that's worse. "Either way, we have a problem."
"Yeah," Steam agreed.
Sensing that something was the matter, the Aether reached over and poked Steam lightly when his gaze shifted elsewhere briefly, passing on just a hint of its own energy. "So, what can we do? I can't exactly fight the Void, and I really don't want to. I also don't want to see Jet get hurt at all."
"Well, for the moment, we can't approach him," Steam replied. "Approaching him potentially irritates him. It's a bad idea to get involved when Jet isn't actively rebuffing the Void."
"But we can't just leave him like that," Wave protested. "This will only get worse if we ignore it!"
"I'm not saying we should ignore it." Steam scratched at the top of his head. "The thing we need to do is stay out of the Void's way until we can help Jet recover from the influence. Once and only once we can get through that, we need to help them."
The Aether tilted its head. "Do you mean help them to work together?"
Steam nodded. "Mhm. Jet and the Void need to actually work as a team and actively be willing to make efforts towards the same goals without one or the other being the sole influencer. Like how you two do."
"There's no way he can work together with something like the Void," Wave frowned. "It may not technically be evil, but it may as well be. It's murderous, and that's seemingly the extent of its personality and motivations."
"The Aether is really nothing more than care and kindness," Steam replied, then looked to the Aether. "No offense, but that's really what you are. You're more or less the exact opposite of the Void."
"Which is arguably a good thing," Wave said. "Death and destruction aren't."
"It's natural," the Aether murmured. "You can't have life and healing without the opposite."
"We already have a God of Death," Wave sighed. "We didn't need this."
"Does the God of Death oversee death, or dole it out?" Steam decided to ask after a moment.
"I suppose he just oversees it, from what I've heard," Wave admitted. "But that's a guess on my part. I know next to nothing about that role."
Steam nodded a little. "That's exactly it. All he does is make sure that the realms of death are in order and that souls are handled in a timely and proper manner. If someone must die, sure, he can go out and handle that, though it's extremely rare that such a thing ever happens. There are reapers and things, too, but they just handle people who're already dead."
"The Void exists to dole out death and destruction while the Aether counteracts that by bringing life and healing, as I've mentioned before. Those are necessary things, and they can't happen without one another or there isn't balance."
Wave sighed. And the Goddess of Life exists just to protect life, not make it… While aura, the energy of creation, previously had no opposite. "Yeah, okay, I get it," she grumbled. "But I'm not happy about it."
"Mhm," Steam replied slowly. "I don't like it much either, honestly."
"We seriously just have to wait to do anything about this?" Wave asked him.
"For a bit," Steam admitted. "I mean, unless you think you can get to Jet now. Considering what I can see, though, it didn't work well."
"Believe me, we tried. But like I said before, he attacked us twice." Wave scuffed a shoe against the carpet. "Since he held back much less the second time, he might seriously hurt one or both of us if we approach again." The Aether had gone silent by now, shrinking down into a far smaller form and curling up on Wave's lap.
Steam leaned back and stared at the ceiling. "Been there. It… sucks."
"No kidding," was the soft reply. Wave idly rubbed the Aether's head with her fingertips.
"Take care of yourselves, both of you." Steam fell quiet for a second, then added, "And watch over the Aether, Wave. Make sure it doesn't make any brash decisions to try and help people."
"It hasn't ever even tried to," Wave shrugged, "but yeah. I will."
I doubt that. It likes to act… …Meh. "It's nothing too concerning. It'll listen to you without hesitation." Steam chuckled a little. "I would too, if I was stuck around you."
"Hey, don't say it like it's a curse or something," Wave laughed.
Steam managed a smile. "Maybe it is."
"Ass," Wave smirked. "Go on, get out of here. You're busy, and I think this one might want a nap."
In a second, Steam had himself standing up on his feet and stretching. "I was actually getting ready to head out. Need to work on something. A Light being finally came out of hiding and approached us."
"No way, you're kidding," Wave breathed, eyes widening. "Why now? Why not when Jet all but begged them to help us?"
"First reason being that Kaden was purified and is no longer hunting them. Second, she was able to break away from the ones holding them back. Seems there's more to it than people knew originally," Steam said. "Other Light beings in their midst were actively keeping people from leaving. I think there's more, and the one who stopped by said she'd try to draw more of them out."
Wave shook her head vehemently. "Kaden would have been removed as a threat to them eons ago had they helped us," she reminded him in a quiet tone. "Jet would have been spared from the hundreds of deaths that he suffered through because he gave up trying to gain allies and decided to handle Kaden by himself."
"I know," Steam said. "It's about time to root out the ones stopping this sort of aid coming. I promise it'll be handled, but for what it's worth… I wish it never went that way."
"Whoever they are, those people don't deserve their Light," Wave muttered. "They stomped all over everything people like Analia have lived and fought for for so long and actively condemned my best friend to countless deaths just because they could."
Steam let out a sigh. "I hate those people but, whatever the situation, I have to act without letting my emotions get the best of me. They will be sorted out, and they will answer for what they did, I promise you. Will you at least trust me on that?"
"Good. Just… The Void will eliminate them because of Jet's emotions on the matter. As much as I hate them for what they did, existence needs them around." Wave looked away. "Do what you need to do, but don't let them be killed if you can help it. Kaden never found them, and so far Nareish hasn't either. It needs to stay that way."
"Of course. I know that much for certain," Steam replied. "We're going to protect them. Tessa will kill me if I make a wrong move, I'm sure." The hedgehog vanished shortly after saying this.
This left Wave with just one very important question in her mind. Who's "Tessa"?
~保護者~
Kath awoke curled on his side in a hospital bed. His hair had fallen into his face even more than usual, obscuring his vision, but he could still sense who was there. Sein… It took him a bit of time to get his memories of the previous events in order. There was a point when he couldn't remember anything else, and he suspected he had either been struck one too many times or that that was when he had blacked out.
Either way, it didn't matter now. He knew well enough what had happened and that he was alright now. That Sein was here and apparently fine with him no longer being injured (judging by the fact that he was sleeping and not doing anything else) could only mean one thing. He must have been better, too, somehow. As for who could have saved him from Nareish's grasp… Kath had no idea. He was too drowsy to think on it much. Drowsy in that particular way that only medicine could ever do to him. Before long, it had dragged him back under.
When he woke next, the sun was pouring much more light into the medical ward. He must have passed back out for hours, but at least he felt more awake now. Whatever medicine he'd been given appeared to have just about run its course. It must have been a painkiller, he decided absently. Administered before someone healed me, most likely. He shifted a bit and pushed his bangs out of his eyes with a hand. His eyes caught sight of blood on his sleeve, and he sighed. That would be a right pain in his ass to clean out. It wasn't what he was concerned most about right now, however.
Pushing himself up, he turned over to be able to move into a sitting position, eyes on Sein. Still asleep… How long has it been since he last properly rested?
Sein suddenly curled up on himself loosely as the air around them grew colder. It didn't take all that long for Yareis to walk through the doors of the medical ward with concern in her eyes. "Kath? What the fuck happened here?"
After motioning with a hand for her to lower her voice, Kath moved to get out of the bed. "Nothing that has not been dealt with already," he murmured. Once he was on his feet, he took the blanket off of the bed and laid it over Sein.
The woman strode over with purpose and immediately checked over his body with precise, cold hands. Whether or not she understood the invasion as such, she didn't show it, soon withdrawing with a vague relief evident in her eyes. "I asked a question. What happened to you?"
Doing his best not to react to the unexpected touching, Kath tried to be calm and factual about the matter. "There was an incident involving an ally being corrupted and then being forced to attack me. They are fine now and so am I."
"Good," Yareis replied gently. "If it hadn't been an ally, I might have murdered them for doing such a thing."
"It is not necessary to go that route," Kath told her, idly brushing some hair out of his eyes with a hand. Though I am not surprised, somehow, that murder would be your response to this.
Yareis huffed a little. "It is an apt response to the situation."
"Perhaps," he allowed. Azerel would certainly agree in some scenarios, were he not still in the mountains with the other wolves.
When it became obvious that Kath was alright, Yareis chose to simply cross her arms slightly. "I was coming by to see you, and I suppose it's better I didn't do so sooner."
"It likely was better that way," Kath agreed. "It would not have done anyone any good."
Yeah… I tend to make things worse. Yareis didn't voice this, changing the subject. "How are you feeling?"
"Somewhat tired," Kath admitted. "I believe I was given some form of medicine for pain earlier in the day, and it does not seem to have fully run its course."
Yareis let out a low rumbling noise and sighed as well. "I'm sorry for disturbing you, if you were trying to rest."
"Do not apologize," he said. "I had woken up already. It is not a problem."
"Ah." Yareis tapped her fingers against her leg lightly, trying to think of some sort of new topic. "Er, I assume you plan to relax here for a bit?"
"If I do not, my daughter and others will have cause to bother me about it for some time," Kath huffed. "I would prefer to avoid their lectures right now."
Yareis managed a soft chuckle, scratching at her head awkwardly. "I… in that case, I do not wish to bother you too much."
"You can stay if you wish," Kath said, sitting back down on the bed. "But don't feel as though you have to."
"I would like to, but I do not wish to overstay my welcome," she explained. Kath nodded, barely covering his mouth with a hand in time to somewhat catch a yawn. The woman stood there awkwardly, shifting her weight back and forth between two feet before mumbling a small farewell that held none of her usual confidence.
Though Kath did vaguely pick up on that shift, he wasn't quite awake enough to notice or respond. He wound up laying down and dozing off again for a bit longer instead. When he woke up next, he felt much more awake than he had before, and he immediately lifted his head to look at Sein and check on him. The man was stirring from his own sleep, idly rubbing at his eyes. "God… I gotta start sleeping more…"
Kath laid his head back down for a few seconds. He almost didn't want to get up, for once, because he'd been having a strangely peaceful series of dreams. They were filled with this unfamiliar yellow energy and a sense of safety and healing… but he supposed that could all be pondered later. If that energy is real and not something invented by my subconscious… I may have something interesting to look into. For now, though, he brushed the matter aside and sat up.
"Who… covered me with the blanket?" Sein asked slowly, pushing himself to sit up. He glanced over at Kath and his form shrunk down a little. He suddenly concealed his aura and averted his gaze.
This is going to be difficult. "Calm yourself, Sein. I am not angry with you."
"It's hard," Sein mumbled.
"Try," the older hawk insisted, crossing his legs on the bed.
"I hurt you," Sein replied.
"Because you were forced to," Kath countered gently. "It was Nareish who orchestrated that event, not you."
"It hurts to even think about, though."
"So do not, for now. Focus on the fact that we are both fine now and safe at home."
Sein's aura slipped from his control briefly, showing the pure amount of turmoil he was experiencing. "I don't know how…"
"I need you to try regardless," Kath told him. "We will get nowhere if you do not make an effort. Fixating on the source of your strife will not help you."
"It's just… I've never done that sort of thing, controlled or not," Sein replied, letting out a sigh. "Someone in my family was hurt, and I… I don't know. And it was you, someone so… strong." His gaze lifted up to Kath. "You're the person who took me in. It's just… It sucks. A lot."
Kath heaved a sigh of his own before telling Sein, "And I do not regret that decision regardless of what Nareish forced you to do. You may irritate me at times, even to the point of chasing your unrepentant ass down and freezing your damn face, but you will always have my care, Sein. Always."
Sein looked away, sniffling a little. He was quiet for some time. "Thank you, so much," he murmured.
Hearing this sniffle, Kath stifled a second sigh of sorts. "Sein, come here."
Standing from his seat, he walked closer to the bed and stood there. "Yes?"
In a moment of fatherly concern, Kath took a few seconds to look Sein over, making certain he truly wasn't hurt. After that, he spoke up again. "Take a walk with me. It will do you some good to be outside for a time."
It took a little bit of time, but Sein eventually nodded and let out a breath. Please don't let the same thing happen again… Please don't let us ever come to blows again…
Kath got up and stepped into his boots. Only then did he notice that they and his clothes were much bloodier than he'd previously realized. Sighing, he motioned for Sein to wait and teleported to his room to change. When he returned, he was wearing a similar outfit to before, but grey and white colors were replaced by soft, light shades of emerald green and heavenly blue. Namely, the colors of the royal family. This was one of the many outfits Laralei had seen fit to gift him over the years, and such outfits were therefore among the only changes of clothes he had.
Sein took a slow breath and motioned in the general direction of the doors to the medical ward. "Where do you wanna go?"
"Wherever it is that you would feel a measure of relaxation," Kath answered, crossing his arms. "Where outdoors do you enjoy spending your time?"
The hawk offered a hand to Kath. "I've got a place in mind." Kath raised an eyebrow at the gesture, since they both knew full well that he wasn't going to take the hand. His expression was more vaguely teasing than anything, however. Sein managed a chuckle and teleported them both somewhere on the planet he'd found some time ago during a brief exploration. It was nothing more than a lake, but that alone seemed to please Sein.
As with many natural places on this world, this was an area Kath knew well. He, after all, was the only member of their family aside from Jet and his descendants to have called this place home in the past. Taking a seat on the bank with his shoes just within the water's reach, he murmured, "There used to be a village out that way." He pointed some distance out to the left. "I would go there to listen to the people play music in the streets. The villagers still remembered songs that were played when you and Alana were small."
Sein smiled a little. "That's… incredible. To think our people would hold onto something from our culture for so long..."
Kath inclined his head. "One of the villagers who I came to know… Her daughter was so much like you that it almost seemed impossible. She was just as brash and exhaustively energetic as you used to be."
"She get into as much trouble?" Sein asked after a moment, amused.
"To an extent," Kath said, shrugging. "Though not quite to the same degree."
"I am one of a kind, after all," Sein chuckled in reply.
This assertion made Kath huff. He idly picked up a stone in one hand and threw it out over the water, watching as it skipped along the surface briefly before plummeting out of sight. That reminded him of something from long ago, something he had enjoyed watching now and then but had rarely partaken in. "That game that Alana used to play with you… The one where, out of three throws each, whoever skipped their stones the least distance owed the winner lunch. I don't believe I ever took you up on your last challenge, back then."
A tiny burst of aura launched a stone into Sein's hand, the man managing a smirk. "You realize I was always pretty darn good at this, right?"
"Yes, I do remember that," Kath acknowledged calmly. He idly picked up another stone with his hand rather than a power. "Assuming you win, tell me now what you would want to eat, or else I will pretend not to hear you later."
"I didn't think I'd get this far," Sein replied, sending the stone skipping across the water at high speeds.
"Last chance to decide," Kath warned calmly. He watched Sein's stone, then threw his own. He went just about the same distance, but slightly shorter.
"I think I'll make that decision after I win."
~保護者~
Unlike the last time he had made such an attempt, Kaden had successfully slipped away from Zareil without waking her up. She hadn't done anything to warrant the separation, but he had woken up feeling like he'd just needed space and to not be touched for a while. He sat up against the wall near the door, which he had cracked open. From here, he could easily see Zareil and even more easily hear their children.
These were minor shows of care, care he'd been neglecting for… far too long. Even ignoring the time he'd spent corrupted, he hadn't been doing even so much as a decent job at displaying much care toward the four of them. He'd been too… numb, he supposed. For the most part, he still was, but it had eased enough to remedy this particular problem to some minor degree. That was fine. It wasn't what he was worried about. What he was worried about was when all of the pain came rushing back to him. He hadn't handled it the first time and he knew it. How was he supposed to handle it a second time?
A part of his mind replied to that question with a distinctly unhelpful, You don't. He did his best to brush that matter aside, but he knew that thought to be accurate. He wouldn't handle it because he couldn't. He couldn't handle most emotions at the best of times. When they were that powerful and that negative, his chances of coping plummeted from minute to all but nonexistent. What was he supposed to do? He just didn't know.
"You've got quite the beautiful family, you know?" A voice said gently from somewhere in the area as a faint being of aura appeared some several feet away from him. Jarred from his thoughts, Kaden jumped badly and swung his gaze around to face the intruder. "I'm not here to cause a fuss, Kaden. It's come to my attention that you're not feeling well. I want to help you help yourself."
The ancient hedgehog looked away. He was at first determined to say nothing, but before long he opened his mouth anyway. "I don't want help."
"Is that so?" The question earned no reply. Kaden drew his knees up to his chest with his arms and laid his head there, face turned decidedly away from the stranger. "You understand who I am, correct?"
"Yes," Kaden eventually admitted, though he didn't exactly want to speak. He only did so because an answer seemed to be expected to some degree, and he was too mentally exhausted to put up much of a fight.
Rusen glanced over toward Zareil and the triplets for a moment. "There's a few things you should know." Kaden listened quietly, offering no reply right now. "First, your choice to pass your role to Ylden has proven successful. He's gotten a good bit done with Zenith's help." This only earned a nod to signify understanding. "Second, your obvious care for Zareil and your children serves to prove that you're recovering… in a way."
"Okay," Kaden mumbled. He had nothing better to say, nor could he think of something, anything at all.
"And third, I wanted to tell you that people are concerned about you," Rusen replied gently. "And while you may believe that you are not worthy of such, I am more than willing to show you the exact opposite."
"It is not a matter of belief," was the dully reply. "It is merely a fact."
"Certainly incorrect," Rusen said softly. "Knowing who I am, would you be willing to listen to what I have to say on this matter?" Kaden shrugged once more. Rusen took a leap and decided to create a mosaic of sorts in front of himself and Kaden. On this were pictures of Silver, Blaze, Locke, Sonic, Shadow, Zareil surrounded in a smoky haze of blues. "This isn't the extent of the people that are concerned for your wellbeing and wish to see you again… but it is certainly a number of the people that you were closest to throughout your life."
Kaden's ears flattened and he immediately looked away, eyes squeezing shut. "They shouldn't care. Saving me was a mistake. I did unforgivable things to them."
"If Amnikaribah had taken Shadow, would you have fought to save him no matter how much Shadow hurt you and your family?" Rusen asked. Kaden sank his fangs into his lower lip, more than hard enough to draw blood. They both knew what the answer was, but he still nodded anyway. "Your friends and family love you, Kaden," Rusen murmured. "They were going to stop at nothing to save you. No matter what you did as a result of being a demon, they were always going to come right back. You would have done the same."
Rather unsurprisingly at this point, Kaden didn't reply. It didn't mean he wasn't listening, however. He was. He just… couldn't formulate a response again, all of a sudden. Rusen let the mosaic fade away and he looked to Kaden. "I, Rusen, promise that I know it was not a mistake to save you. I know that you are not who you once were as a demon. You are a wonderful being and I am glad to see that you were saved from the fate pushed upon you."
No I'm not. Kaden bit down harder. The action was less intentional and more reflexive, in a sense. Rather than hit his head as Jet was prone to doing, he most typically resorted to biting when overly upset. It was the only way he could even attempt handling the emotions that were rising up in him. Rusen would have frowned had he been in his physical form. "I understand that you find your emotions difficult to handle. Would you allow me to soothe them to a manageable degree?"
With Kaden's emotions being as… understandably uncontrollable as they were for him during times like these, Rusen took the first opportunity where the hedgehog leaned toward agreeing internally to do what he had planned. He carefully and gently soothing Kaden's emotions to a level that would be reasonable to work through. "There. Forgive my suddenness."
After a long pause, Kaden was able to force himself to release his lip. The taste of blood in his mouth made him internally cringe (how many times had he deliberately tasted such a substance as a demon?), but mostly it was ignored. "...It's… fine," he mumbled.
"Do you feel better?" Rusen asked gently. Kaden shrugged. He supposed he did, somehow, more or less. "In a way, that's better." Rusen shifted back to an earlier topic. "Your family loves you no matter what you did. Your friends do too."
They shouldn't. The thought came unbidden, and Kaden opted not to voice it. He knew that, unfortunately, Rusen would know about it regardless.
"It's not about that," Rusen countered, still being gentle. Kaden shrugged again, more weakly than before. "You know they love you and why they do. You love them. Find it in your heart to let them love you." Rusen stood in his aura form, shifting out of this realm. However… he took a moment to leave a parting message. "You should know, Kaden, your parents have been brought back to life and wish to see you. It may do you some good to have their presence." With these words, the Faein vanished entirely.
Only once Rusen was well and truly gone did Kaden let some rare tears slip free. Unable to continue bottling everything up, his only recourse was to let things out. That it did help him eventually feel a little better was… purely coincidental. Nothing more. Or, at least, that was what a tiny streak of his old stubbornness decided to say when it kicked up briefly. It quickly died off when those few tears evolved into silent sobs. Emotions spilled forth, finally breaking free of the fragile bottle he had been so desperately trying to contain them within.
Time passed. More tears than he had cried since his childhood soaked his face. When there were finally no more to let out, he did his best to dry his face with his hands and arms. It only did so much good considering his fur, but the eventual result was passable enough. After that, he got up and crept back to the bed. He crawled back into it and curled up on his side next to Zareil, only too happy to allow sleep to claim him again.
~保護者~
To think I would still be capable of living this long… though Nareish's abilities seem to have removed age as a threat to my life. Gerald pondered many things, sitting at one of his workstations. I lost track of the time, but at least two centuries must have passed before it all came to an end. I truly am contending with forces I do not understand. Maria and I live despite the time that passed, and I hardly believe she knows what has happened. As far as I am aware, she seems to have… effectively slept through all of this. I believe time did not pass in her room in the same way it did here. She may have only experienced upwards of ten hours, should it have been even that long.
Gerald sat back in his chair quietly. I would like to plant another spawn within Black Doom in the future, if only to further test on experiments similar to Shadow. I could not reasonably push for such and allow Black Doom time to recover when I had other tests to perform, so it was only natural to continue my current work and leave that for another time. However… the concern now lies in being able to approach them. Nareish can likely eliminate this as a threat, but I cannot rely on her for everything. It is likely I would need to here, however.
Whatever additional thoughts he might have had on that subject or any other one, he was interrupted. There were hard rules in place that Maria did not belong on this side of ARK near all of the experiments, equipment, and other such hazards. And yet there she suddenly was, knocking softly on the barely-open door with a contrite look on her face. She knew she was breaking the rules, but had come anyway.
Gerald blinked once and moved to open the door, frowning openly. "Maria, what are you doing here?" he asked pointedly. It was rare for him to be so stern with her. While that normally would have caused her to shrink away, there were times where she would fight back. Mostly when Shadow was involved.
His niece changed her expression to one decidedly more indignant all of a sudden. "You promised I could take Shadow to look out the window with me for an hour or so every month on the fifth," she reminded, reciting the rule by memory with ease. This was something that had been allowed purely so that the girl had some company once in a while… and so that Shadow could get used to being in the presence of the one living being he was never to harm or leave unprotected. "I went to his… "room" and he isn't there."
"It's been quite a bit of time, Maria," Gerald murmured after a moment of deciding how to reply. "Shadow is no longer on the ARK."
"Well, then where is he?" Maria asked him. How long could it have been? He was in my room with me only last week while you were on Mobius.
"He's on Mobius," Gerald replied.
"Why?" Maria demanded, aghast at the idea of her young friend being there already. "I thought you said he wasn't ready yet." And I begged you not to send him if he might get hurt.
"He's ready," Gerald answered. "Don't ask again."
For once, Maria openly argued with him. "I have to keep asking when you won't tell me anything!" she protested. "None of this makes any sense, Uncle!"
Gerald frowned deeply at her. "You don't need to know. Not this time." Her expressive deep blue eyes filled with emotions she didn't wind up giving vent to. She spun around on her heel and disappeared down the hall. Gerald watched her quietly before letting out a soft sigh. You wouldn't understand.
Maria's departure left room for a second interruption to take place. This time, it was courtesy of a force that had already proven intrusive multiple times in the past. Namely, it was Nareish. She appeared in the room and cast her gaze about. "I see you have cleaned your space well. I expected to see much staining after so many years of making your project bleed."
"Cleanliness is important in this line of work," Gerald answered easily, turning to properly face her. "Disease and infection run rampant otherwise. That would not be conducive to my work."
"Mm… And I do suppose you have additional cause for concern about illnesses these days." Nareish glanced in Maria's direction, but made no attempt to say anything further about the girl, having discovered once already how protective he was over her.
"Correct," Gerald replied.
"That aside," Nareish said, "I should like to know what your next plans are, now that you have had the desired amount of time to torment and study your weapon's primary parent."
"Hundreds of years shape the thoughts and ideas one holds onto," Gerald replied after a moment, blinking slowly. "Black Doom being a vessel for a new weapon sounds… enticing."
"I see." A gradual smile formed on her face. "Yes, that would be rather interesting, wouldn't it? He certainly bore you a powerful weapon once already. Clearly, he is more than capable of doing so again."
"Certainly," Gerald agreed. "And this time, with a more suitable… 'parent' to having a living weapon."
"Were you not satisfied with Kaden, then?" Nareish asked, vaguely amused.
"Kaden was a satisfying attempt, but I believe I have squandered that. I did not account for things such as powers becoming so… prevalent."
"Indeed… Very well, then. It would seem that finding a new choice is the next step, then." Nareish pondered that for a moment before twirling a finger. Knowledge of the powerful beings currently alive in this era filled Gerald's mind. "I suppose all that is left is for you to pick one. I can handle the collection."
Gerald was quiet for a long moment as he thought on the matter. "Perhaps… Saethrim."
"A rather inspired choice, I must say," Nareish smiled. "He certainly is among the most powerful semi-Immortals in existence. Not to mention… the emotional turmoil that will occur between him and his charge once this spawn is created. That will be most entertaining to watch."
The man nodded slowly. "Yes."
"I will handle it," Nareish told him. "If need be, I will secure him deeper within my realms until the blood takes hold and the barrier forms so that he cannot terminate it should the urge to do so strike."
"If the chance arises, I firmly believe the spawn would be… terrifyingly strong," Gerald replied.
"Indeed. Which is precisely why I am interested in ensuring this little idea of yours works." Nareish crossed her arms loosely and drummed the fingers of one hand. "Though I will warn you that that vampire woman, Ghune, and Saethrim himself… They will be far from pleased."
"It matters not what they think," Gerald said, standing from his seat. "They're merely roadblocks."
"Be that as it may, the issue is not what they think. It is what they may do, Doctor. You must be aware of that, though I will uphold my promise to defend you." Her fingers continued to drum. "Even so… be wary. Neither of those individuals gained the reputations they hold for no reason."
Gerald nodded his agreement. "I am aware. They are not enough of a concern in the long run, should this plan come to fruition. They will have another issue of their own to handle."
"Indeed." After saying this, Nareish simply vanished as she often did.
The man watched where she'd been for a few seconds before walking off. He had some more plans to draw up, if only because he'd be broaching new territory by mixing a da Asani with a Black Arms. That alone was… going to be complex. Yet rewarding.
~保護者~
11,832 words this time. Many thanks as always to Blazing Winds for all of his help and support. Posted (at about 9:15 p.m.) 02-07-21.