Once Iris left the room, Finn returned to trying to comprehend the Stormbringer's lightning on an even deeper level, but was quickly interrupted once more.
[I didn't expect you to make this decision, Finn.]
'… What?'
[If I were you, I would've just let that boy die, fufu~ but I suppose, after listening to your reasons, I can see where you're coming from. But… there's one more reason, isn't there? One that you didn't tell that Iris girl~]
Finn knew Zelestria could read his thoughts, so there was no point hiding anything.
'Yeah. Your point?'
[To be able to plan that far ahead… you're even better than I imagined, Finn~] She giggled softly. [Even if Storm does betray you, you can in turn use him to track down those with hostile intentions towards you and eliminate them.]
'I expect word of my power to leak out sooner or later, even if I never told the squadron in the first place. Holding back against Ghosts is not an option, after all. By letting someone who I know the weakness of betray me and spread the word, I can turn the situation in my favor and kill any possible enemies I'll have in the future.'
[Oh? What's his weakness, then?]
Finn snorted. 'Isn't it obvious? Iris.'
[Hm… yes, love is truly a powerful emotion, just like jealousy. But using that girl as a tool like this… I can't imagine she will appreciate it~]
'You say it like I'm doing something evil. This is no different than her being my eyes, and I her legs. We are merely using one another, that's all.'
[Really now?] Zelestria sounded doubtful. [Fufu~ in that case, are you merely using me as well?]
'Naturally,' Finn replied in his head without any hesitation. 'Aren't you the same, using me to complete a 'task' of yours?'
[Perhaps. But why can't there be… something more~?]
Finn suddenly felt her warm breath come from directly beside his ear and quickly stood up.
"… Can you not suddenly appear beside me like that?"
"Hehe~ cute reaction," Zelestria giggled, hiding her laughter with her hand.
"I'm trying to train here. If you would leave me alone, that would be great."
"Oh?" She licked her lips seductively and closed in on Finn, caressing his chin gently. "You're alone with a beautiful goddess in a private room… and you want to train?"
"Yes."
"Fufu~ that's just like the Finn I know." Zelestria smiled widely, throwing her warm arms around Finn's neck and pulling herself closer. "But… what if I let you in on a little secret?"
Finn raised an eyebrow. "What secret?"
She giggled like a little succubus and leaned into Finn's ear until he could feel her hot breath directly by his side.
"When you kill Ghosts, you gain their Souls. But since your Ghost Blood has the intrinsic trait to consume… the majority of the Souls you collect is absorbed by yourself. I'm only getting a little bit. You know what this means, don't you~?"
"… That it will take a very long time before you can heal my eyes, huh?"
"Precisely. But there's a faster method to transfer Souls directly to me. And that is…"
She licked the edge of Finn's ear, tracing her hot and wet tongue all over it as Finn flinched in response.
"Fufu~ through sex."
*****
- Meanwhile, Downstairs -
"… Storm. Are you finally awake?" Archon asked coldly, glaring at the boy who lay on the couch before him. Everyone went back to their own rooms after that incident, with the exception of Archon and Reaper, who now stared at Storm. The former erected a sound barrier on the house to prevent disturbing anyone else, as Blacksmith Angelica users weren't just limited to weapons but objects as well (excluding armor).
Storm slowly blinked his eyes open, having been fed a healing potion, only to meet the cold gaze of the man he saw as a father.
"Archon…?"
"I must say… I'm ashamed. Thoroughly ashamed of you."
"W-Wha…?"
"Don't go pretending you forgot everything now. I should've known from the moment I noticed you being more quiet than usual…" Archon clenched his fists tightly. "You're weak, Storm. Finn may be blind, but he's is superior to you in every way."
"Ngh…" Storm groaned and sat up on the couch, clutching his stomach where Finn hit him in pain. But that was nothing compared to Archon's words, which cut deeper than a knife.
"You want to be like him. That's fine. Competitiveness is what drives people to constantly improve. But when that competitiveness turns into raw, ugly jealousy… you turn into nothing more than a coward."
Storm finally came back to his senses, recalling everything that had happened. All the anger he felt from before came surging back to him in an instant, body shaking as he slowly stood up from the couch.
"Why… why are you on his side…? Why is EVERYONE on his side?!"
"I'm not on his side, Storm," Archon replied quietly. "I want to be on yours. I really do. You said you saw me as a father — and I see you like my own child. But it is precisely because of that that I can't tolerate your actions today. I have failed to educate you, Storm. What happened today was not your fault — it was mine."
"NO! It's all that bastard's fault!" Storm roared. "WHERE IS HE?!"
"STORM!" Archon yelled in an even louder tone, drowning out all else. After a short silence, he continued.
"You said Finn took everything away from you. By that, I'm guessing you mean Ivis, huh? But the way I see it… she was never yours in the first place."
"Wha…"
"Face the reality, Storm. What happened today was nothing more than you throwing a tantrum over your one-sided, unrequited love. Ivis doesn't love you."
"But that bastard… he doesn't even like Ivis back! You can see it-"
"So?" Archon cut in. "That's their problem to worry about. Melvia didn't like me back at first either. Love takes time, Storm. It's not your position to interfere in a matter they never asked you to interfere in."
"Hah… I see now…" Storm laughed slightly maniacally, shaking his head and clutching his forehead with his hands as he wobbled around the room like a drunkard. "He even took you, huh...? He took everything... ALL BECAUSE OF HIM!"
Archon shook his head in frustration. "No, I just want you to recognize-"
"HAH! If that's the case… then SO BE IT!"
Storm began heading for the door of the mansion as Archon's eyes widened.
"Storm, what are you-"
"SHUT UP! Since no one here understands me… I'll find someone who does. And when I do… that bastard will pay. I might not be able to beat him right now, but I WILL. I SWEAR IT."
"No, no…" Archon shook his head and hurriedly pulled Storm into a hug, preventing him from going any further. "You aren't thinking straight! Stop this, now!"
"Let… GO OF ME!"
"Ngh…!"
Storm activated his Angelica, electrocuting Archon, causing him to lose his grip. Storm slowly walked towards the door, hands shoved in his pockets and expression twisted in madness.
"We'll meet again… Archon."
"G-Guh… Storm…" Archon tried to crawl towards the boy he saw as his own child, but his body refused to listen. His muscles felt weak, and his eyelids began to feel heavy.
"Storm… Derek... please… once you do this… there's no… turning… back."
His eyes shut tight as darkness engulfed him.
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