The entire room was suffused with a resounding silence as all mbers of Constellations stared at Alex with complicated expressions adorning their visages.
Before now, they’d inadvertently placed him on a higher pedestal, leading to a situation where he seed to lord over them.
However, right now, he was showing that he had no place being so high above and was just like them.
Noting their reactions, Alex remarked. "Ana, Victoria, Nadia, Arwen... Douglas. You all ca into this organization with expectations and I would understand if those expectations turned out to have not been t. So at this mont, apart from apologizing for my failings as a leader, I will give you guys the opportunity to decide what you want to do for yourself."
Taking a deep breath, he added. "I won’t lie and say that what happened with Ashtyx is going to be the last ti. My goal involves hunting down the Branches of the Absolute and as I’ve co to understand, going for such things holds great peril in myriad ways, so trying to lighten the rest of the path forward would be unbecoming of as a leader. We will face adversities, both great and small and we shall be faced with loss. I cannot promise that we will surely escape unscathed but I can promise that we will work as a team and not just as one man lording over the rest.
"So make your decisions And yes, no rush. As it is, I am hardly in the right state to go anywhere so you all have until I am well to decide if you wish to continue as a Constellation. If not... thank you for everything."
He spoke with sincerity and indeed agreed that at this mont, there was no need for deceit.
Alex understood the importance of having teammates who not only understood the risk but were also willing to go the extra mile for it.
If he kept on stringing them along with lies, what says the string won’t end up cutting at so point?
So it was best to let them decide by themselves if they wished to continue down the perilous path he was on.
Letting out a sigh, he prepared for their departure from his room only for Nadia to speak up.
"Can we give a response now?"
Alex t her gaze before slowly responding. "If you are sure of it."
"Then I’d like to stay. I’ve already sworn servitude to you until I atone for my sins. My sins are not atoned for yet."
Alex paused, seeking to discern the expression she held before nodding. "Fine then, you shall remain as Cassiopeia."
A faint trace of relief trailed Nadia’s expression as she took a step back.
The next to speak was Ana. "I already knew the path would be dangerous when I started his journey with you. So as long as I get to experience new things, I’m staying."
"Then you are most welco to do so, Androda."
Victoria then remarked. "Your actions... they are unbecoming of the one I’d expected would be the Dark Lord."
"And what did you expect?" Alex inquired calmly while maintaining a slight smile.
"... Cold, aloof, arrogant... You are hardly any of those things."
"Would you like to have those qualities, Ara?"
Victoria hesitated, her eyes flitting in Alex’s direction for a mont before she ultimately replied. "Though it would be a welcod change... I don’t believe your current deanor is too bad."
"Good to know."
"Would you still help go after the Paragons?" Douglas inquired, having sensed that the exchange between Alex and Victoria was complete.
Alex glanced his way and nodded, allowing Douglas to let out a sigh of relief as he intoned. "Then I see no reason to leave. I have faced danger all my life... what is a little more?"
Satisfied with his response, Alex quickly realized that surprisingly, Arwen hadn’t spoken up yet.
But thinking about it, it made sense.
Elena had died and judging from Arwen’s relationship with her, it would seem she had managed to build a bond with the forr.
Pursing his lips, he called out to her. "Arwen."
She turned toward him, her eyes sowhat reddened, perhaps as a result of crying.
"Perhaps, it would be best if you stay back. I could find a ans to hide your scent to ensure the Banshee never cos for you. That way, you can stay far away and..."
"Worry about you guys dying whenever you leave on a mission?" Arwen cut him off as her eyes turned wet.
"That..."
"I am not going anywhere, I just... I just wish she could be saved."
And like that, she broke down, tears flowing freely as Nadia moved to support her.
Seeing her as she was, Alex closed his eyes and let out a sigh.
He intended to reach out to Elena though he knew it was fruitless.
Utilizing Blessings as she did had ensured she would no longer have a future which ant her ti on Eventide was up.
Yet, he did... perhaps as a ans to assuage his conscience that there was nothing that could be done to bring her back.
However, he detected sothing against all odds, and his eyes instantly flew open, his expression twisted in confusion.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes again and reached for the connection before instinctively snapping to reach where it emanated from.
He disappeared in a flash of black and white from the room, catching everyone off guard, including the sobbing Arwen.
Then, he appeared in the streets of Thebes, his gaze quickly scanning the cobblestone streets though he saw nothing but carriages and pedestrians making their way to their respective destinations, their movents reminiscent of those in rush hour.
Pondering for a mont, he left to a more secluded alleyway and snapped, causing his shadow to transform into an amorphous blend of light and shadow, the next mont, a series of golden dust particles escaped and suffused the atmosphere, causing a slight golden radiance about him.
Letting out a sigh, Alex muttered faintly. "If you can hear , Elena... Arwen misses you and Constellations could use its sixth mber. So wherever you are... maybe try utilizing your Dinsionality to co back."
It sounded dumb but with all that had happened, he considered the least he could do.
Turning to leave, he paused as he experienced feedback causing him to remark, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Fine then, I’ll wait, you do what you have to do."
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