"Mrmmm." Groaning, coming to at first light, Altair cupped his face with one hand, dazed, but not enough not to notice the wet blood dripping down his chin and palm. He tensed and snapped up, dread tracing down his spine as he glanced around his blood-stained bed, only to find it empty.
"Ren!" He shouted, panicked, pushing out his perception only to find her on the ground at the foot of his bed, barely clothed, clutching a golden orb in her palms. And the image of the Duke Leto during his last spiritual journey to the hells ca rushing back. He had ntioned his visit to Ren before but could never understand what Leto had wanted to give to her.
Could this have been his doing?
Altair shook his head, pushing such useless thoughts to the back of his mind, and proceeded to check for injuries. He sighed in relief, finding there was none, and flopped down beside her. Clutching, his hair matted with blood.
He winced. "Bastard… Just when it was getting good."
Ren stirred and propped her head up, yawning. She glanced at Altair, flopping her head to his shoulder, and fell back asleep.
Unsure whether to laugh or poke fun, he relaxed over the foot of the bed, moving the mana around his body to help stimulate a faster regeneration. The explosion last night had caused a minor laceration across his hairline. Altair figured the orb, if it was from Leto, had been set to awaken before he took his daughter.
"Crafty bastard." The Prince mused, promising himself he'd never let anyone touch him without a certain level of discretion. Just as easy as the blast knocked him out, Altair knew it could have easily killed him. A feat he realized was easy.
Ordering breakfast to be delivered via Drone, Altair gently nudged Ren when it arrived. He signaled for the Drone to place the food on the counter and began waking the little thing drooling away. When at last Ren stirred, her groggy eyes filled with smiles, she yawned as her nose twitched.
"Food~" she muttered cutely.
Regaining bits of her lost energy, Ren stood up and froze as everything ca crashing back. But before she could say a word, her eyes fell upon Altair's bloody face.
"Art, you're…"
"I'm fine," He assured her, lifting his hair to show the pink scar above his brow. "It's already healed. The scar should vanish in a few hours tops."
But Ren wasn't really convinced. Even so, Altair led her to the counter and began unpacking the small al of bread, rice, egg, sausage, and Soup. She grinned as they slowly began to have their fill-in silence.
Neither of them ntioned last night, feeling their cheeks burn at the lewd moans and lustful acts they did together. It was especially true in Ren's case due to her walking the Path of the Eight Form, Arctus. The Path of Good and Evil that made her behavior, at tis, erratic. And while her actions were her alone, she was sure her lustful side had taken hold of her that night.
Not that she minded. But it was still a little much to speak of it.
"Ren…" Altair called. "What are you doing today?"
"Training. Why?"
"I think you should cancel it." He said, thinking for a mont. "We shouldn't split up today."
'Because of Laros?" Ren said.
"Heavens no. You could kill him with your presence alone. No. Today marks the start of sponsorship. Powerful sponsors and donors will be touring the base. It is a bit unsafe for you and to wonder about.
If anything, I'll say polymorph back into a pup."
Ren puffed her cheeks. "Why do I feel you like more as a wolf than a human?"
Lifting the morning coffee to his lips, Altair grinned mischievously. "I think last night proved otherwise."
Ren's innocent eyes went starry wide, and her cheeks a deep shade of pink. She turned, snorting cutely, unable to deny his words... or his touch.
He smiled, a little jittery at the ntion of last night. "Oh, right. The Golden Orb. Do you recognize it?"
Leaning on the counter as she finished the last of her breakfast, Ren nodded. "Yeah… Its Fathers. When we played hide and seek, father used to create these orbs to give hints on where he was hiding." She said with a faint smile of lancholy. "In this orb… lies a ssage," she said, shuddering as she sent it into her Draupnir ring.
"You're scared." Altair noticed, lowering his coffee mug.
"You said last ti he seed sad," Ren whispered, shaking. "And every ti we talk through the system. He never ntions Mother. So…"
"Then shall we go shopping for resources?"
"Eh?!" she looked up at him, surprised.
Altair laughed. " You always feel better buying various materials for alchemy. Well? Let's do it. Let's buy so. But first, a shower!"
Ren's straight lips curled up as her stomach dipped, watching Altair head into the bathroom. "Art… I think I love you." She whispered, knowing there was no way he could hear her.
Hours later, within the commissary blistering life, Altair and Ren laughed, traveling from vendor to vendor, buying whatever caught the little Nephilim's curious eye. Unbothered by the reckless spending these past few days. He spent another hundred sols on herbs, alongside a poletera of monster parts for Ren.
[Current Balance: 241 Sols ]
'And now I'm a brokie.'
"Don't worry, Art! Ren will make us rich!" She said from the top of his head. Howling with excitent.
Soon, various off-duty soldiers began to howl, mimicking their favorite pup. That had gained quite the reputation on base.
"Awooooo~"
"You people are crazy," Altair muttered, finding himself underestimating people's love for dogs. It was an unbelievable sight watching grown n and won howling like children, but they were all happily chatting amongst one another. Happy to celebrate sothing.
"Ren has her own fan club," the little Nephilim said, giggling. When she suddenly felt Altair stop, catching sight of Aurora sitting by herself outside a Cafe alone.
"Aurora." Altair greeted.
"Mas— I an Altair." Aurora grinned, tensing a little. "I was wondering why everyone started to howl. No wonder." She joked, glancing up at Ren. "How are you, my lady?"
"Aweso!"
The blonde-haired noblewoman covered her mouth with an elegant giggle. " I see. Then, are you aware of what happened last night?"
Altair shook his head, and slowly, as he took a seat beside her, Aurora explained the cruelty that befallen Olivia.
"It seems Talia watched it all happen after we dropped Nia off."
"Hells," Altair muttered. "I knew she hated her. I just didn't think it would be to such an extent. Emotions are such intriguing things. Well? Where is Talia now?"
"Consoling her…" smiled Aurora, lifting her coffee to her lips.
"I see. And what made Laros go mad like that? My presence isn't that powerful."
"But it is, or at least it is to people with weak minds, or should I say people who are poorly conditioned. It's not uncommon for high-intensive situations to unravel a person. It's a ntal fallacy we humans must co to terms with In Laros' case… and his assault on Olivia. I believe soone might have used a sexual form of conditioning on him. That breakdown was a result of a quick job.
A year, maybe two tops. That's the only thing I can think of."
The Prince tapped his fingers over the table, frowning. "Do I need an alibi?"
"I've already taken care of that master," Aurora assured him with a cold smile. Her eyes filled with foresight. "The mont Talia inford of this heinous cri. I docunted all of your steps and movents, formulating all routes and ti to ensure you were innocent. They'll be delivered in the event you are accused."
"We got another scary person." Ren mused. Observing the similarities between Master and servant.
"... and did Talia… by chance record… this alleged cri?"
Aurora didn't imdiately answer him, but her silence was more than enough to give him the answer he wanted.
"Good. And how are you doing?" The Prince said, switching things up from such a sour topic.
Aurora hesitated. "I'm … oddly fine with it. It was a little hard at first, knowing I died and ca back anew. But this new life of mine feels fulfilled." She looked into her Master's eyes, bowing her head with a tiny grin. "It's enjoyable being with a kind master like you. One who allows such freedom."
'Yeah! Masters, pretty aweso.' Kirr agreed from within his Master's Shadow.
"Oh, by the way, Ma… I an Altair. Is there anything you require? Money, resources, my family is a—"
"Aurora," Altair smiled, his voice a little firm. "That's all yours. I would never steal from my subjects. That money you have is yours and yours alone. Although, I could use your help."
"I am yours—"
"Aurora!!!!"
Startled by the sudden wail that drew many eyes to where a disheveled man knelt. His head pressed tightly against the ground.
"Please! Take back!" Vadi said. " I was wrong, ok! I was wrong. But we've been together for nearly eight years! You can't just—"
"Silence," Altair demanded, his words weighted with power.
Vadi did, tensing beneath his presence. That forced the words on his lips back down.
This was the thing that she once loved? Altair scuffed, unable to even fathom the level of depravity one needed to betray their own because of fear. Was life so good it beca worth it to sell the only woman you ever loved to the wolves?
Altair couldn't understand it. Nor did he want to.
"As I was saying, I want you to help build my wealth. But not on Earth but in Genesis. All the Pri Worlds use the sa currency, so it makes it easy to journey through the Myriad. I already have an account within Genesis. Mother said it was a good bank, but I want you to handle my finances."
In his eyes, Aurora had longed since proved her worth. He has seen her entire life. New perfectly of her skills, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes.
She was perfect when it ca to business.
"You have an account on Genesis?!" Aurora gasped, covering her mouth as she stared Altair down, visibly shaking. "What tier?"
"Third. Pretty good, right?"
Cupping his hands with stars in her eyes, Aurora stared deep into Altair's eyes, wondering if he'd truly understood what having a bank on Genesis ant.
Altair did, thanks to Aurora's knowledge, but he had little ti to dive into such matters.
"I'll send you all my info. And you may speak to Ren with a surplus of refined pills all above a purity of…" He glanced at her. " 66%?" and Ren nodded. "Yeah. Far above average. I don't really know what you'll do, but I want you to cover it all."
"Leave it to , Master '' saluted Aurora with excitent, covering her mouth at her mistake.
"M-m-master?" Vadi muttered.
Altair glanced at him and grinned. "Co by my quarters tonight. So we can discuss."
"No ... No! NOOOO!" Vadi scread and slamd his forehead against the ground until his blood splattered over the floor in a fine mist. "Don't do this, Aurora. Please… I'll…"
"I'd love to," Aurora said in a flirtatious tone, understanding the assignnt. She didn't even glance at Vadi. "But this might take all night."
Altair laughed, lifting the confused Ren onto his shoulder. "Good. Bring refreshnts, then. Midnight snacks always tend to be the best." He said, moving past Aurora to Vadi, beating his head over the ground like a madman while everyone watched.
"You're in my way." He said with a vicious smirk.
Vadi shuddered, lifting his head to et the Prince's gaze, but he couldn't bring himself past his boots. His face burned hotter than the scorching heat emanating from the grueso laceration over his forehead. He'd never felt such humiliation, and yet... He lowered his head over the pool of blood and scooched to the side.
"Pathetic."
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