Basil's birth happened because of a higher being's intervention. He had been tangled up in the affair of the Gods even before he was born and he was by no ans pleased to know that. He wanted to do things that he decided himself. Knowing that information made him feel like he had been walking down the path the Gods had designated for him.
He had been anticipating the move of the God who had given him his second chance and the turn of events added another one to his God-to-mind list. The Lord had the most influence on him at this mont, yet he wasn't worried about it. He was confident he would be able to devour the said God's soul. If push cos to shove, he would destroy the soul and risk crippling his soul. It was a price he was willing to pay for keeping his body his.
"My mother gave a chance to decide my course of life by letting live outside the village," he stated offhandedly, earning a soft grunt hum from Zina. "She realized what she did was selfish, so she did that to make ands. Now, I finally understand why she looked afraid when she faced in the execution chamber."
Maya Pacifer was afraid of rejection. Even though she wasn't technically Basil's mother, she was still the one who nurtured him for nine months in her belly. The mother and son bond she had established was just as strong as any other's bond. Therefore, she was afraid Basil would bluntly tell her she was not his mother. She was afraid he would bla her for what she did to his life.
The swirls of emotion he had seen in his mother's eyes at that ti confused him, but he didn't ntion anything about it. He showed his acceptance of Maya as his mother by calling her mother and enjoyed the radiant look she gave him despite her state.
Did he regret ever saying that? No, he didn't. It slightly irked him that his birth and his life were designated to fulfil so God's agenda, but he didn't want to bla Maya for putting him in that situation. His mother had given him a chance and he had made his choice.
He had chosen to remain a Cobham in the past and it didn't end well. Although his lack of knowledge had contributed to his choice, he doubted he would side with the Pacifer had he known about his lineage. In this second chance, he had chosen to embrace his heritage. He didn't do that out of obligation and a sense of affiliation. He concluded it was ti to pay the Gods for ddling with his life.
"I will make this one thing clear." As soon as it was said, Zina and the other five Maha Dmitras tensed. "I will not accept The Lord's soul. My existence as Basil Pacifer is not to beco his vessel. I an more than that. You may disagree with , hence today shall be when the bad blood exists between us."
The six Maha Dmitras inhaled sharply. They had kind of expected this would be the case the mont they landed their eyes on Basil, but what they heard still shocked them. They didn't want it to be the case. Their situation was already dire as was, so having the Fated Child having a grudge against them would only throw them into a hopeless state.
The Fated Child didn't look vengeful, but they didn't want to bet. They couldn't read what he was thinking and what he felt. Whenever they tried to sense his emotion, they would only be t with an endless abyss of emptiness. They couldn't tell how much darkness the Fated Child's heart had.
Should the Fated Child strike them, they would perish at a faster rate even though they managed to strike him down, which they doubted would be the case. Should he leave them alone, they would still collapse since they didn't have any allies and everyone in this world was thirsting for their blood.
In either case, the Pacifer would perish.
"However, I am not saying I won't help you."
Basil's next statent made the Maha Dmitras raise their heads and took them out of their depressing thoughts. They looked at him with widened eyes, hearts beating in anticipation of the conditions Basil would set for him to help them.
"I had helped people who wronged and a stranger whose death wouldn't affect in the slightest in the past. It is unfair to bla the Pacifer, my clan, for what the Gods did, so I don't mind giving you a chance. Though, I won't forget the fact that every Pacifer believes I am the vessel of their God. Therefore—"
"We don't consider The Lord our God. He will remain our Master and nothing more," Margaret, who had been silently standing with the other Maha Dmitras, interjected.
Ignoring her, Basil continued, "I want you to stop taking as the Fated Child. Instead, see as the Basil Pacifer who makes the Pacifer's na great again."
One of the mature-looking Maha Dmitras, who was around the sa age as Margaret, raised her hand awkwardly. She looked like an academy student who was afraid of how her professor would react to her question.
is only known to us, Maha Dmitras. Our people only know you as the individual who will put the Pacifer back on its feet."
"Uh…may I make one thing clear?" Basil nodded his head, prompting her to sigh in relief. "Your role as the vessel of The Lord's is only known to us, Maha Dmitras. Our people only know you as the individual who will put the Pacifer back on its feet."
"Your point?" Basil quirked an eyebrow.
"Most will keep calling you the Fated Child Basil Pacifer, but in that interpretation. I hope—"
"I don't mind."
"Eh?" The Maha Dmitra said dumbly. "I thought you hated being called the Fated Child," she mumbled, befuddled.
"I don't care with the title people give . I just don't like being seen as sothing that is used to fulfil soone's agenda."
Basil Pacifer was not a pawn—the Maha Dmitras could kind of grasp what kind of person he was. Basil had the quality of a great leader: an unbending will, a baffling tenacity, utter serenity, and overbearing defiance. Just being in his presence made them feel confident. His presence was as if assurance of their success in anything.
"You made worry for a second there, brat." Zina sighed with a small chuckle. "We have never planned to see you the way you thought we would. It is embarrassing to say this, but we are no longer as loyal as we were. We didn't want The Lord to be back. We want salvation. If you can help us without the power of The Lord, we don't need him to co back."
"That is a shaless statent, but I shall comnd you for your honesty," Basil comnted with a slight smile.
"You sound like an old man. Why don't you loosen up a little bit? We may not be related by blood but I am still your great-grandmother by default, you know?"
"I am just experienced—not old."
Basil's defensiveness caught Zina slightly off guard, but she didn't pay any mind to it. She realized it was also insensitive of her to say such a fine young man like Basil sounded like an old man.
Silence enveloped the room as everyone let the tenseness leave their bodies. They looked at each other with a light but radiant smile before turning to Basil. The otherworldly handso young man remained seated calmly as he observed them. His gaze made them feel bare. They felt like they couldn't hide anything from him.
'Why do these hags look so flushed? Have they forgotten Basil is taken?' Iliana thought as she observed the mature-looking Maha Dmitras. 'To think that Margaret is also in on this…aren't you supposed to be our aunt, Margaret!?'
Having spent two years living with Basil improved Iliana's control over her facial expression. She looked unbothered despite her spiteful thoughts. Unfortunately, she couldn't control her emotion quite well. So of it leaked into her Mana, amusing the Maha Dmitras.
"My, my; already being protective, aren't we?" Margaret said in a teasing manner. "Relax, we won't snatch your prince from you, Princess. Though, we won't hesitate to accept him should he co to us."
Iliana rely scoffed without saying anything, berating herself inwardly for being too careless. Basil was slightly amused to see soone other than him turn Iliana speechless. He knew what it ant for soone to be able to turn Iliana speechless: they were close enough. He was glad to find the Pacifer as genuine as they were depicted in the tales.
"I have two purposes for visiting you. First, I want to claim the Fragnt that our Clan holds; and second, I want you to make Iliana a Maha Dmitra before I take all of you out of this place. Another thing to know is that I have…what is the matter?"
Basil was about to tell that had made an enemy out of the Human Empire and the Church that governed half of the world when he noticed the Maha Dmitras' awkward look. Zina smiled shafully before delivering the news that made Basil scrunch up his nose.
"We were spotted hiding here three years ago by the Demons. Goliath, the Obelisk Master was a tad stronger than this old woman, so we lost quickly. Though, even if it wasn't the case, we would still lose because of the number difference."
Zina paused to take a breath, but Basil cut her even before she could continue. "You traded the Fragnt for the right to stay in this place."
"…yes."
"Fine choice."
Zina's bitter smile instantly disappeared the mont she heard Basil's response. Her mouth gaped as she stared at Basil with a disbelieving look. Basil wasn't lying. He was truly glad Zina wasn't being stubborn. Had it been the case, the Pacifer would be wiped out and the Fragnt would fall in the hands of the Demons either way.
He was sure it must have been what happened in the past, which ans Goliath should have had two Fragnts in the Obelisk, which he didn't. It made him wonder where the other Fragnt was at that ti, but he quickly put the thought aside. What mattered was that he already got two of them. He would get the Second Fragnt from Goliath soon.
Standing up, he made the people wonder where he was going. Iliana knew what her boyfriend would do—seclude himself and indulge himself in training—so she imdiately took hold of his hand.
"You have been running around like a madman. Let's calm down a little bit."
"Iliana—"
"You need to know your clan better, so you can get closer to your root."
Basil would like to say it was not necessary, but he held back. Iliana seed to have sothing to say; thus, he nodded his head.
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