In Lazaro's mind, Hyera felt his legs grew weak as his will dissolved. She'd never guess it, he wasn't angry or mad with rage, he did not swear revenge nor cussed. He only took a deep breath and looked down.
"Well, I know that some mortals are like that, oh, well. I don't mind giving you some days, we'll be locked on your mind for a long while after all." Ekadu said and kept staring and smiling at Lazaro as time passed.
The scene in front of her suddenly faded and turned into the crippled Dantian she was residing.
"...How long?" She asked with a cracked voice. She heard stories of Ekadu since young, the ancient god who belonged nowhere and obeyed no moral law. Even though it was just a past memory yet--his presence was enough to terrify her.
She couldn't imagine what it as like for Lazaro, a mortal.
"Through two hundred years he kept me locked in my mind. At first, he was patient but eventually grew tired of trying to convince me. He went away and left me locked in my own mind It took me a hundred years to gain enlightenment on the skill he used, I created a trash version of it and broke out."
His words slipped into Hyera's ear, and it didn't matter how lighthearted he spoke, From what she learned in history, Ekadu grew up having joy in toying with mortal minds until they crumbled. It's weird Lazaro remained sane, and it's even more of an absurd that he gained insight from an ability of Ekadu. Yet she didn't question more.
****
Lazaro knew what her plan was when she asked him to just bring these people back to safety. But he simply went along. Since he was captivated by this world form the moment she showed it to him, everything from there on was him sounding out her true self.
And tonight she didn't jump on the opportunity of growing close to him and naturally gaining more chances to use him. And that was all he needed, that moment of a second thought, a person who truly doesn't care wouldn't need to think twice, so for once, he chose to see if the goddess is truly different from the kinds of Ekadu.
Uncertainty is always present, regardless of good and bad. So he might as well risk it since she showed more good than bad. Even if he's betrayed later, he wouldn't lose anything that he couldn't afford to. At the end of the day, he's still Lazaro of superbia the king of debauchery.
"So, want to be my sister?"
(...Yes, but I can't share a drink with you in this state.)
He felt an unusual tone of sincerity, instead of her usual self, like they were equals instead of goddess and mortal. He smiled.
'The drink is symbolic, we just need to exchange something, and I, oh well...' He was talking when suddenly a thought popped in his head and his smile turned into a very cheap one.
A broken green armor in tatters showed up in front of her eyes. It was the armor she was wearing when they met adrift in space.
'T-That's my armor! It has divine materials! You managed to grab it then!? Great! this will give me a great head-start!' She suddenly felt that a genuine brotherhood bond with him was the right choice.
But when she reached for it, the armor distanced itself and disappeared. Lazaro's voice reached her ears.
'As a substitute for our exchange of drinks, I'll take this armor as your drink to me, and my drink to you will be the waved off fee for using the comfiness of my Dantian as a temporary home.'
(Wh-what....!? This is a total black and crippled Dantian! there's nothing comfortable here! Give my armor back! I don't want to be your sister anymore!)
'Too late.'
He grinned
'Having a little sister feels good.'
He smiled with glee.
*****
Larissa turned to the side brusquely and caught a small shadow running away, it was the seventh time that happened.
She clenched her teeth and tried not to show her agitation. Although fleeting, she managed to connect the shadow with a figure on her mind, the shadow goons of Leandro, her husband. Who, oh-so gracefully took her out of the slums to live like a princess.
She thought that Leandro would assume his little brother would protect her and bring her back, but the flask on her purse proved otherwise, and Leandro clearly knew of his little brother's other face since he sent people to get her back to him.
At the thought of going back, flashes of long needles and white coats reflected on her mind momentarily freezing her in fear.
'I can't, I'll not be chained again.' She promised herself.
But the reality was close on her, the shadow goons were at the Excelled mortal state of being. Thinking about their strength she remembered the heart she ate and hope grew on her.
'Universal id.' She stated and saw the screen in front of her.
{---Universal identity---}
[Larissa de Ponte(Human lineage)
Homeworld: Earth, the blue planet (Infantile civilization, tier 9 world)
State of being: Extraordinary mortal
Essence; 89,05 (11,95 until Exelled Mortal)
Currency: 41,514,95 UN.
[Options]
-Contacts
-Market
-Navigate
{---Universal identity---}
A hopeful light flashed by her eyes.
'I was at the Common mortal state of being just two nights ago, but after eating that heart I'm already at the Extraordinary Mortal level, a one-step above. With 85.05 condensed energy. That means I'm at the last ten essence bottleneck.'
'I can't win but I can fight back! I only need...'
She looked at Lila's tent then at Lazaro roasting meat. Lila had a strong ability but was a complete novice with it, There was no time anymore, she decided to ask help from him. Then a thought crept on her mind; She didn't have anything to offer, and even if she did, would he be able to help her? Would he be willing to anger a giant for wealth?
Unnoticed to her, her palms started trembling.
She stood up slowly and walked up to him, all along the way she thought of what she has to offer that'll make him willing to cross Leandro, the one who's family owned the biggest, most prestigious, technology developing company.
It didn't matter how she thought, there was nothing worth that, and slowly her steps got rigid and she stopped altogether two meters behind him.
She grabbed the hem of her military garment and chewed on her bottom lip as despair settled in.
Lazaro knew she was coming and turned around curious why she stopped.
His eyes met hers, her eyebrows were locked in anger but her eyes were on the edge of crying, He blinked and the only thing left of that look was a slightly reddened eye.
She looked at him coldly and caressed the shaved part of her hair. "You cut them off, I'll cut something off of you too." She said, smiling sinisterly.
Even if she has nothing more to rely on, she wouldn't let the bastard see her weak side. Just the thought of it felt unpleasant.
"HEY! we need to talk!" Lila went out of her tent and exclaimed. She looked at both of them together and crossed her arms.
But the sinister grin on Larissa made her look only at Lazaro. Who waved at her and spoke to Larissa.
"What is it? Tell me."
She gave the same cold smile. "Are you talking about the revenge you're soon to suffer? Don't worry I won't refrain."
His eyes didn't change, and he didn't move from there. She felt weak inside but only for a second as she glared back at him.
A slim pair of arms enveloped his.
"Hey, I'm not kidding, it needs to be now," Lila said.
He hesitated but nodded.
"We'll talk right after this." He followed Lila after leaving those words behind.
Although very little, his air of seriousness comforted her, he was like this now, but what of when he heard her proposal?
'Maybe I should offer him unlimited lap pillows?' She laughed inwardly, as she held in tears. She knew men well, Even a woman as beautiful as a goddess is only good as the trouble she brings.
Her eyes suddenly grew emotionless, 'I survived this long, as long as he has a price, I'll do anything.' She thought and waited to form him to come back.
She sat down by the fire pit and waited, she heard him talk himself as different and above others, and she felt he was really different too, but she didn't want her expectations to rise. But his pettiness and the cheap smile came to her mind, his teaching to Lucas, Silver, and Lila also entered her mind, suddenly she felt her lips going up.
'Mayb-'
Her eyes widened. A hand covered her mouth. Her pairs of hands were pulled tied behind her back. A whisper came to her ears.
"The runaway bride shouldn't even dream of using her little tree friends"
Larissa ignored her and looked into the distance, Gerald, the one on the lookout, with his innate ability to sense the living and their intention, nothing should pass by him unless she fell asleep but there he was, talking to a female figure a dark as a shadow.
A shadow just like the one holding her.
As she was silently pulled away from the camp Lila's tent became small and distant. "I should've spoked to him."