"Eh? You… all of this just for…"
"Of course, didn't see that coming did you? It was fifty-fifty. I really would have killed the boy if you had interfered. I'm glad you didn't." I said, chuckling as her face grew tense with frustration.
Seraphina stomped and turned to little Adrian, whose injuries had vanished, leaving nothing behind but wet blood. The child appeared confused and unsure of how to proceed.
"Adrian Snow. It has a decent ring. Nothing special, but I like it." I continued and waved my hand towards the boy whose pupils seemed to contract in fear at the slightest movement of my palm. "Come to me, boy."
Adrian, however, remained frozen in place, trembling. His chest heaved up and down as he struggled with something internally.
"First time seeing Azazel Blade?"
The little djinn boy was still for a while, responding only minutes later with a precarious nod. He looked at me, his golden eyes clouded by uncertainty.
"What? Don't you wish to see your parents?" I said lightheartedly. "Oh, how did I kill them, by the way."
Adrian's lips buckled but stopped as he bit down, drawing blood. He sniffled for a bit and spoke. "In Valiscar, an army of monsters carrying the Crest of Noctem appeared. And rained destruction over the land. Those below ten were taken in while those older were slaughtered before our eyes… as special early training."
"Mithra's Light!" Sera cursed, snapping her eye to me. " You didn't!"
"I really didn't. But that does sound like me. But I gave control to Zanris. She gave the order. But that's not a bad operation. You are essentially lowering potential collateral. A child's mind is easy to break. Ten is a perfect number. They're attached to their parents, but they also will understand that no matter what they do, they'll never attain revenge. They might even begin to love the ones that stole their parents."
"I'll never love you!" Spat Adrian grimly.
"Sounds like a personal problem,' came my reply. " And you will. I'm one of the most lovable people out there. I'm like a panda. You just can't hate me."
Sera's eyes were the first to roll. " Arsene… I think you might be a narcissist. And it is my moral obligation to tell you to seek help. You're a narcissist, psychopath, with onset psychosis, and a—"
"Twelve inch—"
"Stop! Stop right there!" she hollered, blushing, already knowing where I was going with this.
"Oh, come on, you set yourself right up! That was perfect! Woman, if you wish to get a man, you must let him finish his line." I berated, releasing a lamentful sigh as my shoulders dipped. " You'll be alone for all eternity if you keep that up."
"And that's bad. How?"
"Oh, Sera, how naive you are. As a married man and I think I speak for everyone. It is every married man and woman's prerogative to emphasize marriage. It's just something we do. "
A/N: 100% true Idk why every married couple keeps bringing up marriage.
Feeling Seraphina's judgemental stare, I pushed. " Also, I'm sure your bible or whatever emphasizes marriage."
"... It doesn't."
"Sex before marriage?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
So the Law of Concordance isn't the bible. Interesting. I'd at least have thought there be some relationship. Or maybe Sera isn't far enough along.
I've got to get her before she becomes Intolerant. If there is one thing that pushes people from being tolerant to intolerant, it is religion.
If I remember correctly, back in my world, Muslim countries weren't tolerant of homosexuals, and western countries oversexualized prerogative: This became an issue with many western citizens believing these people were being oppressed.
This is an odd depiction since western citizens don't clearly understand what happens in other countries.
If I want sera in my bed, I've got to tweek her perception. It's too much to change it. That'll never happen, but I can make her tolerant towards me and my advances. After all, an Angel is going around banging left and right. And he hasn't fallen yet.
My smile deepened for a moment before I resumed. " Never mind, forget what I said. Have you located the boy's parents?"
Sera gave me an odd look, unaware I might be slapping 'em cheeks with a battering ram in a few days or months.
Bounce~Bounce~Bounce~Bounce~Bounce~Bounce~Bounce~Bounce~Bounce
"Why are you bobbing your head?" Sera asked.
"Was I? I didn't even notice. Must have been singing a song in my head." I played off, chuckling lightly.
Sera's narrowing eyes seemed to flare with Seraphic radiance, and she lifted both arms as she closed her eyes, making a small prayer.
Hearing chimes resound through the Heavens. I felt karmic laws resound, connecting to me and many more that created karma with the little djinn boy.
I waited, watching closely as the karmic laws congealed into small micro symbols that began dancing along my skin, trying to sink in. However, despite endless attempts, the symbols couldn't.
"I've found them; they were taken by a few fifth-generation Shadowfell," Sera said as the radiance faded to ash. She opened her eyes.
"Fifth gen? That is such a small number. I'd have thought we were in the hundreds."
"Are you being serious?" Sera stepped forward like an angry white tigress. "You're the damn progenitor. How is it you don't know? The Shadowfell is already in the hundred and fifth-gen. You ought to know that."
"That's why I have pretty women like you, Zan, Ezra, Sharla, and much more working each day so hard. So I don't have to remember.
"You're a damn sexist pig!'
"I'll say your sexist! Did you forget about my dukes? There is only one woman on the team. Karr is tirelessly making waves through nocturne. And I'm just saying you bitches have more power than Karr and—"
"Did you just call me a bitch."
"..."
"Arsene?"
"..."
"Adrian… sport… let's get some air. No woman allowed." I hastily said shadow stepping the both of us out of there.
There was no winning that conversation. None. But this was the perfect way to gaslight her. I'll let her stew in anger and make her think about what I said.
"LET ME GO!" Adrian howled, pushing me away. He landed in the snow over the overlooking mountain. "Don't touch me."
I frowned, closed my eye, and connected to the wishes and dreams of my subjects. Listening to all their endless wishes and praises, I quickly came upon the man that killed Adrian's parents taken their souls.
I raised my palm and summoned the two souls that held this boy's heart. And slid my gaze to the defiant stare of this child.
"You will learn, Adrian, that I am not kind. You are but a child, but you will understand what it means to be accountable for your actions. You will learn that when I talk, you will listen. You will learn that when I say kneel. You will kneel. Do you know what this is in my palm? Can you feel their familiar heat radiating off these two soul flames?"
The Djinn's eyes went wide and teary, almost instantly, only to twist in fear and hate as I squeezed down, allowing their howls to echo.
Lightning crackled over this auspicious day as the boy's anger flared in response to his innermost wishes.
"On your knee's disciple." I calmly replied. Adrian stared dead at the souls in my palm and fell to his knees without hesitation.
"Good. Very Good." I said, amused by the look in his eye, "You will learn to be respectful, but till then. Here. These two souls are yours. They can't talk, but… if you follow me, I could give you the power to communicate with them. I could even give you the power to revive them. All it'll take is acceptance."