Song recommendation: "You can't keep me in the dark," (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rju0pbdm4z4)
"Are you sure about this?" Ace said quietly.
Once more it was only him and Michael in the dark cell. Bird lay still beside Michael, breathing softly.
"You were the one that told me to talk to Albaric," Michael scoffed.
"You seemed reluctant before," Ace commented.
"Maybe I was, but the way I see it this is our best bet," Michael posited, "If she takes the bait, we can figure a way out of this."
"I think she will tell him, but what do you think about what Rena said?" Ace hesitated, "The demon world is a place that shouldn't exist, right? If there was a way to destroy it... "
"I can't believe what I'm hearing!" Michael exclaimed, "It was your idea to come to the capital! Don't tell me you're having buyer's remorse,"
"I'm not! "Ace retorted, "Speaking hypothetically... The demon world is savage. It is inherently incompatible with this world. Albaric has been there and he knows it as well as I do. Even Clover thinks we should get rid of it. If it wasn't for the fact that this world would be damaged too, wouldn't it better to destroy the demon world?"
"I may not be as upstanding as the sword saint or as well versed in magic as Clover, but I can tell you this," Michael replied, "Everything in the world is linked together by an energy. Call it magic or not. There is an invisible balance to everything. Where there is pain, there is joy. Where there is darkness, there is light. Just as there is the merciless conviction of demons, there is the cruelty of human ambivalence. They are two sides of the same coin and this is a power greater than even the Gods possess. If you take one thing away, a surge of power will come to fill its place,"
"So you're saying better the evil we know?" Ace scoffed.
"Exactly," Michael returned undeterred, "There's no greater good to be found in risking everything for such an ending,"
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It was another day before Rena returned to the dungeons. This time she came alone.
"I've given some thought to what you said," she said carefully. "I will write to Albaric. If he decides to return, you will have your chance to make your argument. However, if you fail to convince him, you must keep your word. Decline representation in court. Don't reveal anything of the plan to the court,"
"I give you my word," Michael tilted his back into an arrogant smirk.
"I'm afraid that won't do," Rena stepped forward. She held open her palm. There was a red spiralling rune draw on it.
"I assume you recognise this," Rena said slowly.
"Where did you get that?" Michael's expression became grave.
Rena leaned forward and her voice dropped to a whisper. Ace couldn't hear the words but Michael physically recoiled upon hearing it. It took a moment for him to compose himself.
"Do you agree?" Rena asked pointedly.
Michael hesitated but raised his hand. He placed his palm in hers.
"You better make sure he comes," he said drily.
"I will," Rena answered, "but in exchange, I have a condition," her hand was still firmly wrapped around Michael's preventing him from pulling away.
"What are you talking about?" Ace interjected.
"All I ask is that wizard must be the one to tell Albaric," Rena replied coldly.
"What difference does it make?" Ace interrogated.
"It makes all the difference," Rena asserted, "The wizard started this. He must be the one to end it. That is my condition,"
Michael glanced down ambivalently at the hand linked in his.
"I agree," he replied in a low voice.
"Then we have a deal," Rena withdrew her hand and walked away from the cell.
"Why did you agree to that?" Ace questioned.
"I want Albaric to make this decision himself," Michael sat down across from him. "I owe him that much,"
It was over a week before Albaric answered Rena's summons. He wasn't far from the capital when it came. However, the journey back felt particularly precarious. Albaric was hoping to get as far from it all as he could.
Why would Rena call him back now? She was the one who suggested he go. Albaric had been grateful for it. She was always considerate of others. To call him back, it must be something serious.
Frankly, Albaric didn't want to go back. When Clover and Ace had disappeared, it seemed like the matter was closed. He had tried to show Ace what this world had to offer and he had failed. Rena had released Ace, so this was his choice. There was little else he could do. Albaric had always been wary of Clover's captivity. As he feared it was only a matter of time before Clover escaped.
The reaction of the court to this fact was suspicious, to say the least. Albaric had no doubt that there was some kind of deal involved. Regardless, they had what they wanted. The necklace...at least they did have it before all this happened.
As for Michael, Albaric expected that he would seething with rage over the loss of the necklace. However, never would he have imagined that he would go to such lengths to get it back. The fact that Ace was there could only mean that Michael had convinced him to steal it back. It didn't make sense, but those were the facts.
Not even Albaric could help Ace this time.
Upon arriving back at the capital, Albaric's apprehension only increased. The further he went into the depths of the palace, down into the dungeon, the more he regretted his return.
Albaric studied the grim cell. He thought it was empty at first but Michael quickly came to a stand.
"Rena said it was urgent," Albaric said rigidly. "Where's Ace and Bird?"
"I wanted to talk to you alone," Michael answered, "Sister Rena arranged it,"
Albaric looked Michael over doubtfully. He looked as sharp and confident as usual. Even the time in dungeons hadn't dimmed the conniving glint in his eyes. Looking at him now, Albaric could barely see the young man he had met all those years ago.
Before the demons, before the war, Michael was so different...
"I don't know why she would do that. You're a prisoner," Albaric remarked distrustfully.
"Well, first I wanted to apologize because..."Michael started.
"Stop right there," Albaric interrupted, "Stop treating me like a fucking idiot! I know exactly why you called me here,"
"You do?"Michael raised an eyebrow.
"You think a fake apology will make me get the charges dropped?" Albaric shook his head, "You never change,"
"That's not it!" Michael protested. "I..."
"What did you say to Ace to drag him into this?" Albaric interrogated. "He must not have gone with Clover, not if you were involved. So what exactly did you say to him?"
"Why do you treat him like he's some sort of kid? It was his idea..."
"Because he is a kid!" Albaric snapped, " and so is Bird. You're not. You've been manipulating them and me from the start. And the saddest part about it is that you were being used yourself. It's been years! When will you get a grip? Why do you have to treat everything as a strategy? As a way to get your own way? Are you so conceited that you can't even see when you're wrong!"
"I am trying to apologize. You're the one that's not letting me," Michael answered more sarcastically than he intended.
"By all means" Albaric's eyes narrowed. "What exactly are you apologizing for?"
"Well...If you just let me explain, you would see that I had no choice in the matter..." Michael sniffed.
"That's not an apology," Albaric cut in, "I asked what are you sorry for?"
"I'm..."Michael inhaled sharply, "I'm sorry for 'manipulating you', if that's what you want to call it," he said without conviction.
"And Ace?" Albaric added.
Michael's jaw clenched, "Why should I apologise for that? I was right about him. I told you from the start he would always choose that demon over you and I was right! I told you to stay out of it. There's something not right there, but you were the one who went on and on about giving him a new life. You're not his father! You keep acting like some guardian angel but weren't you just using him too? "
"You're ridiculous," Albaric scoffed, "How was I using him?"
"In the same way you're using Rena and all the others," Michael exhaled, "Stop using them as an excuse and be honest about what you really want!"
"What are you talking about?" Albaric dismissed impatiently.
"They can't be a replacement for your dead sister,"
Albaric's eyes widened irately. His nostrils widened as he exhaled violently.
"Fuck you, Michael," Albaric's fist shook, "WE'RE DONE!! I can't believe I wasted my time coming back here. You deserve everything you get,"
Albaric turned abruptly to leave. However, Michael caught him by the arm.
"Rena's been lying to Albaric," Michael blurted out.
Albaric glanced down with wild and enraged eyes.
"Get your hands off me," he said in a low and vicious voice. His aura could have cut through an ordinary person with its force alone. The intensity was palpable. However, Michael didn't yield.
"The necklace doesn't do what she said. They're going to use it to destroy the demon world. When that happens all the magic in this world will go with it," Michael divulged. "Ask her yourself!" he urged.
Albaric surveyed him coldly but said nothing. He yanked aggressively from Michael's grip and stormed off without saying another word. Michael smacked his head against the bars frustratedly.
"I'm sorry,"