As Viktor navigated through the torrents of his convoluted psyche, straddling the line between reclaiming his humanity and succumbing to Malphas' pervasive influence, he sensed a shift in the entity's position. Malphas smoothly transitioned to Viktor's right side, the chilling proximity like a bed of nettles against his skin.
The demonic entity, in the same insidiously whispering tone, filled the air, "Don't say that you're planning to end all this just like that."
The words seemed to freeze in the air around Viktor, filling his world with a palpable dread. The mere insinuation of disregarding his quest for vengeance against Emilia and Jansen sent a distressing shiver down Viktor's spine.
"And what about the revenge? What about all the wounds already embedded deep within your heart? Will you forget all the misfortunes and pain originating from the likes of those two?"
Viktor fell silent. The words hit home, burrowing their way into his already turbulent thoughts. They churned up memories and resurrected feelings that he was intent on shuttering away.
The cruel reality etched onto his heart was brought up to the surface, the wounds afresh as though they were inflicted only yesterday.
He stood motionless amidst the bustling restaurant, completely oblivious to his surroundings, oblivious even to the untouched plate of food he was supposed to deliver to table 4.
The harsh reality of Malphas' words had swept him into a whirlpool of past traumas, blurring the line between his painful past and unsettled present.
His battle to dissociate himself from his dark deeds had just taken on a menacingly darker hue, under the relentless prodding of Malphas.
"I cannot believe that you have forgotten how their methods in taking everything from you back then were thousands of times more heinous than what you are doing now. Did I mention that Jansen has his own demon, like you have me? And that demon, oh who was its name, I forgot hehehe, was responsible for you losing all the inherited wealth from your late parents."
This revelation took Viktor by surprise.
Oh, Malphas was slowly revealing his cards. Viktor now didn't know if Malphas was on his side or not.
The realization that there was another demon at play, possibly an enemy, added another layer of complexity to the situation.
Why hadn't Malphas told him sooner?
What else might be hidden?
"Be quiet, I'm trying to find a way to return you to Elara!" He threatened.
Viktor had made it his mission to undo Malphas' influence and, if possible, separate him from Elara altogether. However, this journey had not been easy, with countless obstacles and tests of his willpower.
Malphas playfully covered his mouth with both palms, striking a cute pose and displaying a fabricated terrified expression.
"Ohhh noooo!!!" His demeanor was mocking Viktor's determination, attempting to throw him off balance and distract him from the task at hand.
Despite the captivating persuasiveness of Malphas, Viktor remained steadfast. He had a mission, and the chirping of this mischief demon couldn't distract him from it.
Moving unerringly through the bustling establishment, he found himself at table number 4, where two uncannily familiar faces gazed back at him.
"Whoa? Viktor? Hahaha, damn. This is a big surprise," said one of the young men, his voice more of a cackle than a laugh.
The both of them looked thoroughly amused by Viktor's presence in the uniform of a waiter.
Back at campus, Viktor was known for his aloof manner, always seeming somewhat detached from his surroundings and his peers.
"At campus, you always looked so high and mighty. You rarely deigned to socialize. And now this?" one of them taunted, "You must have felt inferior and embarrassed to mix with people of a different league."
"But, that's fine. The outfit suits you, though." They laughed again, their amusement echoing through the quiet room, drawing the attention of the other customers. Their contempt was undisguised, and their laughter was a dagger to Viktor's pride.
The duo relapsed into another round of boisterous laughter, this time louder than before. Their raucous voices and rudeness becoming too much for the other patrons.
Consequently, some customers chose to leave, opting for peace rather than butting heads with these insolent, privileged youngsters.
Their disregard for others was palpable, and they seemed to revel in the discomfort they caused. They were feeding off the wealth of their parents without a care in the world, uncaring of the disturbance they were causing.
Viktor felt a pang of nostalgia and embitterment. Once, he had been part of that world - a world of privileges and carelessness.
Now, he was on the other side, and the experience was more sour than he could have imagined. Yet, despite their taunts and unkind jests, Viktor held his head high.
"Come here!" One of them beckoned, waving Viktor over with an imperious flick of his wrist.
Given his vastly changed circumstances, Viktor had little choice but to comply, although a potent wave of anger threatened to wash over him and send his heart into flutters.
"I pity you, somewhat. You used to act as if you held the world at your feet." He pointed disdainfully at the soles of his own gaudy designer shoes, his sidelong glance filled with mockery.
Reaching out, he yanked at Viktor's collar, pulling him close before tightening his grip around Viktor's neck in an instinctual display of dominance. Viktor was forced to stoop, further augmenting the imbalance of power.
"Here! I'll give you a little tip," he sneered. He unceremoniously shoved a cluster of banknotes into the pocket of Viktor's work uniform, not missing the opportunity to augment his own sense of superiority.