'The Void…'
Celeste's heart skipped a beat.
Her expression turned grave.
She held Ignia tighter, recalling what she knew about the Abyss, better known as the Grand Void.
It was a space where life seemed not to exist, desolate and forever destined to be barren.
Legend said that it existed somewhere outside of Arkanis, but Celeste didn't know exactly where.
All she knew was that it was not a place for mortals to enter, let alone come in contact with - as evidenced by the Defilement.
She frowned, shifting her gaze towards Alden.
Her precious love… possessed such an insidious power?
He seemed to squirm a little under her scrutiny.
Just before Celeste asked what was on his mind, a smooth voice cut in.
"I think a display of power is required."
Glancing at Drakon from the corner of her eyes, she nodded her acceptance.
Celeste saw Alden release a helpless sigh.
She felt a little bad for cornering him like this, but her desire to uncover the truth was stronger.
Celeste observed her childhood friend close his eyes.
He extended his palm so that it rested face up toward the ceiling.
Then, slowly, a tenebrous energy manifested over his hand, bringing a chill that seemed to seep into the room.
She unconsciously shivered, clutching tighter to Ignia's warmth.
The shadows also appeared to become darker.
Gazing at the dark, roiling power emanating from Alden's hand, Celeste felt her heart sink.
Maybe he truly had snapped and under the effects of his abyssal ability, blindly attacked the three scouts.
…Power corrupts.
Celeste almost flinched, hearing her Sponsor's whisper echo in her mind.
She bit her lips.
It was a little strange how the Asteron suddenly decided to be more talkative.
'I know Al. He's not the type to commit senseless murder. As he said, he probably did it out of self-defence.'
…Even the most righteous of saints will get corrupted if given too much power. Your friend is no exception.
Ignoring her Sponsor's words, Celeste gazed at Swifty, still unconvinced.
Seeing that she did not believe him, the scout immediately protested.
"B-But, he has a similar power to the Defiled!"
"So what? Does that make him a liar?"
Celeste asked.
"Do you naturally get the right to twist the story whatever way you wish, just because he has awakened a similar power to the meteoroid that doomed us all?"
She pressed.
"Besides, it's not as if he is the first person to wield such a lethal power, and he certainly won't be the last. I'd rather trust someone I've known since I was young than a random stranger who suddenly appeared at my doorstep. Isn't that right, Al?"
Finished with her verbal barrage, Celeste turned to look at her childhood friend.
Their eyes locked.
Alden nodded.
Staring into those crimson orbs full of sincerity and affection, she knew she had made the right choice.
Shifting her gaze back to the red-haired scout, Celeste watched Swifty's jaw clench.
She belatedly realised she may have gone a little overboard with her words.
In the end, though, she did not regret it.
Inwardly, she felt the man deserved it for badmouthing Alden so much.
"If that is how you truly feel, I will respect your wishes. And so will my cousin."
The Ember heir gave a polite smile.
He discreetly elbowed the scout in the stomach, who reluctantly let any protest die down in his throat.
"If I may, I have another matter I would like to discuss."
"Oh?"
Celeste's brows rose, curious and surprised by the unexpected turn.
She watched Drakon take a deep breath before he shifted his gaze toward the creature nestled in her arms.
"I want to purchase that phoenix."
***
"Absolutely not!"
Alden immediately replied, his eyes turning frosty.
"She is not for sale."
"I see…"
Drakon finished his cup of scorching mead, his lips still curled into that infuriating trademark smirk.
"That's a shame."
He set the wooden goblet down.
"Is it possible for me to get another cup of scorching mead?"
Drakon asked with a pleasant smile.
Alden eyes narrowed, wondering what the red-robed heir was playing at.
He reluctantly moved his gaze away from Drakon, turning to look at Elara.
Celeste's mother gave him a small nod, hiding a frown.
Alden could understand how she felt.
After all, the limited supply of scorching mead they had was only kept for special occasions. Such as the time her daughter contracted with a Divine Sovereign.
To use so much in a single sitting must have hurt.
Nonetheless, Alden hurried to the kitchen, remnants of idle conversation streaming into his ears.
It was mostly just Drakon trying to butter up to Celeste.
He rolled his eyes.
After pouring some scorching alcohol from a small barrel into another wooden goblet, he returned to the living room and placed the drink down in front of his guest.
Drakon sipped appreciatively, smacking his lips together to savour the taste.
Sitting back down, Alden couldn't help but tense.
The Ember heir's desire to purchase Ignia was among the worst scenarios he thought could have occurred.
…Along with him being framed as a crazy psychopath out for blood.
'That vain bastard. Doesn't he have enough things to satisfy him already? Why does he need Ignia?'
Alden gritted his teeth.
He would not allow Drakon to take Ignia away from him.
Even if it meant outright opposing him, Alden was prepared to do whatever it took to ensure he and his familiar remained together.
"Would you perhaps reconsider if I offered you this in exchange?"
Alden watched as Drakon set his goblet down and retrieved a fiery-red crystal from the folds of his robe.
It shimmered ethereally, reflecting the light in the room.
The sparkling radiance caused Alden to squint.
"If you accept, I'm willing to give a thousand of these in return for securing your bond. What do you say?"
Alden bit his tongue, resisting the temptation that the obscene sum of crystals brought.
To put Drakon's offer into context, the average warrior earned between ten to a hundred mana crystals a month.
The Ember heir's offer was almost ten times that.
Of course, the higher one's rank, the more they neared that quantity after receiving income from slaying dreadful abominations and the like.
To a [Apprentice] like Alden, though - an individual at the bottom of the barrel - such a sum was extremely precious.
However…
"My apologies. Thank you for the generous offer, but I'm afraid I have to decline. My familiar is priceless to me."
Drakon nodded in understanding.
Just as Alden thought the Ember heir had finally given up, he watched as Drakon lightly tossed the translucent crystal into the air, still laid back.
"I wonder, would you still hold the same attitude if you knew these gems could aid you in ranking up much faster?"