Chương 18: Eye for an Eye

"I'm sure you already know what happened." Adam's voice was quiet. He still stood in the doorway, one hand resting against the frame. The usual grin was gone from his face.

"Do I really need to say it again?" Cyril watched him for a moment.

"I know bits and pieces," he said.

"But I need the full story." Adam looked away. Cyril's expression softened, but only slightly.

"I'll make sure no one can hear us." He raised one hand.

"Come to me." The air inside the room grew heavy.

"King of Equal Retribution." A Regalia formed. Black bars rose around the room, sealing the walls like the inside of a prison cell. Red letters appeared across the surface of the walls, burning themselves into place one by one. Two laws were written. No sound shall escape these walls. All acts of violence are forbidden. Adam stared at the words. Then he let out a tired breath and stepped inside. The door closed behind him.

"Fine." For a moment, he said nothing. Then he sat down across from Cyril, his hands resting loosely between his knees.

"My wife and daughter were taken." Cyril's jaw tightened.

"Kidnapped while I was out on a job," Adam continued.

"I came home, and they were gone." His voice remained steady, but only because he forced it to.

"I suspected one of the criminal organizations ruling Gungnir's black markets. So I started looking." Adam lowered his gaze.

"And killing." Cyril said nothing.

"I killed anyone who might know something. Anyone connected. Anyone who ran, lied, or smiled at me the wrong way." His fingers curled slightly.

"I did not care anymore." The red letters on the walls glowed faintly, as if reminding him violence could not exist here. Adam took a slow breath.

"I found them eventually." His voice grew smaller.

"My wife was already dead." Cyril closed his eyes.

"Her body had been preserved," Adam said.

"Not for burial. Not for dignity." He swallowed.

"To sell her organs." Silence filled the room.

"I think she tried to escape," Adam whispered.

"So they killed her." For the first time, his composure cracked. He pressed one hand against his face and breathed through it, trying not to break down completely. Cyril waited. Adam lowered his hand.

"As for my daughter…" His voice nearly failed.

"Children are more valuable." Cyril's expression darkened.

"So they kept her alive." Adam stared at the floor.

"But they removed her eyes." The words hung in the air like a curse.

"Most likely to sell her eyes as death potion ingredients." Cyril's hands tightened at his sides. Adam's face twisted with grief.

"She was alive when I found her." His voice broke.

"She was crying for me." Adam's voice broke on the last word. For a moment, he could not speak. He pressed a hand over his mouth, trying to hold himself together, but the tears came anyway. One slipped down his cheek, then another. Cyril did not interrupt him. Adam lowered his hand slowly.

"The man I'm doing the bodyguard job for has a healing ability," he said.

"He can fix her eyes." Cyril's expression hardened.

"At what cost?" Adam looked away. Cyril stepped closer.

"How much trouble are you in?" Adam said nothing.

"Be honest." Adam let out a shaky breath.

"A lot." The answer was barely more than a whisper. Cyril's jaw tightened.

"This man…" Adam continued.

"He is planning to kill someone." Cyril went still.

"He only wants me there to protect him while he does it." Adam's hands clenched.

"But honestly, I can't trust him. I know I can't."

"Then why agree?" Adam looked up at him. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! The grief in his eyes was raw.

"Because I'm her father." His voice cracked again.

"Because I was gone when she was taken." Cyril said nothing. Adam lowered his head.

"What else can I do?" The room was silent. The black bars of Cyril's Regalia stood around them, cold and unmoving. The red laws on the walls glowed faintly, trapping every word inside. Cyril closed his eyes for a moment.

"When is the mission?" Adam swallowed.

"Three days from now." Cyril opened his eyes.

"You'll be exhausted after the Black Witch raid." Adam looked at him. Cyril's expression remained firm.

"So I'll join you." Adam froze.

"What?"

"I'll come with you," Cyril said.

"I'll make sure this healing ability is real, and I'll help you get your daughter back safely." Adam stared at him, unable to respond. Cyril's voice softened.

"It's the least I can do." He placed a hand on Adam's shoulder.

"For my only remaining friend." Adam's face crumpled. He stepped forward and hugged Cyril tightly.

"Thank you," he whispered. His hands gripped the back of Cyril's coat.

"Thank you so much." Cyril returned the hug without a word. For a while, they stood there like that. Two of the Three Swords of Álfheimr. One grieving a dead friend. One terrified of losing the only family he had left. Finally, Cyril stepped back.

"You better rest up," he said, forcing a small smile.

"Tomorrow will be a long day." Adam nodded, wiping his face. Cyril released his Regalia. The black bars vanished. The red letters faded from the walls. The room became ordinary again. Cyril walked to the door and opened it. Then he left, closing it quietly behind him. Adam remained standing in the room, alone. Or so he thought. From behind the door, a voice spoke.

"Change of plans." Adam's blood ran cold. Slowly, he turned. The Doctor stood there, smiling beneath his plague mask.

"I'm moving the kill mission to tomorrow." Adam froze. Every bit of warmth Cyril had left behind vanished from the room. The Doctor tilted his head.

"Do not look at me like that, Adam." His voice was cheerful.

"It is your fault, you know." Adam's hands curled at his sides. The Doctor chuckled.

"I cannot let a bunch of children beat me to the kill." Adam stared at him, his breathing shallow.

"What do you want me to do?" The words came out quietly. Nervously. The Doctor stepped farther into the room, moving as if he belonged there.

"Go on your little raid." Adam's jaw tightened.

"Weaken her forces as much as you can," The Doctor continued.

"Play the loyal mentor. Protect the children. Swing your spears around and be impressive." He tilted his plague mask slightly.

"But when the time comes, keep the trash out of my way." Adam's eyes narrowed.

"The trash?"

"The Hero. His girlfriend. The general." The Doctor waved a hand dismissively.

"Whoever happens to be inconvenient." His tone remained light.

"I will restrain Medusa, pluck out her eye, and leave." He paused.

"Killing her is not a priority. Just a nice bonus. I may not even go through with the kill. I know Jackpot will get mad if I do." The Doctor laughed. Adam crossed the room in an instant and grabbed him by the coat. His hands shook.

"How is she?" The Doctor looked down at Adam's hands, then back at his face. Adam's voice cracked.

"How is Celia?" For a moment, The Doctor did not answer. Then he gave a soft chuckle.

"She is doing fine." Adam's grip tightened.

"I already healed her." Adam froze.

"You…" His eyes widened.

"You already healed her?" The Doctor nodded.

"You simply need to fulfill your end of the deal." Adam's hands shook harder. The rage in his face broke apart into something far more fragile. Relief. Grief. Desperation.

"Thank you," he whispered. His grip on The Doctor's coat loosened.

"Thank you." The Doctor gently brushed Adam's hands away.

"I have a soft spot for children," he said.

"I could not just leave her in that cold manor with no way to see." Adam lowered his head, breathing unsteadily.

"She is doing fine," The Doctor continued.

"Right now, she is playing cards with my son and Labyrinth." Adam looked up. The Doctor's smile could be heard through his voice.

"You should join us." Adam went still.

"She would have plenty of friends to play with." The Doctor leaned slightly closer.

"We even acquired a new friend for her recently." Adam's blood turned cold.

"Isabelle." Adam's voice was quiet. The Doctor stopped at the doorway. Adam slowly turned toward him.

"What are you planning to do with her?" For once, The Doctor did not answer immediately. Then he chuckled.

"Owl wants me to kill the vessels." Adam's expression tightened.

"Both my wife and Isabelle." The words hung in the room.

"But I hate that idea," The Doctor said.

"Truly, I do." He placed a hand over his chest, as if offended by the very thought.

"Yes, Aria, the Apocalypse of Curses, hates the Emperor as much as I do. Reviving her would be useful." His cheerful tone softened into something stranger.

"But I have no intention of doing that." Adam stared at him.

"Then what?" The Doctor's mask tilted.

"I am going to raise Isabelle." Adam went still.

"She will wield Aria's power," The Doctor continued.

"But she will not become Aria." His voice was calm. Almost gentle.

"I think I will do the same once I acquire Isaac and the rest of the vessels." Adam's hands clenched.

"You're talking about children."

"I am talking about saving them from the roles forced upon them," The Doctor replied. Adam did not know whether to believe him. That was the worst part. The Doctor had healed Celia. He had taken Isabelle, but not yet killed her. He spoke of destroying the Hero system, of ending the cycle, of killing the Emperor. And yet, everywhere he went, bodies followed. The Doctor stepped closer to the door.

"Please think on it, Adam." Green light began to gather beneath his feet.

"I already have a spot picked out for you in Gluttony Squad." Adam said nothing. The Doctor's voice turned warm.

"You and Celia would be welcome with us." The green light rose around him. Then he vanished. The room fell silent. Adam stood alone. His hands trembled at his sides. Tomorrow, Noah would march toward the Black Witch believing Adam was his ally. Cyril trusted him. And Celia was alive because of The Doctor. Adam lowered his head. For the first time in years, he did not know which choice would make him a monster. He only knew that by tomorrow, he would have to choose.