“We still haven’t tested the command part,” Alice said.
“Shouldn’t we?”
The room fell silent.
Lelouch looked at her.
“You are suggesting that I test mind-control Magic on a member of this Familia.”
“I’ll volunteer.”
“No,” Ryu said immediately.
“I’m Level Three and Lelouch is Level One.”
Alice gestured toward the Status.
“Two Levels apart.
According to the description, the command should be significantly weaker against me.
I should be able to resist.”
“Should is not a sufficient standard for an ability that deprives a person of free will,” Kaguya said.
“We also do not know how long the mark will remain afterward.”
Alice looked back at Lelouch.
“What do you think?”
“I won’t do it.”
No hesitation.
“Even if the command is merely ‘raise your hand’ or ‘walk around the room,’ allowing an unknown power to enter and take control of the mind may have consequences we cannot predict.”
He looked down at the Status.
“And once I use it on you, I cannot affect you again until the existing mark fades.”
“But I’m consenting.”
“Consent prevents the test from being a violation.”
Lelouch met her eyes.
“It does not remove the risk.”
His left eye remained ordinary violet.
No crimson sigil.
“A power that steals another person’s freedom should not be used merely to satisfy curiosity.”
Alice’s expression changed.
Then she smiled faintly and backed down.
“All right.”
“I won’t push.”
Ryu watched Lelouch for several seconds.
A little more suspicion disappeared from her gaze.
Kaguya—
Kept her hand near her sword.
“You claim you won’t use it frivolously.”
Her voice remained hard.
“Words alone guarantee nothing.”
“I agree.”
Kaguya blinked.
“You agree again?”
“If I denied an obvious fact merely because it was unfavorable to me, that would make me less trustworthy, not more.”
Lelouch placed the Status sheet on the table.
“This power can force someone of my own Level to do almost anything physically possible.”
His eyes hardened.
“For a Level One adventurer, a single sentence from me may possess more authority than a sword.”
No one disagreed.
“Therefore, we establish rules before anyone is harmed.”
Astraea nodded.
“Go on.”
“First.”
Lelouch raised one finger.
“I will not use Geass on a member of the Astraea Familia without consent, except when immediately necessary to prevent an imminent death.”
“Second, I will not use it for personal benefit.”
“Money.”
“Relationships.”
“Or forcing someone to conceal my wrongdoing.”
A third.
“Third, every use must be reported to Goddess Astraea.”
“The command.”
“The target.”
“The reason.”
“And the result.”
He glanced toward Alice.
“If circumstances permit, I will obtain the captain’s approval beforehand.”
Alice pointed to herself.
“You mean me?”
“Does the Astraea Familia have another captain?”
“No, but it sounded important enough that I wanted to make sure.”
“Please attempt to maintain an expression appropriate to the authority you possess.”
Kaguya gave a quiet snort.
“I agree with that requirement.”
“Kaguya!
Whose side are you on?”
“The side that does not wish to see the Familia’s reputation destroyed by your excessive enthusiasm.”
Astraea allowed the argument to continue briefly.
Then looked back at Lelouch.
“Anything else?”
“Yes.”
“If I intentionally violate these rules, you may detain me, seal my Falna, and decide whether to surrender me to the Guild.”
Ryu frowned.
“But God-Opposer would prevent Lady Astraea from sealing your Falna if you refused consent at that time.”
“Correct.”
There it was.
A loophole no oath could fully close.
He could consent tonight.
Then revoke that permission the moment he chose betrayal.
“I cannot give you a perfect guarantee.”
Lelouch’s voice remained calm.
“Ultimately, you must decide whether to accept that risk or ask me to leave the Familia now.”
Kaguya stared.
“You dare discuss leaving immediately after receiving Lady Astraea’s blessing?”
“I do not intend to leave.”
His gaze did not waver.
“But I will not exploit your kindness to force you into accepting a danger you do not willingly choose.”
“Then I’ll choose to accept it.”
Alice stepped in front of him.
“You proposed the reporting rules yourself.”
“You refused to test the power even when I volunteered.”
“And you’re the first person here to admit your own promises aren’t a perfect guarantee.”
She grinned.
“That’s enough for me to try trusting you.”
“Trusting too easily is an excellent way to be betrayed.”
Lelouch fell silent.
Such a simple answer.
Yet it struck some buried place inside him with uncomfortable familiarity.
Astraea looked around the room.
“I will take responsibility for this decision.”
“Those three rules take effect tonight.”
“If anyone has additional safeguards, speak now.”
Neze immediately raised her hand.
“Don’t use Geass to make me share my smoked meat.”
“That is already covered under the prohibition against personal gain.”
“Good.
I wanted explicit confirmation.”
Lyra raised her hand next.
“Don’t use it to order me to stop talking.”
Kaguya looked at her.
“I propose an exception permitting exactly that.”
“Mean!”
Laughter softened the tension.
Ryu spoke last.
“I want him to conceal his left eye outside the manor until we’re certain he can control Geass activation.”
Lelouch touched his eyelid.
“It should not activate without intent.”
“However, I agree that an additional safeguard is reasonable.”
Something about the idea felt strangely familiar.
A brief image appeared—
Something thin and transparent placed over an eye.
Then vanished.
“An eyepatch would be too conspicuous,” Lyra said.
“I could design a thin cover hidden beneath his hair.”
“Or perhaps a magic lens that interferes with activation.”
“You can make one?” Ryu asked.
“Maybe.”
Lyra grinned at Lelouch.
“I’ll need to examine that eye first.”
“Tomorrow, you’re mine for half the day.”
Lelouch stared at her.
“Please reconsider your choice of phrasing.”
“I meant for magical examination!”
“That clarification should have preceded the first sentence.”
Ryu sighed.
Alice laughed hard enough to wipe tears from her eyes.
When the discussion over Geass finally reached a temporary conclusion—
Everyone’s attention moved to the final line of the Status.
God-Opposer.
The name was shorter than the Magic description.
Its implications were not.
….
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….
I also have many more novels in my collection that you might be interested in I upload ten novels a day, with 3 to 4 chapters per title depending on the length.
If you’re following a particular series, please wait your turn a little If there’s a particular novel you’re enjoying on Patron, please give it a ‘like’ so I know to focus on it