I stood there, frozen in the middle of the ruined nave, weapon in hand.
The metal of the Fantasia firearm felt unnaturally heavy, almost icy against the palm of my right hand.
I didn’t know what to do.
My fingers remained locked around the grip, unable to relax or pull the trigger.
A few paces away, Lucas was still in Callis’s clutches.
My friend was trembling from head to toe, his face distorted by sheer terror, his wide blue eyes begging for help I had no idea how to provide.
What Callis had demanded still echoed off the stone walls of the Church of Duali like a poisoned chalice.
He was forcing me to make a choice: choose between Lucas’s life and the fulfillment of my vengeance.
My vengeance…
It was the one and only thing that had kept me tethered to this world since the night my parents were slaughtered.
Without that dark fire burning in my gut, I probably wouldn’t even be here right now.
I would have perished in some dark alley, taken by hunger or executed by a slum gang.
But on the other hand, Lucas was my only friend.
The only one who had genuinely helped me endure the daily misery and cruelty of our neighborhood without ever expecting anything in return.
Despite my usual coldness, sharing a laugh with him had always been my only comfort.
Déva Callis stared at me, motionless, a tranquil smile on his lips.
He was savoring every second of my hesitation, merely waiting for my answer to the choice he had imposed.
Amidst this mental chaos, I forced myself not to panic.
Throughout my time on the streets of Malbour, what had allowed me to get by until now was my ability to stay calm when all hope seemed lost.
My heart rate began to slow.
I had to give an answer, and fast.
I slowly raised my head, locking my eyes with his.
“Tell me, Lord Callis…
what if I refuse to choose?
After all, I could also use this weapon to shoot you and run away with Lucas.
Or instead, decide to sacrifice myself so he doesn’t have to die.”
The words left my throat in a neutral, almost cold tone.
I instantly felt it spark Déva’s curiosity.
He tilted his head slightly, amused by my audacity.
“Well, my dear Drey, if you do not choose, then I will kill both Lucas and you.
If you decide to shoot me, unfortunately for you, I will kill you before you can even pull the trigger.
And I know you won’t sacrifice yourself.”
I let out a nervous smile despite the crushing pressure he radiated.
“And what makes you say I won’t sacrifice myself?
Lucas is my only friend, and if he could get out of this alive through my death, I would do it without hesitation.”
At those words, Déva’s face suddenly darkened.
The smile he wore vanished.
Without warning, he released his grip.
Lucas fell heavily onto the stone floor, his body twisting in pain.
My friend gasped for a huge lungful of air, his chest heaving erratically.
His breathing was incredibly irregular, choking on the aftermath of that prolonged strangulation.
After a few moments, Déva, who had regained his composure, began to chuckle and said:
“You are lying…
yes, you are lying.
And how do I know?
It’s because of your eyes.
Yes, your eyes.
Inside them, I see ambition.
Ambitious people do not give that kind of speech, simply because they know their ambition cannot-and must not-be held back by those kinds of sentiments.
Furthermore, aside from ambition, I also see anger-a massive anger that drives you to be pragmatic.
I like that attitude, and I assure you that by joining our Arya, you will be able to accomplish whatever you desire.
So, stop lying and make your decision: friendship or…
your ambition.”
The choice was back.
He had read me well, it was true.
I had a goal, and to reach that goal, I needed Eresboros.
The problem was, Déva hadn’t seen that my ambition was far greater than he imagined.
I didn’t just want to join Eresboros to take orders.
No.
To achieve my goal and find the tattooed man, I had to be the one who leads, not the one who is led.
Eresboros was a cruel and criminal organization, I knew that well.
If I wanted to be at its head, I had to become strong…
But strength is also acquired through powerful allies.
I couldn’t trust anyone in this organization, and if I was to propel myself to the top, I needed people I could rely on.
Lucas was the first real ally I had made.
Letting him die today would be foolish.
That was why I had to save him.
So, when Déva presented the same choice again, I knew he was already convinced of how I would proceed, but I had no intention of following his script.
“Lord Callis, you are right.
I have an objective to accomplish, and without your Arya, I won’t be able to see it through…
but I do not intend to kill my friend.”
Hearing my words, his smile vanished instantly.
The atmosphere, which had loosened up a bit, became heavy and suffocating once more.
“I see.
Well, what a pity.
You are going to die, both you and your friend.”
I had no intention of letting myself be killed, but I didn’t intend to fight either.
After all, I still knew very little, and Callis was far too strong for me to confront directly.
I had to put something else on the table.
“Listen, I have another proposition.”
He paused for a moment and listened.
“What proposition?
Your friend intended to flee, making him a traitor, and you intended to help him, so you are both going to die.
There is nothing you could say that would change that.”
“If you kill me, you lose a valuable recruit.”
“Who?
You…?
What makes you think you possess that much value?”
It was time to set my plan into motion.
“I’ve done my research on the organization, and from what I know, it’s extremely rare for recommended recruits to even pass the test.
Simply because you judge them solely on whether or not they can serve you…
And as for me, I passed both tests:
the appearance test and the performance test.
I managed to complete my mission in barely five days.
Just imagine what I could do if you let me work for you.”
Déva remained calm, but I sensed a slight shift in him.
It might have been interest or anger, but one thing was certain: my words had hit the mark.
“Let’s assume you are such a promising recruit and that I do not kill you…
What about your friend?
Because, if I understand correctly, you don’t want him to die either, do you?”
“That’s true.
Lucas tried to leave, but not for the reasons you think…
At the start of the test, you told me I had to complete it alone.
Upon learning the final point was a fake, he wanted to help me by going to reorganize things in our slum hideout.
That is what he was talking about.”
Déva’s face was stoic, and Lucas, on the floor, could only stare at me.
As for me, my eyes were locked on Déva, because if I looked away, my words wouldn’t carry enough weight.
“Hmmm…
I see.
He intended to help you…
Do you take me for an idiot?
Huh?
Did you really think I would swallow your lies?”
Déva was furious, and as usual, he was terrifying in that state.
In a single step, he was in front of me and seized me by my left side.
He lifted me up and hurled me violently against a corner of the church.
Lucas stood up and tried to come to my aid, but Déva delivered a severe punch to his plexus, and my friend folded over, writhing in pain.
My vision blurred.
Just from the energy he radiated, I felt him approaching, and as soon as he was near me, I thought to myself: Well, shit, looks like it didn’t work.
The next instant, a violent blow descended…
The church shook from the mere impact of Callis’s fist smashing into the wall just millimeters from my face, obliterating the stone.
I opened my eyes, already thinking I was dead, and there…
I saw Déva standing over me with a sinister smile.
“Very well, dear Drey.
I couldn’t speak; the words froze in my ears…
What did he just say?
He was telling me I was now a member of Eresboros?
Why?
How?
All these questions scrambled in my head, but I didn’t have time for that-I had to secure something else first.
“Wait…
So you…
you aren’t going to kill us…
neither me…
nor Lucas?”
He straightened up and began to smile.
“No, do not worry.
Besides, I am far too attached to my sweet Lucas.”
His words rang false, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.
Moments later, members of the Graces began entering the church, looking dumbfounded.
Déva approached them, and they began to converse.
He walked back to me, told me to take Lucas and leave, adding that he would contact us later.
I picked Lucas up and carried him.
Walking down the street, there were plenty of people around, as if they had all reappeared by magic.
Some looked at us with curiosity;
I figured they must be wondering how we could end up in such a state, completely disheveled.
Arriving at the slums, we went to see old Cassam.
Lucas’s injuries were far worse than I had imagined, and apparently, mine were too.
Déva’s blows, seemingly light, were heavy and powerful.
I wondered how he could be that strong, but Cassam snapped me out of it, saying I was overthinking.
After binding our wounds, we returned to our hideout.
I lit the lantern to better illuminate the room.
Lucas sat there, calm and silent.
I figured he must be shaken, but before I had time to break the silence, he did it himself:
“I’m sorry…
I’m so sorry, forgive me, I didn’t mean to…
If I had just stayed calm…
He almost killed you…
I’m sorry, Drey.”
His apologies were laced with tears, and I realized I had made the right choice: Lucas was loyal.
“Don’t apologize, idiot…
If you want to make it up to me, get stronger.”
As my words echoed, he began to cry even harder.
It was hurting my ears, but I let him be.
After several long moments, Lucas began to ask me questions:
“Hey, Drey…
are you sure about your choice?
I mean, I’m grateful you saved me, but…
after today, Lord Callis is likely to doubt you, and he might even force the ‘covenant’ on you.”
“Yes, I know,” I replied, crossing my arms.
“But don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
“And by the way, tell me…
how did you manage to get information on the organization?
That’s something very difficult, you know, and I can’t imagine an informant talking to you about Eresboros.
”
“I lied.
I never actually researched them.
It was a bluff.”
“Wow, I can’t believe it…
It really is true that you and I are different.”
As he said this, his expression turned sad again, but I needed to know what would come next.
“Tell me, Lucas, now that I’m a member, what’s going to happen?”
“Well, Lord Callis will tell you everything, but don’t worry: no matter what happens, I’ll help you.”
I had gained a loyal ally, and above all, my place within the organization.
Now, everything could finally begin.