"So why are you doing this?" The Fire Spirit asked.
A minute had passed since Levi's arrival.
Light, Grey, Krista, and he made a square around Elisa.
'She said there was something I should learn. We're going for the Guardian so I might as well get as much as I can before that.'
"And? Did you figure anything out?"
'Yeah. Her eyes.'
"Her eyes, huh? Always moving around. Just like those of a wounded Beast."
'That's what I thought too. But it might be something I'll have to incorporate. She's always looking around. Always making sure where each enemy is, what each enemy is doing, what each enemy is planning.'
"So she's judging the battlefield's state at all times. Yeah, I can see that. Is it something you can do though?"
'Not when using my Berserker Skill. But the rest of the time, maybe. It's like I haven't been making full use of my eyes. Or rather, I'll be conscious of it now? I'll consciously look around instead of just looking around.'
"Is there really a difference?"
'I think so.'
Mark stared at Elisa as her body spun in the air before landing on a tree's branch.
'You only find things when you're looking for them.'
"Huh?"
'Nevermind.'
The two spectated silently for a while.
"Is there some other reason why we're doing this?"
'Why do you think that?'
"Because you're supposed to learn."
'So?'
"So why aren't you there?"
Mark didn't answer for a couple of seconds.
'She seemed in a bad mood.'
Elisa discreetly raised her gaze as she escaped Krista's grasp.
Laughter. She could barely hear it.
Still, she was surprised that she could.
The distance separating them wasn't negligible.
'Must be pretty fun for him to laugh that loudly. I wonder if-'
"They nearly got her there." The Fire Spirit noted.
'Yeah.'
"So. She seemed in a bad mood? And now we have to drop everything for her and do our best to make sure she forgets about it."
'She won't forget about it.'
Mark's eyes were glued to the scene below. The Fire Spirit's were glued to the former's.
He stared silently and intently at the Monster's eyes.
'What?'
The question caught the Spirit off guard.
"Why do you think she won't forget about it? Actually, no. I don't care about that."
Mark let out a sigh.
'What is it then?'
"Why do you care?"
'What about?'
"Her."
'I don't.'
"Enough to orchestrate this little game."
'That doesn't mean much.'
The Spirit stayed silent for three seconds.
"You have a look on your face."
Only then, did Mark's gaze move from the field below.
'What's that supposed to mean?'
The Spirit smiled mischievously.
"I'm not sure yet."
'You're lying, aren't you?'
"I am. I know that look."
Mark lowered his gaze back towards the field where his Underlings were desperately trying to catch their target.
'What kind of look is it then?'
"Mmmm... I'm not sure I should tell. It would be presumptuous of me to make assumptions after all."
'Then don't.'
"Aren't you curious?"
Sigh-
'You're turning into a cheeky brat, you know that?'
The Fire Spirit's laughter reached the ground once more.
"It's a special look you have."
'Is that so?'
"Yeah. To be honest, I can't read it. And I can't help but wonder what's beyond that look."
'Uhu. Okay.' Mark answered absentmindedly.
The Fire Spirit's gaze moved away from Mark and onto those below.
"It's a look you sometimes have when looking at the black wolf or at the fish snake guy."
'Just start calling him Levi already.'
"I don't go well with water. And even less its inhabitants."
'I don't care. He's called Levi, and you'll refer to him as that.'
The Fire Spirit stayed silent.
Seconds later, Mark turned at him.
'Don't tell me your jealous.'
The Spirit seemed repulsed by the idea.
'You want a name, don't you?'
"Fuck off."
'I've neglected it for too long, huh? Want me to find a good one?'
The Spirit's attitude stopped.
"Stop."
'Didn't think you would take it this badly. Was only joking-'
"You think you're worthy of naming me?"
Mark stared at him with wide eyes. He didn't reply.
The Spirit's silence turned longer than Mark had expected.
'The look I have when I look at Levi or Light.'
"Yeah. Sometimes when you look at them. But really, it's..." The Fire Spirit's tone was colder than usual.
Mark found it strange that the Spirit had taken his joke to heart.
He didn't yet know of the importance that Names held.
The importance they held for Spirits.
"The look you have when looking at Krista."
It was the first time the Spirit had spoken the Moonlit Feline's name.
'I don't get it.'
"I don't either. Just something I noticed."
Mark's eyes remained on the Spirit for a bit.
'You're really paying attention.'
"At what?"
'Me.'
"Yeah, I am. I have to."
'I'm honored, and creeped out.'
The Spirit noticed the sarcastic tone and ignored it.
"I can't let you die."
Mark wondered if the look on his face, as he stared at the Fire Spirit, was the same as the one that Spirit had referred to earlier.
Mark lowered his gaze.
Krista's left paw missed Elisa's thigh by a centimeter. Surely, because the latter wanted it to go that way.
The frustrated Lioness growled, while the Elf laughed.
"Going back to my original question."
'Why are we doing this? Because she'll be a great asset. I can't have her mess up or not be at her best-'
"What is it she won't forget? And why do you care about the fact that she won't?"
'I killed those she once knew. And I devoured them.'
"Hmph. She's the one who suggested this, isn't she?"
'What do you mean?'
"I don't see a world where you saw her and didn't think about swallowing her."
'That's what you think?'
"It's what it looks like. What I've seen."
'Right.'
"Surely, you attacked, she dodged, you kept attacking, and, at some point, she convinced you fighting wasn't worth it."
'Why do you think that?'
"Because it's what you do. It's what you are. You attack, you fight, you devour."
'Am I supposed to take offense?'
"No. You're not."
The two stayed silent for a bit.
'I don't do just that.'
The Spirit chuckled.
"Don't you? I can't remember the last time you spared a Monster."
Mark thought about Grey.
He let him have his revenge.
He didn't hurt the rest of his Pack.
But Grey too, he had killed.
'Guess I've only done that once.'
"Oh. True. I guess you have. How did that even happen?"
Pause-
'I'm not sure.'
"Let me guess, the kitty cat took the first step. Instead of risking a fight, it joined your side."
Nod-
"Mmm..." The Spirit wondered for a bit. "Must've been tough. Or rather, felt strange."
'Why do you think that?'
"I've seen you kill many. But I've also seen you bring them back to life. I assumed this was something you could do even then though..."
Nod-
"Right. So you were used to killing Monsters. You were used to forcefully bringing them to your side. But one day, a Monster willfully took joined your side. And that... Shook you? I can see it changing you in a way."
The two stayed silent for a bit.
'A Monster willfully taking my side, huh? Mm. The thing is...' Mark started his descent towards his Underlings. 'I'm not sure that has happened yet.'
The Fire Spirit didn't move from his spot, but his mind did wander.
Light, Grey, Krista, and Levi noticed their Lord approaching.
A cunning smile could be guessed on Krista and Grey's mouths.
"Finally joining the game, Monster?" Elisa challenged playfully.
[I can't.]
"Huh? Why not? Come on! The six of you might be good enough to make me work a bit harder!"
The Lioness growled with frustration.
[It would defeat the whole purpose of this.]
"The whole... Oh. You watching. Right. Yes. True. Forgot for a second."
"I apologize, my Lord..." Levi kneeled. "I have failed to fulfill your order."
'It's fine, just...'
Mark placed a palm on Light's head and another on Grey's.
'Make sure to make it harder for her next time.'
"I will, my Lord!"
"Well isn't that unfair. Don't lock me out of the conversation!"
"My Lord has nothing more to say to you."
"Didn't ask! I'm talking to him."
"Once my Lord has word for one such as you, I shall let you know."
"YOU PISS ME OFF!"
Mark ignored them and stared at his left palm.
'I'm rushing this. I'm definitely rushing this. I don't understand what this... Has to do with Corruption. But I don't care. I just. I...'
I think you are ready-
'I just want to leave.'
He turned towards Elisa.
Floating words appeared in front of her.
[Come closer.]
And she did.
[I'll take some of the Corruption out again.]
[In case it goes like last time, we'll rest for a bit.]
[After that, we're leaving this place.]
A smile.
But the smile faded as she pressed her lips together.
Mark extended a hand towards Elisa.
And she started undoing her vest.
[That won't be necessary.]
"Huh? Really? Yey!"
They shook hands.
The next second, Mark passed out.
"Oh..."
And the look in his Underlings' eyes changed as they stared at Elisa.
"My bad."
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