I love those eyes. Look at me more."
Elarion's eyes flashed with danger and a longing for something he had searched for endlessly. He locked his gaze with Terra's, his stare unwavering. Terra's reaction was pure disgust. She kicked and scratched, but Elarion's grip pinned her down. He whispered sultrily:
"That's it. Hate me. Hurt me. Look at me with those dead eyes."
Terra stopped struggling. A slight smile curled on her lips as she blinked, shifting her expression into one of feigned happiness. She spoke in a warm tone:
"I won't give you what you want."
Elarion scratched her face, hissing quietly, but then recoiled and smiled.
"Fair enough," he said, healing her wound before kissing her gently on the lips. Terra immediately turned her face away, spitting and coughing.
Elarion lay back, laughing as he stared up at the sky.
"Thanks for the gift, Morzathun," he purred. "I won't forget you. I'll be forever grateful I met you."
Suddenly, he ordered Cael:
"Kill those two. I forgive them now. After all, I got what I've been searching for, for centuries."
With a flash of light from his hand, Cael disposed of the furred man and the elf.
Elarion extended his hand to Terra, a small, gentle smile etched on his face.
"Will you be my lover?"
Terra blinked rapidly, confusion clear on her face. She slapped his hand and spat on the ground.
"As if," she huffed. "I'd rather die than be the lover of a lunatic."
Elarion laughed and tapped her forehead with a finger.
"Sleep."
The magic took hold, and she fell unconscious. Elarion turned to Cael.
"Carry her. We're leaving."
Cael lifted her into his arms, but Elarion glared at him.
"Don't touch her."
Cael quickly set her down and cast a levitation spell. Terra's body floated beside them. Elarion turned to Hadeon, his face glowing with happiness—and something else.
"Let's go."
They began walking in the direction Elis had run earlier. Elarion held Terra's hand as she floated beside him. Cael hesitated before speaking.
"Master, can I ask something?" He swallowed hard. "Why did you choose her?"
Elarion remained silent for a moment, savoring the sight of Terra's sleeping face. He brushed her hair back, then spoke softly—words that made Cael question everything.
"What makes a perfect toy?" Elarion chuckled. "Is it the unbreakable one? The low-cost one? Or maybe the one with a special design?"
Cael answered immediately:
"Isn't it the unbreakable and specially designed one?"
Elarion clapped, clicked his tongue, and tapped Cael's chest with a finger.
"Wrong." His mouth twisted into a smirk. "It's the broken one—because you can take your time to fix it, treat it with care. Make it yours."
His expression unreadable, he continued:
"She's special. Not many people wear that look—unless they're already shattered inside."
He walked on. Cael sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and laughed softly.
"I really can't understand what you're thinking, Master."
From behind them, Hadeon spoke:
"Where are you going?"
Cael shot him a glare, but Elarion answered without turning back:
"We're going to meet my companions."
They fell into silence until a tall tower appeared in the distance. Elarion's voice turned cold:
"Stay here if you want to live."
Cael reached out a hand but pulled it back when he saw Elarion walking alone toward the tower, leaving Terra gently on the ground. He glanced sideways and muttered:
"At least take me with you, Master..."
Elarion opened the wooden tower door—it looked fragile enough to break with a touch. Inside, he saw a gloomy-looking girl sitting in the corner. Her hair was a tangled, dirty mess, and her eyes—milky white—showed she was blind. Dirt covered the room and her pale clothes. Her body was thin, skin stretched over bone.
She heard his footsteps. Her blind eyes sparkled. She rushed to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He wrinkled his nose, huffing.
"At least take a shower, sister."
She ran her hands along his cheeks, smiling with a furious expression.
"You're smiling now, right?"
Her nails dug deep into his cheek, drawing blood—but he was still smiling, running his hand through her dirty hair.
"Yes, I'm smiling. Did you miss me?"
She pulled back, relaxing a little, and sighed.
"Why are you here today?"
Elarion sat on a nearby chair, lowering his head while still smiling.
"I need your help."
She crossed her arms, her bare foot tapping against the cold floor.
"What kind of help? If it's to kill gods, I don't care."
She turned back to her corner.
Elarion glared, lips pursed, fury leaking into his voice.
"You could kill half of them, yet you're still hiding here, waiting for death."
She said nothing. Elarion stood and forced a small smile, leaning close to stroke her cheek, his voice softer now.
"I'm not here for that anyway. I want you to make me a weapon. Can you do that for me?" He whispered, "If you do, I'll accept the offer you gave me last time—but after one year."
She froze, lowering her gaze. Tears streamed from her blind eyes as she held him tightly, sobbing quietly.
"Just forget them. You're finally free. Do you know how long it took me to help you escape from them?"
Elarion held her back, smiling through his tears.
"That's why I can't let them rest. They should suffer—just like we did."
She pushed him away, smiling sadly.
"You're still stubborn, just like when you were a kid." She giggled.
Elarion laughed with her, playfully pushing her hand.
"Hey, don't bring up the past. I'm all grown up now." He lifted his head mockingly. "And handsome too—unlike someone I know."
She gave him a light push—but it sent him flying across the room, crashing into the wall. She scratched her head, laughing loudly.
"Sorry. I still can't control my strength."
Elarion coughed up blood, laughing even harder.
"That's why they call you Kaelis, the God-Killer."
She tapped his nose gently.
"But it's alright. I'll make you the perfect weapon—just make sure you keep your word."