Soren's head snapped to her. Ivory had come faster than he anticipated.

It was most likely because of the Eldritch screaming in pain.

"I see you finally achieved it." Obviously referring to the signs of his soul energy.

Her eyes scanned the place.

All the Glasshearts had been ripped open.

Ivory's gaze seemed to brighten in a kind of realisation. "What... kind of monster are you?"

"If I told you I didn't know, would you believe me?" Soren replied with a shrug.

"Possibly." She replied, "But I see my instinct to preserve you was not without... reason."

She let the words settle in the air.

Soren looked into her blue eyes. They gave the impression that she was studying him, observing, calculating, like an interesting puzzle deserving of attention.

But Soren quickly changed the subject. This was Ivory. He had to be on the offensive.

"What I'm more concerned about is your reason for all this murder." He inquired.

"Oh, you figured that out already." She answered as if the question were unnecessary. "Why not? It's not like they were using their lives for anything important." She shrugged back mockingly.

~a brief silence between them.

Then she smiled, a finger tapping her chin, that same habitual motion.

"Since it has come to this," she spoke, eyes teasingly avoiding him, "why don't you... join me?"

No answer.

Her gaze traced his expression. "I could take care of you, you know."

She took a step forward, hands moving to clasp cutely behind her back.

"Just look at this. You have already achieved so much. The F-rank that piloted a soul mecha then achieved soul energy in only a day. You have so much untapped potential.

I could teach you, guide you. You'll understand your Shade more and grow faster."

But Soren did not budge.

"You could finally achieve this." She pointed to the Soul Mecha Pilot badge on her chest.

Instantly, his eyes brightened. She noticed it.

"It's what you want, isn't it? To become a Soul Mecha Pilot." Her gaze focused.

"With my help and connections, coupled with that incredible ability of yours to produce miracles, no one would even care about your soul rank or your 'Dungie' background."

Soren's breath quickened.

Ivory could tell. She had found his desire.

As she spoke, she had been drawing closer.

Right now, she was inches away from him.

She circled him once, eyes never leaving his form as she dangled the bait, just near enough to bite.

Soren could see it in her eyes. A clear level of care was evident in her gaze.

Even though she was clearly manipulative.

Ivory was serious.

Dead serious.

But...

"...why me?" Soren managed to utter, barely controlling himself from coughing, yes.

She stopped before him, close enough to feel each other's breath.

Her heels made her much taller than he was.

But right now it didn't matter.

Maybe it was the kind of life he had lived, or that innate ability, that made him understand people on a much deeper level.

Nevertheless, Soren could see it. Ivory was holding herself back.

She was holding herself back from holding him—embracing him—having him.

All he had to do was say yes, and she would let go of her restraint.

In truth, it was tempting—very tempting.

Ivory was an instructor, a noble, and a Soul Mecha Pilot. She had the connections, experience, and desire to protect him. The only other time Soren had felt this way was with Machos.

He knew that if he said yes, his dream would have a much smoother path.

But then his eyes fell on the corpses on the side.

Pencil had a hole in his huge tummy, and Tommy died with his head off his shoulders.

But he had died with a finger still digging in his nose.

A bad habit even in death. It brought a fondness to Soren.

Memories of their time together washed through his mind. The pranks they pulled on the mayor when they were little, Vass's bullying, which made them sit and cry together.

He remembered Tommy's silliness and even Pencil's cowardice.

He closed his eyes, jaws tightening, as he held the tears from pouring out.

If he took Ivory's offer now, these people would never see the light of day again.

And then he remembered Machos.

That old man had loved him so much.

A love with no condition.

Soren could tell.

—Machos would not be proud of a son who sacrificed those he cared about for a dream.

He suddenly leapt back, creating significant space between them. "I'm sorry..."

He truly was.

"...but I want a future I'll be proud of."

Ivory stared at him, disappointment replacing hope in her gaze. "Is that your final answer?"

Soren swallowed. He nodded slightly, but before he could turn thoughts to words, she launched at him.

Fast.

But he saw it.

His eyes caught her movements as her hand broadened and stretched for his face.

I can see it! I can actually see her move.

Is this what it feels like to have soul energy?

He tilted to the side, kicking away from her.

—Crash.

He smashed into some chairs and tables.

He had not intended this.

It seems I'll need to practice my strength with soul energy.

However, Ivory was surprised by his speed. 'He dodged?'

But before she could dwell on this thought some more, Soren brought out his Soul Steel dagger.

"Oh, and what are you going to do with that—poke me?"

He flipped the dagger.

"I'll let you have this win. Let's try this again." He brought the blade to his neck.

~Slash...

[You died]

.....

~Tummy grumbled.

He woke up. Soren looked underneath; there he was—sleeping—one finger in his nose without a care in the world.

Soren smiled. Of course the thought—that offer—still lingered in his mind.

Did he do the right thing?

He shook his head. That was not a question to ask. For now, he had to do it again.

This time around, he would be ready for her.

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