TWISTED FATE | Sylus x OC

Chapter Eight

—

After transferring the data from the storage device, a hologram of Solon Hotel appears.
While it's not complete, it's enough for me to get a better understanding of the auction.

Sylus perches himself on the arm rest of the couch maintaining his gaze on me.

"By the way, those guys who tried to capture me back at Elysium....Were they actually traitors who used to work in Onychinys? They also mentioned a "Mr.Sherman." Who's that?" I ask.

"Why are you interested in a dead person?"
Next to me, Sylus tosses aside Mephisto's
broken parts. He gives me a blank expression.

I stare back at him and remember what the workshop's owner had once said.

—

"....Just two explosions — one in the northern suburbs and one in the Bloomshore District.
And after doing those shameless things and making a mess, then they want you to be their scapegoat."
—

(If there's another fraction within Onychinus, could the incident at the Grandma's house...
be related to Sherman?)

....."They must be after the Aether Core in my body..." I say under my breath.
"In a way, your conflict involves me. No, you left me behind on purpose as bait, didn't you? So you could clean up?" I start to raise my voice.

I turn my head to see Sylus and Mephisto exchange glances. The crow lets out a defiant wail.

Caw.....!

"It doesn't matter how deep your hatred is. You've cursed me enough. Get over it.
Besides, it was an accident. I didn't mean to injure you." I cross my arms.
Sylus watches us silently, his face remains unreadable.
"Also, you were stalking me earlier. Even if I did it on purpose, you deserve it."

Sylus smirks and suggests."You can scold me directly, if you want."

....

Under the hazy light, Sylus reveals a gentle look completely uncharacteristic of him.
I look up at him then quickly look away.
I compose myself, realizing I've been unreasonably angry with him.

(Regardless of whether he wanted to clean up or not, those people were after me. I had to face them sooner or later.)

A silence settles between us. I clear my throat and try to change the topic to lighten the mood.
"When we first met, you said we were–
"the same"...."
If don't ask now, he might not have the patience to answer me tomorrow.

"You...probably have an Aether Core inside you, too. Mine is in my heart. Yours... Is it in your eye." I ask rubbing my chin.

He chuckles.
"Sure. Think of it like that."

"My Aether Core doesn't seem to be any different from a normal Protocore, though. It's not very useful." I sigh.
"But that's not the case for yours." I slightly smile.

Sylus stops moving his hands for a moment and looks at me with a blank expression.
"It helps me see what people want the most.
It exposes the desires that they refuse to admit."

So those chaotic noises and visions in my mind back at the dining table were caused by his Aether core?
As I think about it, I can't help but look into his eyes again, I attempt to resist, but find myself unable to break the gaze.