Suikoden VII

Chapter Six: Part Six

Note: Forward warning but updates are going to be slow for a bit. Things have been hectic right now and I've not had a lot of time to write. Sorry in advance.

The results of the Yuber poll will be posted in the next chapter.

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Chapter Six: Part Six

Albert prided himself on his self-control, but he couldn't hide his frustration as he entered his apartment. Darya had been reading in the living room when he stormed in and she quickly set aside her book and stood. "Albert, what's wrong—"

"I'll be in my office," Albert interrupted, his tone harsher than he intended. But Darya didn't argue when he entered his office and closed the door sharply behind him. He rubbed both hands over his face and exhaled sharply. "Damn you, Yuber...!"

It hadn't been this difficult before! Albert couldn't remember the spell to summon Yuber, but he remembered that a human sacrifice was needed! He remembered that they had used some random schmuck in Crystal Valley for the summoning ceremony, and that random schmuck had been enough! But now...now it wasn't!

We offered him a murderer and he rejected it! We offered him an innocent soul and he rejected it! That woman...she was certain no one else had summoned Yuber, but he won't yield my call! Why?!

"Having trouble?"

The familiar voice sent a chill down Albert's spine, but his anger gave him courage. He turned to face Windy, who emerged from the shadows of the western corner of the office. "You said Yuber hasn't been summoned!" he snapped.

"I don't believe he has," Windy responded in her usually cold, smug tone.

"I've tried summoning him twice and he will not respond to my call! Why won't he?"

"Who have you used for the ceremony?"

"We tried a murderer," Albert rasped. "And when that didn't work we tried a child—"

"You tried to use a child to sacrifice to summon Yuber?" Windy's brow rose in genuine surprise.

"Don't act like Yuber has morals," Albert snapped. "He's killed children before!"

"Haven't we all?" Windy asked thoughtfully.

"If he hasn't already been summoned, then why is he refusing my call?!" Albert demanded.

"Yuber hasn't...changed since you last saw him," Windy said. "The last person who summoned him used his True Rune in lieu of a sacrifice. It bound Yuber to that boy's blood and in doing so Yuber...appears to have experienced emotions. True emotions," she elaborated. "His resistance to your call may be related to that."

Albert stared at her stunned. "Yuber...feels? Not just wrath, rage and bloodlust but empathic emotions?!"

"Yes," Windy said. "It was a deep infection that he couldn't control. It was so profound that it's probably still affecting him after his contract with that boy ended."

"Why didn't you tell me before?!"

"You didn't ask."

Albert scoffed and shook his head. "So...what? So that's it? He can't be summoned because he learned how to feel emotions?!"

"I wouldn't say that," Windy said. "Knowing Yuber, I would say that he doesn't want to make it easy for you. I believe that he hasn't accepted your sacrificial offers because he sees no personal stake in it."

"...I don't know what you mean," Albert said after a moment.

"It's simple," Windy said. "If you want to bring Yuber to your command, then you're going to need to make a greater sacrifice. You're going to need to prove your necessity for him...by sacrificing something that truly matters."