Page 4029 -- CCCXXII.

Chapter Three Hundred Twenty-Two: 'Alas, thy broken spirit...'
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...Forty-three years ago...


"How long do we have?" said Sermung.

"Until Parson and Damian arrive?" said Jonah. "Not long. Could be minutes, could be another hour, depending on how lazy they're feeling today. But I can help conceal you from them, if you'd like to observe the meeting."

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary." Then the Crystal Titan paused for a smile. "Growing confident in your power, aren't you?"

"Only thanks to Tenebrach. Is he here? I don't sense him."

"He is. And I think he is even helping you as we speak." Sermung bobbed his head to the side. "But you know how he gets."

Jonah couldn't help frowning a little. "Yes. I do..."

"That's just his way. Don't take it too hard."

"No, believe me, I understand," said Jonah. "He's right to be wary, even now. I'm obviously... unstable. It's just..." He looked around the seemingly empty chamber. "Thank you, Tenebrach. For everything."

No response arrived.

Which was probably for the best.

Sermung huffed. "Mule-headed, that one. He won't tell you, but he appreciates your words, Jonah."

Jonah just nodded.

The Titan spared a glance at Nerovoy, who was frozen there next to Jonah.

Jonah hated using his powers on Nerovoy, but at this point, it was for the reaper's own good. They couldn't have Nerovoy learning something important and then letting it slip to Ettol later.

It was sad beyond words, but the reaper was all but a lost cause, now. Ettol seemed to think that there might still be some way to heal him permanently, but Jonah found such a prospect to be extremely dubious. Storms, that was probably just another one of those lies that Ettol was trying to convince even himself of.

The bastard's tried-and-true method of diffusing responsibility.

Sermung made no comment about the reaper's condition. No doubt, he could already guess the situation--assuming he didn't outright know everything already. With Tenebrach at his side, that was entirely possible, Jonah knew.

When Sermung's gaze fell upon the silver wolf, however, he did decide to say something. "How aware is this one of the situation?"

Jonah shook his head. "I honestly don't know. His consciousness and sense of self are being suppressed, but there is... an inner core, of sorts, that remains utterly opaque to me."

Sermung reached toward the wolf, prompting Koh to sniff his hand.