Page 4033

Jonah exhaled heavily. "This is why Parson thinks you're too soft."

"Parson..." Sermung removed his hand. "After your meeting with him today, I'd like you to prepare an assessment of him and Overra. Then deliver it to me when next we meet."

Jonah's brow tilted. An assessment, eh? There was no need for further clarification. There was only one type of assessment that Sermung would want from someone like him.

An evaluation of his friend's mental state. Both psychic and psychological.

"You could simply stay and assess him yourself," said Jonah.

"I want your opinion," said Sermung. "You know him better than I do."

"Is there something about him that has you worried?"

"...Radicalization."

"By most metrics, we are all radicals, are we not?"

Sermung simply leveled a stare at him.

Yes. Jonah knew what he meant. His impulses wanted to defend his friend, but the best way to accomplish that was to conduct the requested assessment honestly. After a moment, he returned a nod.

After that, their conversation didn't continue for much longer. Jonah searched through the vault in his head another time and ended up providing Sermung with two more potential hotspots, but then, as suddenly and strangely as he'd arrived, the Crystal Titan was gone.

Jonah hadn't even gotten to ask how the man had harnessed Ettol's domain to teleport in, though he did have some ideas about it. No doubt, Sermung's quest had been paying off in more ways than the man cared to share. Or perhaps Tenebrach was growing more powerful.

Or both.

Now there was an unsettling thought. And somewhat encouraging, too.

Sermung had always been virtually impossible to assess--psychically or otherwise. But on this particular occasion, he couldn't help feeling like Sermung had been particularly odd.

More tense than usual.

And more powerful, too.

Or maybe that was just Jonah's own senses heightening. As he grew older himself, perhaps he was beginning to glimpse some of the Titan's inestimable strength.

Ah, but he had to be careful now. Tenebrach's assistance would be wearing off soon. He needed to refortify himself for Ettol's reawakening.

Yes.

This was the delicate balance that had to be maintained. Jonah knew that he was not strong enough to overpower Ettol.

But that didn't mean he was weak.

Their struggle was, in some ways, a feedback loop. They were both growing stronger not just from age but from one another, as well. True, Ettol was outpacing him, but not by as much as the bastard seemed to think.