Chapter 537: Arms of the Fire Demon
The question caught me off guard, and it took me a few seconds to process his words. "Am I...?" I stammered.
He gestured to the sky with a helpless expression. "You know, with the rift?"
This time, it was my turn to blush, my tail twitching in embarrassment. "Oh, um, yes."
This wasn’t at all how it was supposed to go. Luke hated the gods with a passion, and he needed the Shard to gain power. Now, he had both a Shard and a goddess within reach, and I was powerless to stop him from taking either. Sure, Fate might be hidden for now, but I knew she wasn’t gone, and she definitely didn’t have the power to defend herself from an eighth-level being... probably. So why wasn’t he seizing this opportunity?
Despite my fears, I wasted no time and quickly nodded. "Yes, we should go. I’m sure they’re worried about us in Enusia."
I summoned my staff and waved it, opening a shimmering gate to the outside world. Unlike before, there was no resistance, and Haven heeded my call without complaint.
As I moved to step through the portal, Luke caught my hand. His touch sent a thrill through me, and startling me, and I quickly pulled away, turning to him with wide eyes. My tail twitched anxiously as he met my gaze with a solemn expression.
"Xiviyah," he began, choosing his words carefully, "demons rule by strength, and those who are weak only survive by serving those who are strong. I know it’s hard for you, but... does it really hurt that much to pretend to be my servant or even a slave? Even if it’s only in name, it will guarantee the protection of you and your friends. Otherwise..."
I stiffened, my tail increasing from a twitch to an agitated lash. What was he even saying? He had seen me in my darkest moments and witnessed what I had to endure to be free.
Wasn’t this the very same thing Soltair had asked of me? To endure the slave crest as a gesture of peace, to accept what came because of it? I had trusted him then, blindly believing he cared for me and would always protect me.
Slowly, day by day, the slave crest had become my reality. While our relationship had started as far more than master and slave, that was where it had ended. Luke had proven he was different from Soltair, but could I trust him with something like that? Could I allow myself to become a slave again, even if only in name?