Chapter 90: Bastion
At Elian’s command, Bastion’s eyebrows furrowed. Silent came slower to him and began nuzzling her snout on his neck. It looked extremely affectionate. It must be the Fralhame equivalent of holding hands, fingers intertwined.
Bastion stood still, his expression unreadable. But Elian could almost hear the weight of every thought grinding behind those calm eyes. Silent on the other hand turned to Elian and pleaded in a brittle voice.
"Son-in-law, can we wait for a week? Or maybe just a day? I am not doubting you, but Fluffy’s transformation did not go smoothly, what if it fails?"
As much as Elian wanted to assure her, he couldn’t. He and Bianca still hadn’t perfected the process. In order to rebuild Bastion, he had to die first. Silent was panicking—she’d taken the risk with Fluffy the hardest.
Back then she wanted to stop, Bastion was the only one who reassured her. Gambling with someone’s life was something that shouldn’t be even attempted to begin with. Especially when it was someone as important as Bastion.
But Elian remembered his father-in-law’s words.
"YOU KNOW NOTHING! THE CRUCIBLE IS A GROTESQUE CASTLE BUILT ON THE CORPSES AND BLOOD OF ALL THOSE WHO LOST THEMSELVES TO GREED!"
"Silent, my beloved. This is the type of mentality that is required of a tyrant. And I am for one glad that someone like him is on our side. He will protect our family. Better than we ever could."
"It matters not. Whisper’s power despite regressing is enough to fight on near equal footing with Elian. At my level I will be nothing but a burden. I already failed to protect my family once before. I will not do so again."
He was the one who knew best what the crucible demanded on those who joined it. Both Bastion and Elian knew, their opponents will only get stronger. Rather than resent the world for creating the inhumane competition, focusing on getting stronger was far better.
Elian remained silent. This was not his decision to make. Although he demanded Bastion to change, he would never force this fate on him. He might for others but not for those Bianca called family.