Chapter 11: Chapter 10 - Negotiations

The room didn’t change at all, but Nova assumed the guard had left in silence. ‘Now I only need to gauge the governor. I saw a lot of affection in the girl’s memories, so… I think he will be willing to negotiate.’

A low rumbling interrupted his thoughts, followed by storming steps approaching the entrance of the room. It swung open without a touch, revealing the grey-haired old man called Governor Newark. His face was twisted with fury as his eyes searched the room for any sign of the intruder.

‘Oh, he’s also stronger than me… Well, it makes sense in this world.’

"How dare you?!" Newark's voice boomed through the study. "Breaking into my study, I don't care! But you dare to enter Liz's room, and then study her body?!"

"She is very ill, Governor." Nova kept his voice steady in the darkness. "You should keep her windows locked. Otherwise, she might fall out next time."

"I know she is!" The governor clenched his hands into fists. "You're not leaving this place without telling me everything you know!"

He clutched an amulet on his chest, causing it to start glowing and activating a barrier around the study. It was packed with runes and unknown spirals, but Nova could tell it was near impenetrable.

'I figured he would react like this...' Nova observed from his shadow, unimpressed. 'It's a powerful barrier, but shadows can still slip through.'

“Her life depends on your willingness to cooperate, Governor. I’m not surprised you haven’t found anyone who can help her.”

"What's that supposed to mean?" Newark's voice carried a dangerous edge.

“Her condition is caused by some form of contact with a being of the void. I can tell you how to stop her symptoms for a few months, but curing her will only happen once our deal is done.”

"... And what exactly is it you want? Souls? Gold?" The governor's eyes narrowed as he searched the shadows.

“I want you to put a complete stop to this vile harvesting of children!”

"Do you really not understand how the world works?" Newark's laugh was bitter. "I can sense your killing intent from here, so don't try to tell me you're a naive child."

"I'm not." Nova's voice grew cold and precise. "I'm prepared to bring you all the Soul Power you would lose without the harvesters. So you're not losing anything on the deal."

"Hah!" Newark's laugh echoed off the barrier walls. "Sure, if you give me five years worth of souls, I will set all the children free tomorrow. But I assume you don't have fifty thousand Soul Power lying around, and especially not from pure souls."

“Don’t be foolish. I will pay you up front every month, but this first one, I will pay with your granddaughter’s life.”

“... So you will bring me eight hundred souls by next month as long as no children are harvested?”

“Exactly. I will hand them all to a random guard.”

"Hah! Well, this is all very interesting, assassin." Newark's confidence seemed to return with each word. "But I'm afraid I'll have to refuse."

“... Why?”

The governor's smile was cold. “You think no one but you will know how to cure her, now that you’ve told me what’s wrong? And you think I’ll stand up to the king’s orders for the sake of your conscience?! You’re not leaving this room!”

“Are you willing to take that risk? How much has her personality changed at this point?”

Newark's smile faltered, leaving him unable to reply.

“Has she started speaking like she is someone else? Does she ask for saltwater? Is she drawing circles with her hands?”

Changing from the booming voice of a governor, Newark’s voice was colored with the tenderness and care of a grandfather. “... Can you… really save her?”

"Like I said, that depends on you, Governor." Nova's words hung in the air between them. "Is her life not worth one month?"

The old man seemed to deflate. He moved over to the desk in the middle of the room, leaning his hand on its edge. His fingers traced a clumsily carved letter in the wood, like from a child’s hands. “... It is worth far more. You will have your month. I give you my word.”

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Nova released a quiet breath. “I’m glad we could reach an agreement. To stop her symptoms, you will need to remove all iron from her bedroom. Once that is done, have her swallow a small pearl of silver every morning and keep a pouch of copper coins on her body at all times. Newly minted, if possible.”

“... It’s all related to metal?” Newark's voice carried a hint of skepticism beneath his desperation.

“It’s more about what the metal symbolizes. Iron is a grounding element, copper is living, and silver is celestial. Whatever entity she is in contact with relates to the grounded element, so it will have a harder time reaching her without the iron in her room. Then the other metals will counter the contact further.”

“... But this will only delay the issue?”

“Yes. To properly deal with it for good will require more extensive rituals. But this will make her healthy for at least a few months—as long as you can supply the silver, at least.”

Newark sat down in the chair by the desk, leaning forward and folding his hands like in prayer. “That won’t be a problem. I will halt the harvesting for the next month, covering the cost alone. Then I’ll expect eight hundred Soul Power from you by the end of the month to keep it going. But what is your plan in the long term?”

"Giving the children a place to grow up, hopefully with your help." Nova's voice carried quiet conviction. "I can keep covering the cost for as long as it takes, provided you are willing to assist.”

"... This world doesn't treat the naive kindly, assassin." Newark's tone made it clear he had little faith in Nova’s plans. "You will be taken advantage of."

Nova couldn’t stop a smile from appearing on his face. How many times had he been called naive in the past? How many people had he proven wrong?

“A truly good man, Governor Newark, is a fearsome opponent. For he will never stop fighting, never waver in his convictions. Feel free to try and take advantage of me, but don’t mistake my actions for naivete or stupidity.”

The barrier's light cast strange patterns across Newark's face as he considered his words. “... Will you let me see who I’m making deals with?”

“Not quite yet. Perhaps next time we meet, but for now, I’d like to stay in the shadows.”

"I expected as much." Newark sighed. "Can I at least have a name?"

“You can call me Noctis. I’ll see you later, Governor.”

“Oh, let me lower the barri—”

“No need.”

[Shadow Step activated.]

The shadows quickly embraced his body, pulling it through the void and placing him back outside, not even slowed by the barrier. He stared down at the sprawling city below, eager to get started.

‘Five minutes left. I have enough time.’

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Chamber Seven was as familiar as ever, bathed in the striped moonlight. Each of the three hundred and twelve stones were just as they had been when he first saw the room, the first time he had met Millie.

‘It’s been four brutal years. It’s time I leave this cold nest for a while. And I’m taking you all with me, just wait.’

He bent down by Millie’s side, gently shaking her shoulder. “Millie? Can you wake up a bit?”

Millie was lying in a cross-pose, with both arms straight to the sides. “Mmh… muh?”

“I will leave the Garden for a while, Millie.” An incantation flowed through the room as he spoke, locking their corner off from the seven others, preventing them from waking up.

Millie didn’t register his words at first, but then her face scrunched up as she turned to the side. She forced her eyes open, blinking forcefully a few times to keep her eyelids up. “Nova? Leave? No!”

“I’ll be back, but you guys will have to manage on your own for a while. I’m stopping them from taking anyone away.”

She sat up and rubbed her eyes while shaking her head, causing her blonde hair to whip through the moonlight. “Nova can’t leave, you’re Nova! We need you!”

“You’re old enough to manage without me for a while, Millie. Come here.” He opened his arms and waved her close.

Millie stared at him with teary eyes, hesitating. But then she lept forward into his arms, causing him to nearly fall. Her voice started shaking as she spoke, “No one ever returns! You’re just leaving us like the others!”

“Millie… Have I ever lied to you?”

“You’re not leaving! I won’t let you!” Her arms tightened around him, trying to lock him down. But Nova barely even felt her grip.

‘Time is slowly running out here… I have to leave while the fragment is still active.’

“... I’ll visit you tomorrow to show you, okay? I’m really coming back.”

But her grip only tightened more. And more. And then some more.

“Hahah! Hey, Millie,” Nova chuckled, patting her back. “You’re glowing.”

“... What?” Her grip loosened as she leaned back, looking down at her body. A soft glow was emanating from her skin, poking through the holes of her ragged robes. “I feel… strong? Ahh, it tingles!”

“Congratulations! Do you see the text in front of you?”

"... System?" Millie whispered in awe. Her small hand reached out to touch letters only she could see. "You see it?"

“No, only you can see it. But I have my own text.”

"... Now I'm as strong as you?" Hope and excitement mixed in her voice as she lowered her hand. “My soul is completed?”

"Yes!" Nova nodded, trying to guide her excitement toward responsibility. "So now you can take care of the others, right?"

“Nova!” she yelled in frustration, reminded of his leaving again. “You need to teach me! You were going to teach me! You promised!”

He paused, wondering if he should stay for another day. Every day that Millie could cultivate would get him closer to the goal of starting a school. She was clever enough to one day be a great assistant.

‘And I did say I would teach her once her soul completed…’

He sighed in defeat, looking at the stubborn little girl with a smile. “Fine, Millie. I’ll stay here one more day. But I will leave tomorrow, however much you beg. Deal?”

The speed at which her joy turned into a frown was impressive, but she didn’t immediately deny him. “... Two days?”

“Nope, not negotiable. Or do you want me to leave now?” he bluffed, watching the time remaining in the fragment slowly tick down to zero.

Millie pouted with folded arms, avoiding his firm stare. “... Fine. One day.”

“That’s better,” Nova whispered, feeling his strength return to normal. “We will need to start early, so go back to sleep, okay?”

“But I’m glowing!” she beamed, more awake than ever. “Can we start now?”

“Yes, you are… still glowing?” Nova noted, suddenly starting to wonder.

‘I never had that glow, did I? Only when I passed the three-digit barrier did I glow, but that was relatively brief.’

[Assess activated.]

He looked at Millie, curious about her Soul Power.

[???]

‘... What the hell? Is this what they call talent?’