Before the effects of the hex fully settled in, Helios took the opportunity to rise from his bed, moving swiftly despite the pain wrag his body. He had cast it just in time, and he could hear murmurs of fusion behind him as he exited. “I was never here,” he muttered to himself as he slipped out the door, feeling a strange wave of relief.
Outside, he paused for a moment tain his bearings. His vision swam slightly, but he forced himself to keep moving. He o get baerlin’s cottage, troup ao his wounds properly. The memory of Sephiroth’s relentless attacks haunted his every step, the sharp pain from his injuries a stant reminder of how close he’d e to beied.
As he he cottage, he noticed that the air around it held an unusual stillness. The sounds of bustling vilgers were muted in the distance, and an eerie calm settled over the path leading to the door. Wheered, he was met with a sight he never would have expected: Malefit and Sephiroth sitting across from one a the small table, quietly sippihe dark figure of Sephiroth, an enigma of power and malice, seemed pletely out of p the cozy, cluttered cottage. Malefit, posed as always, looked as though she were hosting a formal tea party rather than sharing a table with a man whose very presence radiated danger.
A ugh escaped Helios before he could stop himself, eg through the cottage. “Well,” he chuckled, struggling to catch his breath through the pain, “I guess Merlin’s house is now officially ‘Foster’s Home for Dark Beings.’”
Malefit’s gaze soward him, her brows arg in disapproval. “Have you gone mad?” she asked, her voice a mix of irritation and curiosity. Sephiroth’s expression remaioic, though his pierg eyes followed Helios’s movements with a calcuted iy.
Helios shook his head, stifling anh. “No, not mad,” he replied, wiping a smear of dirt and dried blood from his cheek. “Just a little… amused. This is ly what I expected to e home to.” He gestured toward Sephiroth, then added, “I’ll be right back. I’m in dire need of a bath.”
Malefit’s eyes traveled over him with a look of faint distaste. “A wise decision,” she remarked coolly. “Yes, you’re filth.” A beat ter, she corrected herself with a faint smirk, “I mean, filthy. It would hardly do for you to tiraipsing around in that state.”
Helios nodded, grinnie the weariugging at him. “Noted. I’ll be quick.” With that, he moved down the hallway, heading toward the small washroom. He winced with every step, each ache and bruise a reminder of the fierce battle he’d just endured. Sephiroth… even in their brief exge, Helios had felt the raw power emanating from him. He wasn’t just a warrior; he was a force of nature, and now he was sitting in his temporary home like an invited guest.
As he washed off the grime and blood, Helios repyed the enter with Sephiroth in his mind, analyzing each strike, eaarrow dodge, w how he had survived at all. He k was luck more than skill that had kept him alive, along with Sephiroth’s mercurial i in his proposition. Still, that i recarious at best, and he would o tread carefully.
After ing up and bandaging his wounds, Helios dressed in fresh clothes auro the main room, where Malefit and Sephiroth were still seated in silehe quiet felt thick with tension, as though an unspoken agreemehem both at bay, but for how long, Helios couldn’t guess.
Malefit turned her sharp gaze on him as he re-entered, as if assessing his resolve. “Well, now that you’re… presentable, perhaps you expin why you’ve returned in such a deplorable state. I assume you’ve dealt with something troublesome?”
Helios met her gaze, choosing his words carefully. “A plication, but one I’ve handled—for now. Let’s just say I entered a being of signifit… strength. One who could be an asset to us if approached correctly.”
Sephiroth’s eyes flickered at Helios’s words, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Iing choice of words. But remember, boy, that reement’ is only as strong as your ability to provide what you promised. The moment you fail, this arra will end… and so will you.”
Helios nodded, accepting the thinly veiled threat with a steady gaze. “Duly noted, Sephiroth. I’m not oo take my promises lightly. Since you’ve met you ask her.”
Malefit watched the exge with a faint glimmer of amusement. “It seems you’ve been quite busy,” she said, her voice a soft murmur. “First, you make an alliah me, and now recruiting new… associates. You’re treading a dangerous path, boy. You’ve made both of us different promises. I wonder if you’ll be able to keep them.”
Helios smirked, meeting her gaze. “That’s my problem to worry about. You just keep your end of the bargain and we’ll both get what we want.” He took a seat across from them, leaning back despite the stiffness in his muscles. “So you worry about teag me all you know. Besides,” he added, a sly glint in his eye, “it seems I’m not the only one here looking to make unventional alliances. If you wish to deal with the man do so. Don’t try to use me to make a deal. My deal with him is very different and none of your business.”
Malefit’s expression remained impassive, though he saw the fai flicker of anger in her eyes. As darkness poured out of her she spoke. “Watch you tone boy. Deal or no deal I will not tolerate disrespect.”
Without looking at her Helios responded, “Noted.”
Sephiroth leaned back, his gaze fixed on Helios with an iy that felt as sharp as his bde. “I hope you’ll show me what you promised soon,” he said quietly, his voice a low rumble. “I don’t believe I am a patient person.”
Helios sank bato his seat, meeting Sephiroth’s intense gaze and feeling the weight of both their presences bearing down on him. The tension in the room was thick, crag like electricity, and for a moment, Helios felt as though he were standing on the edge of a cliff, with Malefit and Sephiroth both waiting to see if he would fall or rise to meet their expectations.
“I’ll keep my word,” Helios said calmly, his voice steady, though the strain of the day weighed on him. “Just be ready to keep to your part when I ask it. You’ll find your strength put to the test soon enough. I promise you of that.”
Sephiroth’s smirk didn’t waver, though his eyes grew colder. “See that you do. I don’t appreciate empty promises.”
