25 Another Way

A few days had already gone by and tomorrow would already be the start of the new semester. Frey, Angeal, and Arvid went out this Sunday to buy some school supplies.

Frey looked at Arvid who was wearing a baggy black t-shirt and jeans, paired with black chucks. His brown hair was combed well, making him look like Squall Leonhart of Final Fantasy VIII.

The only difference of the two is their attitude. Squall is seen as a person who is standoffish, and as for Arvid, he is the exact opposite. He is more like Zell Dincht. Spunky and energetic.

For a person who is immortal, however, he had a different vibe compared to the other immortals present in the mansion. For some reason, Angeal and Frey felt that there is something different in Arvid.

Like he is among the mortals.

Frey looked around and noticed that there were some girls stealing glances at Arvid. She grinned and then linked her arms with him, making Arvid look at her surprised.

"What are you doing, Frey," the young immortal asked and she whispered to him.

"The other girls are looking at you!"

When Angeal looked around, she also noticed the girls looking at him but when Frey suddenly linked arms with him, some girls averted their gaze away from him already. Angeal took her phone from her pocket then typed.

"What if you become popular in the university?"

Arvid's ears turned red then stuttered as he spoke. He didn't expect Angeal to think of him being popular once he enters university!

"Sh-shut up, you guys..."

Frey looked at Angeal and gave her a wink as the three still continued to walk inside the mall. Frey was still linking her arms with Arvid but the boy didn't give attention to it as he found it normal for her to do so.

***

Gladios arrived in front of the mansion with a young girl. There were bags under her eyes like she hadn't slept for two to three days. Her skin looked pale, as if her life was about to be taken away from her.

They stopped in front of the mansion door and the old man looked at her, a bit hesitant to take her inside even though he knew she volunteered.

"Before we enter, miss... are you sure?"

The girl lifelessly looked at the old man and her eyes showed the epitome of depression. Her eyes were red, as if it was drained from crying too much.

"Just get this over with. I am already done."

"..."

Without saying another word, Gladios opened the door.

"Follow me."

The both of them entered the mansion and was then greeted by Ivar. Ivar gave the girl a faint smile then spoke, getting her attention.

"Thank you for coming. If you want to change your mind, you can say it now," the handsome immortal said as he gave a small bow in front of their human guest. He waited for a few seconds, but there was no reply.

"..."

The girl didn't answer and she just stood there, with no expression whatsoever, waiting for what's coming next.

"Okay. Let's go then," Ivar instructed as he escorted the guest towards one room.

The moment they entered, they saw Devin sitting down on the couch alone, giving the human girl a condescending look. Once they were already inside the room, Ivar nodded at Gladios, then closed the door.

Gladios stood there, staring blankly at the door, as he pondered how they did this for the sixth time already. When he was alone, his knees started shaking then he sat down on a nearby couch to prevent himself from collapsing.

Not far off, Edwin and Martha saw Gladios and approached him. They saw how disoriented he was, making the two immortals look at him worriedly.

"We're sorry that we put this in your care," Martha apologized as she put her hand on his back to comfort the old man.

The old man shook his head. "I have no choice. It is my duty to support master for saving my granddaughter," Gladios said then Edwin sighed.

"And our master has no choice, either. He has to do this, or else..."

Edwin didn't know how to finish the sentence. To their realm, it was taboo to speak about Devin's curse. Even in the human world, they find it difficult to talk about it.

Gladios looked at the two of them, wanting to know more about the curse.

"What would happen to him if he doesn't eat souls?"

Martha sighed then spoke, thinking that it is okay for at least him to know.

"He will be hungry for souls. If he doesn't feed one soul a day, he would not control himself like the first day you saw him."

Gladios furrowed his brows. "I thought he fed off from human blood as substitute. He had been doing that before he left here and when he was out there," he wondered and Edwin shook his head.

"Human blood is not enough. It satisfies him and keeps him controlled, but he is called a Soul Eater for a reason. He can't keep drinking blood forever," he answered and Gladios leaned his back on the couch.

"But why? As a human who grew with principles, getting those who are about to die, especially the suicidal ones for our master to eat... I'm starting not to handle it."

As this went on, Gladios really found it difficult to act accordingly under their orders. He felt bad that he led the humans here just for their master to eat their souls.

The old man felt like a grim reaper...

Martha sighed then looked at Edwin, as if asking for permission.

"Should we tell him more?"

Edwin was hesitant for a bit, but being with this mortal for 20 years made him have trust in him. To him, he considers Gladios as one of his precious friends.

"He should not eat the souls of beings by force because if he does..."

Edwin wasn't sure if he was going to continue. The information that he was about to say was the most important thing about their master's curse, inflicted to him by his mother.

Ivar came out from the room, approaching the three of them. When they heard his echoing footsteps, they instinctively looked at him, distracting them from their conversation.

"He's resting. He has been fed," the Soul Eater's personal servant said then he sat down on the opposite couch then sighed.

He spoke as if they fed their pet!

"How is he," Martha asked worriedly and Ivar shook his head.

"We should try our best to look for those mortals that aren't depressed. Gladios, can you do this?"

Gladios looked at Ivar with disapproval in his eyes.

"Ivar, I can no longer do this! This is attacking my conscience! I feel like I am leading the people to their deaths even though they are willing to end it!"

Ivar stayed silent for a few seconds before he spoke. "I understand." Ivar also nodded but he gave Gladios a serious look. "But if we don't provide him what he needs, he will harm those people around him."

The old man furrowed his brows. "Isn't there another way?"

Ivar pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling slightly frustrated and tired to look for possible solutions.

"If there would be, I wish we would've done it already."