Desperation

Shadows.

They were enveloping my whole body, as my vision was obscured by the darkness around me. The dream, a hauntingly familiar realm of shadows. The silver-haired beauty remains an enigmatic presence, her otherworldly beauty and captivating eyes filled with longing and obsession.

My attention was kept sorely on her as her tears continued freely flowing down her cheeks.

"∎∎ ∎∎∎∎∎∎" Her voice echoed again.

Under her gaze, I felt an unknown yet familiar feeling, I had a pull towards her.

'Who are you?' I tried to say but nothing escaped from my mouth.

'Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you?'

"∎∎ ∎∎∎∎∎∎," she cried out, her voice mix of longing and despair, before the same shadows enveloped me once more.

It's been a few years since the official pact with Subaru, the Pleiades and Rigel, The Mist Dragon. Their bond grew even stronger and deeper to the point where they would tease each other at times.

Both Cid and Subaru turned thirteen, meanwhile their Sister, Claire turned 15. At the age of 15, it's the time when most of the aristocrats enroll their children Into the academy of the Dark Knights.

However, on the day of her departure she was nowhere to be found, her room was in a mess like there was a fight.

"The room was like this when I came in!" Explains their dad, as he was frantically scanning the room.

"Who in the hell was able to overpower our daughter?! The culprits must be master fighters!"

"And?" Replied a voice, which could send a shiver down the spine. "So you are saying we are out of luck since the kidnapper was skilled."

The owner of the voice was their mother.

"T-that's not what I was saying… I was just stating a fact…" Baldy replied, as the sweat started dropping from his forehead.

"Stop making excuses bald man!" The mother said, as the sound of slapping was audible.

"I am sorry, I am sorry!"

"Go and find out daughter, dammit! Subaru is still too young to take such responsibilities!"

After Subaru was done watching the scene with an unreadable expression, he and Cid sneaked out of the room.

'Subaru, your mind is clouded. Calm down and think carefully, don't let your emotions take control of your mind.' The voice in the Subaru's head echoed. It was Rigel's voice.

Subaru took a deep breath, trying to regain the composure. He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He could hear the frantic footsteps echoing through the halls, but his mind was focused on the task at hand. Claire, his sister, was missing, and he needed to find her.

Despite Claire's harsh training and her sharp tongue, Subaru deeply cared for her. He considered her a part of his family and would do anything to ensure her safety.

"Beta." Cid called out and soon after a maid who was walking along them transformed, the once blonde maid now had silver hair and blue feline eyes.

"Yes! Lord Pleiades! Lord Shadow!" She answered that she walked besides us.

"Do you—"

"Do you know where Claire is?" Subaru interrupted Cid, urgency in his tone.

"Alpha is searching for her at this very moment."

"Is she alive?" Cid asked, meanwhile Subaru shot him a sharp look, finding it absurd to ask such a question.

"Most likely."

Subaru clenched his fists in frustration. "Most likely isn't good enough…" he muttered under his breath.

Beta shot him a worrying look. "As we have expected, the culprits are the members of the Cult of Diablos—one of the high-ranking agents to be more specific."

"An agent, huh? What does it have to do with my sister?"

"They suspect that she might be one of the heroes' descendants."

'This is absurd, there is no time for this stupid game. Again with this non-existing Cult…' Subaru thought to himself

"My sister is not connected to any heroes' lineage! This is nonsense!" he protested, frustration seeping into his voice.

Beta's eyes widened as she processed Subaru's reaction, realizing how deeply he cared for Claire.

"And these bastards guessed right…" Cid replied.

Beta has set a map and a pile of documents on the table with various marks and notes on it. "After our careful investigation, we believe Miss Claire could be brought to any of these locations." She said as she pointed her finger at the red dots on the map.

Cid was staring at the window, giving side glances towards the map while Subaru looked at it with full attention.

But as Beta kept talking, Subaru's frustration started to get overshadowed by guilt and sadness.

It was their fault that the girls firmly believed that the Cult was real, it was their fault that both him and Cid became the source of their devotion and admiration.

The story of the cult was getting more complicated as they went on. It was just a matter of time before they found out the truth. Would they hate them? Despise them? Leave them and never come back?

'But I don't want to… I was having so much fun with them… They are my first friends in this new world…' Conflicted thoughts and emotions flooded Subaru's mind.

Subaru knew he was an awful and pathetic person for manipulating them.

Subaru's thoughts were interrupted by a slime knife, which Cid manifested and threw it randomly at the map, getting both Subaru's and Beta's attention. Subaru raised an eyebrow at his action while Beta was bewildered.

"It's right here. The place where they are keeping our sister." Cid said with the most serious expression.

Beta blinked, looking over where the knife was thrown. "But there is nothing there…" She looked at Subaru puzzlingly, looking for the answers or confirmation.

'These are fake hideouts, a cheap trick. The real location is encrypted in these ancient texts.' Rigel's voice boomed in his mind.

'Fake hideouts? Wait…'

However, as Subaru's eyes darted from the red dots on the map and the encrypted ancient text to the slime knife, something clicked in his head.

"Wait a moment…" Subaru whispered, as he started gathering information together. "These marked hideouts… They are fake!"

"Eh?" Beta exclaimed in confusion.

'If we compare this ancient text to this decrypted text, it would reveal a completely different message that we haven't considered yet…' Subaru's mind raced as he pieced together the clues.

"Look at this," he said, pointing at the map with renewed determination. "Each of these marked locations seems to be based on certain patterns in the texts. But if you shift your perspective and summarize the patterns, it forms a different text altogether. The red dots represent routes or links! They are leading to the real location! Which is..."

Subaru slowly traced his finger on the map till it reached the place, where the slime knife had been thrown at. "It's… right here?" As he looked puzzingly at Cid.

Cid gave him a nod of confirmation while staring off the window. "Yes, it is."

'Where are the words of gratitude?' Rigel said, a hint of pride in his voice.

'Words of gratitude? But Cid was the one who pointed at the location?'

'That's beside the point! The great Rigel deserves his recognition!' Rigel replied, amusement laced in his tone.

'All you did was throw me a vague hint. You're just an ancient dragon with issues about your ego!'

Rigel responded with a huff. "Pah! Ego? I simply recognize talent when I see it. You wouldn't have deduced the truth without help from a mighty being such as myself."

Subaru could almost picture Rigel's smug expression, 'Oh, of course, how can I forget the almighty Rigel, the great dragon of wisdom and knowledge—who just so happened to throw some vague hints.'

'Come on! At least I deserve to hear a single "Thank you" for my efforts, no?'

Subaru took a deep breath. 'Fine. Thank you, Rigel. I appreciate your… vague hints.'

'Ah! See? That wasn't so hard, now was it?' Rigel exclaimed, sounding almost smug.

Subaru's expression turned serious as he focused his attention back to the group.

Beta began frantically checking her reports and notes before her face confronted one of the shocks as the realization hit her. "Could it be?! After looking through all of the notes, I believe they have an underground hideout in that place! That place had high activity of transportation and weird activity but we prioritized the rescue of Miss Claire! Lord Pleiades! Lord Shadow! You are incredible!" She said in adoration and admiration as she stared at them. Truly they were incredible.

'This has to be stopped, each time it's getting harder and harder for me to bear it, this is the last "mission" before I tell them the truth about the made-up Cult' Subaru thought to himself as a new wave of guilt washed over him.

"Beta. Contact other Shades, we are moving soon." Cid replied as he materialized in his slime suit.

"Right away!" Beta replied, taking notes.

"Sir Viscount Grease, I see you adjusted well to your seat as one of the agents?"

Greece felt a shiver crawl up his spine at the sound of the familiar voice, the tone laced with mockery. He turned to see Lord Thomas emerging from the shadows, a smug expression across his face.

"Yes, how very observant of you," Greece replied, his voice filled with tension. "Why have you come here?"

Greece felt a shiver crawl up his spine at the sound of the familiar voice, the tone laced with mockery. He turned to see Lord Thomas emerging from the shadows, a smug expression plastered across his face.

"Come now, Grease," Lord Thomas said with a chuckle. "I came to check on my… colleague. After all, you and I are now aligned in this mess."

"Aligned? Is that what you call this twisted path you've led me down?" His voice trembled with anger and resentment. "You manipulated me into this, Thomas!"

"Manipulation is a strong word," Lord Thomas replied, feigning innocence. "I merely opened your eyes to the reality of our situation. You wanted to save your daughter; I simply provided a means to do so."

A tense silence hung among them only to be followed by the heavy breathing of the Viscount.

"I was there, you know." Lord Thomas continued, his voice dripping with condescension. "When they made the offer. You should feel honored—most wouldn't have had the chance to join the Cult. You should be grateful."

"Grateful?" Grease scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Grateful for what exactly?"

Lord Thomas pulled a small bottle with red pills from his pocket and extended it to Grease. "Grateful for the power that comes with allegiance." Lord Thomas replied, his smirk widening. "You have been granted an opportunity few are even aware of. You can protect your daughter and gain the strength to ensure no one can ever threaten her again."

Greece stared at the small vial, his heart pounding in his chest, eying the pills with tension. "These are?"

"Beads of Diablos." Lord Thomas replied. "They are magical pills containing extraordinary power from the demon blood. A single pill can greatly increase magical power. They'll amplify your magical abilities a hundredfold. You'll be stronger, quicker, more adept than any knight the kingdom has seen, you will gain power." He paused. "A power which you are in dire of."

Greece leaned against the wall, his thoughts in turmoil. A dark, twisted desire flickered in Greece's eyes as he gazed at the vial. It was an intoxicating temptation.

"Take the vial, Grease. The choice is yours." Lord Thomas said, his voice smooth and persuasive.

"And she won't suffer if you choose the right side." Thomas encouraged. "The world is cruel... but power is your shield."

A moment passed, and Greece felt the urgency in his heart and mind. Then, slowly, he clenched his fist around the vial and brought it closer to his chest.

Lord Thomas's smirk widened. "I believe I should introduce you to your new designation and mission."

Greece stood in uncertainty, the vial of Diablos beads in his grasp as he was eyeing the red pills.

"I am sure you have heard of Baron Kagenou family, a sector of land within the Midgar Kingdom?" He paused, searching for Grease's reaction.

Grease silently nodded his head.

"They have a child—an heir to their family, Claire Kagenou, who is considered a prodigy in swordsmanship. We believe she was afflicted with a curse."

"A prodigy… and afflicted?" Grease repeated slowly, processing the implications.

"Your mission, Sir Grease, is to capture this girl." Lord Thomas's voice was low and measured. "With her capture, you could solidify your status among the ranks and secure a cure for Milia."

Greece's heart raced as Lord Thomas laid out the plan before him. "Capture Claire Kagenou? For what purpose?"

"You shouldn't concern yourself with such questions. Just complete this simple mission and you will be a step closer to saving your daughter."

Grease's mind raced as he contemplated his options. On one hand, he had the chance to gain immense power and potentially save Milia. On the other, he risked becoming the very monster Lord Thomas had becomr. The thought of harming an innocent child, even for a greater cause, disturbed him deeply.

"I'll do it," he said, his voice firm despite the turmoil within him. "I'll bring you Claire Kagenou."

"Very good." Lord Thomas's demeanor shifted, a glimmer of satisfaction dancing in his eyes. "You have made a wise choice."

Claire Kagenou found herself chained to a wall by magic seals. A day ago, her family threw a big party for her 15's birthday and today she should have been sent to the academy of the Dark Knights. However, she found herself quite in an unexpected place. An underground hideout, where she was placed in a cage.

She scanned the place around her. A din lighted corridor past the cage, which was lighted by torches. Her appearance was unusual, since the kidnapping, as she assumed, happened at night, when she was asleep. She vaguely remembered how someone sneaked her in a room and attacked her, eventually overpowering her due to her circumstances.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the tunnel, someone was approaching the cage. It appeared to be a middle-aged man in his 30s, judging by his appearance he was a noble. High-ranking one to be more specific.

"Claire Kagenou… The heir of the Kagenou Family. I heard a few interesting things about you." Grease stepping closer to the bars of her cage, his cold gaze eyeing her face.

"You've made quite a name for yourself, especially with the rumors of your prowess in swordsmanship. Tell me, how have you been feeling lately?"

Claire glared at the man before a hint of recognition lit up in her eyes. "You seem familiar… Viscount Grease, was it? I remember seeing you in the capital." She smirked. "Seeing you after a devastating defeat at the hands of the first princess."

Grease just simply glared at Claire.

"Princess Iris really whipped your ass." Claire smirks.

"Hmph. We're bound by tournament rules, which makes that an exception. I would never lose to her in a real battle." Grease replied, trying to justify himself.

"You would lose then, too, Viscount Grease…you first-round flunk—"

Before Claire could finish, Grease kicked in her direction, next to the right side of her head intending to shut her up. However, much to his surprise, she dodged the kick in time even though he aimed to kick the wall next to her.

The impact of Grease's kick sent a tremor through the ground.

"Impressive reflexes. Even though you were chained by magic-restrained seals, you were able to dodge the kick." Grease remarked. He straightened up, composing himself. "I guess your father was indeed a favorable sword fighter."

"Baldy? Ha! This coward doesn't know a thing about the sword. It was my brothers who helped me learn the sword the way I know now."

"Your brothers?" Grease's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Indeed, my dear and idiotic brothers." She replied with a fond expression. "With one, I always beat him but I always learn something new from his technique, however he doesn't learn a thing from me. And from the other one, he always proves to me that there is always room to improve your skills. He was once close to surpassing me."

In a moment, Claire's expression turned serious as she gazed at Grease with an icy stare. "Anyway, you had some questions to ask me. Ask them right away, I have other things to do."

Grease turned serious as he intently observed Claire. "How have you been feeling lately? Is there any inconsistent flow of your mana? Is there pain in your limbs? Weird black spots of rot on your body?"

"Ha? Pretending to be concerned about my well-being after nearly stomping on my face?" Then something clicked in her mind, memories flooding her mind.

"Well, something like that happened a year ago, but my brother asked me to do some stretches with him and after that I felt fine."

Grease's eyes widened at revelation. A glimmer of hope flickered in his eyes. "Brother? Which one?" his voice filled with desperation.

Claire noticed his desperation, and decided to remain silent in case he had any other plans regarding her brothers.

Grease's seeing her incorporation, let out a huff of frustration. "Whatever, you had the symptoms which proves that you are compatible."

"Compatible…? What does that mean?"

"Nothing that should concern you. Either way, you're going to break soon

enough. Oh, and I'll make sure to look into your brothers…"

However, before he could finish a sentence he felt a rush of wind going just past his face. He stumbled back, seeing Claire breaking out of her chains on her arm and mutilating and breaking it in the process. She gazed at him with the eyes of a beast—no, a demon.

"Wha— How did you—?" Breaking off magic sealing chains was an impossible feat. In other words, she did it with her pure physical strength, ripping her skin and breaking bones in the process.

"If you dare to even look in their way, I'll rip your skin off! I'll make your loved ones suffer—*

Before Claire could finish, Grease delivered a hard punch to her stomach, sending her flying towards the wall. She hit the wall with a loud thud, before collapsing to the ground and losing her consciousness.

"You bitch…" Grease hissed as he stared down at her lying form before approaching her.

He took a sample of her blood, before putting it in his pocket. "Heroes' descendants blood, huh? We'll see if it comes to any use…"

"Viscount Grease!"

A distressed voice called out thro the tunnels of the underground hideout. A simple guard came in his way.

"Intruders! We are in trouble! They are overwhelming us!"

"What? What do you mean!"

"There are a few of them, they emerged from the shadows quickly taking care of our men in mere seconds!"

"Tsk! I'll deal with them, alert the others!" Clicking his tongue, Grease rushed out of the cell. He was running down the tunnel, which was lit by torches before he arrived at the main hall.

"What the—" The scene before him caused him to freeze for a moment, eyes widened in horror.

Those soldiers—they weren't ordinary knights, they were elected by the elites of the Cult, rivaling or even surpassing even Royal guards. They were unbeatable warriors, many were frightened to fight against them.

"How is this possible…"

The bodies of the said elite soldiers lay strewn across the floor, their lifeless forms illuminated by the flickering torches. Their bodies were now covered in deep slashes with blood flowing from them. Some of them were missing parts of the bodies.

"Lord Grease!" one of the guards called, panic thick in his voice. "They are not normal! They strike from the shadows, and we are overwhel—"

He was silenced through beheading, his head rolling to the side as his lifeless body fell on the ground, blood splattering everywhere.

Grease's heart sank at such a gruesome display, his heart racing. "You cowards! Show yourself!"

Suddenly, 8 figures emerged from the shadows. Each one of them was covered in a dark slime, akin to the slime suit. Seven of them were females in dark slime bodysuits, adorned with golden accents, variously decorated on each of them.

However, the 8th was standing out. He was a male with thick spiky black hair, his body was as well covered in a dark slime, however his accentes were orange. Grease could feel his piercing gaze, even though he was standing behind all of them.

"This is over for you." A blonde-haired elf has stated, glaring at the Grease with a cold look. "Your ties to the Cult of Diablos have only made you a target, and now you will pay for your actions."

Grease's eyes widened. "How do you— How do you know the existence of the cult! Who the hell are you!" He yelled, unsheathing his sword.

"We are Shadow Garden, we who hunt and kill in shadows. The Cult of Diablos must pay for their crimes with their life."

The male figure visibly tensed, his expression was one of shock and disbelief. 'Hey, hey, hey! Wait just a moment! Did I mishear it? The cult… is it actually real?'

How do you know the existence of the cult…

'It could be any other cult… R-right? Possibly not…'

Subaru's mind was racing, processing the implications of what he just heard. The cult—the Cult of Diablos. It wasn't just a figment of Cid's imagination. It was real.

Static filled Subaru's head, a white noise buzzing, drowning out thoughts as his heart thudded painfully in his chest. 'How could I have been so careless?' The thought invaded his mind, sending a sense of dread and guilt that twisted in his gut.

It was real—men like Grease existed who had aligned themselves with this sinister organization. 'This is bad. This changes everything. The cult must be stopped.' He thought firmly.

Subaru's thoughts were interrupted by the metal clash of the blade echoing in the dimly lit hall. Alpha was engaged in battle with Grease.

Alpha parried another strike from Grease, her movements calculated and precise. As Grease swung his sword with desperation, trying to create distance between them, she effortlessly dodged the attack, slipping aside and countering with a swift kick that caught him right in the ribs. The impact sent a shockwave of pain through Grease's body.

He staggered back, gasping, and fell on his knee. "Do you really want to… oppose the cult…" He said, clutching to his sword. "No matter your strength or skills, the darkness is rooted far deeper than you fools can imagine!"

"You clearly do not understand the depths of our resolve. We will not falter against the likes of you or your cowardly cult." Alpha stated with determination in her voice.

"You think I am messing with you, you little shit!" Grease grabbed something in his pocket.

'I have a bad feeling about this…' Subaru thought to himself.

Grease grabbed a small glass vial with red pills in it, however before he could consume them, a shadow tendril, something to whip alike has manifested in Subaru's hands, knocking off the vial out of his hands, the vial was sent flying straight towards the wall before the glass shattered and the pills scattered all across the hall.

"Don't let him take them! Knock him out!" Subaru commanded.

One word from Subaru's mouth was enough for Alpha to take action. She swiftly moved and was already on him, delivering a hard kick to his face, sending him backwards hitting the wall with a loud thud.

As Grease was losing consciousness, once again, his daughter—Milia appeared in front of his eyes. Once happy memories was now replaced by the sight of 8 dark figures

"Milia.."

Subaru picked up the last words of the cultist, confusion filled his mind hearing the name coming out of his lips.

Silence followed after seeing Grease unconscious body, which was soon broken by a question.

"Why did you spare his life?" Alpha asked curiously, she knew Subaru had a certain plan for that.

"It feels just… Weird… I don't want to kill him—"

"What?" Zeta interrupted Subaru. "He is a mere disgusting insect who chose to be part of such a vile cult! He deserves no mercy!"

"I understand where you're coming from," Subaru replied, his voice steady but filled with an underlying weight. "But I can't bring myself to kill him. Besides, he seemed… conflicted. Maybe he isn't fully aligned with their goals. There is probably more to his story."

Alpha watched Subaru closely, her gaze softening slightly. "You believe that everyone can be redeemed, even those who have fallen into darkness?"

"I believe everyone deserves a second chance—" Subaru started only to be interrupted by Zeta again

Zeta's expression twisted into one of disdain. "A second chance? You think that just because you spared him, he's going to change? Look at him! He willingly aligned himself with a cult devoted to malevolence and evil! Your sympathy is a dangerous delusion, Lord Pleiades."

Subaru felt a swell of irritation rise within him. He clenched his fists, at war with his own feelings. "You're missing the point, Zeta! If we start killing everyone who's made a mistake, where does that end? The world isn't black and white. There are nuances to every person's story. Grease may yet realize the horror of his choices. He may choose a different path."

"You're playing the hero when there's no place for it!" Zeta snapped, her voice sharp with frustration. "You're carrying the burden of naivety on your shoulders. You think mercy will earn you respect? It'll get you—us—killed."

Clenching his jaw, Subaru's thoughts spiraled into chaos. Was he truly that naive? What was he thinking letting Grease go? The image of the Viscount's conflicted expression bugged him, sending him to a thought he couldn't shake. Subaru had seen darkness in men before, but could they not find redemption?

The other Shades shared their glances in worry as they watched them with tension in the air.

"You think I want to see anyone die?" Subaru said, the tension thickening the air. "Do you think I enjoy watching others suffer? This isn't just about killing enemies or 'cleaning' the world for the sake of it. I don't want to be like them."

Zeta crossed her arms, her expression unmoving, the cold edge of her gaze piercing through Subaru. "Then you're a fool. Fools don't survive in this world, Lord Pleiades. The only thing that matters in this world is power."

Hurt flared in his chest, and Subaru turned his gaze away from her, unable to meet her piercing eyes. His form was shaking.

Alpha stepped in, sensing the rising tension. "Zeta!" she said sternly. "That's enough. I believe that Lord Pleiades' saying is right and we need to look from a different perspective."

Zeta shot Alpha a harsh look, her voice low. "You're defending him? A moment of mercy could lead to our deaths in the blink of an eye."

"Fine." Subaru said his expression was unreadable.

Zeta arched an eyebrow while Alpha sent him a concerned look.

"I'll interrogate him and shortly after will get rid of him." He stated as he approached Grease's body. "Shadow should have rescued Claire by now I believe."

Zeta huffed and turned her head away from him. It was the first time Zeta had openly opposed Subaru's ideals. The impact of her messages still shook his core.

In a dim lit room, Grease was found tied tightly on the chair. He slowly opened his eyes, trying to adjust to the lighting. Slowly, the memories of another failure flooded in his mind again. He tried moving his arms and found them being tightly tied by a rope.

"I see you have finally awakened." Subaru's voice echoed through the room

Grease's mind raced as he blinked away the fog of unconsciousness. "You… You are one of them?" He remembered the one-sided fight in the underground hideout. "What do you want from me?"

Subaru stepped forward, his expression serious. "I want answers. You joined the Cult of Diablos, aligning yourself with them for power. But what really drives you? Is it truly ambition and greed, or is there something deeper?"

Grease narrowed his eyes. "You think you can just question me and expect the truth?" he spat. "I have no obligation to share anything with you."

"I want to understand you. What led you to join the Cult?"

Grease's face hardened, and he refused to answer. The room fell silent, tension thick in the air. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows on the walls.

Subaru continued, his voice steady. "My ally—Claire Kagenou, what does the cult want with her?"

Grease hesitated for a moment. "They plan to use her for something horrible… They believe she's connected to a descendant of heroes, or something of that sort. They think her bloodline could grant them powers beyond comprehension."

"I see." Subaru nodded.

"Why did you join them?" Subaru asked again, softening his tone. "Was it only for power? Or was there something—someone you were trying to save?"

Grease's gaze flickered, for a brief moment, vulnerability seeped through his hardened exterior. "You wouldn't understand…" he murmured, almost to himself. "They offered me a chance—a chance to save my daughter."

"Your daughter." Subaru echoed, a realization dawning upon him. "You joined the cult for her sake? What has happened to her?"

Grease clenched his fists "She's… she's suffering because of the curse. The cult promised me power to save her, to cure her curse—but at what cost? I've done things… terrible things."

Subaru felt an unsettling pang of empathy for the man before him, despite the darkness of his choices. The desperation in Grease's eyes reflected a once noble goal twisted by the shadows of his ambition.

"We all want to protect our loved ones." Subaru said quietly, allowing the weight of his words to settle in the air. "But sacrificing the innocent—"

"Enough of your moral high ground!" Grease snapped, anger flaring in his chest. "You don't know what it's like to be faced with a choice between the ones you love and your own integrity. I would do anything… anything... to lift the curse on her!"

"I'm already lost," Grease replied, his voice cracking. "Do you think I chose this willingly? I had no choice! Milia, my daughter, is sick. She's cursed, and if I don't find a way to cure her, she dies! I've failed my family! I've failed my wife! I've failed my daughter! I've failed everyone…"

Subaru felt the weight of Grease's despair and desperation pressing against him. "Grease, listen to me." Subaru said, his tone softened yet firm. "You don't have to follow this path. There are other ways. We can help you. We can help your daughter."

"Save her? There is no way—"

"I can cure her. " Subaru interrupted him.

"Cure her? Stop lying! The Cult promised me the same thing!

"They manipulated you." Subaru insisted, a determined glint in his eye.

Grease hesitated, the seeds of doubt taking root in his mind. "And you think you can do better? You're just a kid pretending to be a hero."

"I'm not pretending. I've faced things far darker than you can imagine, and I know there's always a choice." Subaru's gaze was piercing, unwavering. "You may feel lost, but the path of redemption is always open, even for someone like you."

The tension hung heavily in the air, each second stretching in silence as Grease wrestled with Subaru's words.

"Think about it." Subaru continued, lowering his voice to a whisper. "If you truly love your daughter, would you sacrifice more innocents for your ambition? Would you want her to grow up in a world drenched in blood and despair?"

Grease's face rippled with conflicting emotions: anger, guilt, but above all, fear—fear of failure, fear of losing everything he considered precious. His fists trembled as memories of his daughter flooded back: her laughter, her innocent smile, the way she looked up to him.

"I… I did it to save her," he whispered, almost breaking. "The curse... It's killing her slowly. I thought that power would protect her."

"Join us instead. Let's defeat the Cult and save your daughter together. After all that you've done, there's still a chance for you to prove your love for Milia. You can still be her hero."

Grease's eyes flicked to the floor, grappling with the deep-rooted sense of right and wrong. "But how can I trust you? You're nothing but a kid with a pretty speech."

"Because I know suffering." Subaru replied earnestly, "And I'm not out for revenge; I just want to stop the cycle of pain. Your fight is our fight now, I'll help you free her from the curse."

"And if you're lying and this is all just a trick?" Grease countered, despair still lacing his words.

Subaru shook his head earnestly. "If I were in your position, I'd be skeptical too. But if I can help even a single innocent person, it will be worth the risk. For your daughter, don't you think she deserves every chance?"

A moment of anticipation and tension, Grease saw something—a flicker of determination in Subaru's eyes that ignited a small flame of hope within his own heart.

"What do you need from me?" Grease finally asked, his voice steadier now.

"First, tell me everything you know about their operations. Specific members, hidden locations, any potential weaknesses. We'll use that intelligence to our advantage." Subaru replied, confidence growing.

Grease nodded, a decision forming under the pressure of urgency and hope. "I'll share everything. But you have to promise me one thing."

Subaru held his gaze steady. "What is it?"

"That if I'm to risk everything, if I am to stand against the Cult, I need you to ensure the safety of Milia. I want her free from this curse."

"I promise," Subaru affirmed, resolute. "We'll save her. Together."

The rope which binded Grease was cut off by Subaru, they shook their hands indicating a form of their small alliance.