Chapter 87. Homeward Bound

Silva POV

In the past week that I have constantly been fighting against Salem, I learned a few things. First, Salem, without her immortality or magic she is not much of a fighter, and I think I understand why. She can generally overpower or outlast anyone with her magic and immortality, respectively, and she does not have a lot of combat experience from what I saw.

She is overly reliant on her ability to recover from any damage, so when I sever her limbs, then attacked her with my silver eyes, she had trouble continuing our fight. The next thing I learned is that her control over Grimm is limited to simple commands like attack or stay because I continuously tricked the Grimm through various methods to either send them on a wild goose chase or even attacking Salem instead.

Overall, while Salem is a masterful manipulator, she is not much of a fighter against someone who can be considered an equal. I am seriously wondering just what Ozma's IQ is because even if he can't kill her, he can certainly keep her in one place while his allies unite Remnant. Maybe Salem is the brains in their old relationship while Ozma was the brawn which I find funny.

As I wait for Salem to reform, I meditate to recover from my fatigue, aura depletion, and draining reserves of magical energy. My current record for incapacitating Salem is a little over six hours which gives me plenty of time to recover. Throughout our fight, as I learned her quirks in combat, I remained dominant in the confrontation.

As Salem finished reforming, her appearance was different than a week ago. She looked worn and tired as her dress barely covered her privates, and her hair was a tangled mess. She glared at me when I asked her.

Silva: So are you willing to fully hear me out, or do we continue tearing each other apart to no avail?

She stood tall with her shoulders rolled back with a neutral expression on her face as she replied.

Salem: Let's hear what you have to say, for now.

I gave her a light smile as I started telling her my encounter with the gods, along with some half-truths about my past life.

( Hours later)

I was sitting in one of the foyers in Salem's castle as she paced back and forth, processing what I have told her. She looked at me and said.

Salem: So, if I understand you correctly, you know almost everything about Ozma and me, plus most of what is in between, and the Gods gave you a similar task to Ozma's.

I nodded and asked her.

Silva: Any questions?

Salem took a seat in the chair opposite me and let out a deep sigh. She pinched the bridge of her nose and asked me.

Salem: How do you expect me to trust a word you say?

I shrugged and bluntly told her.

Silva: I don't nor do I expect you to anytime soon but ask yourself this. If the gods are keeping an eye on the world, as I say, do you honestly think they will let you die?

Salem clenched her jaw, which told me everything I need and I got up then said.

Silva: I will leave you to your thoughts, but if I may offer one suggestion.

She glared at me and curtly asked.

Salem: What?

I replied with sincerity.

Silva: You continue your current plans and get the four relics but hold off calling the gods for their final judgment on the people of this world.

She curtly told me with a sneer.

Salem: Noted.

I opened a portal in front of her, but before I crossed it, I took out a modified scroll that could only call me but could call me even if the Cross-Continental Network System is taken down like in the canon. I then told her.

Silva: If you are interested in talking even about trivial things, this scroll will connect to me directly.

I left after she gave me a dismissive snort.

Salem POV

He is gone, and now I have to consider everything he has told me. While he told me some truth, he didn't tell me the whole truth and even flatted out refused to answer some of my questions for different reasons. But unfortunately, he is likely telling the truth about how the gods won't allow me to die. However, he does have a point about gathering the relics regardless, especially if I made use of them.

It has been several centuries, but I need a drink. I went to my cellar to get something to take the edge off of the week-long fight and the new, damning information I received. A 500-year-old wine sounds appealing right now. As I took a bottle from an old kingdom that no longer exists, I opened it, letting it breathe for a few moments, then pouring me one glass, and I put up the bottle once I filled the glass.

I take a savoring sip of the wine as I let myself go over my encounter with that silver-eyed, no, Silva Cloud. I learned a few things about him; he is undoubtedly selfish and tends to get arrogant if he feels that he earns it. He also has an interest in relics but to make his task more manageable, which means he will likely take the easier path if he has a choice rather than making things unnecessarily difficult for him.

Then there is the fact he is far too skilled in using magic despite just getting it recently from the gods if he is not lying. I need more information. The sooner, the better, any of my pawns that are not working on a critical task, I will have them seek out any info on Silva Cloud. As I took another sip of my wine, an interesting idea appeared in my mind. The more I thought about it, the more appealing it seemed, and it gave me a small hope.

Silva Cloud, let's see how things play out for now.

Silva POV

I was standing in front of Castle Nightwall and said to myself, feeling the built-up fatigue I did not know I had until I stood in front of the door. I opened the door and made my way to my room to sleep for a while before letting everyone know I'm back. It was night, so everyone should be asleep right now.

I realized that before I go to sleep, I should take a shower first; it has been a while since I cleaned myself. I changed directions to the large bath area, and when I got there, I stripped down and put my clothes in my designated basket to put my dirty clothes in. I entered the bath area and started rinsing off all the dirt and grime I got on me before taking a long soak in the large tub.

I'm glad I based the bath on a Mistral (Japanese) design. As I enjoyed a moment of peace, the door to the bathroom opened, revealing Blake in nothing but a towel. Her eyes widen seeing me, and I casually waved at her, not caring about her showing up. Blake sputtered a question in surprise.

Blake: Silva!? Your back!?

I jokingly told her.

Silva: No, this a dream. You were rereading Ninjas of Love and fell asleep in the library.

She looked at me, confused, then pinched her cheek, and I couldn't help but chuckle at her action. She gave me a glare at me for messing with her but then sighed and told me.

Blake: Welcome back, Silva.

I grunted a response and went back to enjoy soaking in the large swimming pool-like tub. Blake stood there for a few awkward moments, then came into the bathroom while closing the door behind her. I looked at her curiously at her actions, and after she took a deep breath, she asked me.

Blake: Is it true, Silva?

I replied while leaning back in the tub.

Silva: You're going to have to be more specific, Blake.

She swallowed her saliva and asked me.

Blake: Is it true you slaughtered a lot of people, even children?

It looks like I am not going to get any sleep soon; I then told her.

Silva: Yes, does that bother you?

She looked at me in shock, openly admitting to the blood on my hands, and asked me, looking skittish.

Blake: Why? Why did you wipe them out and even showed no compassion to children for not knowing any better?

I huffed, feeling tired, but I told her the truth without holding anything back.

Silva: I did it because even if those kids did not know any better, they either saw me as food or plaything for them to break. Does it bother me that I killed them? No! Would I do the same thing again if I was put in the same situation? Yes, I would.

She looked at me in horror and said.

Blake: You're a monster.

I shrugged, not caring about her calling me a monster because she is not wrong; many of my actions are monstrous. Blake realized what she just said and started to apologize.

Blake: Silva, I'm sor-.

I held up my hand to stop her from finishing that sentence, and I told her.

Silva: Blake, don't apologize because you're not wrong in calling me a monster.

She looked at me, unsure of how to feel about me, and I then said.

Silva: Blake, I don't hide who I am from those I care about, even if they dislike or even hate that part of me. And if you feel uncomfortable with living with me, we can arrange for you to live separate from me if you want.

Blake just looked at me, trying to process what I said, then said.

Blake: I need to think.

She left the bathroom looking confused, and when she was gone, I looked towards the wall on my right then said.

Silva: Enjoyed the show Ilia?

Ilia only made her head uncamouflaged as she looked at me with a mixed expression then asked.

Ilia: Do you regret telling the truth?

I told her as I got out of the tub.

Silva: What happens, happens regardless, but to answer your question, no, I do not.

As I exited the bath, I put on a spare bathrobe then head to my secret lab to hook up Summer to the necessary equipment to keep her stable. Her Grimm-ified condition hasn't gotten worse, thankfully, but putting that aside, I have a few ideas to treat her, and the worst-case scenario is that I extract her soul then put it in a new body. After dropping Summer off, I go to take a well-deserved rest for a couple of days.

As I entered my room, I saw Emerald sleeping in my bed. I smiled and decided to mess with her a bit. I shook her awake, and she looked at me, looking tired, then said sleepily.

Emerald: Silva, your back?

I made my face look concerned as I started my bullshit routine.

Silva: Honey, you need to get up and take the kids to school.

That woke her up, as she said.

Emerald: Wait! What!?

I sighed and asked her.

Silva: Did you have another one of your episodes, Honey?

She just looked at me, confused as I continue to bullshit her.

Silva: You sometimes feel like your reliving your past due to your semblance being so strong, but once you see the kids, you immediately remember everything, so head down to the dining hall, okay.

She continued to look confused as I helped her up and pushed her out of my room. I then told her as sincerely as I could without laughing.

Silva: Just head to the dining room, okay, Honey.

I gave her a quick kiss and closed the door on her as I quietly locked it, then crashed into my bed, falling into a deep sleep.

( Days later)

I got up out of my bed feeling refresh and got dressed, then head down to the dining hall for something to eat. As I made my way to, let me check my scroll, brunch, I ran into Emerald. She gave me a sweet smile that quickly changed into a frown after giving me a not so playful punch in the arm and said, sounding a little ticked off.

Emerald: Very funny, jerk.

I chuckled then replied.

Silva: It was to me anyway.

She snorted at my response then said with a genuine smile.

Emerald: Welcome back, Silva.

I kissed her on the cheek then told her.

Silva: It's good to be back, Emerald.

I got a lot of work ahead of me, translating ancient texts, treating Summer's condition, then several dates I need to give to my girls, creating the weapon that will become my lifelong partner, handling how Blake and Ilia take to my skeletons in the closet and finally prepare for the start of Beacon.

As I said, I have a lot of work ahead of me.