The sound of metal clicking filled the air.
Ding.
Ding.
Ding.
I took a slow and drawn-out turn to my right.
Phillip was there. He sat in a plush, white armchair with his legs crossed.
"You're awake," he mused as he brought his teacup to his lips with his pinky jetted out.
I rose with a heavy and long yawn. My fingers gripped the wrinkled sheets and dragged them aside. "How long was I asleep for?"
Phillip set his teacup aside with a clink and raised two gloved fingers. "Two days."
"Two days," I repeated under my breath. My eyes fell to the floor.
That last visit with my clone must've really messed me up.
Phillip reclined in his chair and uncrossed his legs. "It was quite the surprise to see you cry. I was almost certain you were a carbon copy of your mother."
I raise my head. "What do you mean?"
"Lilith never cried." He answered as he rolled his shoulders. "She's faced fates I'd wish on no other, and smiled. Nothing could ever break her."
My teeth gently nibbled on the inside of my cheek.
He continued. "That trait is valuable in soldiers. But it makes an awful human. If you're incapable of fear, you're incapable of empathy, of understanding and growth."
There was a long pause.
Phillip tilted his head. "Do you understand, Lafayette?"
A hard lump rolled down my throat as I nodded. "Mhm." I pulled on my fingers.
Phillip turned his attention out the window and sighed. "I loved that woman, but love can only take you so far."
He closed his eyes.
"It's easy to get lost in the past, to think about all that you could have and should have done. But in the end, there is no do-over. You have to accept reality and move on. Otherwise, you'll lose sight of your future."
He fell silent again, before letting out a soft chuckle. "Though I suppose that's a bit much for you to understand. So I'll just say this."
He stood to his feet and placed a hand into his pocket. "Stop chasing power and chase what makes you happy. After all, you're the only Lafayette this world will ever know. Live true to yourself."
Yeah…
He walked across the room and gripped the brass knob with a twist. As the door opened, Meridian stood there with two clay slabs in his hands. He looked between his father's legs and into my eyes.
Phillip sighed deeply and stepped aside.
Meridian rushed forward. "Lafayette are you okay?" He stopped at the side of my bed and leaned close. "I was so worried."
I placed a hand over my heart and gripped my tunic. "You were worried?" I asked hesitantly.
I felt something in my chest. It was a tight, fuzzy feeling. The kind you get when you see something happy. Like puppies or babies.
Why did I feel this?
Meridian blinked back tears as he climbed into bed with me. "Of course I was worried, you're my husband and my friend. Don't you know?"
Phillip's eyes went wide with shock and confusion. He whipped around, his composure shattered. "What?!"
I raised my hands and threw out a quick defense. "He's joking I swear!"
Meridian shook his head with a serious frown and determined eyes. "No I'm not, I'm going to be his wife. We're going to have a real family."
Phillip turned a shade of purple as he glanced at me. "Do you like boys?" He asked, almost like he was afraid to.
I shook my head vigorously.
A long and awkward silence passed.
Phillip ran a hand down his face and tightly gripped his chin. "Okay, as long as you don't bring this up in front of anyone, I guess it's fine to play this game."
I released a breath I didn't know I was holding.
Thank goodness Phillip was progressive in his ideals or Meridian and I would've been in trouble.
Still, I really hope he grows out of this.
Phillip glanced at Meridian once more and offered a smile. He then gripped the door and turned to leave.
With him gone, Meridian raised his clay slabs. "Here, Lafayette." He placed one in my palm. Its surface was smooth and its weight was heavy.
"What's this for?" I asked.
Meridian smiled warmly. "I remembered you liked to procrastinate when you get discouraged," He explained.
"So I wanted to teach you how to make statuettes and I was hoping you'd teach me to draw those waifus in return."
"Why do you want to draw waifus?"
Meridian beamed. "Because they're so pretty! The big eyes, the curly hair, the big boobs!"
A flush rushed up my cheeks.
How could he so shamelessly say that?!
Could he be a degenerate like me?
Perhaps…
I cleared my throat. "Okay, let's just work on the statues first."
"Right!"
— — —
About two days have passed and I still haven't attempted the Seal of Self again. But there was a reason for it.
Multiple actually.
First I realized I didn't need to unlock it right away.
There was no immediate danger and I clearly wasn't ready for it. But also, I was actually enjoying myself with Meridian and spending time with him.
It's been so long since I've just enjoyed another person's company. Well there was the dragon but that was something questionable.
Anyway it was nice.
"Cut a little more there." Meridian pointed a finger near the upper arm of my figure. "It'll look like a wrinkle in his clothes."
"Okay," I replied, my tongue stuck out to the side.
I brought my finger to the spot. At the tip of it was a thin stream of water that was looped like a chainsaw and pressurized.
Tzzzip.
Small pieces of clay rolled down my leg and onto the floor. I pulled my fingers away and held up the statue to examine it.
And in my professional opinion, it was ugly. I wanted to make a dragoon firing off a water ball, but it looked more like cripple man holding a massive lollipop.
"Ugh, another dud," I grumbled. My hands moved to crush the statue, but Meridian snatched it with determination.
My eyes fluttered.
Meridian pointed a finger at me. "You need to stop breaking everything you don't like."
"It's ugly."
Meridian slapped a hand against my skull with a chop. "Stop that, stop calling it ugly, it's perfect." He brought the statue closer to his chest and looked down.
I rested my elbow on the table and sighed. "How on earth is that perfect?"
Meridian grinned at me. "Because you made it."
My cheeks got hot with embarrassment. I buried my face in my hands. "You're so damn cheesy, you know that?"
Meridian giggled.
I peeked through my fingers with a smirk.