After thoroughly checking his own state, Bornova confirmed he was still lucid. The figure of his father, just steps away, was no illusion.
But how was this possible?
Bornova felt a flicker of confusion, his blue eyes reflecting Roselle's form. For reasons he couldn't quite grasp, a faint joy stirred within him.
After a few seconds, Bornova stepped forward, stopping a few paces from Roselle. His expression calm, he said, "Father, you're resurrected?"
"Bornova…" Roselle's heart ached at his son's doll-like composure. Forcing a smile, he spread his arms wide, inviting a hug. "It's been so long. Missed your old man? How about a hug?"
"I'm not a child anymore, and it hasn't been that long... only 163 years, four months, and five days." Bornova replied, his tone flat, neither accepting nor rejecting.
Roselle's smile froze, his jaw tightening. "That's why I hate Stiano…"
At this, Bornova's brow furrowed. "Father, the Lord... "
"Quiet! I don't want to hear you defend that guy. It'll only make me angrier!" Roselle cut him off, his patience snapping. In two strides, he closed the distance and enveloped Bornova in a fierce embrace.
Bornova, caught off guard, froze but didn't resist. The rare warmth of this father-son reunion softened the moment.
Alaric watched thoughtfully, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. In his mind, he assessed Bornova's condition.
Having dealt with Azik, Adam, and Amon, Alaric was experienced in treating "divine puppets," Bornova's state resembled Azik's... his humanity wasn't entirely gone like Adam's, nor uniquely warped like Amon's. It was suppressed by divinity, exacerbated by the God of Steam and Machinery's influence, rendering him a hollow shell.
The simplest fix would be to eliminate the God of Steam and Machinery and bolster Bornova's human anchors. This dual approach could restore him, like Azik, in no time. But unlike the disgraced God of the Death, Stiano wasn't a viable target for elimination... Alaric needed Him to advance technology. So, Plan A was off the table.
No matter. A gentler approach existed: confronting Stiano directly, using the threat of force to make Him cease influencing Bornova. While this wouldn't erase all effects immediately, with time and effort, Bornova could break free and regain his humanity.
As Alaric mulled over strategies, Amon adjusted his monocle, intrigued. A Sequence 2 like Bornova was no challenge for him, but the "divine puppet" State piqued his interest, especially given his recent study of humanity. Bornova was a perfect case study.
Though the onlookers were deep in thought, the embracing father and son were lost in the simple warmth of their reunion.
After a moment, Roselle released Bornova, stepping back. His expression complex, he said, "It's been so long. Don't you have anything to say to me?"
Bornova's face remained impassive, his blue eyes meeting Roselle's with faint confusion, as if puzzled by the question.
After a pause, he said, "I thought we had nothing left to say, Father."
Roselle's emotions churned. He wanted to laugh... not from joy, but from exasperation.
"Nothing to say? Nothing to say? Should I be glad you at least remember the idioms I taught you?" Roselle's voice veered into absurdity. "But you forgot the part where I told you to always love your family?"
Faced with Roselle's near-accusatory tone, Bornova paused, then lowered his eyes. "I don't have those emotions. I thought you knew that, Father."
"..."
He felt like he needed oxygen. Staring at Bornova, he was at a loss, gripped by an absurd sense of disbelief.
"Here, take this heart pill and breathe deeply." Alaric said, pressing something into Roselle's hand.
Roselle glanced down, stunned to see an actual heart pill. "Where did you get this?"
"Custom-made. You know, just in case." Alaric said with a smile, glancing at him.
"How thoughtful." Roselle muttered, unsure what to say. The interruption did calm him. He looked at Bornova's serene face, clutched his chest, and popped the pill into his mouth.
He was genuinely worried he'd give himself a heart attack.
Though unsure if the pill would work on a Sequence 0, it offered psychological comfort.
Taking a deep breath, Roselle turned to Alaric, earnest. "Boss, you said Bornova's issue needs his kin to resolve, but you see this... I can't handle him. If I could've fixed this, I would've done it over a century ago."
Some things required expertise, and Roselle knew he was no match for Alaric in restoring a "divine puppet's" Humanity. This was the guy who'd even brought out Adam's humanity.
Alaric glanced at him, nodding with a hint of resignation. "Fine. What kind of boss would I be if I didn't step in?"
Roselle clapped, grinning. "Boss, you're the best! I'll work for you forever!"
***
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