Frederick skid to a stop immediately, turning sharply with an expression utterly different from the fierce, ready to fight expression he had on just a second before.
"D—Darling," he called out sheepishly, walking up to the woman who had appeared unnoticed. She had long black hair that cascaded down her side. Short and slim in stature, but with a poise that gave her a silent, imposing air. She was a beautiful woman in her forties, but looked as though she hadn't aged a day over thirty.
Her gaze was narrowed frigidly straight at her husband, the Slade family head, who she had just called to attention by his full name. "Don't tell me you were just about to indulge in a fight at my son — atour son's expense!"
"N—No. I would never do anything as dumb as that, darling. I was simply…" he trailed off after noticing her unimpressed expression at his charade.
"Hmph!"She walked past him with a huff, making sure to hit him away with a shoulder as she passed to show her displeasure.
The message was passed across clearly. She was very pissed.
"Micah Fugger, Isis Perosperone, Vettori Rossi," her voice took on a more amiable air as she addressed them, "thank you for bringing my son home safely," she walked straight to Micah inside the crater where he stood and cradled Finn's face.
"Well, ma'm, while I'd like to accept the praise, he's not out of danger just yet." Micah stated with a serious tone.
.
.
Promptly, Finn's mother ushered the party into the castle-like house, settling them into the large living room, eager for Micah to explain what was happening.
While her attention was fully on her son, she did not forget to send a messenger to Rick's family to notify them of their son's current state too.
"What's wrong with my Finn?" Worry colored her face as Finn was placed carefully on a sofa.
"Caretaker. Don't tell me you allowed harm to come to my child!" Graham Slade's voice boomed from behind. He had his hands crossed, and deep-set lines creased his forehead in a frown.
"You don't get to speak just yet!" His wife turned to him sharply with a seething tone. "This was your idea!! And now our son…"
"Ahem." Micah cleared his throat. "I don't mean to interrupt, but Finn's state is urgently dire."
"Then go ahead and do what is necessary!" Graham turned his attention back to Micah, slightly ticked.
"Yeahh, that's the thing… I can't do anything to help him right now," Micah shook his head. "If he was fully corroded, I could simply purge him of the soul mass. But somehow, he's still in there fighting for control…"
"What do you mean? I don't understand. Are you saying my son can't be saved?" The madam looked between her Micah and her husband in distress.
"I'm saying, right now, your son is fighting a battle onlyhe can win. There is nothing I can do from the outside to aid him. It depends solely on his soul strength."
The madam's shoulders dropped wearily as a light sob escaped her lips. Graham Slade, standing behind, clenched his fists so hard, they turned white. The verdict from the Ossuarist, coupled with his wife breaking down right in front of him, pained him to his very bones.
He had his head down-turned, but slowly lifted them up to meet his wife's tear-filled eyes, and within them, he could see a question. The question she refused to ask, but knew she wanted to. The same question that ate at his very soul as Micah explained the situation.
Why did he allow things to get this far…?
He closed his eyes, taking a few slow breaths to calm himself. He was the family head. He needed to be level headed and calm, especially in situations like this.
He was just about to speak, but Micah beat him to it.
"—But if you ask me… I think he'll come out on top," he stared at Finn with an unreadable look in his eyes, "His soul is one of the strongest I've seen… In fact, as strong as two top-grade soul mage talents…" he trailed off.
Micah's words seemed to soothe the gloom and worry that plagued the Madam, lifting her countenance a bit. The family head also seemed slightly relieved.
"But… What caused this in the first place? I did—" he suddenly paused, then pointedly stared at Vettori, who stood by a side with Isis.
The man got the message clearly – What the Slade family head was about to say wasn't for his ears.
Without being told, he promptly excused himself, his main purpose of being here already being fulfilled.
"I did know Finn was involved in soul magic." Graham started immediately after Vettori left.
"After his failed affinity test for talent in the arcane, he had never been the same. We could see him try to act like it was nothing, but he'd lost that light in his eyes… that vigour… that zeal to strive for something greater," he sighed. "It didn't help that the rest of his peers in the extended family displayed talent in the arcane. He became the odd one out..."
"So I did what any father would do."
"You orchestrated his introduction to soul magic." Micah said matter-of-factly.
"I only subtly provided him with the means to another alternative. Even I did not know whether he had the talent for soul magic or not. You know we do not test for it here in Aethelos."
"While I applaud your concern and care as a father, especially compared to most here, allowing your son to assimilate twenty chaotic soul masses goes beyond 'subtly' providing him with means. It's utter madness! How were they even procured?!"
Graham Slade stared dumbstruck. "...What do you mean, twenty chaotic soul masses? Finn had never assimilated any single soul mass!"
Micah sneered, clearly unconvinced. "You expect me to believe your son was able to procure and assimilate twenty chaotic soul masses all on his own totally under the radar, and without your knowledge?"
Graham Slade's hands dropped to his sides, and his eyes went cold immediately. "Watch your tone, Ossuarist. I will not have you come into my home and accuse me of being a liar."
"Then please, by all means, tell me how your son was able to assimilate twenty chaotic soul masses without your knowledge…"