"Of course," Mason replied. "There isn't a single Awakened who doesn't know who you are."
He noticed the suspicious look in Samael's eyes and quickly added:
"We're from the same academy."
For a moment, Samael fell silent.
Then, understanding finally dawned.
"Ah…" he murmured.
Now it made sense.
The fame.
The looks.
The excessive caution.
Elizabeth stepped forward, her violet eyes fixed on him like sharpened blades.
"Then tell me one thing," she said, her voice firm, devoid of any kindness. "Why did you attack me?"
The silence stretched for a second longer than necessary.
Samael tilted his head slightly.
"No particular reason," he replied.
The answer hit like a bucket of cold water.
Elizabeth's expression hardened instantly. Her eyes narrowed, and the tension in the air thickened.
"You almost killed me," she said coldly. "And you're saying it was… for nothing?"
"Yes," Samael answered without hesitation.
Mason swallowed.
That wasn't arrogance.
Nor provocation.
It was indifference.
Elizabeth took a deep breath, clearly restraining her irritation.
"Then let me rephrase," she said carefully. "What do you want?"
"Caution," Samael replied.
She frowned.
"Explain."
"I want you to take care of me."
Silence fell once more.
"And what do we gain in return?" Elizabeth asked. She clearly disliked the idea of someone attacking first and demanding afterward.
Samael studied her for a moment.
"You're the leader?" he asked.
"She is," Mason answered before Elizabeth could speak.
Samael's gaze returned directly to her.
"You'll have me in return," he said coldly. "I'll do whatever you want."
The crater seemed to grow even quieter.
Elizabeth held his gaze, assessing every detail: the injured body, the firm posture, the eyes empty of fear.
That didn't sound like submission.
It sounded like someone offering a weapon.
And waiting to see if she had the courage to wield it.
Elizabeth let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Hah… you're just as problematic as the rumors say."
She took another step forward.
"I accept the deal," she said. "But make this very clear: if you betray us, slow us down, or become a burden… we will kill you."
Her voice carried no threat.
It was a statement of fact.
"And one more thing," she added, her eyes locked onto his. "You will obey me compulsively. Me alone. No one else."
Samael immediately understood what that meant.
He didn't belong to that group.
Not truly.
He would belong only to her.
A one-sided alliance.
Unbalanced.
Toxic.
But at that moment…
It was everything Samael wanted.
To hand himself over to someone.
To not have to decide.
To not have to think.
To simply obey.
And walk the path someone else chose for him.
"We need to inform the rest of the group," Elizabeth said, glancing at Mason.
"Right," he replied. "We've got a new member… and Summer's going to have her hands full. He's in tatters."
"True," Elizabeth agreed.
Samael took a step toward her, but immediately stopped when he heard:
"Stop right there."
"Why?" he asked.
Elizabeth wrinkled her nose slightly.
"You stink. Go wash yourself first."
Samael looked down at himself.
Only then did he notice the awful stench clinging to his body.
He didn't argue.
He turned around and walked toward the Storm Sea. In the shallow waters, where it was safe, he began washing the dried blood and grime from his skin.
"What are the others going to think when we bring someone with that reputation?" Mason murmured. "And worse… if they find out he attacked us?"
"Henry won't like it one bit," Elizabeth replied.
Then she raised her voice:
"Hey, Samael! What's your Aspect? And your Flaw?"
"I can turn objects into Memories," he replied casually. "My Flaw is that my gender switches at night."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Your Aspect is very useful," she said. "And your Flaw isn't debilitating in combat."
She paused, observing him.
"That's already more than most can offer."
"Hey, if you're done washing, let's go," Elizabeth called out. "We need to arrive before nightfall."
Samael stepped out of the water.
He was shirtless.
The shirt had torn while he was cleaning himself, and there was no replacement.
Elizabeth gave him a quick look and narrowed her eyes.
"Put on a shirt."
It wasn't that she truly cared.
Elizabeth wasn't irrational enough to be bothered by something like that in this environment.
This was a test.
A simple test.
Obedience.
Without a word, Samael turned toward the nearest tree. He tore off several large leaves and, with a thought, transformed them into a Memory.
A simple shirt.
Its durability matched the previous one.
"Done," he said calmly.
Elizabeth examined the Memory for a moment.
"Let's go. And… your Aspect really is interesting," she commented as she turned away.
Then she looked back at Mason.
"Mason, move ahead carefully. Stay alert for Nightmare Creatures."
"There aren't any Nightmare Creatures on the beach," Samael said suddenly.
Elizabeth stopped.
She turned slowly toward him.
"How do you know?" she asked.
"I've already escaped one along the beach," Samael replied. "It retreated when it saw the sea."
He hesitated for a moment, then added:
"I think they're afraid of sea creatures."
Elizabeth's eyes lit up.
"That's excellent information," she said, visibly relieved. "Then we're safe as long as we stay on the beach."
Mason frowned and looked at Samael.
"You've already fought the creatures here?" he asked. "Alone? They're Awakened."
"Yes…" Samael replied quietly. "I fought them alone."
The near-whispered tone contrasted sharply with the coldness he had shown earlier.
Elizabeth noticed.
During the negotiation, Samael had spoken normally.
With her as well.
But now…
Isolated.
Exposed.
He seemed withdrawn.
As if the time spent alone had worsened something that was already broken.
Even so, he continued walking behind her.
Without questioning.
Without complaining.
Without hesitation.
As if, for the first time since arriving on that island…
Someone else was choosing the path for him.
And that was enough.