The God of Steam and Machinery recalled that Roselle had indeed mentioned Lucifer's purpose at the start, but his attention had been hijacked by Roselle's offhand comment about not dwelling on the past, so he'd missed the actual point.
By the time their argument escalated, the God of Steam and Machinery had completely forgotten Roselle's initial words.
"See, that's what you get for being lovesick," Alaric said abruptly, his tone almost earnest. "Sure, you got beat up for acting less than human, but if you'd spared even a bit of brainpower for business and talked it out with me properly, I wouldn't have backed Roselle pummeling you!"
"Hey, how long are you gonna milk that joke?" Roselle snapped from the side, clearly annoyed. "I'm straight, alright!"
"Oh, please. My favorite ship sank out of nowhere... can't I mourn a little?" Alaric shot him a look, undeterred. "And you've got the nerve to call yourself straight? What straight guy gets tangled up with a Demoness?"
Roselle choked, his confidence faltering as he muttered something under his breath about "Demoness being women too" and "it all looks the same," words too vague for anyone to follow.
Alaric ignored him, turning back to the God of Steam and Machinery. "You already know my first goal... advancing the tech tree and getting your church's support for reforms. The second is simple."
He paused, glancing at Bornova with a smile. "I'll help Bornova regain his humanity and become a proper angel. That'll need your cooperation."
The God of Steam and Machinery froze, instinctively looking at Bornova, who was quietly applying ointment to his wounds, resembling a lifeless doll.
He pursed his lips. He'd never thought Bornova's state was wrong or harmful. Becoming an angel was a dream for most Beyonders, and with his protection, Bornova faced none of the dangers other unsupported angels did. He could live safely forever.
Until today's beating, the God of Steam and Machinery had genuinely believed he'd taken good care of Roselle's son.
But after Roselle's tirade, he realized he might have been wrong.
Perhaps he shouldn't have influenced Bornova... at least not turned him into a "devout angel."
Alaric seemed to read his thoughts, smiling. "At least you've got a chance to make it right. Help Bornova regain his humanity, and you can truly mend things with Roselle."
"…I understand. What do I need to do?" The God of Steam and Machinery asked after a moment's silence, taking a deep breath.
"Simple. First, stop influencing Bornova's divinity and will," Alaric said, still smiling.
"I haven't influenced Bornova in years, but as a God, my mere existence affects him. I can only minimize it, not eliminate it entirely," The God of Steam and Machinery replied.
It wasn't a lie. A high-ranking being's presence naturally influenced those lower in the same pathway... a trait hard to nullify completely.
"Then minimize it as much as you can," Alaric said, unsurprised, nodding. "Second, tell him right now to pursue his humanity, to seek it out. This kid's your devout follower. Even without divine influence, he still believes in you."
The God of Steam and Machinery froze again, his gaze on Bornova tinged with complexity.
He sighed suddenly. "Bornova, I always thought I treated you well. I made you an angel, the closest being to me. Even if it cost you your sense of self and humanity, I never saw that as a bad thing…"
"My lord, you've been very good to me," Bornova said, meeting his gaze briefly before instinctively lowering his eyes.
"But even I've been chasing humanity," The God of Steam and Machinery continued, as if speaking to Bornova and mocking himself. "I struggled when my humanity was overwhelmed by madness and divinity, only finding relief through your father… yet I forgot."
His smile carried bitterness but also relief and encouragement. He patted Bornova's shoulder. "Pursue your humanity, Bornova. You should be free. I bound you before, but now, soar, my angel! Seek the self you deserve. If, after finding your humanity and self, you still wish to follow me, I'll welcome you back anytime!"
"My lord…" Bornova looked bewildered, his usual calm, doll-like demeanor giving way to a childlike uncertainty. He instinctively raised his eyes, meeting the God of Steam and Machinery's, then tried to look away but was stopped.
"Am I that frightening, Bornova, that you can't even meet my eyes?" The God of Steam and Machinery said, his tone light with a hint of teasing.
Having realized some truths, he decided to drop his lofty airs and treat Bornova as an equal.
Though he still couldn't fully grasp Roselle's grievances, he understood that stripping Bornova's humanity was a mistake. To reconcile with Roselle, he could no longer treat Bornova like a mere follower.
"No, it's just… one shouldn't gaze directly at a god. It's disrespectful…" Bornova shook his head, answering instinctively.
"Then don't see me as your lord for now. See me as…" The God of Steam and Machinery paused, glancing at Roselle, whose expression had softened considerably. Roselle mouthed something: "Not entirely hopeless, old pal."
The God of Steam and Machinery's lips twitched into a faint smile. Turning back to Bornova, he said, "See me as your father's old friend. An uncle, maybe?"
Wasn't that how close mortal friends introduced themselves to each other's kids?
***
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