For a long time, the old man didn't answer.
He simply stared at the talismans plastered across the walls, then slowly drifted toward the corpse lying on the thin mattress.
His face had lost most of its color, but the rage in his eyes burned red enough to make up for it.
Aren didn't want to push him.
Sure, it would be a waste if the ether stored inside these talismans simply dispersed back into the surroundings. But it wasn't like he was deprived of it to begin with.
And besides. Some choices became meaningless if forced too quickly.
If Oran agreed now while he was deep in his rage and shame, then the decision wouldn't belong to him, but from Aren's pressure.
Miu stood quietly beside the old man, one hand still supporting his arm while Stella remained near the doorway.
She occasionally glanced at the other rooms, making sure nothing of the sort was happening again. Even if she said nothing, her frowning face made it clear she understood exactly how ugly the proposal was.
