CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
The aircraft finally arrived at Valkyren city. Ives welcomed the familiar glow of his home's city lights with both gratitude and melancholy.
The countless living underneath would never know of the disturbing reality that governs their everyday existence, fighting for dreams, pursuits and ambitions, unaware that they have gone on the same path a thousand before in a hundred different ways in an endless series of experimental lifetimes meant to help their silent overlords find the most effective way to make them dance like puppets on a string for their amusement.
"You can never see it the same way again. Can you?" Aldire mused openly.
Ives only focused his dull gaze on her in response to her words, seeing his attention completely hers, she continued her reverie.
"Whether you choose to show it or not, I know how you feel."
"And how do I feel, Miss Tell?" Ives questioned her.
"Lost. You believed all this time you were the one in control of your fate. You knew who to hate. Who to love. What made what, what. It was clear what made sense and what was just the ramblings of a disillusioned heart or the wishful prayers of a longing heart. Now that narrative has shattered, on one hand you're glad to be among the chosen, those who get to live outside the box that the others are forced to live in. Then on another, you're terrified at what is now possible. You now have to live in a world where tomorrow is not certain and your entire life can be erased on a whim by forces and entities far greater than you'll ever be. You now have power but realise that power only makes you more aware of how pointless most things really are. You're not helpless but can't say that you're free, knowing has trapped you in a world where everything you wanted doesn't feel right to have anymore. And in another, you are angry. More hateful than you know how to be. The realisation that every tragedy and struggle you faced never truly the fault of your enemies but a set of engineered circumstances all meant to influence a grander field of affairs and all your suffering or success was simply the effect of the dice rolling in your favour in this round but who knows how it will be in the next. You have no choice but to either accept this new life and find a way to ensure that Ives Rothschild remains a reality in any other world that could occur or you could try to rebel against the order and experience inevitable failure and even more suffering than you thought was possible. But you are too simple to pick and fully commit to one of these two options so instead to block out all your emotions and lay there in wait hoping for some sign from the universe which one is the best choice to make. Am I right or Am I wrong?" Aldire laid bare all his internal struggles, she knew him well. Too well for it to be coincidence.
"What should I do to ease this struggle?" Ives asked honestly.
Aldire was vain to hell and back but was good when it came to reading into people.
Seeing Ives finally opening up to her, Aldire stretched her hand to him.
"Become mine and you will never have to worry about these things."
Ives rolled his eyes at her statement, annoyed at himself for even trying to reason with her.
"Sorry. Losing more of my autonomy isn't part of my preferred list of solutions." He dismissed her offer.
"Do you see yourself as a heroic figure?" She suddenly asked for no reason. The tension in the cabin had become intense, Dawn and Aura sat at the edge of their seat awaiting the outcome of their conversation.
"No. I don't." Ives said plainly.
"Why?" Aldire pressed deeper.
This question hit deep but Ives knew the answer and wasn't comfortable admitting it to Aldire. Sensing his hesitation, Aldire entreated him.
"Ives, tell me. I am more on your side then any other person in your life. Ending all your turmoil is as easy as breathing to me if I so wish and your answer might determine if I consider that something worth doing."
For a boy who has lived a life prone to tragedy, Ives understood human nature at its finest, not people when there is a clear sense of what is good and just. When doing what's right feels rewarding but people when all their masks are off. When good action is held back by walls of procedures, person interpretations or a general will not to be at odds with a trusted companion. When removing your gaze from a suffering child seems like the best option especially when you had no real reason to inconvenience yourself and are convinced without a doubt that their misfortune is their own engineering.
Regardless of how he felt about ethics, Ives knew for a fact that if anyother was in his place, they wouldn't lose sleep over whatever it was right to be part of this manipulation.
Why should he.
The option was presented it was them who chose to take the path.
If surrendered up this power and fought for ideals, it wouldn't be long till he is replaced by someone who sees himself as a better candidate for wielding this power.
People hoarded their money, privileges and all fact claiming it was well earned and still preached fair distribution. Why not him.
Since he could, he would Ascend until human society is just an insignificant pawn. A tool in his pocket.
Ives gave his response, "Because I don't feel doing it."
"Beautiful. You passed with flying colours. Ives Rothschild, We are gods nothing more. These petty things are not things you should burden yourself with. Fulfill your desires first then throw the crumbs off for others to build. You cannot survive in our midst by holding onto the old weak you. Let him die."
Aldire retrieved the suitcase containing the Lazlo compound, filled it into the custom syringe and injected it into Ives' wrist.
Ives Rothschild became functionally immortal.
Ives let her do this knowing that it did her no good to harm him.
"Ives, I wish for us to be in an alliance."
"What for?"
"It would do you good not to completely trust the order."
Aldire removed her mask, Dawn and Aura followed suit. Ives didn't need to doubt they were a family, the resemblance was uncanny.
Ives removed his as a symbol of trust.
"Ives become part of my family."
Ives removed his gaze from Aldire showing that he was done with her incessant requests.
"If you do, I can promise you true freedom. The order is a tool, you can trust them but do not allow yourself to be vulnerable and currently you still don't have the ability to accomplish that."
"I would rather not listen to your words and become a pawn in your silly games." Ives made his thought known.
"Ives, Dear. If I helped you save your mother, would you reconsider?"
The room became silent, the second Aldire said these words. Dawn gave Aldire a tablet and she showed it to Ives.
In it he saw what looked to be a nightmare. Several people tailing a woman with glasses. Ives recognised those features - Milky white skin. Blue eyes. Black hair arranged into a bun and a nerdy appeal only someone familiar with expert understanding could pull off. She wore a long brown coat and rushed through the rain before finally being cornered, Ives watched her get blown apart by the assailants who used hand signs to cause this devastating damage, a trademark of the order's acolytes.
Then the scene shifted to a familiar neighborhood where the very same woman materialized again, completely unarmed and apparently without any recollection of what recently occurred.
"This is an Aberration. We call her - the recurring woman. In order to contain this, we've to close off any of her emerging locations. Her name is Celeste Fleck."