Chapter 1238 - Dollhouse (Part 2) (1/2)

Logic dictated that any threat to their existence had to be permanently removed and that was what she had helped Lith to do many times over the years. Solus had never objected whenever he experimented on his prisoners or tortured them to get the answers he needed.

Her sudden change of heart sounded hypocritical even to herself, especially after helping him to design several blueprints of a modern body-swapping machine.

'No. I wouldn't. Deirus has it coming for all the lives he has destroyed in pursue of his mindless revenge.' She said.

'That's my point. I'm not a wanton murderer but I'm no pushover either. I wouldn't use the ritual for fun nor would I pick my specimens randomly. I would use only those who I would have killed anyway.

'That, however, it's not important right now. What we have to decide is how much of what we discovered we want to share with the Council, what to do about the Hands, and if you want to spend some time here alone.' Lith said.

'What? Why in the gods' name would I want to stay here?' Solus's eyes were wide open in surprise.

'Because if you pretend not to know what lies behind its l.u.s.ter, Kolga is a nice place filled with regular people. Because here you wouldn't need to come to me every time you use magic. Because the Forbidden Sun might hasten your recovery more than I can.

'Most importantly, because it would give you the freedom you deserve.' Lith bent the knee to look Solus in the eyes.

Even without the mind fusion, he could feel that between the height gap and her sitting on an armchair due to her still wobbly legs, Solus was getting a stiff neck from looking up to him.

It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to her. On top of that, she knew from the mind fusion how painful it was to him even the thought of their separation, yet Lith kept putting her happiness first.

Even if it meant losing the tower's prowess for an indefinite time. Once again, Solus took her time before answering, to not let her emotions sway her.

'Thank you, but I don't want to stay here one second longer than needed. I understand that from your point of view Kolga might look like an improvement for me, but it isn't.

'My tower is a small cage, but it's filled with people I love and it allows me to travel wherever I want. Kolga may be bigger, but it's still a cage, and one filled with people I don't care about and fueled by nightmares that I can't stand.

'This place isn't freedom for me. It's a dollhouse built by a twisted mage that constantly reminds me of my mother's foolishness.' She said.

'What do you want to do about it?' Lith asked.

'Tista is right. Kolga must be destroyed and the sooner the better. Both the merfolk and the people of the Kellar region don't deserve to live under the constant threat of the monsters that the breaking of either barrier would unleash.

'However, Phloria is right as well. We can't let anyone learn about the Hands of Menadion. If what we heard from the inhabitants of Kolga when we first got here is true and the Hands can control more than one mana geyser at the time, there's no telling what might happen if they fall into the wrong hands.' Solus said.

'Do you realize that if we bring down Kolga thousands of people will die and that among them there are many innocents? They accepted the ritual to save their city at first and then simply because they had no other choice.

'Life is not black and white. No matter what you do, people will die anyway. Are you ready to shoulder such a burden?' Lith asked.