Becoming a Monster

Chapter 344: Chapter 344: Who Am I to You?

Noah stared deeply into Eve. He observed every minimal change of her physical appearance. Besides her third eye, she appeared to be the same as she was before.

But that was only her appearance. As he watched her the way she moved, the way her eyes darted back and forth from his gaze. There was more to her eyes than just a child who was caught misbehaving.

He could sense a maturity that went beyond her childlike emotions. He knew she had grown. But behind her guilt, behind her fear of being punished, there was an even deeper fear; a fear of someone who had a secret, one that they were too afraid of anyone finding out.

Noah’s gaze sharpened, his instincts urged him to unearth whatever she was hiding. What could she possibly have to hide or was even willing to hide from him unless it had something to do with Ava?

What could Ava possibly have done or said to Eve that would cause her to hide it from him?

The pearls of his eyes flickered intensely. With just a thought he could force Eve to reveal what she was hiding. It was for her safety, and also for his.

But, as he watched the vampire in front of him hesitate to even look at him, fearful to even approach, his heart felt a deepening pain.

The little vampire who always clung to his side, now stood before him as if he were a stranger-no, it was worse. It was as she believed that he would shatter whatever bond that still lingered between them.

And that, more than whatever secret she carried, hurt him in a way that defied words.

”...Eve,” he said gently, as gently as one whose voice alone would shake the weakest of wills. ”I won’t force you. But I need to know something.”

She looked up, barely, like a child caught between hope and a heartbreak.

”Who am I to you?”

Eve’s soul shook.

Of all the questions he could ask, why this one? Before she thought about how to answer, she first thought of the implications why he asked her this question specifically.

Her lips trembled. The mischievous girl understood that Noah was serious; any games or acting in this situation could possibly make things worse.

She swallowed hard, staring at the ground like it might answer for her. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft, barely above a whisper.

”I... I’m not sure how to say it right,” she mumbled, her small pointed teeth threatened to pierce through her pursed lips.

”I used to think you were just like my papa...but then I saw you as my brother. Because when I’m around you, I feel safe, happy... but also scared. I feel brave but also really small.”

Finally, she looked up, tears welling up in her eyes for the first time.

”But it was because of you that I could feel at all. And it’s only with you...with everyone...that I feel like I belong.”

Her voice cracked on that last word.

”Even when I mess up...even when I get scared...I still look for you. Because to me....you’re my home.”

A hush settled between them.

Even those who were unfamiliar with Noah’s companions were too consumed with their emotional dialogue that no one dared to interrupt such a vulnerable confession.

Noah originally stood still. He didn’t speak, and his eyes continued to glisten as the last of Eve’s words replayed in his mind over and over.

Then, slowly, he stepped forward.

Eve flinched instinctively; Noah’s new appearance wasn’t even to get used to. His ”face” wasn’t the least bit helpful in determining his mood.

Seeing this, Noah’s appearance took on a change. The void began to recede, almost growing transparent. And what the darkness revealed was a face that was unique to the old Noah that Eve came to adore. It was then that Eve, just for a moment, seemed to hallucinate, thinking she glimpsed tears in his eyes.

When he reached her, Eve didn’t make the first move. It was Noah who suddenly embraced her.

His arm wrapped around her with a tenderness of a person holding back, afraid of breaking the person within their arms. As Noah held her, he noticed how much taller she was than before. It made him think about the words she said, that she had a maturity growing along with her size.

He began to miss the Eve that could fit entirely in his arms, but at the same time, his love for her grew. She was growing, and she made him feel that despite his faults, he was doing his best in raising her.

Eve froze.

For a heartbeat, her mind couldn’t catch up. Was this the same Noah? Many times he had shown her affection, but not once had he opened himself to be so emotionally vulnerable. She had seen him treat Ailetta with such care, sometimes even Arachne, but never anyone else.

Her small frame shuddered once, before her arms finally wrapped around him in return. Clutching him as if this moment would turn to be an illusion the moment she let go.

And in that moment, Eve even considered telling Noah about her secret...about Ava’s secret. Because she wanted Noah to continue to express himself the same way he was now; to spoil her and to still treat her like when she was still small.

The words hovered on the edge of her lips. Her stilled heart never felt this much alive before. All it would take was a breath to explain to Noah about Ava’s path, her identity, and... her purpose.

But that was what terrified her the most. Deep down, she knew the way Noah would look at Ava and the way he would look at her, would change forever. So instead, she held him tighter.

All along, Noah could feel her indecision; he could sense the uneasiness in the way she fidgeted. But he didn’t press. Right now was enough. He just had to be more aware, to be there for Eve to guide her. Because she was fighting her own battle. Just like he had the entity inside of his soul, she too must have an entity of great power inside hers.

What he needed to do for her now was the same that he is doing for himself.

”Eve, your secrets are your own. But know that when you feel that you are losing your way, when it seems that you aren’t strong enough to face this burden on your own...” He paused, lifting her face to look him in the eyes. Eve dazedly looked into the windows of his soul and saw a monster, a monster that would destroy the world in her name.

”I’ll show you the proper way our family takes care of things.”

______________

After Noah’s and Eve’s touching moment, his attention was soon gathered by something that was always there.

The chest he last received was open for everyone to see. A chest that was supposedly empty was now almost filled to the brim with gold, ’His’ gold.

How did he know it was his? Because when he reflected inward the same way he has always done when he wanted to check his system, he realized that his gold was gone too.

For a moment, he felt that the Divine Being was being magnanimous. But then, Ailetta asked a question that shattered the illusion.

”If the system was used to store the gold,” she said slowly, ”and one would need to make contact with that creature to use the shop... doesn’t that mean you’d still need to have the system just to access it?”

Crack!

An invisible pressure was suddenly released from Noah’s figure, a pressure that was just as quickly contained. Why? Why return the gold in the first place if he wasn’t able to use it? He felt the Divine Being was torturing him out of spite for breaking away from the system.

Noah’s thoughts turned cold, bitter. He didn’t notice the approaching footsteps until they were nearly behind him.

Then...

Snap!

His head jerked toward the sound, his eyes glinted with an expression that was bordering madness and depression.

Mark froze immediately, taking a few steps back just in case.

”I-sorry,” he said quickly, his hands raised instinctively. Seeing that Noah’s eyes were still grounded, intensively focused on his every move, Mark hurriedly spoke up.

”I overheard...about the system, the shop...and you not being able to use it anymore.”

His words came out as invisible daggers being impaled into Noah’s heart, causing Noah’s gaze to narrow even further. Mark gulped, but forced himself to continue.

”So what if I used it inste-” Mark was barely able to get out another word before Noah fully erupted. He couldn’t hold back anymore. After being kicked when he was down, did someone still have the nerve to rob him?

With Noah’s outburst, the room mysteriously began to dim. Light bent, seemingly fleeing away from Noah’s presence.

If his aura was once considered as a blizzard before, then now it was no different from a frozen hell, so cold that it literally burned.

Mark had to act fast, his aura flaring, not only to protect himself, but to protect his own, who he could already hear gasping in agony.

Mark should’ve been angry, but even if he was, he wasn’t able to voice his anger. Noah’s aura was too overbearing. But more than anything, instead of being furious, Mark was admonishing himself.

”Why would I word it that way?”