Chapter 205: Despair, In It’s Purest Form
A week slid by, and before Noah knew it, it was the seventh day of the week.
He stood near the gates of the academy, watching students stream out.
Carriages lined the street beyond, enchanted wheels already rattling as they carried groups toward the capital and its distractions.
The air buzzed with chatter, the students laughing, planning their day of freedom.
Among them, Arlo strolled up to Noah, hands in his pockets, blindfold in place. His grin was more subdued than usual.
"Not heading out today?" he asked.
Noah shook his head. His eyes stayed on the students. "There’s not much out there for me to do right now."
Arlo hummed, accepting that answer. "Fair enough. I suppose the capital gets old when you’ve seen too much of it. Still, a peaceful day in here isn’t so bad either."
He tilted his head slightly. "As for me, my father’s in the capital. The man wants to see me. That’s an invitation I can’t exactly refuse."
Noah turned to look at him, studying his tone. Arlo only shrugged.
"Wish me luck," Arlo chuckled, stepping past him. "Enjoy your quiet day."
Noah simply nodded in acknowledgement.
He stayed there until Arlo disappeared into one of the waiting carriages.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked back across the campus, returning to his dorm.
Inside, he closed the door carefully, shutting out the noise of students and carriages outside.
Slowly, he dressed.
First the dark leather cloak, its folds heavy over his shoulders, then the strip of black cloth tied firmly over the lower half of his face.
He stood still for a breath, then whispered mana into his spell.
With a muted pop, he vanished, teleporting to the room where Snake waited.
He took a moment to light the brazier, then turned to look at Snake.
The modified flames of his Pillar of Judgement still burned, the man having been subjected to a long week of agony.
Noah lifted his hand, and the black flames that had clung to Snake’s body like a second skin flickered once before fading.
The room grew quieter without the hiss of burning flesh.
Snake sagged against the chains, his body trembling violently. Charred skin cracked as he moved, and tears streaked down his face.
A ragged sob tore from his throat, relief flooding him now that the unbearable fire was gone.
He coughed, choking on his own cries, his body twitching with aftershocks of pain. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air.
Noah chuckled softly.
"This," he said, stepping closer towards Snake’s ruined face, "is despair."
"It’s the moment you know deep in your bones that no one is coming for you. No rescuer. No savior. Just you, dangling in the dark, knowing that the world has already forgotten you exist."
Snake lifted his head weakly, his eyes red and wet.
"You thought someone would pull you out," Noah continued, his voice low. "That’s why you laughed. That’s why you taunted me."
"Because you believed in some unseen hand waiting to snatch you from the fire." His grin widened. "But no one came. And no one ever will."
Noah let the silence stretch, only the sound of Snake’s labored breathing filling the room.
Then, leaning forward, his eyes gleaming like hot coals.
"Now," he murmured, "are you ready to answer questions? Or do we start again?"
Snake’s lips trembled, his composure shattering completely. The chains rattled as his body shook, his voice spilling out between frantic sobs.
"Y- yes! Please! I’ll tell you! I’ll say everything you want to know!"
"Good."
Noah snapped his fingers, and the shadows lining the walls stirred like black smoke caught in a draft.
They twisted, folded, and hardened into the shape of a chair.
The chair sat in a jagged shape, with edges sharp enough to cut if touched.
He lowered himself onto it, his tail coiling lazily along the ground like a serpent.
His orange eyes locked on Snake.
"Let’s begin," Noah said. "Who’s in charge of the demon hybrid program?"
Snake coughed wetly, his lips trembling before words spilled out. "O— Othello. His name is Othello. He’s the one behind all of this."
Noah’s head tilted. "And who is Othello?"
Snake swallowed, his chains rattling as he shifted. "A scientist... no, not just a scientist. A madman. He’s brilliant, too brilliant."
"They call him the Mad Scholar, the Demon of the Night. He... he’s obsessed with creation. With changing people into things they weren’t meant to be."
Noah tapped a finger on the armrest, his shadows shivering faintly in rhythm. "And the potions? How did he get them?"
Snake’s head shook. "He didn’t find them. He made them. Every formula, every drop. It’s his work."
"He’s been experimenting for years. On beasts, on people. The potion you saw in Bruno, in me... it all came from him."
"Why?" Noah’s eyes narrowed. "What’s the purpose of these potions?"
Snake’s breathing hitched. "He... he wants a new world. One where no one has to bow to demons anymore."
"His plan is to spread the potions, get people hooked. At first, it’ll be small bursts of power, enough to make them crave more."
"Then, eventually, a society where everyone is equally powerful, with humans turned into weapons. A world where the strong don’t have to fear demons... because we’ll all be monsters too."
Noah’s lips curled into a dark smile. "So that’s his paradise. A kingdom of beasts."
He leaned forward in his chair, his voice growing cold. "And Juniper. What was her connection? What did you do to her?"
Snake flinched at the name, his eyes wide. "I... I don’t know all of it. I swear! Othello chose her himself. Said she’d be the first real successful test subject."
"Not criminals, not slaves, not volunteers bought off with coins. An academy student. Someone young, bright, and untainted."
"He said her transformation would prove his potion could work on anyone, not just the broken."
The chains rattled as Snake jerked, his voice cracking. "I wasn’t there when it happened! I only know he used her to refine the formula. After her, the next batches were... stronger."
The silence grew in the room. Noah’s face betrayed nothing, though his shadows roiled, spreading like black roots across the floor.
Finally, his voice came, low and dangerous.
"Where," Noah asked, his gaze boring through Snake, "is Othello?"