Chapter 479 (1/2)

At first, Randidly was startled by the thought, and the strength of emotion behind it, but then he had to admit to himself, there were very few times in the past where he and Lyra were able to get along. There was some… perhaps flirting, some sexual tension and controversy, but regardless of the motivations, theirs was a history of conflict.

After giving her a few seconds to peer at him, he cleared his throat. “You are right, let’s get down to it. Lyra… you’ve worked with the Creature. You’ve helped her, here in Donnyton.”

Lyra was an actress, first and foremost, and she had continued to hone those Skills from before the System in the world after it. But to Randidly, it almost seemed like the better she was at acting, the more obvious what she truly felt was, as she left a trail of all the emotions she did not fell.

Very clearly, Randidly could see the way the joy in her eyes died, and a resentful cloud emerged to cover her. She smirked at him.

“Yes.”

Randidly frowned. She didn’t even offer an explanation or a justification, she was content to just let the answer hang in the air, which infuriated him to no end. And, of course, it made him realize she had answered just like that in order to infuriate him.

But why? What was the point in antagonizing him now?

“Look, let’s not play these mind games,” Randidly started, but she just gave him a dismissive look.

“No games, doggy?” Lyra said, widening her eyes as if she were shocked or scared. “But however else will we relate to each other? We both know that neither of us is emotionally mature enough to have a true, genuine connection. I’m a child, and well, you’re- you’re broken, aren’t you?”

Randidly just looked at her, taken slightly aback. Then something clicked in his head. “...are you seriously still pissed off that I refused to entertain the idea of us being…”

She just looked at him, her face still. Only a look of mild amusement was discernible there. When it became clear he wasn’t going to continue. “Do go on, I’d love for you to admit that something could happen between us. I would feel so vindicated. And I think Sam would have lost a bet.”

“Holy Christ.” Randidly pressed his eyes shut. This was a pointless diversion. He needed to refuse. “We can talk about that… about the past after. For now, I need to know why you were crazy enough to work with the Creature.”

“No, we will talk now,” Lyra said, moving over to the sole chair in her small room and sitting down. She crossed her legs. Her eyes were sharp and clear when they looked up at him. “Because you know what? This is about respect. You refuse to give it to me, and then you act so surprised and self-righteous when I stopped giving it to you. I think you need to get over yourself before we speak any further.”

“Don’t be a child,” Randidly snapped, feeling himself losing control of the conversation, even as another part of him rose, furious, hoping he let loose more.

“Really? Is that the only way you see me?” Lyra hissed, leaning forward, letting her own loss of calm show. “I’ve become a Village Spirit. I’ve accomplished things no one else has done since. Even before you did, I discovered Aether. And I do not have the benefit of having an unending supply of it in my chest-”

“You died,” Randidly said, his tone chilly. “Although your personality remains, the body that birthed it was buried. All because you wouldn’t talk about your plans. That’s what this is about-”

“If I wanted to, I could have saved that body,” Lyra said, cutting him off. “I had it handled.”

His fury mounting, Randidly shook his head, incredulous at her lack of self-awareness. “You spoiled bitch.”

“Really, doggy, gendered language? I’d have thought you better than that.” Lyra’s smile was back, small and sharp.

Randidly’s hands clenched into fists. “Don’t you dare call me that right now. You are a fool, Lyra. It’s hard to believe that you ‘had it handled’ when you almost ceased to be. You act without thinking and without communicating, just leaving us out to dry.”

“That’s rich, coming from you. You act before thinking and communicating. You are always running off to deal with some other problem, and when you return you barely bother to check in. Meanwhile, I’m here-”