Leuko - Blind to the Sunlight

Chapter 18: Lie Don't Speak 

"I love it!" Allister responded to me happily while hugging the plushie extremely tight.

I breathed a sigh of relief at his reaction, despite putting all my effort into creating it, I was scared he would just tear it away in disgust. But it seemed I was right, what Allister want is safety, as long as I offered him that he would keep being my friend.

"Tha--nk y--ou!"

…eh?

What…what was that? Was it a curse? Did he curse me?

I just stood there in confusion as Cynthia stood up and clapped her hands. "Great, I'm happy you realize Luciel isn't a bad person. As for you Luciel, great idea!"

…Cynthia isn't reacting to the curse he just told me…maybe it isn't a curse then. I remember Joy saying the same thing to me…maybe I'm wrong…like always.

I sulked a little before noticing Cynthia was intensively looking at me as if she was waiting for something.

Did she ask a question I didn't hear?

But right after, she only sighed before backing away from the sofa. "Before we can start, I think it essential we start to know each other better, this way we will be able to trust each other and then, we can each become friends!"

What? You need trust to be friends with someone else?

"Oh…go—od id--ea." Allister shyly praised Cynthia with a weak smile on his face.

"I know, and as I was the first one to propose it, I will be the one to start! For starters, my name is Cynthia Goldwin, a member of the prestigious clan known for being all stupid except me!"

I tilted my head, but as no one asked me any questions yet, I didn't have the right to ask any yet.

But Allister could, and that's exactly what he did. "How…how is it even possible?"

"Good question Allister, and the answer is just as good, it because…

*SLAM*

We all turned our gaze toward the door where someone just slammed it on the wall with an angry expression on her face.

"Stupid galarian, stupid rule, and stupid me!" The silhouette soon walked angrily toward us, revealing its appearance to be the one of a woman with cascading blue hair wearing a tight suit all around her body.

I recognized her from the assistant of the spiky-haired boy who seemed scary.

How lucky! I already know what she wants to become friends with me, she just wants information about Volo. Of course I don't have nearly enough information about him, but it should be enough to know something else that could buy her friendship!

Cynthia approached her with a smile. "Hello roommate! I don't know why you were so late, but you still managed to come right in time for our introduction."

The girl stopped in her tract to look at Cynthia with a bothered gaze as if talking to her was a waste of her time. "My name is Clair Blackroot, daughter of the Blackroot clan, is that enough as an introduction?"

For some reason, Cynthia froze at her introduction and looked at her in shock before shaking her head. "Well happy to know you…Blackroot." She said in a jovial tone, but I could still detect some mockery in it, something I'm sure Clair also noticed.

"What? Does my clan bother you, nameless?" Clair responded with a much more noticeable animosity in her voice.

"Please refer to my more admirable name, Cynthia Goldwin!"

"Goldwin?!" Clair raised her eyebrow with fear and stood back from Cynthia with worry, before stopping. "Wait…Cynthia…Cynthia…right, I remember where it comes from now." She changed her expression to one of mockery instead, as if her previous fear didn't exist.

But before it could continue, I noticed someone holding me from my waist, I looked up just to see Allister holding me while trembling, but it was rather awkward as he was still taller than me, so his head wasn't able to hide completely.

…mmmh, If I want to make sure he can rely on me for his protection, I should gain more height!

I delicately took out Pandora off my shoulder and put him on my head to completely hide Allister.

For now, this will do.

"You're Cynthia Ashtorn, aren't you? Also called the Unwanted Proof, with the best characteristic being that you are alive only because the heretic considered you as someone interesting."

Cynthia grinted her teeth before looking angrily at Clair. "I am Cynthia Goldwin!"

"Of course, how could I forget to name that you were delusional? The lowly maid dared to call herself as someone of the highest standing of her clan despite having absolutely no blood relationship with anybody at the top."

"What does the blood even matter when I proved I was superior to them anyway, if I'm stronger than them it simply means they are the lower one!"

This comment made Clair frown. "…Your opinion has no merit, as you forgot one important point about being a plebian in your own clan, the fact that you weren't born as an esper."

What? She isn't an esper? But she told me she…oh no…Joy was right, she really is starting to become like Volo! She's even starting to lie!

But if she is not an esper, it means she was simply born as awesome as this!

Suddenly, I felt my shoulder being nudged, which made me look back at Allister who looked concerned. "Shou—shouldn't you—sto—op th—them?"

"Stop them? Why should I?"

"Be---because Cynthia---look in trouble…"

Is Cynthia in trouble?

I looked back at them simply bickering with each other about how whether she was superior or inferior, whatever this meant, but they didn't look in danger, and the fact that none of them tried to stop this showed that they were fine.

Allister must simply be extremely scared of how loud they speak!

If it's just that, I know what to do!

I covered both of my ears, and Allister suddenly showed a look of confusion as he looked around him.

"Listen Ashtorn, I don't care why you are here, just know that the next time you raise your tone toward me, I will make sure you regret it!"

"Oh really, I would love to see you try, in fact, it is probably the second thing I would love the most right now just after seeing your defeated face bowing toward me!"

Clair stood in silence at Cynthia's threat before looking toward me. "Estimated Archon, could you please punish this insolent servant for her disrespect toward me?"

"Eh?"

"What do you mean servant!? I'm not Luciel's servant! Why does everyone think that?!" Cynthia screamed, but Clair was still looking at me with a neutral gaze.

"If she continues as this, I would have to interpret her action as an indirect offence toward the Immortal Archon by you."

Cynthia immediately shut up after hearing this before looking at me with worry.

"She isn't my servant." I responded.

But contrary to my expectation, it only caused her to laugh before looking at Cynthia with mockery. "Look at that, already abandoned by your master, once more. You truly love to disappoint others don't you?"

…I think I understand Allister now, Cynthia is great, but she's bad at rhetoric…I know what to do then.

I delicately raised my arm and covered strangle my throat to Allister's confusion.

"Well if you're so much of a genius, why don't you---" Clair continued to open her mouth, but no word left it.

"Ah! Why are you suddenly speechle---"

Remarking her own inability, Cynthia looked at her mouth in surprise and even try to speak again just to be met with silence.

Good, now they can't be angry at each other!

It means I can also give back Allister's hearing.

"Wha—what di—did you do?" Allister questioned in confusion while looking at the girls concerned.

"I made them stop speaking."

Cynthia immediately looked at me in surprise, before opening her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

"…how did you make them stop speaking…and stopped me from hearing anything?"

I thought about it a little before responding to Allister. "I just stole it."

"Eh?" 

Even Cynthia and Clair looked at me in surprise.

"This is my cur…my esper power, I can steal every single sense of someone else and take it as my own. For them, I just took their sense of speech, which made them unable to have it anymore."

"But…speech isn't a sense…"

…it isn't?

Nah, Allister must simply be wrong.

"---wow that aws…wait! It's b---" 

I looked at Cynthia in surprise, thinking she had said something, but as before, no sound could leave her voice.

"Ca…can you give it back?" Allister asked politely to my confusion.

He wanted me to stop their dispute and now he wants to resume it?

Well if that's what he wants.

"---Why was it…oh! It works!" Cynthia exclaimed in joy while massaging her throat.

"Impressive, truly impressive lord Solarium." Contrary to my expectation, Clair didn't resume her bickering right after I gave her voice back, but she started to praise me instead… that's weird.

"Please don't call me Solarium…if you want." I asked shyly, scared that she would be angry again.

But she simply bowed toward me. "My apologies lord of Danu, I shall not make this mistake once more."

Cynthia looked at her with judgment. "Why are you suddenly so polite, where is your mockery? Or did you reserve them only for me, I feel honoured." 

"Good, this is exactly what you should feel to be in the presence of an Archon."

Cynthia looked surprised before looking at me as if she was asking if I heard the same thing as her, which of course I did, we're in the same room.

"Sadly I won't be able to kneel toward you lord, as my devotion is already on another being, please be understanding."

…oh! I understand! She's just like the believer of my progenitor, just with another master.

But why is she acting respectfully toward me then? Maybe she thinks I'm now the representative of my progenitor?

How do I tell she's wrong then…wait…wait a minute, maybe I can use that to make her my friend…but that would mean lying…decision, why do I have to make so many decisions lately?!

Why are there no rules covering that?

Maybe I should just make them myself, but that asks for even more decisions!

"Well anyways, this doesn't interrupt our presentation session!" Cynthia changed the subject and resumed her little activity from earlier.

Clair nodded before sitting on the couch. "If the Archon will it, then I shall accept it." 

Suddenly, Allister raised his hand, which prompted Clair to look at him with a calm gaze, that soon turned into disgust. "What do you want you profaner of the death?"

"Hiii." Allister immediately hid behind me again.

I looked at him in confusion. "She allowed you to speak, why aren't you asking your questions."

He looked at me tearfully before gazing at Clair. "I'm…I'm…sor…sorry…but... wh…what is an ar…chon?"

Clair raised an eyebrow before smiling at him. "It seems at least you can admit your inferiority profaner."

"Well will you answer the question, you inferior idiot." Cynthia asked teasingly, gaining the ire of Clair. 

"Fine, an Archon is a glorious being who possesses every single power of their esper type."

"Is…is that all?"

"It is, but it doesn't mean they are to be underestimated. An archon can simply be said to possess the power comparable to legendary pokemon, and they command the highest respect to any being that as the chance to exist in their presence."

"Pff, that's just an exaggeration." Cynthia scoffed.

"You of all people should know it not." Clair responded with a heavy gaze, which made Cynthia have a difficult expression.

"Volo is just an exception alright?!"

"Eh, and you say you aren't delusional."

"Of course I'm not, it's everyone else that is."

"Ple…please don't fight…" Allister pleaded, which earned both of the girls looking at him.

"He's right, it's time for our introduction after all." Cynthia said, giving up on talking with Clair more as she installed herself in front of us.

"So as I was saying before an arrogant idiot came to disrupt us, my name is Cynthia Goldwin, member of a failure of a clan."

"Well, I can agree on that." Clair said mockingly.

"Luciel, make her stop talking."

"Wh---"

I used my power once more on Clair, which made her unable to talk further.

"Thanks Luciel. Now, you must know that my origin have no correlation with me, as I am awesome contrary to them."

I nodded my head to her statement, as I could see now, she was truly awesome.

"Now, I'm from the Celestial Town of Sinnoh, and I can speak every language in the world. My favorite color is gold and I love ice cream because it sweet and I hate adult because they make me remind myself that it not always the best that stand on the top, as if it was, I would be the one on top!"

Suddenly, her face changed to be way more serious. "But another thing I have more than them, is ambition, more ambition than anyone can contain. So let me be clear, if anyone here thinks that they can stop me, then you might as well eat dirt right now to spare me the effort of putting the spoon right into your throat." She looked especially at Clair who only rolled her eye to her threat.

Cynthia's face grew sadder. "And…and if you…if you desire to conquer my same ambition…then I shall…I shall ask you…to not like me, and to not become my friend…because it is mine to conquer."

I could sense Allister tremble right beside me at the intensity of her gaze, and even Clair treated the situation seriously.

"Then I can like you, I have no desire to be the strongest after all." I responded, immediately making the atmosphere lessen in intensity.

"Oh…you wa…want to be…the str…strongest? I…I don't mind…just…just don't be…a bully."

Cynthia pushed out a sigh of relief before looking at me with a satisfied smile.

*Clap* *Clap*

Clair suddenly clapped her hand, which made me focus on her direction, just to see her pointing toward her throat.

What does she want? Does she want us to look at her neck?

…she does have a good-looking chocker, truly impressive. Wonder who did it?

"Luciel…you can give her voice back." Cynthia said with a tired look.

Oh…right…she could have been more clear than just pointing at her choker thought, so it's not my fault.

I concentrated on a feeling inside my throat before cutting and forcedly tearing it aways, it hurt, but nothing truly painful.

Clair massaged her throat before looking at me with reverence. "Thanks you lord." She thanked me before looking at Cynthia with a challenging gaze. "I have absolutely no interest in becoming the strongest."

"Oh…great, that's mean…

"However, the reason I have no interest for this position is because I know it is unattainable."

Cynthia fixed Clair with disappointment before hunching her shoulder. "I suppose I expected more brain power from you, yet I'm not disappointed, so it much means I lied to myself."

"Please, stop acting like you have any chance to reach this position, you're not even an esper."

"And what does that have to do with anything?"

Clair raised her eyebrow before looking at me. "Tell me lord, if you wanted to kill everyone in this room, how would you proceed?"

"I wouldn't."

"…why?"

"Because I'm not allowed to and have no desire to."

"…then what if, let's say, you were faced against an army of one million men with their pokemon with all of them having the objective of harming you, how would you proceed to kill them?"

"…if there are so many people wanting to kill me, then they probably have a good reason for it, so I would probably just let them kill me."

Allister looked baffled by my comment that he forgot the stumble on his own word "Are you saying that if you were to not let them kill you, you would be able to win?!"

"…well it would be quite easy…I just have to steal their survival instinct, which will make all of them forget to breathe and they will all die from it."

"…wow." Was all Allister could say as he looked at me with admiration.

From the corner of Pandora's eye, I could see Clair looking smugly at Cynthia who confronted her gaze with desperation. "I would have asked you what you would do if you were in the same situation, but I do not want to hear your delusion once more about how you wouldn't get absolutely crushed by them."

"…you would also get crushed…"

"Of course, I would, and this knowledge makes me able to not be killed by my hubris, something that would have long strangled you if it wasn't for, I site, another Archon."

"…I did not ask for his help!"

"And you wouldn't be able to say anything else if it wasn't for his, I know the cruelty of our clan, and I know the severity of your crime…

"IT WASN'T A CRIME!" Cynthia screamed in anger, surprising Clair with its intensity.

"…sorry…"

Cynthia's pupils widened by Clair's sudden apologies.

"But my point still stands, no matter how much effort you put into yourself, no matter how many sacrifices you make, it is worthless toward someone who have it all since the start."

Cynthia simply looked at Clair without being able to respond to her.

"…and even if somewhat, in some divine luck that is already accorded to them, you manage to obtain a power to compete their might, it will simply be eclipsed by an Archon who made the same sacrifice." Clair's voice started to sound more and more sad as she continued to speak, her previous animosity disappearing, with only regret remaining. "Something that the Ancestral Archon already accomplished, so just give up, or be more realistic."

"…listen, I understand what it feels to have your dream shattered like glass…but…it's worthless."

…I just realized how much I hated this word.

…I despite it actually…and it seems Cynthia hates it too."

"You can grow strong, I have no doubt about this…but don't try to surpass those who were born to be strong, at least you won't get hurt from it."

"…I refuse."

"…what?"

"I refuse your advice!"

Clair looked in disappointment at Cynthia who simply refused to admit the truth. "Very well then, just continue to create problems for those who truly care about you, I just hope you will give up your delusion before they give up you."

"…why do you care that much?"

"I don't, stop being delusional."

Cynthia fixed Clair for a short moment before moving her gaze toward me, and in it I could feel…guilt…

Why is she feeling guilty?

Oh! I understand! 

"It's my turn now!" I raise from my seat to put myself in front of them. 

Cynthia looked at me in confusion, and the same for Clair, Allister however looked joyful at my decision.

He must have understood that Cynthia felt guilty for not being able to tell more about herself, so if I did it, she wouldn't have to find an excuse! I'm a genius!

"My name is Luciel, and I am the local heretic of Danu! Please to meet you! I am able to be a constant failure no matter how much I succeed in what I do, and I would have absolutely no worth if Pandora wasn't my friend!" I showcased Pandora to my roommate to show how magnificent he was, but instead of admiration, I was only met with shock.

Hmmm, I must not have told them enough then.

"I like poképuff…and also sewing things! But I don't like getting tortured or sleeping…but if you want me to suffer, you just have to ask me! And I will do it!"

Good, I showcased all of my skills and my usefulness, so it should be easier to become friends with them now!

"…why…why did you precise you didn't like getting tortured?" Allister asked in concern, which meant I needed to reassure him!

"Because I don't enjoy getting tortured as it is painful!"

Allister only looked at me with even more concern…I have so much to learn it seems.

"…what do you mean you would have no worth without your pokemon, aren't you the lord of Danu and an Archon? Danu may be deprived of any people, but you should still have rights on the island, right?" Clair asked in confusion.

"Because Pandora is the better than me!"

"Kyu!"

"Exactly!"

But despite my completely reasonable and precise explanation, Clair only hunched her head in even more confusion than before.

Weird, I thought she would be smarter than that.

"Luciel you forgot to say your goal." Cynthia raised her hand, which made my other two roommates look at her in confusion, and even some annoyance. Something Cynthia responded with exasperation. "I know, I know, but he will receive expert help very soon, so for now they asked me to act as if everything was normal with Luciel to not shatter his sense of reality."

Hmm? Now I'm the one confuse…and why are the other acting as if it made sense?!

They are even looking at me with pity.

"Who dared to reduce such a glorious being into this?"

"Hey, don't insult Luciel, he's trying his best already!"

"…you're right, my apologie…but still…"

Cynthia looked at me as if she was searching for confirmation before looking back at Clair. "His father…hurgh made him the boogeyman of this island, and he was even able to convince him that he was the cause of every problem that happened to them."

"…oh…but couldn't he just…"

"No…it better if there was no explanation."

Mmmh, am I the stupid one? Why don't I understand what they are talking about?

"So…wh…what are…what are your…objectives?" Allister asked cautiously.

Ah, I know the answer to this one! 

"I want to live in luxury!"

"Oh…that's…that's great…"

"But to live in luxury, it means I need to have friends, a lot of friend! And poképuff, and bed!"

"Beds?" Clair asked in confusion.

"Of course beds! They are magical and comfy!"

"But that's hardly a luxury…"

'"No."' Both Allister and Cynthia answered, before Cynthia looked at Allister in surprise as he lowered his head, which allowed Cynthia to finish the sentence. "I'm sorry to inform you miss privileged, but having a bed for yourself is a privilege for people like us."

Wait?! They also had a bed!?

"Yes…sometime…we had to sleep 4 on the same bed." Allister added, to the fascination of Clair.

"I see, it seems we have different notions of luxury then, in fact, I wouldn't even consider friends as a luxury."

"But friends are nice to have, aren't luxury a bunch of things that are nice to have?"

"…I suppose…"

"Well, what about you tell your version now?" Cynthia proposed with a smirk to Clair who simply stood up, inviting me to sit back down.

"My name is Clair Blackthorn, a lowly member of the Blackthorn clan of Johto. Am I someone extremely attractive and obeisance, which makes me the perfect bride for the Ancestral Archon."

Attractive? What does that mean?

"Bride? You really want your objective to be the bride of someone else?!" Cynthia said in stupor.

Clair looked at Cynthia with a teasing smile before looking at me. "Lord Luciel, could you be as kind as to make her stop talking please?"

"WAIT!!! YOU CAN'T-------" Cynthia tried to speak, but no sound left her mouth after I stole her voice. She looked angrily at Clair who acted as if she did nothing wrong at all.

"Now as I was saying before a delusional idiot rudely interrupted me, my objective is to become the Ancestral Archon bride, which is why I'm wearing this kind of outfit." She said while showcasing her extremely tight outfit which showcased all of her curves.

I looked at Allister in confusion, but he seemed as confused as me as her type of outfit had to do with becoming a bride.

"But right now I don't have to worry at all, as all my possible rivals weren't even able to succeed in the test, which makes me the only possible candidate!" She stopped before looking at Cynthia with contempt. "Well I suppose this little girl also counts, be I think she made rather clear that she has no desire to meet greatness.

"What is a bride?" I questioned her.

She raised her eyebrow before hunching her shoulder. "It basically a legal connection between two individuals."

"Oh…like a parent?"

"…I'm not sure it's the right example for you." Clair said in concern.

"Then…then why does…wearing this…outfit…help you…being a bride?" Allister questioned curiously.

"…oh…heu…" For some reason, she looked conflicted while looking at both of our wondering faces. "It…It something…I…because it makes men more easily…attracted to me." She said in an embarrassed resolve.

"Well, it doesn't make me more attracted to you." I responded, and for some reason, she looked at me with a gaping mouth.

"--- --- ---" I saw out of the corner of Pandora's eye that Cynthia was currently laughing, even if there was no sound diffused out of her, which made Clair look at her with even more annoyance.

"It will come with the age lord."

Oh…how old to I have to be then…do Pandora know?

"Kyu (No.)"

Oh.

"I…I guess it…my…my turn." Allister stood up shily before looking at us at hugging tightly the plushie I made for him. "I…I…I…I…am…Allister…Alister Onion…resident of…Stow On Side…and small village right after a desert in Galar…and I was an orphan there…with my only friend…Bea Bettrave…she was the one who found a family name for both of us…and as I really liked onion…she called me Allister Onion.

My goal…is to…to be strong…strong enough to…to be able to…not need protection…because…I hate it…but…but I love…plushie…plushie protect me…so…thank you Luciel…I love your plushie." Allister thanked me before immediately regaining his seat to hide behind his plushie, clearly embarrassed from having to present in front of us.

So Cynthia goal is to be the strongest, and I can help her with that by giving her knowledge, but to continue our friendship I have to find other way to make her strong.

Clair want to become the bride of someone else by being attractive, to become her friend I need to find a way to make her even more attractive. I have no idea how to do that, but I'm sure Joy could help me with it.

Allister wants to feel save, so as long as I protect him, he will be my friend. But if he ever grow strong enough to protect himself, he wouldn't want to be my friend any longer.

That three done…I just need to preserve our friendship now.