Becoming a Monster

Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Decisions Challenged

The last time he bore into someone’s soul with such fervor, the person in question quickly receded their gaze, coincidentally losing that spark that grabbed his attention in the first place.

And yet this time was different, Ailetta didn’t shun away from Noah’s fixation. In fact, she was entranced at his attention to herself, in her eyes, she felt that only she entered his sights at this time while nothing else mattered. If moments ago helped her acknowledge what she needed to do to become stronger quickly to stay by Noah’s side; this moment alone was enough to have her decide that she will attempt her daring attempt before the day was over.

”Ailetta...” The uncertain calling of her name broke Ailetta from her trance. She turned around, noticing that the group was much bigger than before, each of them looking warily in Noah’s direction. There was no doubt in their minds that they were his equal in any shape or form, but it was because of the large disparity that they felt the need to confirm their worries.

Glancing at their anxious expressions, Ailetta exasperatedly breathed out slowly. Although the intervention between the spark she and Noah had greatly upset her, she knew that the current atmosphere came to the way it was because of her.

”I’m sorry everyone,” Ailetta bowed apologetically to her friends, wanting to dispel any rooted concerns between her and Noah. Her voice was sincere, but her face hidden with the strands of her hair showed a calculating resolve. And yet, when she returned upright, she wore a mask, one that reflected the troubleness in her heart, seeking for the group, for her friends to empathize with her and leave the matter alone.

Soon after her apology, a self reproached chuckle escaped her lips as she embarrassingly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ”I just couldn’t accept myself for how helpless I am...please don’t worry about me, I just lost myself in the moment, but I’m better now.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether to believe her or not. Jasmine, still standing a little apart, looked torn between stepping forward and staying back. Bailey, however, wasn’t convinced.

”Ailetta, you don’t have to put on a brave face for us,” Bailey said softly, vividly recalling her estranged state. ”We’re in this together.”

Noah’s expression remained impassive, his eyes briefly flicking to Bailey before settling back on Ailetta. He was feeling impatient and annoyed all at once, there was a hungering curiosity to know what decision Ailetta came to that gave her those eyes. Looking at the others, Noah didn’t believe that he would get his answers anytime soon.

Distracted, his gaze noticed movement coming towards his side. As he looked over, he saw Arachne approaching. A smugness embraced her demeanor, a sign that Noah meant she wanted to be praised for something. With his last given order, Noah intently looked behind her, already expecting it, he was graced with the sight of a small pile of cores. Even from a distance, Noah was able to easily notice the differences in the cores compared to the undead cores he’s consumed so much till now.

Arachne, fully invested in receiving her deserved acknowledgement, tracked his gaze; pridefully, she added a pep to her walk now that she was certain that Noah was aware of her accomplishing her task.

”Noah...I collected all of the food,” she boosted before her eyes glanced in Fenrir’s direction. ”And I did it all myself,” her demeanor darkened as she tried to insert an underlying meaning. And almost as if the display she showed never happened, her mood shifted to one of eager anticipation as she held out her hand, in her hand laid one of the cores she plundered.

Taking it all in, Noah was at a loss for words. Each time he interacted with Arachne after her evolution, he noticed that her personality was constantly becoming livelier, and more manipulative. How could he not understand what she was trying to imply? She was trying to throw Fenrir under the bus, even being aware that it was ’he’ who prevented Fenrir from collecting the cores with her. But nevertheless, the thought of not playing along with her stunt gave him an unsettling feeling.

Although he was often stern in his approach to her when it came to gaining strength, Noah was quite softhearted when it came to spoiling his first partner.

Chucking inwardly, he reached out to retrieve the core, his hand openingly brushing against hers, eliciting a subtle jolt from his queen in response. ”Thank you Arachne, I’m glad to have you by my side.” Noah replied, his feelings were genuine, but his reply was made with an exaggerated tone to play along with Arachne which went over the spider’s head. Her pompous posture crumbled under the heavy emotions she was stricken with. Her human emotions unknowingly being heavily influenced by her procreative impulses.

If Noah had been more attuned to his connection, he would have noticed the aggressive possessiveness consuming Arachne’s psyche. However, his attention was focused on rewarding her, knowing he had given her the core for just that reason. With practiced ease, Noah materialized his sword from his ring, sliding his finger across its edge to draw enough blood to use his skill.

While Arachne was becoming lost in her growing obsession to take Noah to fulfill her own desires, her trance state was interrupted, only to be induced into a trance concerning something far more important. An allure stronger than any other entered her senses. There was a faint similarity between the tantalizing smell and what she experienced when Noah made her the empowering snacks from before. However, unlike before, the smell was far more irresistible.

The smell was so aromatic that she could practically taste it. She found herself almost wanting to pounce on Noah, her body uncooperatively building pressure in her legs. It took her a moment to realize her instinctively desires were controlling her. Despite the understanding that she wouldn’t do anything to harm Noah, at the most she would consume enough of his blood until his self-inflicted wound healed. However, the enticing thought was turned down as realization dawned on her to what Noah was going to do. The ”snack” from last night played through her thoughts, imagining the snack to taste even more delectable than it did before helped her to control herself.

But as she fantasized about the core, someone else emerged between them, dampening her mood.

”Master! I want it! Give it to me, give it to me!” Fenrir’s eyes locked onto the core with unrestrained greed.

Noah’s brow furrowed, his gaze shifting from Arachne to Fenrir. The large, monstrous figure of Fenrir, usually so imposing and so horrifying, once again showed his true colors. Noah sighed inwardly, his soft spot for his creatures continued to be triggered. But this time he needed to be firm, he was already aware of the tension between his creatures; and from the ominous aura looming behind Fenrir, Noah didn’t want the tension to escalate.

”Fenrir, this one isn’t for you. Later I’ll make you one, but this one is for Arachne.” Noah responded firmly while also trying to make Fenrir feel that he wasn’t being left out. Which would’ve worked any other time if not for his blood’s strong aroma, any creature that was comparable to his mana infused blood instinctively craved the core, understanding that the core would empower their strengths.

In response, Fenrir growled softly, a rumble of discontent vibrating through his chest. ”But Master, I need it. I’ve been good too, haven’t I?”

Noah’s eyes widened in surprise, this was the first time that Fenrir challenged his decision; he wasn’t sure if he should be angry or pleased that Fenrir was slowly growing up, gaining his own independence.

This only served to implicate Noah even more, conflicted with not wanting to choose one over the other now that it’s come to this.

”Arachne, come here,” Noah beckoned her over, the once ominous energy dissipated quickly afterwards as she made her way over. Her gaze was conflicted, with the way things were going, she had an unsettling suspicion that Fenrir was going to get his way. The conflict brewing within her was slowly engulfed in her jealousy that only turned to bitterness.

Her bitterness wasn’t towards Fenrir himself, it was the fact that Fenrir was always being spoiled more than her while she had to constantly work harder to earn Noah’s attention. And now that Ailetta was being included in the mix, she felt that she was being replaced as his Queen.

Seeing her behavior, Noah utilized their bond to understand her surface emotions, his eyes softened after realizing all of her worries. When she came near, Noah reached out for her, not really thinking about his actions but reacting naturally to his own feelings to best comfort his companion.

Consumed with negative thoughts and emotions, Arachne, who felt that Noah called her over just to inform her that he chose Fenrir over her once again; she was beyond stricken with surprise when she felt a soothing warmth envelope her hand before gripping it firmly.

The action was almost akin to a reset on her wavering heart. Filled with surprise, her vision snapped towards the source of the warmth, staring intently at the scene of her hand being enveloped within Noah’s own. Without her realizing, the paleness of her revealing cheeks were becoming dyed red from the new rising anxiety between her heart and natural desires.

Noticing that his way to comfort her was indeed working, Noah chose now to give her the ultimatum. ”Arachne,” the call of her name startled her, making her remember the situation she was in. ”I know you won’t like this, but how about giving this core to Fenrir for now? And when the time comes, I’ll feed you as many of these snacks as you want.”

————

”So what do you plan on doing about your competition?” Bailey asked Ailetta, who was silent throughout Noah’s entire interaction with Arachne. Before she noticed the interaction, she was being asked many questions concerning her well being, while Bailey and the others were trying to make up for leaving her. However, Ailetta zoned out all of their voices when she saw Fenrir jolting towards Noah, and since then she was in a trance as she watched Arachne receive the affection that she so desired.

Turning towards Bailey, Ailetta looked to her with a cold unemotional stare that lasted seconds before she turned back to Noah. ”I’m not worried, I already know what I have to do.” She responded in mystery, giving off a sense of foreboding that made Bailey and the others worry even more.

Jasmine, who has been near but silent all this time due to her self-doubt, couldn’t hold it in anymore. The way Ailetta was acting, she felt as if she was going to lose her forever.

”Wh-what do you plan on d-”

”We need to get moving again.”

Jasmine was interrupted by Noah, who threw a curveball their way. After two back to back near death experiences at the start of their journey, the thought of going further was hard to accept. When they wanted to protest, to at least rest a bit before trekking further, Ailetta was the first to approach Noah, reaching his side before turning to everyone else, waiting for their response.

Noah subtly glanced her way before looking towards the others, observing the lack of morale. Inwardly he sighed, doubting if most of them would even survive the journey.