THE APPLE OF SNAKES

xxxvii. selfish light

Doite turned upon hearing their approach. They weren't exactly prioritizing stealth. Nerluce wondered how long he'd known they were following him and he wondered if Doite had chosen to let them catch up with him.

He smiled at them, friendly and charming. It was as though Nerluce had walked into the fire Affinity common room and there Doite was, sitting with his friends in the middle of everything, exuding warmth. He didn't look guilty. He didn't look like they'd caught him in the act of kidnapping. Everything about the scene was off, from his smile to easy posture to the joy of Kierli's own giggles.

"Head Disciple Aristide," Doite said, "I figured it was you following me." He turned to Nerluce. "I'm a bit more surprised to see you Nerluce. How can I help you both?"

"Return the Chosen Light," Aristide said.

Aristide didn't look the slightest bit deterred by Doite's friendly voice or easy smile. In fact, it seemed his hackles had risen even higher. Nerluce set his expression into something as hard as he could make it. Whatever was going on, it didn't change the fact that the Chosen Light had disappeared, and now, here was Doite, holding her.

"Ah, I'm afraid I can't do that," Doite said, smiling down at Kierli. He waggled a finger at her and the toddler laughed and grabbed it. "The Chosen Light... that's no title a child should grow up bearing. She's too young. She's far too young to be a soldier in your war. You ought to understand that, Head Disciple Aristide."

The muscles in Aristide's arm tensed and his fingers were outstretched, ready to summon Kōttaiki at a breath. "Return the Chosen Light to me or else I will use force."

Doite sighed and shook his head. "Aristide... please understand, I'm doing this for her own good. Do you really think that the Head Priestess has any interest in raising this child? Do you really think that the Head Priestess will see her as a person and not just a weapon?"

Aristide scoffed. "And you do?"

"Of course!" Doite looked genuinely offended. "Sure, the Chosen Light is the prophecy we've all been waiting for, but to me, Kierli is more than just a prophecy!"

"You do not get to use her name," Aristide snapped.

He took a step forward. Nerluce gripped his wrist. Aristide needed to calm down. He needed to think rationally. That was the only way they'd be able to get out of this. "Doite," Nerluce said, turning to his senior with a nervous smile. "Why don't we just all go back and talk this out. I'm sure the High Priestess will hear and understand your concerns. You're a Seraph now."

"I wish it was that simple, Nerluce," Doite said. "But if I didn't think that this was the best option, I wouldn't be doing it. Kierli is a child! I can't stand by idly and watch as she is neglected by her mother and raised for the sole purpose of dying! She isn't this world's scapegoat!" His eyes burned with fire and passion. "I'm going to take her away from all of this mess and when she's old enough - an adult for gods' sake - she can come back and save your world."

"You can't keep light to yourself, Doite. It's selfish," Aristide said. "What makes you think you're any different than the High Priestess."

"Because I love her!"

Aristide's expression hardened and with the slightest twitch, Kōttaiki was in his hand. "Then you ought to have no problem handing over my child back to me." His face was colder than his icy sword. "This is my final warning."

"You don't love that child, Aristide," Doite said with a bitter laugh. "If you did, you wouldn't let her mother use her like this."

The sword went flying towards Doite. Doite dodged, Aristide missing by only a hair. There wasn't a moment's pause before Aristide attacked again. His onslaught was brutal and skilled, not leaving the space for a single error. That was how Aristide always fought. Nerluce watched in awe of Aristide's pure power and skill. And he watched as Doite moved just as perfectly, never making an error and never letting the sword graze him or Kierli.