Mark came out of Rocha not only uncomfortable - almost as angry as he was when he came in. In all the time that both the fairy and the human girl had lived in Randu, Doramon had attacked four times. Including today.
Every visit to Rochhah was increasingly barren. The return did not pass on to her. The ability to control herself never came back.
After the last attack, he almost snapped. The shock wave blew up half his office. Only Orshava saw it. She was there for him and helped to restore what had been destroyed.
"You can't wait, Mark. She must choose you. You can use a novice. The fairy became attached to her. Let's start torturing Darschelle in front of her - she'll give up.
"Don't you dare offer that! I am the Grand Master Randu. I am responsible for every magician of the Order. What happens to the Order if its adherents lose confidence in the Grand Master?
Orshava tried to object:
"Darschela is not an adept...
Mark shut her up abruptly and rudely.
"I don't want to hear about it anymore. Adept, novice - any Randu is inviolable. We need to find another girl. Rochhi does not fit. The problem is her. You didn't choose her. You're doing the best you can. If it happens again, you just go and find someone else.
Now he knew exactly what he was up to. Not in front of Orshava - in front of himself. He didn't want Rohhi. He wanted Miriel. But he couldn't change anything.
What happened when he tried to kiss her? The devil, her protection and his curse? Mark wanted to know firsthand. He headed to the bedroom towards Miri.
His duty to the Order was to find out what had happened, he told himself. It is worth knowing whether Doramon should be expected to attack in the future. Is it an isolated incident today or have they changed tactics?
But in his heart the Grand Master understood that he was lying to himself. The fairy cannot know the answers to the questions about Doramon's tactics. She hardly even knows anything about the Devil. Mark did not go to her for answers.
He wanted to see her. To see emerald eyes that looked at him sometimes reproachfully, and sometimes with passion... To hear a gentle sound like a bell ringing. Try to touch it. Not to kiss, no. He understood what it meant and was not going to experiment further. But at least to be there for him. Talk. Does he become dependent on his prisoner?
Mirielle was lying on the bed and crying. When he walked in, she did not raise her head - although she heard the squeak of the castle and his steps. He sat down in the chair and looked at the thin figure in silence. So fragile. So strong. So helpless and invulnerable at the same time.
Mark was not the first to speak. He waited silently for the fairy to rise and pay attention to him. She tried hard to ignore him... But patience was not enough for a long time. Finally, Mirielle sat down on the bed and looked under the table.
- What do you want? Haven't figured out what it's like to bother a fairy without permission?!
- I just want to understand, Miriel. Is that how the Devil works?
- Yes! So! Next time you climb, these Doramons of yours will tear apart your foothills!
- You're in this prison too, Miriel. Will the devil protect you if the castle collapses and buries us all under the rubble? Are you sure she is omnipotent?
The fairy snorted.
- Yes, she did! If the castle collapses, Eleseum will take me away! I will be free!
- Do you call freedom death?
- Here's more! I will just go to Eleseum. It's like a portal. You kidnapped me and Remidei through the portal. It will be the same here. I have nothing to be afraid of.
- Believe me, Miriel, I'm just happy about it. I don't want anything bad to happen to you.
She made a grimace. Mark sighed. The whole reservoir idea cost him a lot more than he thought it would cost him. Should I have agreed to Orshava's adventure? Would he have agreed, knowing beforehand what kind of character the prisoner of the fairy would have and what feelings would arise in him?
It's good that only he can read her thoughts, not the other way around.
- Tell us about the Devil. How does it work? It takes more than one day to prepare an attack. And I didn't have a multi-day plan to kiss you. It was spontaneous. How the Devil could have organized their attack until... - he grinned crookedly - before I attacked you?
Miriel shrugged.
- Time is a feature of the mortal world. Eleseum is timeless. Everything happens in one space and in one moment. It can change the present, past and future - there is no difference for it.
- How is that possible?!
- I have no idea. I was not in Eleseum. You should have kidnapped another fairy. Or wait two years.
- So you could marry your boyfriend? No, Miriel. Orshava's choice was random, but timely. You found out what your fiancé was worth. Maybe someday you will understand what I am worth.
- Well, what are you worth, Arelato? Without the Diamond Armor that you didn't do with your own hands, you just accidentally got into your power?
- Speaking of Armor. Orshava got into your head. Believe me, there is nothing stupider for an untrained magician than trying to control such an artifact. Forget about it. I don't know anything about Eleseum's power. But I know well the power of those who created the Armor. Don't tempt the Devil, Miriel. Do not approach the Armor.
Mark got up and left the room without looking back at the fairy.