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Their paths diverged, eliminating any necessity to consider matters from each other\'s viewpoints.

Observing the silent Ravenna, Ansel quirked a smile, "Have you come to a realization?"

After a brief silence of a second or two, Ravenna nodded calmly, "I have."

Without waiting for Ansel to speak, she continued, "I will do what I must, even if you deem it unnecessary."

Ansel paused, then, supporting his forehead, sighed, "Do you relish being so self-involved, Venna?"

"It\'s not about being self-involved, but rather, selfishness."

Ravenna\'s tone remained unaltered, devoid of pain or guilt, her indifferent voice carrying a conviction that left no room for doubt:

"The likelihood of me alone achieving that vision is significantly lower than if we were together. Thus, my desire to solve your problem is ultimately self-serving."

"I am such a person, Ansel. Selfish and cold, without any remorse towards you, for which I am truly sorry."

Miss puppet spoke these indifferent words without meeting Ansel\'s gaze again.

"... Is that so," Ansel murmured, looking down at Ravenna, his fingertips lightly tapping on the table.

"That does indeed align with your character."

"However, have you considered that even if you could assist me, and even if the problem were resolved, I would still not choose to help you, and that… your assistance might, in fact, conflict with your ideals?"

"..."

Ravenna had not pondered this question. In her view, it was an invalid concern since Ansel was compelled to abandon his pursuits. Naturally, if the issue were resolved, he would opt to resume them. And if aiding him conflicted with her ideals… how could that be?

No, wait.

If it weren\'t for this scenario, had Ansel sought her help three years ago, she would have... certainly agreed.

Unless Ansel chose not to disclose his struggles, but how could that be... What exactly transpired on the day their paths diverged?

Lost memories tore through Ravenna\'s thoughts at this moment, becoming the most critical gap as she pieced together the truth.

Gazing upon Ravenna\'s bewildered expression, the young Hydral lowered his gaze, his voice a soft murmur tinged with both a sigh and a hint of irony:

"You see, Venna, have you not already made your choice?"

"Just as three years ago, nothing has changed. Hence, I have never harbored any expectations of you."

"...No, Ansel, I—I cannot recall—"

"Enough, depart now." Ansel waved his hand dismissively, his tone listless, "I find myself devoid of interest in idle chatter at this moment."

Ansel cut short Ravenna\'s words, leaving the delicate puppet, who opened her mouth to explain, engulfed in a silent and powerless pallor.

Her every resolve, every determination, paled in comparison to the harsh reality Ansel\'s few words had unveiled.

— At the pivotal moment of decision, you would not choose me.

This was undoubtedly a capricious and egocentric assertion, but for Ansel, it was precisely this caprice, this egoism he required—given the coercion he endured, the multitude of sacrifices he had normalized, how could he afford the luxury, the spare capacity, to care for the worth and dignity of others?

He had always been thus, never adorning his motives with grandiose justifications or pretenses, not even once imposing upon Ravenna under the guise of "friendship."

They were simply... strangers to one another.

Ravenna beheld Ansel\'s countenance, that visage whose emotions she could never penetrate, whose thoughts she could never discern, so close yet so distant.

Both stood their ground, each doing what they deemed supremely right, yet incessantly inflicting pain upon one another.

Cruel, absurd, akin to a vicious jest dealt by fate.

"Ansel..."

Ravenna attempted to speak further, but Ansel interrupted her without hesitation: "I believe I have already bid you leave, Miss Ravenna."

"..."

Striving to maintain composure, calmness, and resolve, Ravenna bowed her head slightly, her slender shoulders trembling faintly.

"Yes, I understand, Ansel."

"Add \'Lord\' before my name."

Ansel spoke nonchalantly, "To ensure you harbor no more delusions of self involving."

"...Yes." Ravenna\'s voice caught slightly, "Lord Ansel."

She turned quietly and made her way towards the exit.

"...Wait."

Ansel suddenly called out to her again, but the malicious smirk that rose on his lips was clearly not meant to offer Ravenna any hope.

"I\'ve just had an amusing thought, as a punishment for your earlier insolence."

He issued his irrevocable command to Ravenna with a light chuckle, then waved his hand once more: "Go, and remember your place."

"Very well... Lord Ansel."

Ravenna bowed her head again, her fragile form retreating towards the exterior of the alchemy workshop.

As Ravenna departed, and the doors of the workshop slowly closed, and with them, the smile on Ansel\'s face gradually faded, giving way to an increasingly… fierce and menacing demeanor.

"Fate..."

He murmured softly, his sea-blue eyes swirling with a pitch-black darkness, like a tsunami eager to engulf everything in its path. This engulfing darkness took physical form within the workshop, swirling and dancing wildly as if heralding the arrival of… the abyss itself.

"Fate!"

In a sudden outburst of madness, the young Hydral roared, his body unnaturally contorting and twisting, his voice becoming deep, hoarse, and layered with an eerie and terrifying intensity:

"How dare you... How dare you exploit her time and again... How dare you—"

Clutching his face tightly, Ansel\'s once sea-blue eyes had unknowingly transformed into the deep, dark serpent-like pupils, which, compared to his current brutal speech and gaze, made Seraphina\'s bestial nature seem tame.

The hysterical, savage madness in those vertical pupils testified to the insanity coursing through Hydral\'s veins, proving him to be… a creature closest to the abyss, possessed of a demonic nature.

"Hah…hah…"

Panting heavily, Ansel, with a mind that had battled fate countless times, forced himself to calm down. The twisted abyssal aura in his eyes began to fade, quickly dissolving into nothingness, and his form no longer expanded but gradually stabilized back to that of a human.

However, the pitch-black serpentine pupils remained unaltered.

"Exploiting my mother to accelerate Ravenna\'s subjugation, everything thus far has been hastening her allegiance towards me... I discern your intentions."

He murmured hoarsely, "You wish to recreate the events that transpired with Seraphina, to provoke me into making another erroneous decision due to misguided affection for Ravenna. How ludicrous!"

Such an improbable mistake, Ansel vowed, would not be repeated.

Seraphina was an exception, and one was more than enough. Should there… even be a hint of such a tendency, a possibility of it manifesting again—

The profound darkness within those serpentine eyes seemed poised to engulf everything.

Then, even if it means breaking my own doctrines, erasing Ravenna\'s soul to the point where she becomes a tool devoid of any autonomy… would be a sacrifice I am willing to make!

As for friends, companions, ideals... they were but fragments of the past, meaningless dust.

They are, unequivocally, expendable.

*