Chapter 225: Isaac’s Secret
The warmth spread through her chest, until she couldn’t hold back.
Her lips brushed against his ear.
She kissed there softly. Once, then again. Her eyes turned hazy, and for a moment she forgot everything else.
It took all her willpower to stop.
"Isaac," she whispered.
"Yes?"
"How did you take down the serpent?"
"..."
"You can use my abilities. And Emily’s too. Are you an... incubus?"
Her arms tightened around him.
She buried her face against his shoulder, not wanting to look him in the eye.
She didn’t even know why she hugged him like that.
A part of her hoped he would lie and say no.
She didn’t want to see his expression when he lied. Because she would know it was a lie.
"Alice."
Isaac pulled her back and tried to meet her gaze.
She turned her face away, resisting.
She would accept a lie if that’s what he wanted to give.
But his hand came up, cupping her cheek.
His thumb pressed lightly against her skin, and he made her look directly at him.
"I’m not an incubus."
Isaac knew what the race was.
Professor Catherine had taught him about it.
Incubus were the male counterpart of succubus.
They were attractive, naturally skilled in anything intimate, and rumored to be able to use the abilities of their partners.
Alice was surprised.
She could tell he had not lied.
"Then... how?"
Isaac stared at her for a long moment.
He could lie, and she would believe him.
He had lied before.
Lying was easier, and safer.
But as he looked at her, he felt the weight of her trust in him.
He could feel the faint trembling of her limbs. No matter what she thought, she clearly didn’t want him to lie to her.
’I’m the same.’
He didn’t want to keep lying. Not to Alice, and Emily.
They were someone he cared about a lot.
It was dangerous, though.
The more people knew about his system, the higher the chances of the information leaking.
There were people with mind-related skills.
If someone like that read Alice or Emily’s thoughts, everything could be leaked.
That was why he had lied until now.
But suddenly, that logic felt flimsy.
’I just need to make them strong enough.’
’If no one can touch their minds, there’s no danger.’
He had a goddamn system.
If he couldn’t even protect the people closest to him with it, then what was the point?
"I can use the abilities of my partners," Isaac said finally.
His hand stayed on Alice’s cheek.
She leaned into it.
"The Life Drain skill I used before was Emily’s. I defeated the N’theris Serpent because I could use your Flame of Judgment."
Alice looked straight into his eyes.
For a second, he thought she would ask how exactly he was able to do it.
Sharing skills like that was no small matter.
But instead, her words were different.
"I was suddenly able to throw spears with perfect accuracy. It was like I’d become a prodigy overnight. And I haven’t told anyone yet, but I can use Aura Arrows now. Emily suddenly became a prodigy with a sword too, unlocking Sword Aura. Was that... because of you?"
Isaac’s eyes widened slightly.
He hadn’t expected her to notice that.
"You have a way to bring potions and Coins. You said they were rewards from your quests. Now you’re telling me you can use the skills of your partners. It doesn’t make sense, but it’s real. So I’m asking, were those sudden boosts in mine and Emily’s strength because of you too?"
"Yes," Isaac admitted.
Alice’s arms tightened around him, but this time it was gentle.
Her expression softened as she looked at him.
"Why didn’t you tell us before? We could have at least thanked you."
"What’s there to thank me for? It’s only natural I help you."
"Still... thank you."
She went quiet for a while after that, resting her forehead against his.
Then her voice came again, hesitant but clear.
"If you can use the abilities of your partners, does that mean..."
She trailed off before finishing.
Isaac knew what she wanted to ask.
But before he could respond, Alice stood up from his lap.
"Huh?"
Isaac blinked at her sudden movement.
His expression was puzzled, as if silently asking if they were really stopping here.
Alice caught his look, and her gaze changed. She could tell that he wanted her.
It made her happy.
"Take out the Orb of the People’s Voice," she said.
"What?"
"Just do it."
Isaac gave her a strange look but obeyed.
He summoned the orb from his spatial ring.
The sphere rested in his palm, glowing faintly.
Alice kept her eyes fixed on it. "Activate it."
Isaac willed it to turn on.
A faint sobbing sound filled the air.
"Brother told me not to return. He said I cannot return to him or Titan Edge Guild."
Isaac’s eyes narrowed immediately.
The voice was Celia’s.
"Why did he say that? Hic... did I really do something so bad? Hic... hic..."
Her crying filled the room.
The orb was revealing her honest worries.
’So that’s why she looked so downcast earlier,’ Isaac thought.
"You should sort out her problem. She’s your subject. It’s your responsibility to look after those under you," Alice said.
Isaac nodded slowly and rose from the sofa.
He turned toward the stairs, preparing to head to Celia’s room. He could feel Alice’s eyes on his back, sharp and unwavering.
Before he reached the steps, he looked back at her.
"Don’t seduce her," she said flatly.
Isaac smirked faintly. "If you were so worried, you shouldn’t have asked me to help her."
Alice scoffed and turned her head away, though the faint redness on her cheeks betrayed her mood.
Isaac understood her conflicting words.
She knew his personality well.
Normally, he would have gone to help Celia the moment he saw her tears.
But he hadn’t.
He had waited until Alice herself told him to.
It was his way of pulling her into the decision, of making her set aside her jealousy for Celia’s sake.
Alice knew that too, and though it annoyed her, she couldn’t deny that she was relieved.
Even if she didn’t say it aloud, her chest had loosened the moment she saw him head toward Celia’s room.
Isaac stopped outside the door and lifted his hand.
He knocked twice.
"Celia? It’s me, Isaac. There’s something I wanted to talk about."
For a moment, there was silence. He thought she might ignore him. But then he heard faint footsteps, and the door creaked open.
"Isaac? Come in," Celia said, trying to smile.
The effort was obvious.
Tear marks still stained her cheeks, and though she had clearly tried to wipe them away in a hurry, her eyes were swollen and puffy.
She stepped back, giving him space to enter.
Isaac shook his head lightly.
"It’s fine. I won’t take long."
He leaned against the doorframe instead of walking in.
"How did the talk go with your brother?"
The smile faltered.
Her gaze lowered until she was staring at the floor.
Her lips trembled, but she didn’t speak.
"Celia," Isaac said gently. "We are in this together, and I want to help. But I can’t do anything if you don’t tell me what’s happening. I waited until now, but you didn’t ask me for help. That’s why I had to come here myself."
Her hands tightened into fists at her side.
For a long moment she stood frozen, fighting something inside her.
When her shoulders finally shook, Isaac realized she was on the verge of crying again.