Chapter 766: Chapter 766 - Concessions
In the end, neither of them could convince the other they were wrong. Naeku still believed they should try to reverse what was done to Anne, and even wanted to see if they could do something about Nora’s nature as a proselytiser.
To her, the difference between Nora and Anne was minimal. Just like Anne making a choice without knowing all the details, Nora never knew she was a proselytiser. She never knew she was in danger of one day becoming so devoted to a cause or person that her every waking thought would revolve around furthering that cause, or person’s goals.
Had she known, perhaps she’d have been more careful before getting involved with Erik...
To the compassionate Naeku, this represented a fundamental problem. Despite her submissive nature, as well as her reluctant enjoyment of what Emily did to her not long ago, Naeku was a firm believer in free will and consent.
She considered what Emily did similar to what’s now happened to Anne and Nora—she’d given Emily permission without knowing the details. The difference was that her situation had been temporary, and theirs, so far, was not.
Erik’s answer to that was that the difference between Nora’s methods and Emily’s enslavement were monumental, and really couldn’t be fairly equated. Where Emily essentially locks part of a person’s consciousness away, Nora’s methods left her target’s mental faculties fully intact, and only rearranged that person’s priorities.
Naeku admitted that was true, but then Erik had to admit that Nora’s method was far more insidious and fundamentally destructive to Anne, or whoever Nora targeted.
In fact, Erik actually conceded most of Naeku’s points, much to her frustration, because it didn’t actually change Erik’s stance on the matter.
His stance being that he loved neither Anne nor Nora, and that Nora’s abilities were a massive strategic asset that he couldn’t simply let go of—not when he was only beginning to grasp what he—and his family—were up against in the grand scheme of things.
In other words, Yggdrasil.
And if he wouldn’t let go of Nora as a strategic asset, then it would follow that he’d want her to use her powers, and Anne’s situation was the logical consequence of that.
"You know, no matter what you say, I do know you care about those two," Naeku grumbled slightly. "This bond of ours works both ways, remember?"
Erik smiled softly. They were still sitting on Erik’s bed, his arm wrapped around Naeku’s shoulder as he shrugged. "Of course I do. We may not have met on the best terms, but they aren’t bad. They’re good girls, brave and determined, so yes, I care about them."
Then he frowned, staring grimly at the ceiling. "Just not as much as I care about my goals and the safety of the people I love... If Nora or Anne dies, I’ll mourn them, and I’ll make sure their killer suffers untold agonies."
He turned to look at Naeku with certainty in his eyes. "If you, one of your sisters, Alice, or my mother dies... I’m not sure what will happen, but it won’t be good."
They looked at each other with complicated feelings. Naeku didn’t agree with him. Of course she wanted their family to be safe, she just wasn’t willing to go as far as he did.
It was an age-old question. Would you kill one innocent stranger to save yourself? What about two? Or three? What about an entire city?
Everyone had a line—a point where they’d stop considering their life and that of their loved ones as more important than the alternative—but they were all different, and Erik’s line was drawn a little further compared to hers.
It wasn’t a bad thing. He didn’t blame her for it, nor did he consider her weak—in fact, she might be stronger than him in some ways.
In the end, her compassion was part of the reason Erik loved her... but he wouldn’t let that change anything. Perhaps Naeku would inhibit his—and Elora’s—worst impulses in the future, and perhaps that would be a good thing, but it wouldn’t be today.
Naeku saw the determination in his eyes and sighed. She realised she wouldn’t convince him... but that didn’t mean she’d walk away without pulling some concessions out of him.
"So... I guess you’re planning to use Nora’s powers to expand that religion and maybe even create more of these... fingers...?" she asked in a sad tone, clearly giving up her attempts to convince him for now.
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a soft whimpering. "D— Daddy... P— Please... I..."
"No." Erik simply answered harshly, and focused back on Naeku. His reply was answered with more whimpering and desperate moaning, but they went ignored.
"You’re right," he answered Naeku with a sigh. "But if it makes you feel any better, I’ve forbidden Nora from being forceful with her followers, or hiding anything from potential fingers. The people flocking to her teachings are there of their own free will, and Naeku’s powers will only make a marginal difference in convincing them of anything."
Without taking his eyes off Naeku, he reached forward and gently swatted Leia’s ass, because he felt her slowing down a little. A whimpering and moaning followed, before her inner walls writhed harder around the intruder and body bounced a little faster again.
Meanwhile, he continued. "She is also on the lookout for more fingers. They would go through the same thing Anne did, but they’d be told everything up front, excluding the exact method."
Naeku immediately scoffed with a half-smirk that Erik wouldn’t actually immediately classify as disapproval. "And I bet she’s only looking for female candidates? Preferably of the pretty sort?"
A small smirk spread across Erik’s lips. "Well... she does know what I like."
Naeku immediately rolled her eyes with only a hint of playfulness. But then he quickly frowned, turning serious again. "We already talked about this religion thing, and agreed that I’d be able to visit their church whenever I like, right?"
Erik nodded without hesitation.
"Well, I also want to meet these candidates," she demanded. "These are my people she’s targeting. I won’t try to stop you from making more of these... fingers... but I want to talk to them before she puts them through this trial of yours. I want to make sure they know everything, and if they do... then I want to understand their reasoning."
"No problem," Erik immediately nodded. He was more than ready to make some concessions to satisfy Naeku, so long as she didn’t try to stop him from doing what he believed necessary.
Naeku appeared relieved at his quick acceptance, and smiled lovingly at him. Despite their differences, she did love him.
"P— Please... I c— can’t—"
Suddenly, the whimpering returned, causing both Erik and Naeku to look at Leia.
Smirking, Erik leaned forward. "We still have some other things to discuss, but I think someone needs a little attention first..."