The rift separating Isiah and Ciel was impossibly vast, far wider than the dark mage possessed the emotional capacity to bridge under his current physical decay.
Ciel had introduced an entirely unimaginable revelation that demanded immediate investigation, yet the child was far too overwhelmed by trauma to offer coherent details.
"Ciel, please just calm down," Isiah urged softly, his voice strained as excruciating physical agony flared through his internal organs. "I am not going to force you to do anything."
Ciel glared up at him, his eyes burning with accusation. "But you forced me to come with you, didn't you?"
'Ah,' Isiah thought bitterly, observing the boy's sharp recoil. 'Since when did he develop such a sharp tongue for argument? I don't think I could ever win a verbal battle against him right now.'
