Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Trust Issues

"So what?" Albatross said bluntly, as if Theodore's warnings had fallen on deaf ears. "I'm not afraid of dying. I would rather die than be stuck in this damned city. I can't leave with the curse still intact, so go ahead and remove it already."

"I know you're not afraid of death. You've demonstrated it clearly enough before. That is why I brought up the topic of the alliance first. I'm just briefing you on what might happen. You are one of us now, so it won't do to keep you in the dark now, would it?"

"Oh, don't give me that shit. You mages are all about your secrets. Just because you revealed one piece of information, that doesn't mean you aren't hiding a hundred more. Heck, I don't even know what our future plans are going to be and what you plan to do with that tunnel of yours."

"All in due time. Once we're sure that you can't betray us, I'll tell you everything. Promise."

"Hmph!" Albatross scoffed audibly. "I'd say that I'll hold you to your words, but I'm not keeping my hopes up for a mage."

"She's clever, I'll give her that," Kalman commented.

Theodore only shrugged. He felt neither offended nor hurt. It was because Albatross was right, he was never going to tell her everything. He was never going to tell anyone everything.

"Alright then, let's talk about the curse removal."

"More talks?" Albatross was getting impatient, not quite appreciating having her ears talked off. "How hard can it be? Can't you just reach in and pull it out like you did yours?"

"It's not quite that simple," said Theodore, shaking his head. "I placed my behavioral matrix on the assumption that I'll be removing it eventually. Yours, on the other hand, had been made so that taking it out will be as troublesome as they come."

"More troubles?" Albatross let loose a frustrated sigh. "Why can't you mages ever keep it simple? So, what's the issue this time?"

"The behavioral matrix for your curse is lodged in your heart. Fused with it, actually. If we just go ahead and rip it out, your heart won't remain unscathed. When that happens, I am afraid not even the combined healing magic of Kalman and I can save you in time. As of right now, the only method to safely undo the curse is to neuter the behavioral matrix without removing it. Of course, that in itself isn't going to be an easy task as there will surely be safeguards against any tempering of the behavioral matrix, which is why we'll have to cut you open and make direct contact with the behavioral matrix to ensure as little interference from your magic resistance as possible. With magic resistance out of the way, I can fully focus on dealing with the behavioral matrix itself. Frankly, it'll be a lengthy process, but don't worry, we'll put you to sleep in the meantime so it'll go by in a flash and you won't feel a thing."

"No way, not happening!" Albatross objected to the idea with fervor, with all her soul. In her mind, the images of human bodies cut open to be experimented on by mages like they were some sort of playthings surfaced despite herself. More than that, however, being unconscious for the procedure was a deal breaker. "To begin with, how can I trust you to not do anything other than undoing the curse while I'm sleeping? How can I trust you to not add a few curses of your own? I am not about to have one curse lifted just so I can have another."

"Unfortunately, there is no way you can be sure," Theodore bluntly declared. 'not that you'll be able to tell what I'm doing even if you're awake, mind you."

"Then that's more of a reason to not trust you."

"We can give you all the assurance in the world, girl, but we're mages and you're a commoner. If we *are* going to try and do something, there's nothing you can do to stop it. That's how it is," Kalman supplemented.

"I am afraid this is going to have to be a leap of faith. You'll have to trust that we need you and won't do you harm," Theodore gave his conclusion.

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Albatross as well had arrived at the same conclusion in regards to the situation. However, she simply could not accept it. In the same way that Theodore refused to be at the mercy of others when he began taking action, Albatross too could not simply leave her fate up to others, especially in the hands of mages.

"Give me some time to think about it..." Albatross eventually said.

"How long?" asked Theodore, unfazed by the request. The hesitation was within his expectation.

"Three days... Three days should do," Albatross said firmly.

"Three days it will be then."

With that, the discussion was concluded.

***

Though she had only just arrived not too long ago, Albatross felt she had spent a whole day in that building already. Without touching the tea offered to her or having anything else to say, Albatross decided to leave.

If the quartermaster of her workhouse caught her with nothing to do this early in the day, surely, Albatross would be loaded with a whole bunch of tasks. Even so, she didn't want to stay in that small building by the workshop that she was so used to slacking off in. At this moment, she felt that the place was unsafe, more so than usual. While the city was perhaps no better, there were still places for her to run and hide in. Within the workshop grounds, she could do no such thing.

Not wanting to be caught idling on the streets by other mages who would surely threaten to report her to the workhouses if only for the kicks, Albatross stuck to the alleyways.

It was while she was traveling down a lonely alleyway did Albatross heard a cry most bone-chilling. She knew well enough to keep her nose out of trouble. To turn back right there would be the key to living a long life in this city. However, on this day, Albatross was suddenly hit with a wave of fatigued. As the cries kept going without any signs of ceasing and with no one appearing to care about snuffing it out, Albatross found herself walking towards the source of such agony.

On this day, Albatross was feeling a little bit charitable. Not out of the kindness of her heart, but out of her desire to escape from her own powerlessness. She was tired of feeling helpless and for once, Albatross wanted to feel as if she could do something in this city.

And so, foolishly, Albatross did not stop her feet from committing to the course.

***

End of Chapter 78

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