Merlin saw the purple light flickering in Iver's eyes and helplessly pressed down on his hat, covering the upper half of his face.
"Looks like you've figured something out, Iver."
Merlin spoke softly, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
He was extraordinarily clever.
Just by seeing Iver's expression and watching him suddenly resonate with the Path of Transcendence, he could roughly guess what had happened. There was no need for Iver to explain it himself.
—The process in between, and "how it was done," were completely irrelevant as well.
That left only a few possibilities.
Iver was a pawn required by the plan behind the Ouroboros Ring Ritual; Iver was the backup plan prepared by the Ring Angel; Iver was part of Jacob's conspiracy... Broadly speaking, those were the possibilities.
Either way, it was connected to either Jacob or the Ring Angel.
Merlin could relate quite well to the feeling of being used. After all, after Vivian had deceived him emotionally back then, he had been in much the same state of mind.
Thus, Merlin affectionately placed a hand on Iver's shoulder and advised him softly, "I don't know what exactly you've realized, but I have something to say."
Hearing that, Iver raised his head and looked at Merlin.
"You're the most talented person I've ever met, without exception. You're also a good child who has saved the future of countless people.
"In those plans, you might be an eggshell, fuel, a wheel, or a pawn."
Merlin spoke word by word. "But no matter what, I think... it would truly be a waste for you to remain merely a 'fragment.' You were meant to have a brighter future. All you need to do is cast off the shackles around you."
"Will you support me?"
Iver asked in return.
There