Emilia was genuinely trembling behind Shade now. Such a conspiracy, and the malice expressed so casually, were not things a simple-minded young elf could accept.
Shade had no desire to comment on Desire's words, because in his view, Thomas Bennett's story truly was an utter tragedy.
From the perspective of the Sixth Epoch epic, Murmuring Chapters, this man was merely a supporting character composing that grand Fate's Poem. Yet the supporting character had never wanted to take part in this "play," and so he had resolved to resist and struggle.
But in the end, under the witness of Shade, the audience below the stage, he had been assigned an even more clownish role by those qualified to influence the script, then exited the story like some nameless passerby.
Although Thomas Bennett's ending had no bearing at all on tonight's story, which was not yet over, Shade still felt somewhat saddened for him. Those who toyed with time would ultimately be toyed with by time, and those who fought against their own destiny would still ultimately fall within destiny.
Compared to the other stories the Outlander had witnessed, this one was not moving at all. Nor would it leave a deeper impression on Shade than that little black cat that had died in Moon Bay.
But Shade believed that whenever he thought of this matter and this man in the future, he would feel sorrow and a trace of fear. As Thomas Bennett himself had said, he was a chess piece—and one tacitly exploited by different people.
Shade even wondered whether his several previous encounters with Thomas Bennett had also been the work of that Ancient One in the Woods. If so, then this matter was even sadder.
"According to our original agreement, his three daughters belong to me."
Amid his