A Slight Oversight

"Well, that's going to be a problem," Theodore commented after he was done listening to Albatross's explanation. "I guess we'll have to figure out a way to have them survive long enough outside of the body. Perhaps healing magic might work? I wonder how well can they absorb Aether when outside of the body... Anyways, let's see the eggs first. You do have them on you, right?"

"Rather than *on* me, well..."

"Albatross... What do you mean by that?"

"I was told that it'll take at least a day for the worms to hatch, so I already took them yesterday ahead of time."

"Wait..." Theodore had a foreboding most ill. "What do you mean you 'took' them?"

"They're already in my stomach, and they should be hatching soon."

"........." For once, Theodore was without words.

"Alright, it wasn't easy getting these worms, so there's only an opportunity to infect one of you, which one will it be?" Albatross was pressuring them, giving them little time to consider everything.

For Albatross, it didn't matter if she could only get one of them infected. As far as she understood it, the worms could sense the intention of the host via their Aether. As such, so long as there was malicious intent, be it action or inaction, the worms will exact retribution, making it so that whoever was infected has to keep her safe to the best of their abilities.

Pressured by Albatross, Theodore and Kalman turned towards one another with nearly synchronized timing. When their eyes met, they knew exactly what the other was thinking.

"Let's not be hasty," said Kalman. Even if it were for the secrets locked within Albatross's head, Kalman wondered if there was truly a need to go to these lengths.

"I'm stuck here and you're a hermit. How often do you think we'll come by the secrets a courier would be privy to?" Theodore retorted. "While we do have Fiana, I don't think she'll ever be as shrewd as Albatross. No offense."

"No, you're quite right, Fiana doesn't have what it takes to be a spy. She's careful, for the most part, but she keeps to herself too much. Even so... This is going too far! Think of my old body. Surely, it's not going to be strong enough to handle this kind of parasitic infestation. You're nice and young, surely you'll handle it better than I can."

"Precisely because my body is young and developing that I have to refuse. There's a nonzero chance that the parasites could interfere with my growth. You're a master alchemist, surely you test poisons of all kinds and have developed your immunities over the years. Perhaps you'll handle it better than you think."

"That's enough! We're running out of time," interjected Albatross, stepping in and putting a stop to their bickering, all the while her complexion became paler and paler by the second. "Theodore, you'll do it."

"What!? Why me?"

Theodore tried to object but froze when Albatross closed in and grabbed onto his shoulder with an iron grip.

"I haven't forgotten the time you fed me those other worms. What did you call it? The hydra helminth? This is payback!"

"Now hold on just a moment, that was supposed to be medicine!"

But Theodore's words fell on deaf ears as Albatross pushed him backwards, causing him to hit something and lose his balance, falling onto the chair behind him. The chair had not been there before. Kalman, with deceptive swiftness for someone his age, had placed it behind Theodore.

With Theodore on the chair, Kalman grabbed onto his shoulder to keep him from struggling while Albatross locked her grip upon his head and forced him to face her. With the combined force of the two older individuals against a ten-year-old, there was no escape from the unspeakable thing that was about to happen.

"This either goes in through your mouth or your nose, make your choice," Albatross warned for what might very well be the final time.

Theodore wasn't sure if it would work through his nostrils, but he wasn't keen on finding out. However, Theodore knew that his fate was sealed. There was no longer any way out of this. Thinking back on all he had done to Albatross, from the moment he served her that tea, perhaps this was but karma.

With his face turning blue at the thought of the horror that was about to unfold, quietly, Theodore accepted this retribution.

***

Atop the old couch within the living room, a Demon Lord reincarnate lay defeated and broken, his soul shattered and his mind forever tainted with memories of an experience most dark and disturbing.

"Looks like he's worn out. Will you be able to undo the curse today?" Albatross asked as she gazed upon the miserable state of Theodore on the couch.

"He'll recover in due time. He's dealt with worse conditions," Kalman replied, remembering the time Theodore plunged a spoon bone deep into his own thigh. That felt like it happened a long time ago, but not even a month had passed since.

"I see..."

"Feeling apologetic?"

"Hardly."

Kalman let out a small laugh. Though he hadn't cared much for Albatross aside from the knowledge she held in her head, after having joint hands in tormenting the Demon Lord reincarnate, a twisted sense of friendship seemed to be blossoming.

"Though, in regards to the worms. You said that they'll devour the host from the inside if the 'mother' ever dies, correct? What did that mean, exactly?"

"What do you mean?"

"What I am trying to say is, how exactly do the worms know you're dead?"

"........." Albatross remained silent. She did not know the answer to the question and Salome never brought it up.

It appeared that those within the biological research and development department weren't quite finished with testing this experimental lifeform.

"Could it be that the worms will act once they can no longer sense you?"

"Perhaps......"

"Then what happens when you leave and return to the workhouse?"

Albatross said nothing further, but an audible gulp could be heard.

Suddenly, a hand slammed down on the tea table as a figure, once broken, rose to his feet, rising from the ashes by the flames of fury.

"Albatross!!!" Theodore yelled at the top of his lungs, and to his surprise, the voice that came out was uneven and squeaky.

On this day, Theodore's voice cracked.

***

End of Chapter 82

***