Author notes : Hello guys, GSD REDDY here and I am back with a super exciting chapter.
Edited by - Haku.
Sorry for the delay. Was busy with life.
The next three chapters are already available at
www.reddycreations.com
Thank you for your ever continuous support and ENJOY.
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I LOVE YOU.
"Remove the soul binding on my master, Riddick, else I will be forced to kill you." Priam warned in a cold voice.
Riddick stood still with narrowed eyes. He knew that Priam was completely serious, and then he also knew that Priam was going against Sylvie's decision. That moment time froze around him. Every living thing stopped in its tracks, but inside his mind palace various scenarios began to play out simultaneously at high speed. Two people, Riddick and Void began to review them all at an even higher speed.
Riddick didn't want a scenario where he would have to fight, and yet he wanted to be make a scenario where Priam would have to accept Sylvie's decision. However, considering Priam's prior words, his ideal scenario wasn't achievable.
Then he was forced to make a decision. Either accept Priam's every word and send Sylvie with him after removing her soul binding, let Sylvie decide her own future, or make a decision on behalf of Sylvie and force her to follow it.
Needless to say, Riddick chose the second decision. He wanted Sylvie to make her own decisions. One reason was that he wasn't selfish enough to steal her life from her, and the second reason was that she would actually be safer with the Venus family. Riddick was currently being hunted by every possible immortal, and he wasn't too keen on exposing Sylvie to such difficulties.
Now that his decision was made, he had to find a way to achieve it. The situation where Sylvie can make a choice of her own was only possible when Priam wouldn't oppose her, and that was only possible if he was made to stay put with force. He isn't someone who can be bent with words and he also isn't someone who can be fooled either.
"Can you win against him in a head-on fight?" Void inquired now that the decision was made.
"Negative. The energy reserves are scant to face such an enemy, and I can't even transform Void Energy with my current cultivation. No use trying to think about useless scenarios. I can't die, nor can I kill him. I also can't surrender, but I should make him surrender. The situation is tricky, and I am in an extremely disadvantageous position.
In this situation, the only possible way to achieve victory is through a gamble. I have to find an advantage in my disadvantage." Riddick said in a calm voice.
By the time the words left Priam's mouth, and a split second had passed, Riddick had already come to a decision. It will be an all out fight and he will have to fight Priam with a huge disadvantage.
"I am afraid I can't do that unless Sylvie wishes otherwise." Riddick said in a calm voice.
Priam was literally stunned with this answer. He had seen a lot of people; courageous, tricky, foolish and even extremely strong people. Yet, in front of absolute power, all of them without exception would decide to side with power to save themselves. Riddick very casually slapped him in the face by refusing to comply with his request.
Priam’s face then changed as he saw Sylvie for a second. Then he waved his hand and a blue spear appeared in it. With a cold voice he said, "Then forgive me for killing you. I have no more reason to keep you alive. My lady may think otherwise, but as far as I am concerned, you just happened to find her and have no right upon her. I can't let you have her. She is my master who will one day be a Sovereign.
You are nothing but a mere human who will always drag her down. I will not tolerate her being a slave any longer. My kindness has a limit, Riddick. Remember, even if I bow my head to my master, I am more used to beheading people who won't comply with my master's wishes. You made your decision, now face the consequences of your foolishness."
Riddick’s face didn't change, as if he didn't register Priam's talk at all. He was completely focused on finding something which may help him take down Priam with the least amount of spent energy.
Arthur broke into a cold sweat as he saw this. Sebastian was even more alarmed, and Sylvie was in a state of loss. She wanted to ask Riddick to release the soul binding, but at the same time she didn't. She wasn't like others. Being with Riddick all this time, she knew about him much more than anyone else.
She knew that she would lose to Vera the second she becomes distant to Riddick, and she wasn't willing to lose. Even if Riddick never saw her as a love interest, he never put her aside either. Sylvie's reason for being so abstinent about maintaining a soul bond was more of a selfish reason. She wanted to be connected to him in some form. People may laugh at her and even find it amusing, but for her it was more important than anything.
Her mother went through all that to give birth to her. True, she may have loved her, but the reason she went through all that in the first place was because of her father. She wanted to bear his child. She wanted to take a part of him and give him a part of her through a child as his woman. Sylvie was the same, her love towards Riddick had gradually evolved from a parent, to a friend, to a lover.
She was no longer at a position where she would ever forget about Riddick. She would inherit her mother's legacy, but she would one day come back to Riddick. She was currently very weak. Every day, every hour, she thought about that. The current Riddick far surpassed her in power, intelligence and wisdom. Her most potent rival, Vera, was the same. The current her would lose to Vera for sure, and inheriting her mother's legacy will give her a way to improve her own power and status. It will give her a way to support Riddick in his time of need.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The life span of Immortals was eternal, and a few decades or even a few centuries of separation can be fulfilled with few more millennia of love. This was Sylvie's decision. However, she was currently facing a choice as well. She knew that life was unfair and sometimes we have to sacrifice some things to gain even more. So, Sylvie made her decision.
Priam’s eyes lit up as he disappeared like a flash along with Riddick. Their speed was so extreme that no one, including Arthur, could see them. Loud collisions resounded in the air, as space caved in at several places due to their exchanges.
Savage smiles lit their faces as their inner warrior instincts were drawn out by the heat of fight. The previous uneasiness disappeared in Priam's eyes, and the calculative expression disappeared from Riddick's eyes. That instant they were going to fight with all their might, but suddenly a earth shattering voice stopped them in their tracks.
"PRIAM, I, CHARLOTTE HEIMLICH VENUS, ORDER YOU TO WITHDRAW THIS INSTANT. Don't you dare speak another word. COME HERE, BOTH OF YOU." Sylvie roared with all her might.
Priam was stunned, and so was Riddick. He knew that Sylvie was not to be angered, but still, it was his first time being ordered like this, and that too in front of everyone. So, he exchanged glances with Priam and descended in front of Sylvie.
Sylvie stared at both of them with red eyes and said in a resolute voice, "Priam, you will do everything I ask of you and will shut your mouth until I say otherwise." Turning towards Riddick she said, "Master, I have decided what I want to do. Will you honour my decision?"
Riddick’s eyes froze for a second. He understood what she was implying, and a hint of pain stabbed his heart, yet he still nodded his head. Even if he was a old soul who experienced everything in the world many times over, it didn't still dull the memories of seeing Sylvie crawl out of her egg.
The memories of her calling him master with a shy voice. The little girl in his memories had now grown so much, and this filled Riddick's heart with happiness and sadness. It was the bitter feeling of seeing your child grow up and your love leaving you.
However, If Sylvie wished for something then he would naturally comply with it. Priam, who was ordered by Sylvie, bowed his head to express his assent.
Sylvie nodded with red eyes and said, "Master, please release the soul binding on me." The instant the words left her mouth, her connection with Riddick's soul was lost. An indescribable pain stabbed her heart as if she lost a life long friend of her. Riddick was beside her ever since the beginning. His soul was like a support, like a gigantic tree under which she found solace. Now that the connection was lost, she felt alone, like a log drifting in a turbulent sea.
Riddick's eyes were filled with concern as he saw the depth of sadness within Sylvie's eyes. However, before he could console her, Sylvie closed her eyes. The next second she opened them, but her eyes no longer held those turbulent feelings. All they held was unshakable resolution.
With a calm voice she then asked, "Priam, you said that you would do anything for me right?"
"I will, My Lady." Priam replied with happiness. He no longer held any anger towards Riddick. He understood that Riddick cared about Sylvie as much as he did, and now that he released the soul binding on Sylvie he can consider him a trusted ally.
"Become my slave." Sylvie spoke her words with resolution.
Those words shook the people around them. They then understood why Sylvie changed her mind. A slave doesn't have the right to have a slave for themselves. Earlier, Sylvie was technically a slave and thus she can never possess a slave of her own, but now she can. This was her way of showing her intentions. Even if what Priam told her was true, she wasn't going there to be thrown around like a doll and to be a puppet empress. If she was going to be an empress, then she will be an empress in her own way.
All eyes turned towards Priam as Sylvie said those words. Riddick’s eyes were fixed searching for a least bit of hesitancy in his eyes, but he found none. Priam smiled lightly and said, "That was my intention all along, My Lady. The Empress will need a right hand and a sword to control her subjects. I will be your whip, your sword and your everything. I was your slave the moment I was entrusted with your safety."
The instant Sylvie formed a contract with Priam, Riddick stared at Sylvie and she stared at Riddick. Neither of them spoke a word for a full hour. Eyes are the mirrors of our mind, and they speak much more than words. They both shared their love and their concern for each other, until finally Sylvie turned around to leave.
She only said four words as she left, "I love you, Riddick."
Riddick stared stupidly as he gazed at her flying figure. That was the first time Sylvie ever spoke his name, and that will be the first of many more times that she expressed her love for him.