Souls Online: Mythic Ascension-Chapter 66: Echoes in the Mirror

"Hahahaha"

Adam couldn't help but laugh as he relaxed in his new office after it had been recently 'vacated' by the previous owner. Even if she managed to come back, she wouldn't be able to say anything about it.

Or anything else for that matter.

The Office space itself was tacky to say the least, filled with gaudy portraits of Elise, all showcasing her vanity and inflated self worth. He couldn't help but recall how good it had felt to crush her like a bug

'Little Snake, You may have hunted one of your own but your goal is far from being complete, no~? I do hope that your show is not over yet'

'Can you just let me relish this moment for at least a bit?'

Adam stopped laughing when Arachne questioned him, throwing water on his good mood.

'Pride comes before the fall little one~'

'Huh? That almost sounds like you care about me....?!'

'D-Don't be foolish you ignorant curr! You are merely a source of my entertainment! 

'Yeah yeah. Seems you know how to act cute sometimes~!'

'You bastard! You will suffer for this!'.

'I am already a walking body horror. My blood is corrosive and my skin is now scaly. You can't do much worse than that, no?'

Adam felt a bit smug as for the first time, he established dominance over Arachne. Yet something didn't sit right with him.

Why would they care about him? It was a question he had no answer for and one that Arachne would undoubtedly refuse to answer.

A sudden knock on his door dragged Adam out of his thoughts. Turning his head, he saw Blair glaring at him in the doorway. There was a mixture of indignation, fear and even a little respect in his gaze.

"You did well in cleaning up the 'mess' Elise caused. But don't think for a second that this somehow makes you an equal to us. You have just proven yourself to be a hound, not a mutt!".

"Great motivational speech Blair. You really know how to inspire me to work for you..."

Adam's voice was laced heavily with sarcasm as he met Blair's gaze defiantly. No matter how violent he had been, Blair wasn't half as threatening as a goblin horde.

"You lil shiiii...No..."

Blair swallowed his surging rage as he tried to humble himself, most likely trying to get something out of Adam.

.."I am sorry Adam. I came here to...ask you to do something for me."

Blair's jaw clenched, his shoulders rigid. The words barely squeezed past his teeth, like a man chewing on glass.

In response, Adam tilted his head,equally curious and amused that the violent meathead was coming to ask him for anything.

"Oh~? The great Blair Samael, lowering himself to ask a mere hound for help? Careful now—I might start thinking I'm a purebred."

Adam could see the vein throbbing on Blair's bald head, he was on the verge of bursting with rage at the taunts.

Entertaining as it was, there was no profit in pushing Blair over the edge. Adam let the smirk drop, his voice turning cold.

"What do you want?"

Blair took a deep breath, exhaling sharply before trying to regather his composure.

"I..have a client..that could benefit from what Anthony has you looking into. They have offered to provide significant investment including advertisements."

Adam was caught off guard for multiple reasons. How did Blair know about Anthony's 'request'? Why was Blair coming to him and who was this mysterious 'client'. 

Yet he didn't ask any of those questions, instead directing a loaded glare at Blair.

"That doesn't answer my question. What do you want? Don't make me ask a third time.."

Blair gulped nervously before he straightened his tie and roughly snapped back.

"I-I want you to come with me to meet this client. I want you to assure them that you can discover the cause of this mutation and utilize it to fix their problems.."

'What nonsense is he talking about?'

"...When is this meeting?"

"...It was supposed to start 5 minutes ago.."

Adam facepalmed as he was reminded once again that his older brother was similar to Luna in that their brain was just another muscle.

'Well, Luna is cute so that's fine'

"Fine. Let's go. I have my own things to do after this. Who are we meeting?"

"Ari Eversong and his father Gerard Eversong of Eversong Entertainment."

Adam narrowed his eyes, suspicious.

"Eversong Entertainment? The rising talent agency?"

Blair smirked, his irritation momentarily replaced with smugness. "

The very same. And Ari's their golden boy."

Adam let out a low hum. That was unexpected. A talent agency had no business meddling in mutation research. Unless...

Something wasn't adding up.

Adam frowned.

"Ari Eversong came to you?"

Blair scoffed, shaking his head.

"Not him. His father, Gerard Eversong."

That was even more interesting.

"Why?"

Blair smirked, but there was something off about it—like he found the situation amusing in the worst way.

"Because his 'golden boy' has a... problem. And dear old daddy thinks your little 'research' might be the answer to all his worries."

Adam leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping idly against the armrest. "Be specific."

Blair hesitated for a fraction of a second—just enough for Adam to notice. Then, he let out a humorless chuckle. "The kid's body isn't keeping up with the image Gerard's been selling. And let's just say... normal medicine hasn't been enough to 'correct' the issue."

Something about the way Blair said that put Adam on edge. "And he thinks mutations will somehow 'fix' it?"

Blair's smirk widened, though his eyes remained cold. "You catch on quick."

Arachne stirred in his mind, practically purring.

'Oh, how intriguing~ A father so desperate to mold his child into his vision, he would reach beyond nature itself. Truly, your species never ceases to amaze me.'

Adam ignored her, his thoughts turning.

Gerard Eversong had power, influence, and wealth—things Adam could use. But the way Blair phrased it, the vague unease in his voice... something about this felt wrong.

Still, he needed more information.

"Fine," Adam said, standing up. "Let's meet the bastard."

As they stepped out of the office, a nagging thought lingered in his mind.

Ari Eversong was hailed as a rising star, a perfect prodigy. But if his father was looking for a way to 'fix' him...

What exactly was wrong in Gerard's eyes?

As they walked down the hallway, Ari's latest song started playing over the stereo system.

When you gaze in the mirror

Tell me what you see

Broken pieces glitter

Is this all of me

Splintered eyes are watching

Shards of what we were

In this scattered frame

Only one voice heard

Am I in pieces

Or finding my peace

Hundreds of whispers

Echoes never cease

Dozens of voices call

From the looking glass

In this cracked mirage

Future meets the past

Though we seem divided

Fragments can unite

In the shards of mirror

Find the inner light

Am I in pieces

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

Or paths to release

Voices all blending

Peace in broken seas

Adam thought the lyrics were beautiful but something was off. As if the voice itself was distorted. Blair didn't react but he must know something...right?