Barty choked slightly.
It wasn't that Revy had intentionally said anything hurtful, nor that he harbored any malice toward this Operator—in fact, quite the opposite. Revy actually held a measure of respect for Barty, someone who had quietly cared for Eyjafjalla all this time.
Especially when compared with a scumbag like Steiner Zoclei, that respect became even more apparent.
But Revy made no attempt to hide his animosity toward the Doctor.
Whether that hostility was rooted in personal grudges was hard to say. Even though Theresa now existed within Revy in another form, and the Doctor was merely a means through which she had chosen to end her life, the despair and hatred from that moment had not simply disappeared with the unveiling of the "truth."
Come to think of it, Revy had only met the Doctor brought back from the sarcophagus by Amiya a handful of times. Aside from brief encounters, he deliberately avoided any association with the woman.
He didn't view the amnesiac Doctor as the "Specter of Babel," but at the same time, he treated her as little more than air—he wouldn't interact with her unless it was by Amiya's or Kal'tsit's direct orders.
Just like when he briefly worked as a bodyguard in Lungmen.
"Mr. Revy… I don't know what kind of grudge exists between you and the Doctor, and to be honest, a lot of the senior operators at Rhodes Island are very tight-lipped about her past… But if your relationship remains so strained, won't it affect future operations and command?"
"No," Revy replied flatly. "As long as it's Amiya's or Kal'tsit's command, I will obey—even if that means taking orders from the Doctor, I will suppress all personal grudges."
His tone was decisive, almost making it seem as if the man who had just talked about killing the Doctor wasn't him.
"—But since we're already being this candid, I'll give you a piece of advice."
He cast a sidelong glance at Barty in the cockpit. Though Barty didn't turn to look back, his posture showed he was listening carefully.
"Go ahead."
"...Don't get involved with that woman. Don't try to dig into her past. You're not a player in this game, so don't try to guess the moves of those who are."
That was all Revy said. But the implications behind his words sent a chill down Barty's spine.
—— Divider ——
By the time they returned to Rhodes Island, Eyjafjalla was still asleep.
That was by design. The little lamb wasn't merely in a state of physical slumber—Revy had intentionally pulled her into a mental space, inducing a deeper sleep with Theresa's help.
After all, within the mental realm, Theresa could still use part of her former abilities. With the assistance of Originium arts, she soothed Eyjafjalla's mind and guided her into a prolonged state of rest.
Meanwhile, within her body, the cells from Geamagala were further enhancing the integration of Originium, expelling diseased tissues and stimulating the regeneration of somatic cells, gradually strengthening her constitution.
It wasn't an easy task. Nearly the entire duration of the flight was consumed by this surgical-level precision work, leaving Revy feeling a bit drained.
Braving the gazes of those familiar and unfamiliar around him, Revy carried Eyjafjalla back to her room and gently laid her on the bed.
"Alright. Now we can finally stop worrying."
Feeling the cells' integration completing their transformation of her internal environment, Revy couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.
Perhaps, Eyjafjalla would become the second person in this world to resist the deterioration of Oripathy.
"You're pleased—I can feel it."
The sudden voice in his ear snapped Revy out of his thoughts. He didn't need to look around to know it was Theresa, her spirit form simulating sound in his ear.
"Thank you, Teri… really."
Though she'd remained silent on the journey, Theresa had been working the whole time to calm Eyjafjalla's spirit. Her efforts weren't any less significant than Revy's physical work.
"Do we even need to say thanks to each other?"
Her voice was tinged with a teasing lilt. "Or is it that, now that you have someone new, the old one's being cast aside? So sad, boohoo."
"Don't tease me, Teri."
Revy chuckled bitterly in his heart. "You already know what you mean to me, don't you?"
"Of course I do."
She was only joking. Unlike Revy, who had only known her for less than a month, she had lived within him for four years. Every action, every thought of his was engraved in their shared memories.
In a sense, she was Theresa—but in another, she was also Regulus Harvey himself.
Maybe that's why she had accepted Eyjafjalla as Revy's companion—because, like him, she had also fallen for this strong and adorable girl.
"Don't worry. Adele's spirit is far more resilient than you think. She'll make it through this, and she'll only grow stronger."
Revy nodded.
Just as Theresa could feel Eyjafjalla's emotions, he too could share in them. Sadness, yes—but also a sense of release, hope, and even joy. And all of those feelings pointed to one person:
Regulus Harvey.
Touched by the mention, the man reached out and gently stroked Eyjafjalla's head. The sleeping girl seemed to sense it—her brows relaxed ever so slightly, and her breathing became even steadier.
A tender and indulgent smile appeared on Revy's face—but the very next second, it was swallowed by a wave of icy coldness.
"—I didn't expect to see that look on your face, Regulus Harvey."
At the sound of the voice, Revy didn't even turn around. But the frigid tone in his voice left no room for doubt:
"—And I didn't expect you to come find me… with her, no less, Kal'tsit."