[ ｓｏ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｂｅｔｔｅｒ

(would he really be better for this? to be under this Number's control and mercy? his pride screams no but his body screams yes and he, himself, is caught)

He inhales again as the tentacle slides up his thigh, and it sends sensations all through his lower regions and what is this Mizael thinks because this is foreign and new and. and strangely. good.

(but then it says ｈａｐｐｉｅｒ and) ]

Mmph...!

[ ｈａｐｐｉｅｒ

That word is a catalyst, and suddenly it's as if his whole body has regained his strength and he's struggling and fighting and coughing and coughing to try and expel this foreign substance.

(he sees flashes of a golden dragon and high mountains and a temple)

(flashes of white tunics and warm scales)

(and he thinks that's--that's his happiness; on mountains too high to climb, embraced by creatures too misunderstood to be understood--ripped away so quickly that he can't even remember anymore--)

He's not going down, not yet, not yet--

(his lapis glows again, almost gets back its usual shine and he tries to shake and get this parasite off of him)

(the smoldering starlight sparks) ]