Unraveling Illusions

"I'm sorry, Laxus… This is… goodbye forever. Farewell. Please, take care of yourself."

"Rocco!? SHOW MORE ATTACHMENT, PLEASE!! YOU SAID YOU LOVED ME!!"

Laxus's desperate, borderline clingy wails were completely ignored.

Sylas strode out of the room without hesitation, completely unmoved.

Rocco glanced up at his older brother's face and felt the weight of his impending doom settle over him.

Yeah.

Once they got home, there was definitely going to be a long, painful lecture.

Ugh…

The lecture after returning home was brutal.

Sylas spent hours philosophizing about just how cruel and despicable Laxus Del Fiore was, while their father remained completely silent—the exact opposite reaction.

Honestly, the silence was far more terrifying.

At one point, Rocco peeked into the study and caught a glimpse of something unsettling.

Their father crushing a doll-like effigy in an ashtray, then cutting and burning it.