[Profile's Description: An unlucky soul sucked into the doomsday world of Alnarkiz inside the soul of a Fallen Elf]
[Name: Aumanas Ilruna
Race: Elf (Fallen)
Class: Wandering Mage
Level. 1 (0% EXP)]
[Authority: Degradation
Privileges: Decayer, Forest Manipulation (Corrupted), Shadow Affinity, Eyes of Light (Corrupted)]
Reid’s Authority— or Aumanas Ilruna’s— was Degradation. It seemed fitting for someone with “Fallen” in their race's name.
It appeared to be the opposite of Restoration, a well-known elven ability, granting him the Privilege of Decayer as one of the contradictions.
Isetra has said that those sacrificed to accommodate the transmigrators were criminals or volunteers.
Reid could understand that if— through their sacrifice— the transmigrators’ arrivals came with special abilities in return. However, that did not seem to be the case here.
What they got instead was a random person with similar traits as the sacrificed person, and not as a bonus; similar abilities.
Criminals aside, why didn't those volunteers just voluntarily use their powers instead of sacrificing themselves? This doesn't make sense.
Reid also realized something unrelated to that. My thought process is different now. It was as though a lame guy with chuunibyou syndrome inhabit his body now. Quite literally.
Of course, he decided to paid it little attention.
“There are a few reasons,” Atronia replied gently. “The primary reason is that those who are voluntarily or forcibly sacrificed are on the verge of losing their identity as a person.”
"Losing their identity?"
Reid still remembered that Atronia mentioned something about the dying fallen elf who had nearly lost his identity when they met him.
“The fallen elf had that encounter?” Reid realized.
Atronia nodded. “This typically happens due to the influence of particular creatures, or higher beings with superior Authority. In short, summoning souls from another world that matches the soul of the victim eliminates the disturbance.”
“A Skylight occurred at the time, so maybe that’s why,” Isetra said.
“...It’s unrelated, but are you people from Earth as well?” Reid inquired, ignoring Isetra. He always wanted to ask that.
Reid was Canadian, and just from the looks of it, Elihai resembled some guy from somewhere in America as well, while Atronia reminded him of a Russian woman. Isetra is probably Asian by the color of his skin and slanted eyes.
Atronia shook her head.
“We were born in this world, Alnarkiz. Maybe my ancestors came from Earth. In that case, the Celestial Wanderer always provides souls from Earth. No one knows why or how.”
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More information just keeps piling up.
It wasn’t anything bad, but he did feel overwhelmed by the contents, despite being an elf known for their wisdom.
“With all these explanations, you might think you understand a lot,” Isetra chuckled. “But there’s so much more we don’t know either, like, what’s beyond Kirwell Forest, or the Valshir Mountains, or the source and mouth of Grey River… or the Netherworld.”
Indeed, apart from the places Isetra mentioned, Reid didn’t even know the history of Black Moon, how Authority— the seemingly power system of this world— worked, and most importantly, his role in all of this.
So many questions.
He looked up at the night sky absentmindedly— at the black moon that resembled a lunar eclipse.
“Don’t stare at it too long,” Elihai, who had been silent all the time, suddenly warned.
“Why?”
Confused, he quickly looked away.
“You’ll be cursed,” he replied, then added with a slightly grim tone. “The Eclipsed Monarch is believed to have Sovereign or Sacred-level Authority, just one or two steps below Divine. You have to remember that the higher your Authority, the more you can influence. The Monarch’s condition, as Isetra said, is not great. The black moon seems to be his doing. Staring at it too long will drive you insane and cause you to rage over for no reason.”
Reid instinctively wanted to glance at the moon again but stopped himself, realizing that,
This world is messed up.
He stared at Isetra, but the man in question acted as though he didn't notice his gaze. He didn't wish to say it?
That was a bit... surprising. The impression that Isetra had given so far indicated that he would tell him without Reid needing to ask.
“...So you wish to get out of its influence?” Reid continued with his question quickly. “Is my task to help with that or is it different?”
“You're not mistaken,” he sighed. “Monster attacks wearing us down, and with their ability to evolve more variably than us, we’ll eventually be overwhelmed. There’s also food poisoning, insanity from the black moon, and even folks who have gone mad from too much knowledge given by the Celestial Wanderer. We need to make improvements.”
Reid felt the desperation in the Grand Marshal's tone. It was not surprising.
From what he’d heard and seen in the residents' eyes and expressions, their lives were terrible, constantly fearing monster attacks, food safety, evil powers, and many more. The fact that Isetra worshiped this Eclipsed Monarch might be one of them.
“…I understand,” Reid said calmly. “I may not be much help, but I’ll participate.”
So I can live.
Elihai gave a thin smile. “I appreciate it.”
***
After the information gathering and being shown around other districts in Black Moon, such as the market, the military base, and places of the three main religions, Reid was taken to a particularly dirty-looking two-story building in the western part of the city.
“Is that my living quarter?” Reid asked, slightly dissatisfied. Did someone even live there?
Compared to the other buildings, it was clearly of poor quality.
“Don’t complain too much.”
Isetra cackled.
At some point, Elihai and Atronia had left to handle their important affairs. Isetra seemed the least significant with his overly relaxed attitude. Reid almost wondered how he could lead a guild-like organization.
“There’s a group of four Ruined Saints staying at the inn, and a mother and daughter who take care of the place. They’re good people. Even those Ruined Saints, by our standards, are pretty decent fellows. You can get to know them.”
Reid frowned slightly.
He didn’t mind getting closer to them. Working together had more significant benefits, but the elf's feelings seemed to resist it.
Atronia had explained that the characteristics of the sacrificed soul had to closely match those of the summoned one.
If Reid were to be honest, the persona of a fallen elf, known for being arrogant, temperamental, and solitary in this world, was actually quite similar to his original personality on Earth.