Eternity. That was what was growling like a thunderous storm above. Lisa watched that from the small perspective of a glowing figure, knowing that she was no feeble soul.
Murai looked at her, seeing she was small like an ant, hovering there in nowhere. It was a matter of perspective that mattered, changing them both.
Seeing someone's soul was a source of wondrous context and confusion. In a way, he knew his soul was powerful and large, or Lisa's might be too small. Which was it? He couldn't tell what felt right.
Considering Rain, I should be strong because of this Cursed myself, Murai thought. I battled with him in the spirit alone at Level 0. It seemed the Soul Body was the source of these differences, so what does Robust Spirit do? Does it turn my soul and approach to this world to another level? That or the previous life strengthened my soul that much? That is unlikely, as I haven't done something extraordinary. Some others did, or the whole picture is more important? I didn't even kill any God, but humiliated a few while focusing on becoming the best assassin there is. It didn't go well since I am here, being a duck!
Murai was thinking of the past, unaware that Lisa also heard him when their connections stabilized. The Soul Bond was over.
It was a very mental bond, that would make it very hard to keep his thoughts away from her. It was a very peculiar issue to reality, where she was hearing him, but he didn't. Lisa could hear his thoughts now with an open mind, while Murai couldn't hear hers if Lisa didn't put her Will to it. She could think freely, while he couldn't. Murai didn't like being like an open book.
However, there were a few advantages to this bonding procedure. Private space to speak—where no one could bother them—was a great way to think. They could speak however they liked without fearing outside influence unless a divine sense or someone powerful enough was close, or invasive to the souls.
“You... Your soul is so large and menacing,” Lisa said in a surprise, unable to stop shivering deep within her soul. “What are you? Have you swallowed up Gods? Why are you like this? What sort of power you had?”
She looked like a ghostly succubus once again, with flowy waves and glowing eyes.
“I won't respond to either of those questions,” Murai answered, speaking as his voice carried his Will. He didn't have to quack, which was another advantage of this mysterious space. “Privacy will be an issue between us from this moment forth. It would be a good idea if we reached some boundaries. I've underestimated it, yet what is there for regrets? There is definitely something you can do to change my view. You don't want to be annoying to me. Trust me. But you know how it goes, don't you?“
It was as if Lisa didn't hear him; she was still under his influential soul, shocked, mana quickening as the voice and soul before her eyed her whole being.
This isn't my first time looking at the souls from such a perspective, but this is much higher than that, she thought to herself. My soul isn't that fragile or empty. I was long past the high stage of this world, so I shouldn't feel like this. I battled Extremes for my sake, though the past was different. It should be about half right and half wrong to take this step, but that's not important! Lisa! You... This? Serving this person? You can do that so you can return once again to the land of the living and seek the answers!
Her feelings did not reach Murai, or they did, but so little he didn't care about them to say a word. He had his thoughts and irritations, so he moved closer to glance at her soul like an absolute hegemonic mountain.
“Do I have to repeat my words?” he declared in utter indifference, appearing as majestic as chaotic. His voice went far for that purpose, shaking this space that was his backyard. One could become anything here, but not him. Murai's soul was locked to this appearance since his Robust Spirit came to be.
Lisa was spooked out of her wondering moments and fluttered her hands ahead. “I didn't mean to be that. Sorry. Sorry. I will get better if this Bond deserves it,” She said in a hurry.
“If it didn't deserve it, what would that mean?”
“Eventually so, something or nothing. We can grow. Everyone can. Your soul, experience, and lives are yours. I get it, so let's hear your issues first so I can help you. Have some understanding about me too. I just got here!” Lisa said dismissively, going over her shock as if it didn't matter.
“I have barely some dozens of days of lives here. That is like a droplet to an ocean that is my soul.”
“Is that so? Then, it shouldn't be that bad. This world should be for your liking. It is under my expertise so I will help you to understand it better. If you have nothing better to say, can I begin the stuff I am supposed to do?” She changed her tone to a serious tone and went closer to Murai's soul.
“You are a real piece of work. For a companion in my soul, I think I've underestimated you,” Murai continued.
“I swear I will make it worth it for you!” she insisted, pushing her hand to her chest in affection. “I can do a lot. I depend on you too, so don't forget it. Anything you need is good for me, but I have things to do first.”
“So persistent,” he complained. “I know what you want. Don't worry. I fear my memories and lives may be too chaotic for you, but since you are already in my soul, I guess you can slowly adjust yourself. I will make good use of you, whether you like it...” Murai's soul turned hostile, trembling in its feathers and glow. “Or not.”
It was pushing against her soul like an ocean against a cliff. A gaze of a power that she regarded so highly in the past. It was before her in a different kind of perspective, yet similar to what she knew. She was far from being unwilling to help him, though she was still herself in her pair of lives behind her.
She had some rules about the way of living, but this being before her? He was significantly more impressive than any normal Blessed.
Murai pulled small waves of soul fragments from his soul forward, looking like spinning rocks that looked like glowing and radiant flat sheets. They included specific things that Lisa wanted. His memories. She needed them to work better for his cause. Knowing who to serve was quite an important aspect for any Life Companion like her.
Lisa floated to them, her body and hands touching the first fragments. They exploded immediately, looking like glowing little waves that pushed her away. Lisa wasn't afraid. She swam to them, witnessing them from within and absorbing them into her spirit. Comprehension will take time. There were a lot of memories she wanted. Those including Will of the Battleworld and everything he got in this life were here priority.
Murai said what he wanted, but it still put a bitter taste into his mouth how Lisa was so eager and unlike outside. Lisa was no longer paying him much attention, focusing on his memories.
Pulling his focus back to the real world, Murai gazed at the same old cave. Lisa was no longer around, but not like she could go out of his soul space whenever she wanted.
She rested in his spirit. It could be her prison if she pissed him off. There was a limitation. If Lisa wanted to go back to reality, Murai had to put forth the intent for her to do so, otherwise, she had to remain in his soul space. The same wouldn't work if she wanted to go back into him, however.
The world should be unwelcoming to such a weird spirit, but Murai doubted she was simple. Those who died for yet another time. Those were Blessed, who felt this world as one. Becoming a Blessed Life Companion was a privilege to gain a third life, or potentially the fourth.
That sounded ways outside of the norm. Was Afterlife involved in this world? How was it possible? Murai couldn't guess the truth.
Most of the beings couldn't comprehend the motion of the spirits, let alone something like the Afterlife and its intricacies that moved against the logic of the world.
Soul Forms with a plethora of mana could exist like living things. If they didn't, no one would see them. However, they were special and rare beyond common means, depicting races and species that compelled certain Laws of existence as seekers of Chaos and Order. Their bodies required a good setting, soul-based treasures, or powerful mana or Will beyond anything else.
I swear. This situation is more than I ever wanted from a new life. Duck is whatever. I can get used to it. Not End it like a fool for nothing. Every change counts for answers. Lisa and this talkingworld is making my nerves ache, Murai complained, but that was all he could do. He began to consider his next choices of action.
He needed a better supply of food, as beasts like him needed it. It wouldn't be like a human world where one could buy whatever one wanted, eat, and repeat it like a loop. He was a damned beast with the same loop but without the easy part. This was a harsh world with issues and challenges that he found troubling, but not unfamiliar or unfair. Lives were fair at the end of the cycle of life, Chaos, or Order.
Many of his lives were unkept and chaotic, creating troublesome settings, or bodies. This one was the same, arranging problems to resolve, so he wasn't in a hurry.
Another choice wasn't something he wanted, but it was still a choice. That was to travel somewhere else, leaving this Redglory Forest, or cave for good. Going outside and seeing the world was unavoidable. He was no rat.
Unless he wished to try his luck with Punishment Acts again, he should keep going. Murai didn't want to taste the Wrath of Gods so early in this life. Being hesitant and passive wasn't a good idea.
Lisa would know more about this, so Murai decided to wait before going outside. Looking around the cave, it was a perfect opportunity for another choice. That was to see what was up with this cave and the mysteries behind its cooking steam.
Looking up at the wall and mist above, Murai ascended to the top in less than half a minute. On top of the wall, he wasn't seeing shit once again. Mist and steam rising from below were way too thick, and moisture was dense like the heat.
The only source of direction was the noise of splashing water and ground below his feet that he felt with his feet or beak. Water indicated flowing water at the far bottom, echoing like a stream of a small pond.
Murai felt it to his bones. “This is naturally interesting. I like this!” he uttered, leaping from the top of this wall into the fog, unaware of the consequences of this single act that would change this live forever.
He flew way longer than he anticipated, flapping his wings in an attempt to fly. It did absolutely nothing, much to his disappointment and inability to fly.
“Damnit! Wings should work like this! I would be a chicken otherwise. How does this work?!” Quacking as he could, he didn't have enough time to screw the Battleworld to hell. Before doing so, he fell into the water. Scorching water.
Panicking right away by a sudden impact he felt with his face, belly, and wings, he started splashing the water with everything under his control. At first, he was shocked by the temperature of this almost boiling water, but it was more the case of a surprised landing.
He jumped toward the sound of water, expecting some landing or a cave. He was wrong...well, he wasn't completely wrong. There was no land anywhere at the bottom of this cave full of water. The walls were steep, with no place to even stand. Let alone a human, no beast should be able to get anywhere, thanks to the height of the ceiling.
Like a chicken in the water, Murai was the embodiment of chaos and panic.
A few moments into this awkward situation, where he—as a duck—was panicking on top of the water, Murai realized something stupid. Stopping his crazy movement, he didn't move a muscle or a single feather on his body. To no one's surprise, he floated on the surface thanks to his fluffy feathers and who knew what else. Even the hotness wasn't as painful as he initially thought. It was only a momentary feeling, that soon passed away.
Ducks should be excellent swimmers. Murai was completely taken aback by his inability to realize it. Of course, he should swim without any issues and it wasn't even part of some magic or abilities that Battleworld offered. It was a basic common sense. Instinct of animals was much simpler than some complicated system of extraordinary abilities, achievements, unlocks, and other things.
For the lack of common instincts, this duck had no Will of one. Murai didn't think like a duck. It was no wonder. Even a duckling would know how to swim since the instincts of nature were strong, let alone an Anatiade which was that, but ancient beyond belief.
I am sometimes, he thought, floating on the back of his body while his neck and head rested above the water, seriously lacking any kind of common sense. I swear it is because of Lisa! This wouldn't have happened otherwise.
Murai swore to himself, excusing and trying to cheer himself up when Lisa was out of the picture. Some sweet little lies wouldn't hurt anyone. What caused him to float wasn't all that important to him either, nor was his panic or the motion of the hot water. Everything calmed as if was in a hot tub instead.
To his surprise, Will of the Battleworld descended to his soul soon after he landed.
[You are a quick learner, but the case of learning how to swim as a duck is utterly useless to consider. It's the same thing as birds flying and dogs barking, so think about it]
[Use your head]
[For better or worse, you have discovered a Celestial Pool of unknown purpose, care, or origin]
[Celestial Pool: It's well developed naturally made hot spring beneath and inside the volcano named Towering Morghalis]
[Grade of the Celestial Pool: A]
[It is part of the Natural Treasures. Effects of the mana minerals and materials changed the water, while the hotness of the volcano created the best environment for Celestial Pool. With that addition, this is one of a kind place under the Towering Morghalis]
[The surrounding Morga Region doesn't come very often with such fine places. What a good luck]
[Mana Replenishment is tripled while submerged in this Celestial Pool! That's a lot]
[It has no caretaker or owner unless it's obvious. Anyone can use their benefits, but finding it is harder than being a duck]
[Certain bonus effects are discovered]
[There are additional considerations to body functions, making certain strengthening possible under the pretext of the Celestial Pool and your Bloodline]
[Vitality, Strength, Dexterity, as well as a sliver of the Will will improve and strengthen when you stay in the Celestial Pool]
[But be aware! There is a limiting factor to the body, and the Celestial Pool could even do some harm. Though, uncover them yourself...]
The Will of the Battleworld declared its findings, leaving Murai floating in a pondering manner. He was calmly driving on the water, with fog and mist coming from it toward the ceiling. He didn't feel uncomfortable even when he couldn't see a thing, but this message gave him something new.
This water was an enthralling treasure. It was looking normal. Few would think of this water as some kind of magical treasure if the eyes would be the sole justification.
The shiny mist arose from the water, changing that cave above into a natural oven. Murai glanced back and forth amidst this strange and unclear environment, gathering out the obvious thing.
When I think about it, it's not hot that much. I was just surprised by the water. That's all. He excused himself, and for the first time in his life, he tried to act like a duck.
For the start, he swam like one by squeezing his body, flapping his wings to turn 180 degrees to his left, so his belly was touching the water, and his tiny legs would be the paddles.
He succeeded on the first try, crying and nodding to himself. “I swear. I feel like I am good at this. What a terrible thing to even think or consider. What would the past me think? Oreon from the Misty Lands, Rocky from the Seven Ring Sect, or Zick from the Underclad Tribe? Well, it is what it is. None would complain. I know myself,” Murai cheered and got comfortable with this movement in a matter of a few minutes.
It was surprisingly easy to get used to swimming, and quite frankly, there was nothing he was doing apart from moving his small legs. His body floated on its own and even the change of direction was easy. He could use his legs to turn left and right, making it efficient and easy.
“Well then. What sort of Celestial Pool is this place? If I consider that name, I never heard about it, but it seems like a mana-infused place similar to...well SHIT!” Murai cursed. “It's the same shit but with a different name. These sorts of things exist in the majority of the world with mana. A form of condensed mana from some materials or treasure. If that's so, the use of this Celestial Pool is rather questionable, but I can't judge it. My own body is not up to this task. I can't feel the mana much, and my core is in its starting stage. Got it literary hours ago.”
“That is understandable, or this Pool was made in some other way that I am missing something,” Murai considered his memories and knowledge and began to swim around this cave.
He did pay attention to the Battleworld's message, so he knew about its benefits. It was common sense to improvise from mana-infused materials. This was no different from a medicine bath he used in the past.
As for this pool in itself, he was skeptical if it was even something useful for his body, but he did have mana, so it might give him some benefits. As for its secrets, something below the waver should be interesting. An old treasure? Volcanoes alone wouldn't create this sort of thing unless the volcano had some strange origin or unique features.
Mana was enough of an explanation. This Celestial Pool was a part of the bigger cave system that went deep down, yet the access to this pool was nonexistent, barely fit for him to jump down. It shouldn't be possible for the majority of beasts to come here. Perhaps a child would've succeeded. That, or destroying the cave walls would've solved it all.
However, it was clear that no one knew about its existence. If they did, someone would protect it from unkept visitors like Murai. That was at least what he assumed in his reasonable ideas.
In a matter of a couple of minutes, he uncovered the whole cave. It was around twice as big as the part of the cave from before.
As for the splashing water, it streamed from a crevice in one wall, but it was quite far for Murai to see. It was probably from an underground river, filling this Celestial Pool with a gradual flow of water.