Ceila also noticed some damage to the Soul Space, around some parts, but neither crack nor strange waves in mid-air were enough to make her realize the extensive damage that almost crumbled it apart not long ago.
Small notices of crumblings were present around her proximity, appearing like shattered mirrors, or glass. They were small, disappearing at an unnoticeable speed.
Upon realizing that speed... No. Even the sole mentions of that possibility. NO! Again... She was speechless upon the fact of even seeing the cracklings repairing themselves by something she couldn't perceive or see through.
Now, it was perhaps clear it wasn't that long ago that Murai was close to his End and his soul almost crumbled apart, and mode to the Afterlife.
However, she never heard of a soul space healing on its own. It was a thing that was mysterious beyond measure. No one understood all about the souls, but any damage to a soul... was not that simple.
From what she knew, when Soul Space was damaged, it would be impossible, or near impossible to repair.
Even though the terms impossible, and near impossible, were quite close to each other, they meant differences. In actual theory, Ceila did know a few examples of successful repairs of the soul, but they require patience, time, and who knew how many precious treasures. Neither of them was present in Murai's case.
Realizing that put her in a questionable, yet unfazed manner. After all, the source of everything was before her, floating in this place.
It wasn't Murai that she knew off. It would be strange to be exactly the same as in reality, but it was resembling him.
She already knew he was Blessed, so she got a typical idea of what she should've expected. Another idea was Murai's mentions of an Old Soul. According to Iris's small overview, that was how Murai would be, but that wasn't that.
Ceila also noticed a strange being in some other parts, not far from her. “A succubus, huh? How fitting...” she mumbled to herself and awaited the source of her visit. Murai's soul was yet to fully emerge, but even though that she could feel the vastness and might of his soul.
It was like a typhoon of vast magnitude. It was like a small storming planet, appearing foggy, bright, and mighty.
Murai put his full attention toward his soul space following Ceila's Will, and his appearance as a planet changed. Big waves changed, turning, overlapping across each other to shape shimmering wings, a tall neck, and who knew what else.
This was his soul. His Robust Spirit. His everything that indicated his current living. And it wasn't up to Murai how he looked. Mostly, that was. This time, he didn't care about any appearances, since he was a duck. There was a drastic change from the previous experiences he had, so it was no wonder he gave up.
Now, he had the Robust Spirit, which was a fusion ability between his Soul-Body, Soul-Essence, and his overall Will and soul. For all that he could care about, he had no power over his form in this matter.
In the end, he appeared like a gargantuan duck, even though it was a bit awkward impression to give.
The simplest, and most efficient explanation to it was the basic form of his soul. Usually, it will be a simple round object and not some lofty form that Lisa was, for example. Though, her case was her Will and not her soul.
Not just anyone would willing to force one's soul onto someone else. That could mean a lot of things, and that was something Ceila actually did.
She looked at a duck of quite a magnitude, while she, herself, was like a moon, in front of a humongous planet.
She was big, and not small by any means. She was much bigger than Lisa herself, but that didn't matter to her. The basic might and vastness of one's soul were one thing, and Ceila understood that Murai's situation and his whole being may be more than she knew.
“You are big, unlike in reality,” Ceila stated the first obvious sentence she thought of.
“That was a good one,” Murai said, his voice echoing throughout the soul space. “What is it then? Are you ready to view the content of your desires? I will allow it since I need some trust. I fucked up before with all of those talks, so I have no choice.” he said, willing his soul closer toward her in hopes of scaring Ceila, but she was having none of that.
She was like a goddess of light, and her gaze was firm on her goal before her eyes.
“Show me!” She shouted, and a streak of light shot out of Murai's soul. It was a forceful one. A pressure of his Will that followed a flood of information.
Well, this will work in the end. Murai thought, figuring the use of the Robust Spirit wasn't all that unfamiliar.
It made his soul... More robust? Strong and more sturdy than ever before? That was perhaps the only explanation he could give it, unsurprisingly.
I am glad since I don't think a direct memory transfer is something I can do that well, but this works too. Forcing part of myself onto her, I wonder what she will think. Maybe it's because she is powerful enough that I succeeded and she didn't crumble apart? I am yet to know a lot of things about the Souls, and other souls, it seems. Murai thought, following the gust of light with another to send her a few other things that she wanted.
He continued to do so for the most important things, while he included even useless kinds of information. He wanted to see what she would make of that, or how long she will last.
This went on for a couple of minutes. At first, Ceila wasn't upset, but her face contorted from time to time.
10 minutes into this, she gritted her teeth, and her body flickered in brazen pain. She jolted her head away, letting the beam shoot away back to Murai's soul. Panting, and clutching her head, her mind was in pain and confusion after viewing so many things.
There were too many, and all of it was too strong and sharp.
There was way too much craziness.
“You... You are crazy...” Ceila said, turning her gaze to the Murai's soul. “Why did you let me see so much? Are you testing me? My patience?” she barked at him and shook her head.
“To feel you a bit better. That is all.” Murai calmly said. “I just did what I was required, so don't feel too bad about it. Then, I did test what I could and figured things out on my own. Do you think this life of mine is different from what you would expect, "Lady" Vermillion?” Murai stated, following these sudden words with a powerful wash of hidden intent. It washed over Ceila, giving her a surprised look and different light.
“Oh, so you do know it. As expected. ” Then she changed her matter of speech and body language. No. Perhaps her whole personality shifted, her face became unfazed and normal as if nothing mattered.
She straightened her posture, and a smile appeared on her face. “It's just part of my Will that speaks through Ceila. It isn't a big deal to do this, and my Divine Sense isn't here. I knew you would more or less know it, but it was an interesting thing to come up with this thing on the spot. Thankfully, my subject works wonderfully.”
“Did Ceila... No. Again, God's tool.” Murai asked, a bit forced with his words that Lady Vermillion didn't find that arrogant at all.
“Of course my Ceila is fine.” she smiled. “Now, I can talk to you freely without anyone's care. The sky is away, and any rules state nothing about it. I am glad this worked, but it was the course of fate that led to this encounter, don't you think?”
“Like the fate of why I ended up in this place?” Murai sneered. “You wish I knew, but this is beyond ridiculous.”
“I don't know about that fate.” Vermillion spoke, appearing quite unbothered, yet smiling as if nothing mattered. It was a lofty smile she wore, unlike the previous one, which was gentle, yet powerful in its own right.
“So, what is it? I spoke with whom all this time? Ceile or yourself? I couldn't come up with the right answer, but seeing your expression and force of entry to my Soul Space, I figured the most likely thing, but... It did happen, so there must be some reason for your visit. Isn't it?” Murai asked, curious about some words that didn't matter to his soul. He never figured out the strange feelings in reality, and considering the Gods, he wasn't too happy to be right.
Another interesting meeting with a God wasn't always a good thing.
So, which was it?
A disaster, an opportunity, or a good thing?
“Does it matter?” Vermillion asked, floating in the place as if she was on a stroll to a garden.
“It does matter. I have no idea what your intentions are since I have never met you before. That, I am sure of.”
“That may be your case, but I have met you thrice while observing your case was quite fascinating a couple of times. This, on the other hand, is four times more interesting, since I am actually in this world.”
“Thrice? You have your hands in 3 words already?” Murai asked in shock and tried to remember if this sort of God was something he knew of. Name? Her feelings, appearance, divinity, and so on were all unfamiliar to him. He was sure of it.
Then, what did it mean? It could indicate her skill, power, or his inability to detect her throughout their encounters.
He wasn't sure which lives she meant, but she was sure her meaning was about his Cursed Living. She meant unknown previous lives and they were all different in most cases. Many variables would give rise to questionable reasons and situations. Like meeting a god without knowing about it, or being under surveillance of one, and never knowing about it. Nothing would be that surprising.
After all, unless she wouldn't push herself onto him, Vermillion can remain hidden without his knowledge. That, in itself, made Murai quite a bit afraid since he didn't know the reason for that, not anything else. It was a fear of the unknown that lingered in his soul. Any secret was like that. Any unknown variable. Any danger involved. Almost all the powerful beings were worth those feelings.
“Three fully, or 26 in small nudges. The number doesn't matter to me.” Vermillion said, raising her arms to caress her cheeks in a curious look. “Right now, it is the case of a Battleworld by your sheer luck, or misfortune, depending on how you view it. Though, not like the latter matters at all, since your life will continue regardless of your End. It will go on, floating with the flow as a neverending curse. Isn't it a fascinating fate?”
“Curse my arse!” Murai shouted. “I have no intentions of becoming a plaything for entertainment for you, the assholes, or others like you!” Murai willed his fury, his soul undulated a powerful pressure, that did nothing to this partial Will that Vermillion was. It flickered her glowing long hair a little, but her smile remained.
She kept floating in this space, while the pressure washed over her, only to cause her to giggle.
“You think too harshly of myself, Murai,” she said, amused and lazily stretching her body in this place. Not like it did something, since her Will, nor the soul manifestation of her subject, Ceila had some physical feelings. “Your case is good to me as far as I know. I am willing to help you in this life, since it is up to me.”
“Fuck off.” Murai shot her down, unafraid or he was exactly opposed to that.
“Oh, so direct... I am so scared.” Lady Vermillion wept a fake tear.
“I curse my luck for allowing this to happen, but what you can do to me here... woman? Your help... No. Your plot is more than a curse itself. For me, I can't Will it into myself to force this situation away, nor your cause. So don't think your words have any effects on me. I don't trust you and you should know it, considering your lackluster tries or... whatever this is, or was about.”
“I know what you are feeling, but the situation is changing rapidly, and this world is strange. Well, not for yourself, but for the Pantheon. It is full of anger and frustration, like always.”
“Why are you telling me that?” Murai said, disinterested. “It doesn't matter to me how it goes Not now. Not in the past.”
“Just because I can.” She replied, obliviously aware of his unwillingness, but here went nothing. She will talk, and perhaps he will change his mind. Simple as that. It was a lofty attitude of a God. Truly. “It makes that place boring, chaotic, and messy, so this Battleworld is special in many cases. It is...”
“Why are you speaking? Do you think I care? That I am willing to help you in any shape or form?”
“Well, you are interested in continuing living. That much, I see and feel. Otherwise, you would remain in that well and never get out. A New Beginning would happen, and you would restart your fate.”
Murai shut up, realizing that this Vermillion God seemed to know a lot about his Cursed Living, and him as well. Whatever she knew about him, it made him uncomfortable.
Vermillion continued. “Considering the fact you even allowed yourself to go to my main church, it is a good excuse to force myself upon you. Don't you think it is bad? I feel rightful in my cause to help you.” she stated her feelings, hoping to change Murai's stubbornness that stemmed from being a very unique being. Well, it was much more complicated than that, with dates that no longer mattered to him or her.
Though, Vermillion was one of the few individuals that cared about Murai, and she was also fascinated and aware of his struggles, regardless of her passive stance in the Pantheon. It was time to change that stance, so her descent to his Soul Space was met with her good mood, yet with an unsurprising amount of Murai's unwillingness in her eyes.
Overall, she wasn't surprised by anything. Perhaps, she even expected him to be completely furious and pulled more tricks at his sleeve, yet with her divinity at present, they would do nothing.
It appeared Murai was yet to be something crazy in this life, so she was quite open in her words, efforts, and meaning. He wasn't a threat.
“Change? It is always happening. Things won't remain the same forever. Even Gods can't go on forever. It is the rule of the universe that keeps going ever since the first Shattering. You could know that I presume.” Murai said, a bit calmer this time around. “The case of the Pantheon is less than important to me... I wish it wasn't, so I would clutch your cheeks and rip them to shreds, but here I am, unable to do shit from life to life. Do you think this is comfortable? Meeting the End and knowing it is for nothing but another incoming End?”
“Your pessimism isn't a good way to go about that.”
“Shut it... I already went over this countless times, yet... it is my first time meeting a willing god... Which is...” Murai mumbled, telling things that he felt, but didn't want to feel.
“Lies...” Lady Vermillion took a deep breath. “You met a few, but you used them instead. Killing one while destroying a portion of the divinity of 3 others. That was quite something.”
“Something evil, I presume?” Murai didn't take it as an offense. “I don't deny that I did these things.”
“It was what you wanted to do for your living and the course of fate you chose instead. I don't deny your evilness or your morality. Neither of them are things I found strange in your case. In fact, I find it all that more fascinating.”
“So... Aren't you afraid you would be next?”
“With your current power? No. With the future one?” she hesitated, turning her right palm towards her mouth, glancing deeply into nothingness in a pondering look.
“Yes. The future one sure is questionable. As it should. I may regret it a lot, but it is a gamble I am willing to take since Battleworld has very unique circumstances. I never thought you would come here since it is... Well... it is a complicated screening process under the Greater Sky. God of Battle used 30 000 years of his time to make this a perfect place to hold grudges under the pretext of justice and his Divinity. Using it to entertain, and place some standing around the Pantheon, makes it a rather interesting place for us, but it serves an interesting purpose. It is a good place to strengthen one's divinity, so... it's as you already expected, I presume?”
“Yeah... I guessed that already. It's another plaything of gods, while their subjects are tools, unsurprisingly.” Murai said after listening to her explanation without interrupting her. For once, he found it reasonable within himself, since the talk involved the Battlworld and its secrets.
Though, calling it a secret was a bit of a stretch since nothing else would make sense to him. Murai already guessed at least half of what she said.
Feeling right to continue, Murai added. “Is that girl Iris like that to you as well? A future Avatar, or a tool to become the next head priest? A life filled with control, and a mind full of a God. How sad and poor thing Iris has before herself.” he said, turning his words upside down while thinking of the bitter truth he was aware of.
“I have no excuse for being a God myself. It is just how the universe goes around in a circle. One has to continue Rising or crumble apart in the place of others. You were aware of this truth a long long time ago, weren't you? A former...”
“... Shut up. I don't want to hear about that. You were long a speck of nothingness before me. The point of existence is nothing, so why point that out? You are clueless of that past... yet you speak as if you understand what it was like... having that taken from me.” Murai's whole being flickered in emotion and unknown thoughts.
He was willing to talk but it was causing him to recall many things that Vermillion observed with quite a good mood. Every piece of intent and word he let out was firmly etched into her memory.
It was with great pleasure since this was her first time speaking with a being that was probably the most unique thing in existence.
After a long stretch of silence and Murai's questionable change of mood, he was the first to speak up. “So, why are you here anyway? I didn't ask for a presence of a god nor is this something I ever wanted.”