The old man stood a few steps away from him, leaning on his curved cane. His clothing was simple but unusual - a long, threadbare robe and a wide-brimmed hat that hid his face in shadow. Only eyes, sparkling with intelligence and ancient wisdom, were visible from under her field.
“Alexander,” Charon said in a deep, soothing voice that carried the echo of time. - You've come a long way. I even managed to meet beings of a higher order.
At these words, Charon grinned, but his smile did not carry warmth or comfort. It was a smile full of irony and, apparently, mockery.
- Alexander, I want to answer, my boy, you seem to be becoming a master in the ability to die and come back. - he said, his voice sounding almost mocking. - How many times has it happened? I must admit, I lost count. But perhaps you should strive for mastery in something else? In the ability to survive, for example?
Alexander clenched his fists, feeling resentment and anger begin to boil inside him.
- It is not my desire to die again and again, Charon. The real world is full of betrayal, it's... Tests... I feel deep down that communicating with you will not bring me anything good.
- Oh, of course you're right. - Charon continued in the same tone. - But wasn’t it you who chose this path, Alexander? Aren't you the one who strives for power? You must understand that great reward requires great sacrifice.
Alexander took a deep breath, trying to gain control of his emotions.
- I didn't choose anything. I don’t remember anything, and everyone here is trying to kill me or deceive me! I know that now this path is mine, and I am ready to follow it, despite all the difficulties. But sometimes it seems... Pointless.
- Ah, but do you really need meaning to live? - Charon raised an eyebrow, his eyes flashed slyly. -You learn, you grow, you become stronger with every death. You don't understand it yet, but it is so. Maybe eventually you'll even learn to laugh at your own mortality, like I did.
Alexander gripped the hilt of his dagger tighter, feeling the newfound energy pulsing through his veins as if answering a call.
- Do you think this is funny?! Die in reality to almost die here! - He nodded towards the place where his opponent had just been; now there was nothing there to remind him of the battle.
- This is part of the Edge, my young friend. - Charon answered, his voice sounded almost musical among the fog and silence. - When you defeat creatures here, you absorb some of their power. She can heal you, strengthen you... Or destroy you. It all depends on how you use it.
Alexander looked at his dagger, the reflection of the shimmering mist playing on its blade.
- And what should I do with this power now?
Charon stepped closer, and his eyes, full of centuries-old stars, looked straight at Alexander.
- You must learn to control it. The Edge is full of dangers, and this power can be your light in the darkness or your own destruction. You must continue on your way, Alexander. Look for answers, look for your destiny. But remember that power requires respect... And responsibility. Well, without her, you won’t be able to get a lost soul.
Charon tilted his head slightly to the side, his gaze becoming more serious and penetrating.
- You know, Alexander, there is one thing that you may not have realized yet. In your world, in the real world, your soul works, one might say, to exhaustion, to maintain your physical existence. There she is engaged in an endless struggle for survival in the physical body.
Alexander looked at Charon, trying to grasp the meaning of his words.
- But here, in Grani. - continued Charon, - Your soul is freed from these shackles. It frees up seventy percent of its capabilities, giving you access to a number of... Well, let's call it "extra features." For example, you can hear Cassandra whisper, whereas in your world this would not be possible.
Alexander slowly digested this information, feeling his perception of reality shift.
“So,” he began carefully, “here I can do things, or understand aspects of my being, that are inaccessible in my world due to the limitations of my physical body?” More precisely, my soul, which supports life in the body...
- Exactly. - Charon confirmed, nodding. - Your soul is not just “fuel” for your body. She is the bearer of wisdom, abilities and understanding that normally remain hidden. In The Edge you have the chance to explore these depths, use them for your growth and perhaps even for your healing.
Alexander nodded thoughtfully, his gaze directed into the distance, where the portals flickered.
- What if I can use this knowledge to become stronger? Not only here, but also in my own world?
“Perhaps you can..” replied Charon with a sly smile. - But remember that such understanding requires time and patience. You have only just begun to discover these secrets, Alexander. Who knows what other wonders you will discover in the depths of your soul?
Alexander frowned, not taking his eyes off Charon.
- You promised that you would give me answers only after I completed the task. Why are you telling me about this now? Are you up to something again? - he asked suspiciously.
Charon looked at him with an unreadable expression.
- Alexander, I see many paths and have something in mind, it’s about me, my boy. No one doubts that I could use you as my eternal servant, chained to this place with torment and responsibilities in the event of your failure. But let's be honest: it's boring. - he said with a slight grin. “You represent something unique, something that none of us, beings from the world of the dead, have ever seen before.” Rejected by Death. You are the first, personally chosen... Although this is not so important. You belong neither to this world nor to your own. And this... Intrigues me.
Alexander listened carefully, trying to unravel Charon's true motives.
- I have seen many souls coming and going. But you... Your soul is full of contradictions, and I want to see where it leads. So, you see, I'm not giving you this information out of pity or generosity. It's an investment... In entertainment, if you will. - continued Charon.
- So, you're experimenting on me? - Alexander asked sharply.
- No, not an experiment. More like... Observation. You are free to make your own choices, Alexander. But your actions, your successes and failures in this place between worlds... It all writes a story that I find extremely fascinating. And I want to see what happens next. - said Charon, his eyes sparkling with unusual interest. The old man bowed his head, continuing: “You were an interesting conversationalist, my dear Alexander.” But like all good moments, this too comes to an end.
Charon's words were light, but threatening, like evening fog before a storm. Around him, the air began to fill with dampness and coolness, and the ground under his feet began to pulsate, like a distant heartbeat. Alexander looked at Charon critically, knowing that there were ulterior motives behind that smile and words.
-You are always so mysterious, Charon. Don't think that I completely trust or understand you.
Charon laughed.
- Oh, my friend, I would be disappointed if you said otherwise.
His figure began to blur like a watercolor on paper, streams of water bursting from his chest, forming a dynamic whirlpool in front of him that instantly swallowed him and the goods around him, leaving an empty silence in his place. Alexander stood, absorbed in his thoughts, while Charon's shadow finally disappeared into the whirlpool. The young man was finally left alone, with an idea and thoughts that needed to be cleared from his head.
“Cassandra’s whisper...” he whispered, putting his palm to his temple. This gift, which he had not even begun to master, allowed him to hear what others could not. However, this gift was twofold. It made it possible to hear about dangers that had not yet occurred, but at the same time little information, which did not allow one to control this ability.
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He felt a heaviness in his hand and lowered his gaze, staring at the blade. His thoughts turned to the shield he could summon. Last time, the guy used an ability on the verge of life and death. Now, he realized that this was not just protection, it was a projection of the souls he had absorbed.
“If my soul really has so many hidden capabilities,” Alexander reflected, “Then perhaps I could strengthen my abilities.” Using Cassandra's Whisper not just as a passive tool, but as a weapon that can be as deadly as my blade. Or call it in the real world and no longer fall into the hands of traitors and murderers.
He touched the blade of his sword thoughtfully, feeling the vibration sparkle through his hand. This world of the Edge provided him with the opportunity to see deeper than ever before into his soul, into his potential.
“I need to learn more,” he decided, becoming more determined to study his abilities and find a way to control and strengthen them. “I cannot allow Charon or anyone else to use me for their own purposes. I must become stronger for my safety.” .
Alexander sat down on a stone, trying to organize his thoughts. The fog, like floating clouds, either enveloped him or went away.
- If the Skeleton Executioner really punishes lost souls, then he knows exactly where to find them. - I remembered my meeting with a strange creature. Alexander squatted down and leaned against the cold stone. His thoughts were spinning and his heart was pounding loudly in his chest. He felt the weight of the responsibility of searching for a lost soul for Charon. - Maybe the Executioner has them under control?
But following the Executioner was dangerous, and he realized that such a plan could end sadly. The portal - the same wormhole from which the dark silhouette came - may be the key to his task. Alexander resolutely headed back to the portal. The fog seemed less dense and the world became less surreal the closer we got to this source.
Approaching the portal, Alexander tried to see something in its depths. The noise emanating from him was like the whisper of the wind, faintly distinguishable against the background of the silence of this place.
- Maybe this portal leads to the place where he holds souls? Or to the place where they live? Maybe I should take the risk and go through with it? - Alexander thought. But the decision was not easy, because danger or even the end of his path could lie ahead. But he had no other options, and the decision was made.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and stepped into the portal.
Alexander came out of the portal, and his gaze was instantly captured by an amazing sight. He stood at the top of a hill surrounded by endless green plains that stretched to the horizon. The sky above was a dazzling blue, but unlike anything he had seen before. Here it was deeper and richer, with iridescent shades of purple and pink at its zenith.
In the distance, like a reflection, huge crystalline pillars, towering high above the plain, shimmered with brilliance. They seemed incredibly transparent and graceful, as if created from pure light.
The air was filled with the aromas of unknown flowers. Somewhere in the distance the soft murmur of water was heard, and Alexander felt a light cool breeze that brought the smells of the sea and summer.
Under his feet there was thin grass covered with dew, and when he took a step, it bounced lightly, like a soft carpet. On the horizon, right in front of him, a ridge of purple mountains rose smoothly, their peaks were hidden in clouds emanating a silvery glow.
Alexander paused, trying to absorb this majestic and peaceful place. His heart was filled with a feeling of peace and harmony. Alexander could not help but compare this place to the paradise described in religious texts and myths. It was something like heaven on Earth - a space where nature and harmony come together to create a world filled with peace and beauty.
But here and now, standing in front of this beauty, he realized that such a world could only exist in isolation from reality, perhaps even in another dimension. However, despite this realization, Alexander decided to take a moment to rest and enjoy the place. He sat down on the soft grass, closed his eyes and deeply inhaled the aromas of this wonderful world. The place seemed an ideal refuge from the storms and trials of his journey.
A sudden rustling made Alexander jump up sharply and turn around. Behind him, from behind one of the majestic trees, a girl came out. Her long, curly hair glowed golden in the sun, and her deep emerald eyes peered into him with an unreadable expression. Her light dress seemed to be made of the fog itself, it flew so freely and airily around her with every movement.
Without waiting for Alexander to come to his senses from delight and surprise, the girl said:
- This place is not for you. I'm asking you to leave.
Alexander, trying to find words for several seconds, answered:
- I'm sorry, I... I didn't want to disturb you, I just wanted to find a lost soul. But now I would like to know your name.
With the girl's appeal, Alexander felt even more lost. Her penetrating gaze swept over his face, as if she could read his thoughts and know his true essence.
“You don’t understand,” she continued, “This place is not just beautiful.” This is a special, pure place, and I am the mistress of everything you see here. I ask you to leave before something irreparable happens to you.
Before Alexander could answer, Cassandra's familiar whisper whispered in his ears: "Death." His heart began to beat sharply. The word was brief but categorical. Alexander realized that he was on the verge of something terrible, and perhaps the consequences of his presence here could be fatal.
Trying to collect his thoughts, he took a deep breath and said:
- I apologize for disturbing you. I'll leave. But let me ask one question before I disappear: what is this place?
The girl looked at him, her eyes flashed with coldness, but her voice remained calm and even:
- You will know if your hand of fate spills into the lands of death. But now... Go away.
Realizing that he was on the verge of possible death, his legs moved automatically, following the return to the portal. But as he walked, emotions raged inside his head. This girl, her beauty, attractiveness... It all appealed to something in his soul that he had not previously realized.
Stopping at the portal, he looked back. Her figure stood in the same place, looking at him, as if waiting for his next move. Taking a deep breath, he said:
“I don’t remember much of my life, but I’m sure I’ve never encountered anyone like you.” Maybe it's not the time and place, but I think I've fallen in love with you.
She looked at him, her eyes expressing surprise and perhaps a hint of curiosity, but her face remained impassive.
- Leave while you still can. - she whispered, and her words sounded like a warning, but at the same time like a confession.
The portal moved in front of him, and Alexander, without wasting time, crossed the threshold, but the image of the girl and her words will remain with him forever.
The young man tried to find a serene place in this chaos and find inner peace. Alexander noticed a small clearing not far from the portal, where silence seemed to thicken in the air. He sat down on the ground, closed his eyes and began to meditate, trying to connect with himself. Images of the girl he met and her mesmerizing eyes flashed through his mind.
Peace did not want to come to him, so trying to calm his agitated emotions and his heart pounding wildly in his chest, Alexander decided to immerse himself in the practice of absorbing souls. He jumped up and walked quickly towards the nearest pyramid, from the top of which a dagger was sticking out.