Chapter 39 – True Soul

Aenon

Aenon looked with rapt attention as he felt the subtle fluctuations in Jenny’s soul. Her emotions were still in turmoil, but at least she didn’t feel lost anymore. It would probably take some time for her to come to grips with the recent changes, but this was good for now. He too had some deep introspection to do. His way of thinking, his goals, and his relationship with others had shifted significantly over the course of a few months. But for now, he had to address the few things concerning her.

He cleared his throat to get her attention before asking, “Ahem. I have a question for you. It’s up to you to answer it or not.”

“What is it?” Jenny replied while wiping her tears, which had mostly dried up anyway.

“Has anyone been helping you cope with this new reality?” he asked. He wasn’t sure if she knew about soul spells and how impactful/dangerous they could be.

“Ummm, yes. Lady Agatha. She is the assistant guild head that Eskad mentioned. She has been keen on helping the people who were not able to cope. And I was by far the one who needed the most help,” she responded with a smile. Aenon felt the feelings of trust and respect when she mentioned the name.

“Can you tell me about her? What she is like, and how has she been helping you?”

“Sure. Anyone in Pinespire can tell you about her. She is extremely powerful, but also very shrewd. She has managed to weed out many problem players that had been skirting rules, the biggest example being Erwin. She has also created a lot of support programs for people like me.”

Aenon knew some of the back story between the two, and didn’t want to go into details for fear of causing her to relive the trauma. So, he quickly redirected the topic, “Sounds like one amazing woman. Is there anyone else of note who has been helping the refugees from Jadefall?”

“I don’t think so. Every single program has been spearheaded by her. In fact, the current city leader didn’t even want to let the refugees in. She had to pull a lot of strings to make it happen. She is extremely strict, but just. She gave me a job at the adventurer’s guild as a clerk despite me being so low leveled.”

“I see,” Aenon replied while looking away, deep in thought. This Lady Agatha was the most likely suspect of the soul manipulation he detected in Jenny’s soul. And by Jenny’s admission, this woman had been helping a lot of the people that the society had given up on. The question was whether this was out of the goodness of her heart, or did she have an ulterior motive like the Overseer. One thing was certain though, Aenon would not make the mistake of trusting another soul manipulator that easily.

He was lost in his own thoughts, when Jenny coughed to get his attention. But when Aenon looked up, she turned away in hesitation.

“What?” Aenon asked.

“Are you the same boy whose food stash we raided back on Earth?” Jenny asked after gathering her nerves.

Aenon blinked a few times at the sudden mention of that incident. He leaned back with a smile as he recollected the scene from what felt like a lifetime ago.

“Yes,” he responded with a warm smile. The fact that she knew meant she had met up with either Erwin or that big musclehead, Mike. The latter was more likely, so he asked in a good-natured tone, “How is the hulking moron?”

Jenny giggled at the use of this nickname for Mike before replying, “He is quite big, and quite dumb, isn’t he? He is doing alright now. Got a job as an apprentice blacksmith.”

“Hah. I bet that suits him. Don’t need a lot of brain power to beat metal,” Aenon replied with a smile.

“Exactly what his master told him when he hired Mike,” Jenny said with a laugh. She was finally beginning to relax around him. “You would get along well with Mr. Borin.”

Aenon listened with a smile as she regaled about the several incidents between the dwarf and Mike, and how funny it was to see him working in a blacksmith shop built for dwarves. And so, they sat there, chatting about casual tidbits from her life for a long time. Aenon couldn’t really talk about his life, since it held too many dangerous secrets and painful memories, so he did the one thing he could. He listened.

After almost an hour, Jenny was done retelling every casual experience she had since she moved to Pinespire. Neither of them wanted to touch on the more painful things, so they didn’t. After she was done, she looked at Aenon with a thoughtful gaze.

“You and Lady Agatha. You have some kind of spell to read and affect people’s emotions, don’t you?” Jenny asked unexpectedly.

“Why do you think so,” Aenon asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Because I can feel it when I am around you two. I have felt the calmness when talking to you both, and I have felt the terror when either of you is angry. You both are alike, and yet different. The feeling of being at peace when in her presence is stronger than yours, but the terror you instill is way beyond what I felt when with her,” Jenny responded with certainty.

For a moment Aenon considered lying to keep his secret. But her situation was like his own. Jenny was the recipient of soul manipulation, the same way that he was affected by the Overseer. And so, he felt she deserved to know. It didn’t matter if they were doing it for her benefit. At the end of the day, it was still manipulation.

“Yes. And no,” he said. Jenny looked confused so he went on, “It’s not emotions we effect. It’s the soul itself. They call it soul manipulation.”

Jenny stared at him in shock, not able to respond to that. Her eyes had gone wide while her mouth dropped open.

“I am still new to this stuff, so I don’t exactly know how it works. But I can feel people’s emotions and see what their souls look like. But I don’t really know how to manipulate souls like your Lady Agatha. I merely unleash my soul’s presence, which causes people around me to feel intimidated. I do not know how to calm people using my skill,” Aenon stated honestly.

“How is it any different than my mother’s manipulation all my life? In fact, this sounds even worse,” Jenny said in a horrified tone.

“You are right, it is much more potent and worse than using words,” Aenon stated simply.

“How can you be so callous about it? And how am I supposed to trust anyone after knowing that?” Jenny said in a hurt tone. Aenon could feel how betrayed she felt after the revelation.

“Because it is something neither of us can do anything about. As for how to trust, it is simple. You don’t.”

“Easy for you to say. You have your weird soul magic and do not have to worry about it. You do not know what it is like to be manipulated by others,” she said angrily. She was standing with her fists clenched to her sides.

Aenon stared at her with a neutral expression. It would perhaps be easier to explain his life to her, explain how his entire life was nothing but manipulation by others. But he didn’t want to. He had done it once due to the soul chains. But never again would he be so vulnerable before anyone else. So, he decided to give advice based on his own philosophy instead.

“Then grow stronger. Far beyond what anyone can control or manipulate,” he challenged her. Jenny was taken aback by his words, blinking in confusion. “This new world is more ruthless than our previous one. And if you want to live free, then earn it.”

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Jenny looked to the ground, lost in thought, as she sat back down. Aenon let her be for a while before standing up and grabbing his mask. He put it on and headed for the door. But before he opened it, he said one last thing,

“I cannot promise that I will not use my soul skill on you. But I can promise you one thing. I will let you know If and when I have used it on you. And when possible, I will seek your consent.”

With that he left the room and headed downstairs. Everyone else was in their rooms, so he headed out towards the courtyard where the world tree was growing. He felt a calming presence as he got closer to the sapling, which had grown to an impressive 5-foot height. It swayed in the wind as Aenon approached, before a childish voice reached him.

“Friend. Back.”

“Yes, I am,” Aenon replied with a smile. The courtyard was now covered with soft grass in a wide circle around the happy little plant. Aenon went ahead and lay down next to the sapling, closing his eyes in content.

He had not had time to unwind since the day he had landed in these foreign lands, always having to run from one crisis/mission to another. Even now, he could feel the storm clouds gathering on the horizon. This was but the calm before the storm. But for now, he was tired and needed rest. And this place was the most peaceful location he had ever experienced. It didn’t matter if it was the soothing effect of the tree, he just needed this. A cool wind blew across the field of grass as Aenon fell asleep. A peaceful dreamless sleep, one where even his soul sense was turned off.

When he woke up next, it was nighttime and not a soul was in the vicinity. The others were still at the mansion. Aenon didn’t get up, just staring skyward at the beautiful expanse of mesmerizing stars and planets. He put both hands behind his head and continued admiring the view.

“Friend. Happy? Content?”

Aenon could feel the question in the words. The tree’s vocabulary was still limited, and it spoke in words instead of sentences. But Aenon could understand it just fine.

“More content than I have ever been in my life,” he replied. The tree vibrated in happiness at his words, so Aenon asked, “Are you doing this? Making me calm and content?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” Aenon asked. Not in anger, but out of curiosity. Before the sapling could reply, he detected another presence in the vicinity.

“See. Friend. Soul. Dark. Lifeless. Hidden. Pain.”

“Thanks for caring, my friend. You don’t have to worry about me though. I will be fine,” Aenon responded with a smile.

“Are you sure about that,” a deep voice spoke from beside him before he was flung back into his soul space. His outer soul space to be exact. He could detect where his inner soul space was, and it was very far. So, he turned to face the intruder casually.

“That was rude. I was enjoying my rest,” he responded calmly.

“Hehehe. I must commend you for being so composed in my presence,” the disembodied voice responded. “And being able to detect me so easily.”

A human appeared in front of him, in a full set of leather armor. His hair was pearl white, and he had a pair of short swords at his hip on either side. He had an intricately crafted headband made of platinum like material.

“Hmmm, let me guess. Crown Prince Lightseeker?” Aenon asked with indifference.

“I’m surprised a backwater hick like you is so well informed,” the prince replied with a sneer. He turned around to look, not caring one bit about the soul floating in front of him. “Interesting soul space. All dark and mysterious.”

Aenon didn’t reply, taking his time to study the prince instead. He could feel the power radiating off him, the confidence. Aenon was sure there wasn’t a shred of fear in the man’s mind that he could snuff out his opponent at any instant.

“Took me a long time to track you down. You hid your tracks well, making that monster’s granddaughter kill my brother instead. Almost didn’t detect the vestiges of your soul on the hex that broke on his death,” the man said while turning to face him again. “Too bad I don’t get to see your face as I snuff the life out of you.”

In response, Aenon transformed his soul into the form of his real body. “How about now,” he said with a smirk.

The man’s smile vanished at the display of control of his soul. Aenon waved his hand, conjuring a table and set of chairs before sitting comfortably, “What kind of host would I be if I didn’t even meet and chat with my guest.”

The man’s eyes narrowed before he sat down on the opposite chair. Aenon knew this had put the man on guard, but he still radiated nothing but confidence.

“You think cheap parlor tricks would impress me, peasant,” the prince with a dark smile. “The only reason you are still breathing is because I willed it. Just because I need information. Give it to me, and at least I will extinguish your soul painlessly.”

“Ugh. Is it a family requirement to rehearse such lines before a mirror?” Aenon asked with distaste in his voice. He visibly shivered in disgust.

“What?” the prince replied in anger while sitting up straight.

“See, that is what I mean. Step one, throw in a threat of pain. Step two, laugh maniacally when the threat succeeds. Step three, show surprise and say what if the threat fails. It’s like you rehearse and practice this bit every day,” Aenon said in a mocking tone.

“Why you… I will inflict more pain than you can possibly imagine.”

“Aaaaaand repeat,” Aenon said with a grin as he leaned back and crossed one leg over another. “What? Forgot your next line?”

The crown prince seethed in anger, but was speechless. Aenon burst out laughing at the scene, “Really? Did you really forget your lines?”

The man raised a hand from which chains burst forth towards Aenon. They coiled up his arms and legs before lifting him off the chair and locking him in place above the table. Aenon stopped smiling and stared coldly at the man.

“Hmph. What’s the matter? Where is your sense of humor now, peasant”, the man mocked while sitting on the chair in the same posture Aenon was sitting in just now. “You think I haven’t seen inner soul spaces like this before. Hah. You miserable cretin, I have tortured thousands upon thousands of hicks like you. You know what they have in common? They all have dark areas in their souls where they bury their pain. Hiding from it, like miserable little grunts they are. Seeing that you have darkened your entire inner soul space, you are probably too weak to face your past.”

Aenon observed silently as the man started laughing maniacally.

“If not for the secrecy warranted to cast this, I would have ended you long ago. It takes a while to cast this hex and requires the blood of a hundred humans to work. Which takes a while to gather undetected. I originally wanted the information, but not anymore. Now I will enjoy your screaming before I go back and sleep like a baby.”

The man stood up and raised him hand in triumph. He flourished his hand in a complicated gesture with a creepy smile. And… nothing. His smile vanished as he did the action again and again, with the same result. Aenon just looked on with the same cold look as before.

With a casual tug, Aenon snapped the chains and floated above the table. The prince stepped back in confusion, “Impossible.”

Aenon glided down to the man’s level, making him stumble back. He raised one finger, “First mistake, you came into my soul space. Alone and uninvited.”

He took a step towards the prince and raised a second finger, “Second mistake, you misjudged your opponent. You assumed this is my inner soul space. It is not.”

The man’s eyes widened in surprise, “Impossible. Even I have not unlocked my outer soul space yet. A country bumpkin like you…”

“Third mistake, and your biggest by far. You assumed I was hiding my pain in the darkness within my soul. Heh. It is not pain that I am concealing.”

Aenon closed his eyes and felt the tethers floating about in his soul space, calling them to him. He opened his eyes when he felt his call being answered. He smiled viciously before his form faded into the formless darkness. The prince’s eyes widened in horror as he turned every which way to locate him.

“It is my wrath.”

Nine pairs of eyes surrounded the prince from all sides. He shivered and tried to run. But no matter where he turned, there was a pair of grey eyes staring at him. He tried casting something, but he was viciously slashed each time he tried. Only two pairs of eyes stood to the side, observing the scene.

Aenon observed in silence, with Bane standing behind his back, as the eight abyssal wolves tore into the prince again and again. They could have ended the fight long ago, but Aenon had specifically asked them to inflict as much pain as humanly possible. And so, they toyed with him like a ragdoll. Making him scream miserably.

Only after an hour did they stop. The prince was shredded to bits, but still alive. Aenon walked towards the cowering mess at his feet and stared coldly at his prey.

“Yo… you.., will… re… regret this,” the man replied in defiance.

Aenon picked him by the throat and held him high, “That is your last mistake. You think you will have a second chance.”

“He… hehe. Miserable runt, I am the crown prince of an empire. You cannot even fathom the resources at my disposal. I have more protection charms, and resurrection tokens than your entire planet combined,” the prince responded with a bloody grin. He probably expected Aenon to back down or be uncomfortable. Because he looked surprised when Aenon smiled instead.

Aenon felt a ping in his mind as he received a bunch of information. He finally understood what he had done all those months ago. He pulled up a system notification window and made it visible to the prince.

System Notification

Unfettered Title - Skill 1: Attack the true soul of a target, bypassing all System safeguards and measures, including resurrection tokens. Can be cast via any form of link to the target.

The man stared at the window in horror. For the first time during this entire encounter, he truly felt dread.

“No. That is impossible. Such a skill can’t exist. The System won’t permit it,” he shrieked trying to break free of the death grip.

Aenon stared coldly at the struggling man, as his pack stood around them. Aenon squeezed down hard, despite the man’s struggles. As the man’s life started to fade away, he said, “It seems not even the System can constrain me. For I am the Unfettered One.”