Raxyas wakes up in a cell, alone. His vessel is not his own, but instead much smaller. It resembled a small, humanoid child.
He tried to recall what had happened before, but all he knew was that Xayn's attack had failed, and Zank had defeated him. With this, he surmised that Xayn, too, had fallen at the hands of Zank. But then... How come he was still alive?
He also noticed that his power had been sapped from him [https://img.wattpad.com/e56aad537caac7f6e564d5e1dc29f185d038596a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f71307144776e712d736f435a33513d3d2d313139373438383130362e313732393037626663303665653535623336393036333036303333392e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
He also noticed that his power had been sapped from him. He tried to remain calm, so as to make sense of this situation as quickly as possible. The walls surrounding him would have already been destroyed hadn't his power been taken from him. As he stood, he was defenceless. All he could do was wait, and as he did he wondered where his friend could be. A cell next to his, perhaps? Dead? And what about Za and their mission? Were they labelled as deserters for disappearing without a trace? How long was he kidnapped for? What happened to Zank? His mind was overflowing with questions. He felt like he was going insane.
Then, he felt a piercing headache, the same he had felt in Halgorth... In the corner of his eye, a strange, formless entity materialized before him. It had three sets of eyes: one orange, one green, and one yellow. At first, it did nothing but stare at him. Raxyas was sure he was going crazy. He tried talking to it.
Raxyas: Is anything there? Or am I seeing things...?
The formless entity could speak. It's voice was... familiar.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : traitor victim...
Raxyas: ... What?
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : you! victim of traitor, too...
Raxyas: Your voice... Haven't I heard it before?
Then, he remembers. Back then, the three undead in Halgorth...
Raxyas: It's... you. You three! Is this your fault?! Did you set us up somehow?
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : our fault...? hmm... i suppose that one way of looking at it...
Raxyas: What did you do to me back in Halgorth? What happened to us...?!
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : fate. okay?
Raxyas: Fate?! Don't give me that, I want a real answer!
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : oh? is fate not real? what is fate to you, then...?
Raxyas: Are you messing with me?! Does it look like I'm in the mood for some existential debate right now...? It's something that cannot be changed, a course that's already been set... So I couldn't care less about it. Why should I worry about something I have no say in? Plus, nobody can predict the future, so just drop the act and tell me what happened!
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : why? why not predict? fate is learned. when rain falls, you learn that some things will get wet. when you anger wrong people, you get sent to Mortmundus. when pride drowns out everything else, you end up trapped in dungeon. fate.
Raxyas: Oh come on, there's no way you could've predicted I would end up here!
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : sometimes... future easier to predict than it seems.
Raxyas: Gimme a break... So it's easy for you to predict the future then, huh?
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : sometimes
Raxyas: Alright... What'll happen next, then? Can you predict it?
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : ... no
Raxyas: Great! Let me guess, you can only predict it after it's happened. Hindsight is a hell of a drug, after all... Or better yet, you can only predict it when it's incredibly obvious!
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : no! and not incredibly obvious it was not! unless you suggest you too dumb to have seen it...?
Raxyas' pupils dilated, betraying his anger. He pulls himself together before speaking again.
Raxyas: Look, whatever you are, if you can't help me find a way out of here, then just get lost. I don't need any more voices in my head besides my own right now...
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : we help. but in turn, you must help us. okay?
Raxyas: ... If I say yes, will you leave me alone?
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : yes. okay?
Raxyas: Okay, whatever. Now leave me be.
The strange entity disappears. Sometime later, the cell door finally opened. A figure with yellow eyes and scales for pupils waltzed inside his cell, with a smile on its face.
A figure with yellow eyes and scales for pupils came inside his cell, with a smile on their face [https://img.wattpad.com/56eb2253c6622c9ebea74e812f92d6d92225bfb0/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f50536553587330536d33356b64513d3d2d313139373438383130362e313732383661633537623465623833623838383535323831363134332e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Yellow Scale: Ah... Raxyas, Raxyas, Raxyas... I bet that out of all places in Mortmundus, you never thought that a dark, damp dungeon would be where you'd end up.
He leans against one of the walls, with his arms crossed.
Yellow Scale: Well, then again, after what happened with the Thirteen, I guess that possibility may have crossed your mind, huh?
He grins.
Yellow Scales: See, I know so much about you... You're one of the redeemers of Za, from the citadel of Halgorth. The most skilled one of all his redeemers, in fact. The only undead in existence that has seen what lies beyond our world... The only one brought back from paradise into this hell. Raxyas the right hand of Za, Raxyas the hero of the undead, Raxyas the betrayer, Raxyas the fool... Raxyas the weak. Those last two titles were only recently attributed to your person, so chances are even you yourself are not too familiar with them.
His grin grew wider and wider. Raxyas sat silently in one of the cell's corners, listening. If only his strength hadn't been sapped from him, he could make that undead eat his own words...
Yellow Scale: I confess, Raxyas, that despite knowing all of this, I am hardly an admirer of yours. In truth... I despise your kind. You do what you're told, no questions asked! "Damn this undead, capture that undead. Now get on your hind legs, bark and spin". You're no better than a dog that does tricks for his master!
Finally, he had had enough.
Raxyas: You... What did you do to me?! Where am I? And where is Xayn?!
Yellow Scale: Save your questions, it will be a long while until you get all the answers you want.
He grabs the back of Raxyas' neck, pulling him up.
Yellow Scale: Now, get up. Follow me.
Raxyas followed the undead out of his cell and through a long corridor. More cells were adjacent to his, but no sound came from them. The undead walking in front of him was massive, not quite as large as Za, but larger than Zank. There was something very familiar about him. After a silent, lengthy walk, they finally go through a set of double doors leading into what resembled a throne room. A great throne was at the back of the room, which seemed at least as large as Za's. In the room, were two more undead. Talking with them was a smaller undead, slighly larger than the size of Raxyas before he had lost his power.
Grey Slits: ... But do tell us, how are you finding it to be an official member?
Black: It's not so different, so far... Though I guess it makes sense that it isn't. I suppose this was more of a formality than anything else.
Purple Spiral: A formality to be sure my dear, but now you're one of us! You will be among the pioneers that will free the shackles of our people... Be proud!
The undead that Raxyas was following interrupts the conversation.
Yellow Scale: Enough talk. He's here.
The undead points at Raxyas. The other undead look at him, saying nothing.
Yellow Scale: Before he arrives, he said that we should explain to him what has been going on around here.
Grey Slits: This is a mistake... You all know it is, but you're too scared to say it out loud! Just finish him and let us carry on. We risk too much by keeping him alive.
Raxyas could feel a growing familiarity towards these undead. It isn't just that he had met them before, it rather seemed they were somehow much closer to him than he could understand...
Yellow Scale: Clearly he has something in mind... Have some faith, would you? He's brought us this far. Are you so ungrateful that you would dare question his commands...? You know, this is exactly why he's always having you run errands outside the fortress. You're almost never around. Have you noticed that...?
Grey Slits: Tsk...
Yellow Scale: Raxyas, I will now begin. Buckle up. You have a lot of catching up to do.
Raxyas had no choice but to listen. He was weakened, powerless. He nodded without uttering a word.
Yellow Scales: Several years ago, an undead that was researching a way of bringing us back to the world of the living came to an important discovery. He shared his findings with one of his closest friends, and together they rallied more undead to their cause, trustworthy undead that were loyal to them, until they had a solid group to work with. These are the members of our group...
Suddenly the double doors opened, revealing a gigantic figure.
White Skull: You're late... I will take it from here.
He was the largest undead Raxyas had seen, even bigger than Za. He made his way to the throne. As he passed by, Raxyas he couldn't help but shiver. As he walked across the room, no other undead dared to speak.
White Skull: Enough about our origins, this isn't supposed to be a history lesson.
He sat on the large throne.
White Skull: Why go back, you wonder? What is there left for us in the world of the living? Well, Raxyas, freedom. True freedom. You see, the current paradigm believes that we undead have two paths to take: salvation, or damnation. To be given the possibility to rejoin the circle of life, or be sent to the void. Well, what if I told you that, as things stand, they both mean the same thing?
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Raxyas did not seem to have been caught entirely off-guard by this information... Xayn and he had already discussed this possibility.
White Skull: You experienced it first hand. You were "saved", were you not? Well, please share with us how your experience was. It should be much easier now that your power has been taken from you, since you are much closer to your core, the essence of your soul that contains all your memories.
Raxyas began to remember. Pitch blackness, an absolute emptiness in which his soul roamed aimlessly. He screamed and cried for help... But there was no one else there. Solitude and loneliness were all that awaited his soul as it drifted infinitely across nothingness. He suddenly felt like his heart had dropped to his stomach. He could not speak.
White Skull: Indeed... You were not saved. You were damned. Every soul is. Every undead is. Freedom, as it was presented to us, is an illusion. Freedom is not attainable and has never been attainable by us. The only way we will ever be free is if we march back into the world of the living, and search for a type of magic thought to be lost to the ages – white magic. That is our goal. To free the people of Mortmundus, by opening a portal back to the world of the living, and uncovering the lost secrets that will allow us to save all of their souls... Including those in the void.
Raxyas struggled to believe it... Could such a thing even be possible...?
White Skull: Raxyas... There is much we still do not know. But, new knowledge has made it possible for us to understand our condition like never before. For instance, did you know our soul is like an egg without its shell? We have the yolk, which all souls possess and cannot ever be taken from them. It is this part that contains the essence of your soul, that which makes it unique. It is responsible for your personality, who you "truly" are. On the other hand, you have the white all around it, and this part is the power of the soul. The white, unlike the yolk, can be removed from the soul in order to weaken it. Your soul is... Well, as it stands, it is basically just yolk. Though in time, it can grow stronger again. Don't worry.
Raxyas' gaze was fixed on the floor. It was difficult to say whether he was still listening or not.
White Skull: Hm... I suppose that's enough talk for today. I understand this is a lot to take in.
He turns to the undead with scale pupils.
White Skull: Take him back to his cell, let him think things over. The rest of you are dismissed, for now.
The undead began to leave the room as Raxyas was taken back to his cell. He did not know what to believe in anymore... But it seemed like the leader of this group could be telling the truth. At the very least, Raxyas felt some of it to be the truth. As he was about to enter his cell, he asked one question to the undead who brought him back.
Raxyas: Where is Xayn...?
Yellow Scales: We are not allowed to say. Whether you ever find out... Will depend on the choice you make the next time you enter that room. Think about what you've been told today.
The door closes, and Raxyas is left alone once more. After some time, he starts thinking out loud.
Raxyas: All those souls I've damned... And for what...? Just so that I would join them in the end?
In the corner of his eye, the entity materializes again.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : ... fate
Raxyas: Not you again...
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : freedom. damnation. two sides, same coin. Mortmundus is no gate to re-join life. it is eternal prison for the dead. flawed prison. but, eternal
Raxyas: So... There's no escape, huh...? And I'm supposed to just believe that?
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : don't believe. think and feel.
Raxyas knew what the entity meant. He didn't just believe it because that undead had said it. He believed it because, looking back... It was exactly what he felt.
Raxyas: ... So what am I supposed to do? Am I supposed to carry on with my mission, after knowing this...? It feels almost... Pointless...
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : not pointless! souls are imprisoned, but they remain. they exist, even in the void. but thirteen destroy... they consume... souls cease to be. people cease to be
Raxyas: Even so... Are we redeemers any better...? We send them to the void, where there's just... Nothingness, nothingness everywhere...
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : void is still mortmundus. better, or worse. matters little. soul in void still exists
Raxyas: But it's literally hell! After knowing what it is like... I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : then you must think, and choose. choose your future
The entity disappears again. For the following days, Raxyas thought about what had been revealed to him. The realization of what damnation could be truly like shook something within him.
Raxyas: Justice... Is it really? "A redeemer must act for the benefit of Mortmundus"... How can we say that? How can we say that and condemn our very people to such a fate... And ourselves! It's... Inhumane, it's despicable... Absolutely despicable...
Who else knew about this? Were the master channelers aware? If they were, why keep this information from redeemers? Why send their own redeemers to damnation?
Raxyas: How could I be so gullible? The price I chose to pay for my own freedom... That alone should be a sign that I never deserved it to begin with.
Raxyas had now started to feel like, during all his time in Mortmundus, he had been nothing more than a puppet. A piece in some grand game he couldn't hope to know the rules of. Blinded by his overconfidence and overambition, he had doomed many to a fate more terrible than he could ever realize... But no more.
Raxyas: Enough...! What we've been doing isn't right. I'm not damning another soul. And I'm not about to let anyone use them as their play things, either.
From that point onwards, Raxyas made a vow to himself: he would never conduct another damnation ritual. No matter what.
Voice from outside: HEY! Keep it down in there!
The door's lock was turning. At long last, the door opens once more. It was the same undead as last time.
Yellow Scale: You're really lively today, aren't you? Well, I'm glad. Get up, you're coming with me.
Raxyas: You! What's your name?
Yellow Scale: It is not to be revealed to you. Not yet, at least. For now, you can call me L. You would do well not to ask any other members to share their names, either. Come.
Raxyas: I'm not going anywhere until I get some answers.
Raxyas was serious. You could tell as much from his voice.
L (Yellow Scale): That's quite a menacing tone of voice for someone stuck in such a little body! Don't get all heated up. I'm taking you to your answers. Now, come on.
Reluctantly, Raxyas followed him. As they traversed the corridor once more, the undead informed him of what was to come.
L: In there, you will be given a choice. To join us and regain a part of your power, or to remain a prisoner. Should you accept to join us, you will be sent on an assignment to prove your willingness to aid out cause.
Raxyas: Join you...? How could I possibly do that, after you kidnapped me?!
L stops, grabs Raxyas and holds him up against a wall.
L: Listen, fool. You have no idea what we have done for you... Do you know why you're still alive? DO YOU?!
L grabs him harder.
L: If we hadn't reached you in time, the Thirteen would have taken you and fulfilled their goals already. You were the last piece they needed to accomplish their plans. Understand? But your temperament has revealed that you are much too reckless to be left alone... Lest you risk putting yourself in danger of getting captured and helping them fulfil their mission. That is why you're here, imprisoned. That is why your power has been sapped from you. Because without your power, you are much less valuable to them. Understand?
Raxyas was looking him dead in the eye.
L: We are giving you a chance to help us. Help us not only stop them, but also free the people of Mortmundus. Let me make this clear -- we *don't* need you. We will do this with or without your help. But any extra pair of hands is welcome... Now, prepare to make a choice.
They reach the door to the throne room. Inside, the largest undead was seated in his throne, the same one that had spoken to him before. Some of the other undead were also there.
White Skull: I trust you already know why you're here... Before you give us an answer, is there anything else you would like to know? If so, ask away, and we may answer.
There were many questions in his mind. Though right now, the safety of his friend worried him the most.
Raxyas: Where is Xayn?
The undead with black eyes shifts nervously, as if this question made her uncomfortable.
White Skull: He is alive... Unlike you, his power remains intact. As such, leaving him in one of these cells would be imprudent. So, we sent him off on an errand. You may be given the opportunity to see him eventually, provided you choose to aid us.
Raxyas: How come his power wasn't taken...?
White Skull: There was no interest in it! His soul is just like the soul of any other redeemer. But your soul is unique... Do you know how many undead currently reside in our world that have been summoned back after coming in contact with the void? Just one. You. That makes your soul very special...
Raxyas: But why...?
The undead stands up, and walks towards Raxyas.
White Skull: Forbidden knowledge has revealed that there is more to souls than is commonly known... For instance, did you know that souls can be divided? But, there is a catch.
He stops a few feet away from Raxyas, placing his hands behind his back and slightly tilting his body forwards.
White Skull: If you split a soul in two, do you know what happens to that undead...? It begins losing control of its own vessel. Yet, it almost doubles in power. If their soul is powerful enough to bear a weapon, it may even allow the undead to gain a secondary weapon.
He turns back, walking towards the throne again.
White Skull: As such... The more you divide a soul, the more powerful it becomes... But also, the more it loses control of its body. There is, however, an exception to this... In case the soul in question has a peculiar property – it has been touched by the void, or by hell, or damnation... Whatever you want to call it.
White Skull smiled, as he sat down again.
White Skull: Your soul, Raxyas, can be divided into the maximum number of parts a soul can be divided into, which to our knowledge is 18, and still regain all motor ability. You can strengthen every part of your soul just as if it were still intact! Unlike common souls, you could theoretically have 18 different weapons at your disposal, each one of them just as powerful as your famous whip-gladius...
Suddenly, Raxyas remembered something.
Raxyas: Wait... Zank had two weapons...
White Skull: Indeed. The Thirteen seem to have access to some of this forbidden knowledge, too. Although, by taking your power away, we have effectively stopped their plans in their tracks, at least for now.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : and advanced their own plans in the meantime, too... careful, this one may not be sharing all he knows
The entity materialized itself by White Skull's side. It seemed nobody else could see it but Raxyas.
Raxyas: I plan to destroy them once and for all, but I'm going to need to increase the power of my soul to do that. That will take time, I'll have to ask master Za to –
White Skull: Za? Let me make something abundantly clear.
He tilted his body forward, placing his elbows on his legs and supporting his chin on top of his joined hands.
White Skull: Whether or not you get to see Za again is entirely up to the choice you are about to make. Additionally, allow me to mention that your power is contained fully within this room... In each of us.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : there it is... power-stealer. soul-robber
Raxyas looked at each of the undead, and suddenly it all made sense to him. He felt a tight grip in his chest.
White Skull: We each have a part of your soul. It is the only reason why we are as powerful as we are, and it is by making use of them that we will continue to grow in power. You see, it was thought up until this point that only master channelers could increase the power of a soul. That is untrue. You, too, will be taught to increase the power of the part of your soul was left inside of you, and I assure you that you will be just as, if not even more powerful than before.
Raxyas: But why do you need this much power...?
White Skull: It is required if we wish to return to the world of the living. That is also why the Thirteen needed you... Fret not, more will be revealed to you when the time comes.
Raxyas: I don't get it... Why keep me around if I'm such a nuisance? Especially now that I'm powerless...
White Skull: We need to ensure you won't share this information with anyone. We could just destroy you, and that would ensure such a tragedy never befalls us. But... That is not how we desire to approach this problem. Moreover, truth be told, we have room for an extra pair of hands. There is still much to be done. Plus, you would like to be reunited with your friend Xayn, would you not? And to grow strong enough to destroy the Thirteen once and for all...? Help us, and we'll help you. We will help you become so powerful that you will crush the Thirteen under your boot as if they are nothing but ants!
Raxyas: If I accept... What will be required of me?
White Skull: Well, for starters you will be sent to a nearby citadel. Your mission is to convince the master channeler there to help our cause.
Raxyas: ... And what if he refuses to see me given my weakened, unrecognizable state? He may just call me an impostor. Or... What if he refuses to aid this cause altogether?
White Skull: While diminished in power, you are still one of Halgorth's redeemers. You will be given enough power to summon your weapon once more. Rest assured, it will be just as powerful as before. Whether you will be able to wield it effectively, is a different matter. Simply summon your weapon, and he should be convinced you are trustworthy. Moreover, Raxyas... It is true freedom we are talking about. He won't ever turn freedom away. Especially not him...
This undead seemed to know the master in question relatively well.
Raxyas: Another question, if I may... Since you all have a shard of my soul, do you all have my weapon? And... My memories?
White Skull: No... Such things are only bound to the one shard that is still within you. When the other shards obtain enough power, they develop weapons of their own.
Raxyas: Will Xayn be given the choice to join us...? And will we be able to finish –
White Skull: Enough questions! You were given more than enough information. Now, choose. If you need more time to think, we give you one day. Not more.
Raxyas: If I accept immediately... Would it be possible for you to restore my power right away? Not just enough for me to summon my weapon, but also to defend myself, if need be. I don't know what dangers I might encounter in that citadel... Or on the way there, for that matter.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : don't accept right away! think first...!
White Skull: We can arrange that. You would have one day to get accustomed to having greater power, and then you would be sent on your mission.
Raxyas: Then there is no question about it. I accept.
White Skull: Splendid! We will conduct the ritual at once. Then prepare, dear Raxyas, for the road ahead of us is long and hard.
t̴̤̟̜̬̲̥͈͓̫̏͒͒͜r̶̥̫̗̯͔̟̜͖̀̌́͂̋̅i̸͇͇̠̐̾̉̔̇̔͒͝n̵̙̤̿͂̽͒̚͠͝ͅi̸̡̧̧̼̼̞̩̯͐͑̈́́̀͊t̸̢̡̨̨̨̤͎̠̗̯͋̔̐̾́̌̕y̸̡̨̨̹̭̰̟͙̾̅̓̚ : foolish...
A small portion of Raxyas' power is restored, enough that he could use some of his combat abilities. Shortly after, his vessel crumbles under the increased power of his soul, and the group gives him a larger one that would better fit his current strength.
Shortly after, his vessel crumbles under the increased power of his soul, and the group give him a larger one that would better fit his current strength [https://img.wattpad.com/26750d1a88e4173d9bbed8618c3fd3f1517c8ec5/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4377446c5379706b586653444f673d3d2d313139373438383130362e313732393038306136663132333765663633383631323532363934372e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
He is taken back to his cell and left to rest until the following day.