The Last Page I
When Silora lost consciousness, the nascent soul spell from the consciousness-binding spell continued its work somehow. It didn’t just awaken everyone on the ship; it did much more, according to the killer’s words. He didn’t tell her exactly what her spell had done, but he made sure to tell her that killing them was an act of mercy.
“You see, I wasn’t going to kill this batch like the others who refused to cooperate. This batch carried the one I was looking for—you,” the killer explained with a smile.
Silora didn’t understand why this killer wanted to talk to her, but she took the opportunity to learn more and perhaps find a weakness she could exploit. “I would have believed you if I hadn’t seen your bloody self descending to the room complex. And how exactly did the others refuse to cooperate?”
The killer brushed his white hair with a frustrated sigh, defending himself against Silora’s accusations. “It was that battle mage; he was very annoying. I wasted enough mana casting the barrier, and I had to fight him again. Why did the damned ship’s people feel the need to put an obstacle in my search for you? But they don’t understand my mission, damn it.” The killer met Silora’s eyes. “So I had to kill him. As for the others, well, they didn’t know where you were, so I killed them. Why does no one understand my mission?”
Silora quickly learned that this killer was not right in the head. But she decided to risk asking more questions. “What about the soul spell?”
The killer muttered something to himself but still answered truthfully, “Just an artifact, it has already disintegrated. And yes, that’s how I found you. No mind is stronger than yours, so the artifact disintegrated as soon as it cast its effect on this piece of your soul. At least that’s what he said.”
As soon as the killer mentioned ‘he,’ Silora felt a wave of fear pass through him. She didn’t dare ask about that. She was sure that if she did, the killer would decide that this would be the end of their conversation and finish his mission.
But he also said something interesting. “I know my mental defenses are good at best, but I don’t think they’re as strong as you said. And yes, what do you mean by this piece of my soul? I don’t think the soul and mind share any kind of relationship,” Silora asked kindly, trying to befriend the killer to ease his tension.
And somehow, Silora succeeded. With a silly smile showing his white teeth, the killer wagged his finger in refusal and said, “Well now, I can’t tell you that.” He raised his head in thought, “But let’s leave this sad topic. Ask me something else?”
Silora smiled, but she didn’t forget about the ‘piece of her soul’ and the alleged relationship between the soul and the mind. She felt that this was very important and would not ignore anything from now on. Regardless, she asked as the killer requested. “You keep saying you’re looking for me and that I’m your target. If I may say, I really don’t know who you are. If you could just tell me? I really don’t understand?”
The killer looked at Silora with pity and guilt. “I’m sorry, I hurt you badly. I was so frustrated. If you only knew how long it took to find you, and I found you casting that soul spell. I was so angry, even though I knew it was you, I still couldn’t control my anger. I’m really sorry.”
The killer caught his breath from speaking so quickly. Silora felt that the killer’s apology was sincere, but she didn’t lower her guard. His words proved that he intended to continue his mission.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Silora said kindly, “but you still haven’t answered my question.”
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“You’re right.” The killer lifted his head to face Silora. “As for who I am, I really don’t know. All I knew was my purpose, which is to take care of you.” With a sad expression, the killer continued, “Just as I don’t know who I am, I don’t know who you are either. And I also don’t understand. As for you, according to what he told me, you weren’t supposed to understand from the beginning. But for some reason, you do. That’s why I’m here, because you understand.”
Another reference to this ‘he.’ But this time, the killer’s reaction wasn’t as strong as before. Still, Silora didn’t feel she could ask about this mysterious ‘he.’ So she asked something else. “I don’t know why you would think I understand something I clearly don’t, at least not consciously. But if you tell me about the thing you think I understand, I might recognize it.”
The killer looked at her helplessly, seemingly aware of what she was doing, but he answered nonetheless. “You understand the world, my world. Or maybe close to it.”
Damn it - Silora remembered her mother’s words, ‘Those innate in soul magic seem to be able to see the imperfections in the world.’ Silora felt anger at the killer’s words, at herself, and at the world itself.
Why would something she was born with, without her choice, determine her life or death?
Before she realized it, Silora let out her anger on the calm killer in front of her. “You don’t make any sense. Why am I being punished for something I didn’t ask for?”
The killer’s calm demeanor vanished, and he shouted angrily in return. “Don’t tell me that, don’t you dare say that to me. I don’t make any sense? Look at what you’ve done. You’re the one who’s completely unnatural here. I’m just a tool for your life to have some meaning. You should be grateful you’re alive… but you’ll find peace soon.”
Oh damn it - Silora was terrified, feeling that the killer was about to get up, so she quickly said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that, I was just angry at myself, I didn’t mean to take it out on you. I’m really sorry.”
From the corner of her eye, Silora saw the killer’s expression become calmer. She made a mental note to watch her words from now on.
When Silora met the killer’s eyes again, he nodded in apology but didn’t seem like he would speak anytime soon. So Silora took the initiative. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but did I do something to you that I don’t know about for you to… take care of me?”
The killer bowed his head in frustration but didn’t seem annoyed. “I know how it looks to you. But to answer your question, you didn’t do anything to me. But you did a lot. And somehow, you’re not in the place you’re supposed to be. You’re here. But… but…”
The killer started to mumble, not even finishing his sentence. Somehow, he seemed to malfunction.
Silora felt something was wrong, but she didn’t know how to act. Suddenly, a mental link invaded her consciousness. Her mind showed no resistance, which was strange. But Silora also didn’t resist. The mental link belonged to her mother’s young consciousness in the spellbook in the room complex.
[Run, you can’t maintain the stalemate any longer.] Her mother’s consciousness said hurriedly and with clear tension.
Before Silora could respond, the killer regained his focus. “Enough ‘but,’ you are a mistake in itself, you were never supposed to exist. And I will fix that,” the killer said with determination and sharpness.
[Run to your room downstairs.] Her mother’s consciousness ordered. [I’ll give you further instructions from there.]
Silora didn’t say anything to that. She began moving her broken body towards the stairs leading to the middle floor on her right. But she made sure to leave a few words behind, wanting to know how much the killer knew about her situation. “I won’t die now. At least not until I find my father’s killer.”
The killer, now behind Silora, started laughing hysterically, “Your father’s killer? What are you talking about? How can you have one if you yourself don’t exist… well, you do but, you really don’t.”
When Silora reached the stairs leading down, she took a look at the killer who was smiling at her, just getting up from his place, and didn’t seem in a hurry. “If you think about it, I’m doing you a favor. I’m helping you get fixed, you’ve caused enough trouble. You should be grateful you’re alive, but not for long.”
Silora reached the bottom of the stairs, she was about to rush to her room as her mother’s consciousness ordered, but the killer started talking again. So she slowed her already slow pace and listened. “Now, let me help you for the world to reset, and for you to go home. This time, your father won’t die, I’ll make sure of that.”
The killer’s words stopped making any sense, but Silora knew he wasn’t lying, and that he truly believed every word he said. Her other clue was her mother’s consciousness sighing, which Silora felt through the still-existing mental link. I’ll ask about that later. If I survive?