I spent a decent amount of time adjusting to new things. I grew used to sometimes seeing future outcomes, feeling intent, and sensing presences. I was able to taste different mixtures of air and smell the shape of my surroundings. It was weird, but it made me feel like I was using echolocation.
("I wonder at what stage I can loosen the restraints the |Spirit Guide| put on |Unbound Mortal|.") [Solace]
As I spent some time with Elcrid in the cozy loungeroom, we conversed on what the next step was.
"So you tell me there is a restraint on your technique?" [Elcrid]
"It would be too stimulating otherwise." [Solace]
"I see. Well, I suppose it will naturally unravel itself as you become accustomed to the technique. Or rather, your body and mind will adapt to make more room for it." [Elcrid]
"Kind of like working out?" [Solace]
Elcrid leaned back in his chair.
"More like growing up." [Elcrid]
He summoned himself a drink to accompany some cookies he made earlier.
"Alt, I'd like to ask. Your adjustment to your newfound ability is near completion. Have you given some thoughts about your next move?" [Elcrid]
"A little." [Solace]
"A little?" [Elcrid]
Elcrid sat forward.
"Do tell." [Elcrid]
"I… think I might go back to Fina." [Solace]
I felt that maybe… I could reunite with the others. Maybe… I would be welcomed. After our rough parting, I hoped that there was still some connection between us.
"You wish to return to Metus? Not with that curse you're not." [Elcrid]
"..." [Solace]
Elcrid was right. Most likely, all of Metus, if not all of humanity, already dislikes me.
"You need a way to remove the curse, or disguise it." [Elcrid]
"Don't you have a way?" [Solace]
Elcrid shook his head with disappointment.
"Unfortunately, I've none. Even with the long life I've lived, I could not find a way to remove the curse of a god." [Elcrid]
"They're that powerful huh…" [Solace]
"Powerful? You haven't the slightest." [Elcrid]
He took another swig of his liquor before continuing.
"There are countless gods in every universe, Alt. With that number, you may assume some are weak." [Elcrid]
"And you're going to say none of them are?" [Solace]
Elcrid paused for a moment.
"No, I was going to say you would be correct. Many gods are weak. Though the weakest would be considered on par with the strongest of mortals." [Elcrid]
"Where are you going with this?" [Solace]
"I'm saying that the gods of this world are no ordinary gods. They all gathered from across all of existence to create this world, Ashtal. They are the cream of the crop as some may say." [Elcrid]
That was very disheartening to hear.
"If we were to reinvent man among men for them, they'd be gods among gods. That's how powerful they are." [Elcrid]
Glaze much?
"...Are you trying to crush my spirits or what?" [Solace]
"I'm saying that if you want that curse removed, you will have to request that service from another god." [Elcrid]
"That sounds rather… impossible." [Solace]
Elcrid nodded in agreement.
"You have a higher chance of becoming a god yourself than for a god to assist you here." [Elcrid]
"That's funny." [Solace]
Elcrid raised a brow.
"Funny how?" [Elcrid]
"You said I had a better chance at becoming a god than for a god to help me." [Solace]
"Ah. That wasn't a joke." [Elcrid]
I sat up straight.
"What?" [Solace]
"...You weren't aware? Becoming a god is no easy feat, but it has been done." [Elcrid]
"How?" [Solace]
Elcrid gave me a strange look.
"You can't possibly be thinking of attaining godhood are you?" [Elcrid]
"No, I'm just genuinely curious." [Solace]
Elcrid stared at me with suspicion before speaking.
"There are many ways told in the form of a tale. The first was the Sovereign of Trickery who fooled an arrogant god into giving his divinity. The second was a man who consumed the corpse of a god. The third was a woman who seduced a god and ascended with the power of love. The fourth was a tree who was worshiped by many until their faith manifested it into godhood. There are many more, but the criteria is very… uncertain." [Elcrid]
"So you don't have a specific method for me?" [Solace]
"I do not." [Elcrid]
This was a difficult situation. I grinded the gears in my head for an idea, but wasn't able to come to a conclusion before one of the walls blew up.
"Wha-?!" [Solace]
The explosive force threw me against the floor, leaving my ears ringing.
"ELCRID!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!" [???]
I could hear a woman's voice echo amidst my confusion, causing my eyes to veer towards the wall's opening.
("Who's that?") [Solace]
A woman wearing a leather coat strapped with all sorts of weaponry entered. I could see Elcrid stand, only for his shoulder to be shot by a small crossbow bolt.
"Ngh!" [Elcrid]
For the first time, I saw him bleed.
"Don't think you'll escape this time!" [???]
"Setra!?" [Elcrid]
Elcrid scrambled. His figure flickered at high speed, only for him to get sent into the wall by an unknown force.
"Urgh!" [Elcrid]
The cabin's wooden walls rattled as Elcrid was pressured into it.
"This…! Is new…!" [Elcrid]
The woman held some sort of stone with a glowing insignia at Elcrid, causing the force to strengthen.
"Elcrid!" [Solace]
I stumbled forward, attempting to grab the stone. I only managed to make it a few steps before freezing from a one handed loaded crossbow.
"Try me." [Setra]
Normally I'd ignore something like that, but all my senses told me that crossbolt was more than capable of puncturing my head.
("I still have to try!") [Solace]
I took another step, forcing her to fire.
"|Reinforce|!" [Solace]
I strengthened myself before throwing my hand up, allowing the bolt to pierce and slightly alter its trajectory. It flew past my face, cutting my cheek as I reached for the stone.
"You-?!" [Setra]
She quickly turned the stone my way, causing it to blow me into a wall within an instant. However, that created a small opportunity. One barely wide enough for Elcrid to snatch the stone from her hand.
"That's enough of that." [Elcrid]
Crushing the stone in hand, the unknown force on me lifted.
"...Don't think that's the only thing I brought." [Setra]
Just as she made her move, Elcrid swiped any tools he could find off her.
"Looking for these?" [Elcrid]
His hands were filled with several objects I couldn't identify. Some were smaller rocks, oddly shaped sticks, metal sigils, and a few throwing knives.
"..." [Setra]
She stared at her belongings unbothered.
"|Sparkle|." [Setra]
Her belongings lit up, releasing a powerful explosion. The flames didn't go far, shaped like an orb as if trapped or concentrated in a single spot.
"Elcrid!" [Solace]
The flames died down, revealing a severely charred form of Elcrid. His skin was blackened, cracked with glimpses of red hot fire within. His limbs were barely attached, and his body struggled to even stand. With such weakness, Setra approached him.
"I spent a long time preparing for this." [Setra]
I could see remnants of Elcrid's body slowly regenerating. However, Setra summoned a red and black dagger before thrusting it into his heart.
"Elcrid!" [Solace]
His regeneration slowed, almost to a halt. I tried to push through the mild concussion I got from getting blown away, but I only ended up catching Setra's attention.
"I don't have time for you. |Graviton Mextras|." [Setra]
I hit the ground within an instant. It felt like my weight increased a hundred fold.
("Gravity magic?!") [Solace]
I was surprised to see that someone other than Jukhan could use it.
"Now, Elcrid, you WILL give me what I want." [Setra]
She grabbed his face, causing burnt flesh scraps to fall off as she forced him to look at her.
"It's been… a hundred… years… no…?" [Elcrid]
Elcrid's voice was coarse, yet somehow still audible.
"It's been over three hundred. You've hidden yourself well." [Setra]
If I wasn't hallucinating, I saw Elcrid manage a slight smile.
"You're… You're still so… beautiful… my love…" [Elcrid]
("His love?!") [Solace]
I was getting confused by the second.
"Don't give me that. You know what I want." [Setra]
Elcrid went silent.
"I… refuse…" [Elcrid]
Setra threw him to the ground out of fury.
"You OWE me this! Remove it! Remove this curse!" [Setra]
Elcrid coughed, unmoving.
"I… I know… I am… selfish…" [Elcrid]
Tears began to form at the corner of Setra's eyes.
"Why…? Why can't you just let me die?! I never asked you to make me immortal!" [Setra]
Elcrid struggled to turn his body, his joints cracking and crumbling as he tried to face her.
"Since time… immemorial… of all the things… I lost… the only thing… I cannot bear to lose… is you…" [Elcrid]
Setra wiped her tears to reveal rage hidden underneath.
"You selfish bastard…!" [Setra]
She kicked him hard enough to send him flying across the room. Across that is, all the way to me. At that moment, her eyes widened as she realized what she had done.
"Wait!" [Setra]
("Too late!") [Solace]
I reached over, exerting all my strength to yank out the dagger protruding from Elcrid's chest. His body healed quickly, his crippled form filling with new muscle before fully returning to his peak.
"Thank you, Alt." [Elcrid]
With a wave of his hand, he dispelled the gravity magic on me.
"...Did you think that was all I had in store for you?" [Setra]
Elcrid shook his head.
"I don't doubt it, my love. It's just… as much as I would like to spend time with you, I believe our time together here is over." [Elcird]
With a clap, Elcrid vanished.
"Huh?" [Solace]
That bastard left me in this room with Setra. Within seconds, that crazy woman's sight was set on me.
"W-w-wait, we can talk about this!" [Solace]
Contrary to what I thought, Setra didn't attack. All she did was glare at me with annoyance.
"I'm going to assume you don't know where he went?" [Setra]
I shook my head quickly.
"Not a clue." [Solace]
Setra sighed.
"Not again..." [Setra]
To my surprise, Setra turned and left through the hole she made. Thus, leaving me in solitude.
("What the fuck just happened?") [Solace]