Lucain's soul flickered, its form wavering like a candle flame—yet his expression remained neutral.
What was there to fear? He had already experienced death twice.
"What is this world?.. Where am I?" Lucain's soul spoke in a firm tone.
"You demand an explanation?" The First Instinct snickered. The entire dimension vibrated, and Lucain could feel the ripples caused by its reaction.
"An explanation for a mere soul?.. I am a Primordial existence, and a human soul dares—? But since you ask."
Lucain's gaze remained stoic, waiting for the being to continue.
"The law of the universe I follow, Soul!,it is simple—one must give to take.
So tell me… what will you give me for your explanation?"
The First Instinct's tone was cold and emotionless, but for a moment, Lucain's soul sensed something deeply wrong. He chuckled dryly.
"What could an echo like me possibly give you?" he asked.
"I will devour half of your soul."
Lucain's eyes widened at its eerie words. Even as a soul, he felt fear.
"Half of my soul?" His voice was barely a whisper.
"Say it—what will happen to me if you devour my soul?"
His very being knew something would go terribly wrong.
"You will be consumed by nature faster!.. A soul still human, yet this vivid… I wonder how you will taste!"
"Consumed by nature?.. What does that mean?.. Would I die again?"
Lucain's thoughts spiraled.
I don't know what my current situation is. I don't even know if I'm the same Lucain I was on Earth. But one thing is clear—
I exist.
Is that a kind of life? Would I even be considered a lifeform?.. I don't know.
But… I feel.
Memories of this world surfaced—causing trouble with Miyu, doing foolish things, and somehow remaining safe despite creating serious trouble.
A small smile curled on his lips.
Miyu… Aurelian… the kids in that orphanage—and even Father Ralnr—don't know about my very existence…
Yet I'm grateful that I got to experience the warmth of a female, her closeness—even if it wasn't my body, and even if she only saw the owner as a brother.
Sigh… I died a virgin. Even after death, I'm still pathetic.
Memories of Miyu shielding him from the villagers surfaced—of her taking the blame upon herself to protect him.
"I wish I could interact with this world. I don't know what kind of place this is, but—WAIT!"
Lucian's eyes shone with brilliance.
"How about more than an explanation?"
The First Instinct went silent for a while. This time, the web of thoughts was complex. They didn't bother to untangle them—he simply spoke.
"Ohh… you want something of more value!"
Lucain stared into the darkness, barely holding his expression steady.
"Speak,Soul."
"You will answer all of my questions—no matter what I ask.
You will tell me everything, and you will never lie, no matter how valuable that information is!"
The dimension quaked. He could feel its laughter. The darkness rippled like ink, some of it dripping onto his form. Something far more ominous stirred.
"Knowledge… not merely an explanation. The cost will be greater."
The voice paused.
"But since I am but a law fragment of existence, I will make it balanced."
The ink began to form into a humanoid shape.
The darkness shot upward, condensing like frozen ink into a skeletal frame.
Then nerves, tendons, and vital organs formed before him.
Dark spheres filled the eye sockets.
Teeth black as coal emerged.
Ink that resembled blood flowed beneath forming flesh.
Skin followed—obsidian smooth.
Long hair cascaded down its waist.
It looked inhuman—yet humanoid.
Everything about it screamed wrong.
Its face was unnaturally perfect.
Its eyes were nothing but pools of darkness—no pupils, only void-filled sockets.
It stood about three meters tall.
Lucain's incorporeal form fell heavily to the ground.
"Aww—it hurts!.. Wait!"
Lucain felt the vibration in his throat, the pain of the fall—and then an obsidian table appeared out of nowhere, with two chairs facing each other.
The floor was cold, made of dark rock.
The chamber was lit by faint blue flames, casting a horrifying glow.
The humanoid figure stood tall like a god, looking down at an insect.
Its presence alone was suffocating. Cold sweat covered Lucain's back.
"Terms… or what humans call an agreement," it spoke."By the law of existence, I swear sincerity—even to a human soul."
"Awkk!"
Lucain's eardrums ruptured.
He spat a mouthful of blood.
The agony was there—as if his body had returned to its original physical form.
Lucain was in a pathetic state. He coughed blood as the pain of flesh returned.He could feel his ribs crack, his vision turning blurry as he struggled to breathe.
The tall figure snickered, its frame shrinking into a smaller one as its body transformed into a female form.
Her smooth black hair reached her waist, and her pupils were like pools of darkness.The dim blue flames of the torches cast a corpse-like sheen over her skin.
Her face was extremely beautiful—yet no human emotion ever appeared on it.
"Hmmm… so even my projection is harmful to your mortal soul."
She smiled and took a seat.
Lucain lay on the ground like an insect with its wings torn off, struggling to breathe.
The entity did not even attempt to heal him.
"Cruel!.. you are… too cruel!"
Weak words left his lips, but the being only smiled.
"What cruelty? It is my will upon yours.
You chose the agreement—devour half your soul, and I would give you an explanation.
"But—
"You chose another condition with greater value. Thus, I had to manifest my will through this projection.
"So… what do you wish to know, mortal soul?"
" Cough!..Cough!..am I..going to die?", Lucain coughed blood barely making his words.
The woman just smiled her eyes squinting.
" If it means the end of your existence then yes you'll probably die."
* * *
The sunlight shone brightly, and the sky remained as blue as ever. Yet, amidst this calm environment, a broken girl lay in a half-dead state, clutching her knees—her lungs barely drawing in air after the beating.
It was Miyu.
"Hmph! Never show your filthy face again, demi-human!—spit,"
an old hunchbacked woman sneered, spitting at her.
Aurelian stood there the entire time, frozen.
Miyu was barely conscious. Blood dripped from her head, and it seemed some of her bones were broken. She had been beaten by the villagers.
After all the commotion, Father Ralnr arrived in haste, holding the hand of an orphan no older than seven.
"MIYU!"
Father Ralnr's eyes widened in shock.
"AURELIAN, HURRY UP! SHE NEEDS HELP!"
Aurelian remained frozen, still clutching his arm, as Father Ralnr turned to look at him.
"Aurelian…? Child… what—?"
Father Ralnr froze for a second.
Miyu lay there, half-dead. Blood trickled from her mouth, and one of her teeth was broken. It was a truly heartbreaking sight.
Shifting his attention to the urgent matter, Father Ralnr did not even wipe away his own tears. By nature, he was a kind and benevolent man. Old and experienced, he always did his best.