1 Soul & Blood

7th Era, 203.

Losing their sense of identity is the worst thing that could happen to a person. Those who lose their essence – whose emotions are manipulated and whose goals and desires are played with like clay, resemble wounded stray animals with no salvation: They don't know what tomorrow will bring, and they are tossed wherever the wind blows.

As I was waiting in the line, a blue-haired girl caught my eye. She was maybe two or three years older than me. I felt like I've seen her before – but to no avail, I couldn't seem to remember her.

In the smudged windows, I could see my reflection between two students. My half-open eyes devoid of any emotion and my monotonous dull face was in harmony. I wasn't ugly, nor was I handsome. I was just some ordinary student of magic trying his best to survive in this harsh city.

"The Goddess of Beauty, Dierman," said Professor Yuu, "had blessed you with her power, Lore."

The student whose eyes were shut in fear jumped in excitement after hearing Professor Yuu. The Goddess Of Beauty, Dierman, huh? Her followers are known to be some of the best healers in the whole world.

We were in a rather dusty and small library. Dead plants' yellowish ivies partly covered the only window in the room. To this day, I still have no idea where the ivies were coming from though; I suspect they were created with some sort of magic attached to it – magic that helps the students by calming them.

Professor Yuu got up and smiled at his student Lore. After he was done talking to her, the girl next in line came forward.

"Professor Yuu, it's an honour, sir," said as she bowed down elegantly, "I'm Ayame Katto."

"Oh, another Japanese student. How lucky of me." he chuckled and sat down in his comfy chair. "Tell me, Ayame, how would you describe yourself?"

"I don't ever give up and always fight for what I truly believe in." she got a bit red. "It might sound stupid, I know. But that's what my family taught me."

"Wonderful parents, I'd say." he put his hand on her shoulder. "Now, calm yourself. I'm going to see which god had blessed you when you were born."

"Of course, sir."

Professor Yuu's white beard and long hair levitated. Then, a strong purple light shone through his eyes for half a minute. It was so bright that we had to cover our eyes until all the commotion ended.

"Ur, The God of Life, Death and Beyond," he turned back to his original self, "just like you imagined, I'd take it?"

"Quite, sir. Thank you."

Now it was the blue-haired girl's turn. Really, where did I see her before?

She gently bowed down and with quick movements, -as if she was in a hurry- got close to Professor Yuu. Seemed like she wasn't much of a chatter – or she was just shy. Hard to guess.

"Hello," said Professor, "could you tell me your name please?"

"Nia Katav, sir."

"All right, Nia, what are your hobbies?"

"I…" she wrinkled her forehead. "I like to practice magic."

Students that are in the line laughed quietly.

"That is good. That is good." mumbled Professor Yuu. "Now, I'm going to see which god had blessed you when you were born, Nia."

He put his hand on her shoulder and waited. This time nothing of note happened, everything went surprisingly smooth.

"Oh," Professor Yuu scratched his beard. "Nierman… The Goddess of Lust. You are the second student that's been blessed by her power in – in two years."

"Ugh…" she covered her face with her hand. "Why… why?"

"Millions of students would want to be in your shoes, dear Nia. Goddess Nierman, the older sister of Dierman, is very strict about her – say, business. She only blesses those who have courage and will to spread her name throughout Gum'n."

"Yes… sir. Yes." she walked out of the room in shame.

The student next in line stepped forward. He was probably the taller one in the library. Maybe 6'4? Surely taller than me though, as he was right in front of me, towering Professor Yuu.

"Hello, name's Ran Hyun-Ki. Honour to meet ya. I mean… honour to meet you, sir."

He tried his best to be respectful, but failed miserably. Or… he did that on purpose – maybe he was just an arrogant student? Nah, not arrogant, probably excited; because as soon as he realised he didn't bow, he bowed down immediately.

"Hello, Ran Hyun-Ki," he said as he put his hand on his shoulder. "how would you describe yourself?"

"Strong and wise."

"Huh, but of course." Professor Yuu smiled. "The Goddess of Wisdom Minra had blessed you, young man."

"Oh yes, I knew it! Thanks, Professor," he exclaimed, giving the Professor a quick nod before sprinting toward his friends with a burst of excitement.

It was my turn.

"Good evening, sir," I said, bowing slightly.

"Evening, young man. Could you tell me your name?"

"Soul."

"Only Soul?"

"Yes, sir."

"May I ask the origin of your name?"

"With all due respect, sir, is that really necessary?"

"Yes." It was a short answer. He couldn't come up with a better suited lie I guess.

"I… uh, I was born in a tribe, sir. They give their children the name 'Soul' whether it's a girl or a boy. We also have no surnames."

"Why, I wonder?"

"Some sort of curse – or something like that. I was adopted when I was four. So I have no knowledge about the tribe I was born into."

"Your new parents didn't give you a new name – a surname?"

"If possible… I'd like 'not' to answer that, sir."

"Oh." he sounded heartbroken. "Okay, sorry for asking such personal questions, Soul."

"Please, no need, sir."

"Right…" he placed his hands on my shoulder. "Now I'm going to see which god had blessed you when you were born, Soul."

I closed my eyes and counted to ten. Why was this painful? I felt like screaming on top of my lungs and run aimlessly until this unbearable pain stopped.

"Huh," he said, tilting his head, "yes, a god had blessed you. But – I can't sense their power in you."

"What does… that mean?"

"The god that blessed you is – I mean, has, lower power than the six gods we know of."

"Hmm." I stood there and did nothing for a few seconds. "Okay. Thank you, sir."

"But don't worry, Soul. That doesn't mean you are weak. You can still use magic and improve yourself."

"Hey, check it out," said the guy behind me.

As I turned around, I noticed the unmistakable heat and the crackling sound. My long coat was on fire! The student behind me must've used fire magic and –and actually lit me on fire. Where was I, in an asylum?

I quickly tried to put out the fire with my hands, but that wasn't enough. The fire was spreading faster than I anticipated.

The blue-haired girl I saw before stepped into the room and whispered something. Not long after, a wave of 'S' shaped water spell came out of her fingers and splashed me like a whip. That actually hurt like hells, but at least I was alive. She was able to put out the fire successfully.

"Why didn't you use a water spell?" said the boy who lit me on fire, "Are you dumb? Are you trying to get me expelled from the school?"

"I can't use water magic." I said with a monotone voice.

"What? It's magic 101, you dumbass! Water, fire, air and earth."

"Enough." Professor Yuu held his magic staff and mumbled something. "I want no fighting in here."

Little spiders appeared beneath the cracks of the wooden floor and crawled onto me. Somehow, I knew they weren't ordinary spiders. Each one carried a thin, thread in its mouth, leaving behind a trail of iridescent silk as it moved.

"This should do it," said Professor Yuu, "sorry for the trouble, Soul."

The spiders repaired my burnt coat and then disappeared in an instant. I still wonder by which god Professor Yuu had been blessed with, though. Apparently no one knows that, not even his daughters.

"Oi." the idiot that lit me on fire held my arm tightly. "Don't get in my way again."

I didn't say anything back to him and walked toward the door. There, the blue-haired girl was waiting for me. Where have I seen her?

"Thanks for saving me."

'Gods… now I remember her.'

She was the girl that nearly died in that goblin attack a couple months back. I was there too, resting in an inn after completing a contract for the Guild. The whole goblin attack was just – it was a bloodshed. The village was taken hostage by those little green creatures for two days. Countless women were raped, childeren were killed, men were tortured.

I didn't help them; helping them wouldn't have made any difference anyway. I was lucky enough to hide in a shed that was abandoned.

And plus, I couldn't risk losing the artifact…

If someone had to save those people by risking their neck, why would that be me? Like every commoner – every sane person would've done in that situation, I let the authorities handle the attack. Being a hero is… not my thing and never will be.

The villagers' deaths wasn't my fault. My conscience is still as pure as Sirenar's mercy.

"I remember your face, Soul. You were in that village, weren't you?"

"No."

She sighed in disappointment.

"Now I know why you didn't help the villages." she turned her back to me. "You are weak."

"That I am."

"And you have no shame."

"That I don't."

"Maybe I should've let you burn."

"That you should've."

"One more sarcastic sentence comes out of your dull mouth – you are done for, Soul." she was angry. Clenching her fist, brows furrowed.

Had to keep a low profile, couldn't risk sticking out too much. I hate unwanted attention like all people.

"You're right. I'm sorry."

"Oh, things are getting red there I see." Professor Yuu started to play with his beard. "How about a friendly competition?"

"I refuse," I said, eyes shut.

"I shall accept it," she countered, "I'd like to battle him."

"But sorry, Nia, that's not possible." Professor Yuu explained. "If he isn't willing to participate in the battle, I can't let you two enter the arena."

"Good day, Nia." I put on my hoodie and started walking.

"Hey, stop running away from a fight like a coward." she stood in front of me. "Be a man!"

"I'd rather not. Thank you."

I sat down on a bench, sighed from exhaustion. Behind me, there was a frozen pond; and near that pond, a small burnt out cabin caught my attention. A mother cat was feeding her only kitten inside it. They both were skinny and had sad eyes, poor souls.

I stopped looking at the cabin and turned my head to the boys' dormitory. It was a five floor hotel-like structure that had lots of empty rooms. It felt weird to see a once blooming school like this – now… gone. In Gum'n, learning magic and its history was banned by high elves. We were under their reign for 5 years now.

When our empire was invaded by Sultan Khar, high elves helped us reclaim what was ours. But we failed to see the real threat that was in front of us all this time: The long eared bastards. They manipulated the nobles, infiltrated the king's rankings and forced us into submission. Our empire were weakened; we had no manpower because of the constant battles with Khar. Had we tried to counter them, it'd have been a nightmare. Morale was low, men were weak and supplies were depleted.

'Glad I wasn't a soldier, huh?' I leaned back. 'With my luck, I'd have died to friendly fire.'

Dense trees' branches were dancing along with the strong wind. It was snowy, cold and at the same time – warm. It's hard to describe, but nights like these always remind me of my step-sister. Her cute smile was the warmest thing in the world. But behind that smile, I could sense her cold sadness eating her up to the core.

I looked at the moon, "Wait for your brother. I'll save you."

The guy who set my coat on fire, along with his four lackeys, approached me. They all wore smug grins, the kind that said, 'We're stronger than you, and we know it.'

"Yo, retard." he cast a basic fire spell on his right palm and illuminated the vicinity. "How's the day treating ya?"

"I've been good. Thanks." I replied with a boring voice.

"Don't test me, boy. I'll mess you up if you do."

'What did I even say to anger you...'

"Hmm." I got up. "I don't want any trouble. Please, just go."

"Go? Are you mocking me?"

He shoved me and I stumbled backward, hitting the bench and falling down onto the muddy ground. There was no one near us, that meant no one would be able to see if they were to just… drop dead and simply disappear.

'Yes, I think they'd do just fine.'

After standing up, I adjusted my hair and let out a sigh. This seemed to anger the fool who had set me on fire, because his eyes widened and his fire spell intensified.

"Running from a fight," he sneered, "and what worse is – running from a damned woman, huh?"

"Nia is strong, though. She defended that village with the guards."

"Sorry I can't – I can't remember." The fire in his palms disappeared and he punched me in the guts. "I can't remember if I gave you the permission to speak, boy."

I put my right knee on the ground and groaned in pain. Son of a bitch got a helluva right hook. What was the last time I was punched, ten years ago?

He pulled my silver hair back and forcefully made me look at him.

"I heard you have a little sister. Mind if I have some fu..."

Suddenly, black branches rose under the ground and wrapped themselves around the five idiots' necks. They were all surprised, I could sense their anger disappearing into fear with every second.

"What is this?" asked the short one.

"Release me! I order you to re…"

Branches tightened and I decapitated them. Blood gushed out of their bodies and floated in the air, defying gravity.

Just like that, in mere seconds, five of them were gone, lying on the cold ground.

With a flick of my finger, all the blood in their bodies fused together like a ball and sat on top of my palm. I saw my reflection on the dark red blood for a brief second; I wasn't happy, nor sad. Just empty.

Branches with black goo dripping from them slowly retreated where they came from. And the blood that was sitting on top of my palm started to enter my body through my eyes.

"Don't talk about my sister, filth."

The triangular artifact in my pocket emitted an ear-piercing noise that felt like it would make my ears bleed and knock me unconscious. Thankfully, neither happened; the noise eventually softened, likely because my ears had adjusted to it.

"Mortal," said an intimidating voice inside my head, "you have finally taken a life and filled me with enough souls. I congratulate you."

"Demon Queen Lilith." I kneeled and put the triangle artefact on the bench. Some sort of smoke was coming out of the thing. "Thank you for hearing me."

Suddenly, all the stars in the sky opened their veiny eyes and looked at me as if they wanted to kill me. The crows started to caw like they were in immense pain. Two cats in the cabin hissed as if they were seeing monsters beyond their comprehension. I was no longer in Gum'n, I could feel it in my bones.

The smoke coming out of the artefact became stronger. So strong that I actually went blind for a few seconds. The only thing I was able to see was my nose and the snowy ground.

The ear-piercing sound stopped. When I lifted my head, I saw Demon Queen Lilith standing in front me, looking at her surroundings with disgust.

She was wearing a grey dress with red high heels. Her curly and long hair was the same colour as her sharp eyes, black like an endless void. I thought she'd have like – like a thorn sticking out of her head or something. I didn't think she'd look… I don't know, like a human.

"You, mortal, woke me up from my eternal sleep. Aren't you a human? Why would you wake a demon up?"

"Demon Queen Lilith," I said, "I'd like a reward for resurrecting you."

"Oh?" she got closer to me. "What is it that you want? Unlimited power? Knowledge? Richness? Wenches?"

"A High-Priestess in this country put a curse on my little sister. I'd like you to cure her… please."

"Cure your sister? Is that it?" she sounded surprised.

"Yes."

"Then I shall kill you. And give your life to your sist…"

"I accept it." I nodded. "Please look after my sister, she's in the KCO Hospital nearby. Her name is also Soul. Soul Ruby. And please… make it painless."

"Are you even listening, mortal? Your sister can keep on living even with a curse."

"I – I know. But I'm the older brother. She's my responsibility. I have to do it."

"Very well then. Get ready, I shall grant you your wish."

"Thank you, ma'am."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Well, I thought I'd live for at least twenty years, though. Was my life good? No, I wouldn't say that. Was it bad? No. It was – normal. Ordinary. I didn't fall in love, I didn't make any friends, I didn't laugh or cry. Wow… I'm super boring, huh?

"Or rather…"

She put her index finger under my chin and made me look at her beautiful face. I'm not going to lie, it was my first time being close to a woman. My heart was racing.

"I like your eyes, Soul," she said, "your eyes remind me of my dead cat. They are cute."

I didn't say anything back. A dead cat? That's a new low for me.

"I'll cure your sister. But I do want something from you, too."

"I accept whatever that is."

Queen Lilith leaned forward and pressed her forehead against mine. I thought I was about to get lost in the blackness of her eyes.

"Become my champion." she had a frightening smile on her beautiful face. "You and I… We will kill all the fucking degenerate worthless beings that call themselves gods. The false gods."