Grave Curse

The room fell to a deafening silence. The ticking of the clock was the only thing that could be heard in the lounge. The four of them just stayed in their place, in silence, thinking of the situation that they are in now.

They have been getting a human a day for Devin for almost a week now. What Ivar did was post fliers around about giving up and ending one's life. Only those who were greatly affected by depression can see those invitations made by Ivar. Harsh and saddening as it may seem, it had attracted a lot of people who were suicidal.

Gladios grew up learning about ethics and principles. He followed strictly what is right, and avoided greatly what seemed wrong. But now that his master is in this situation, he had no choice but to follow. All that he thought of is that their master saved his granddaughter.

He saved the only family he had left.

"Gladios, I am going to ask you to look for ways on how we get humans that are not depressed. Can we do it? Do you think it is possible," Devin's personal servant asked, breaking the silence.

Gladios looked at Ivar then spoke, his voice almost breaking.

"Should we continue this? In all honesty, I feel bad leading these poor souls here as it is."

Ivar sighed as he leaned his back on the couch. "We have no other choice, Gladios. If we were to stop doing this for our master, he would harm everyone in his way."

The old man suddenly raised his voice, making the three immortals in front of him look at him.

"I don't know if I should continue! What we are doing... it is greatly eating my conscience! Sometimes, I can't even sleep at night! They may have voluntarily come here, still I feel like I am the one leading them to their deaths!"

When the old man said his frustrations, Martha looked at him with sad eyes, understanding what he must've felt.

They couldn't blame him for feeling and acting this way. They knew well how kind this old man is and how he follows and abides by what he thinks is right and wrong. He lived following his own wisdom and virtues, and did well to even pass that on to Angeal, which shaped her to become a sweet, loving girl.

"But Gladios," Edwin said, making the old man look at him. "If we don't do anything, he might harm you and your granddaughter. Even though we are immortals, we also have souls. He could also hurt us."

"He is right, Gladios," Martha chimed in, interrupting Edwin. "If he wouldn't eat souls, he would lose control... like how he was the first time dear Angeal saw him."

The old man slumped on the leather couch, feeling defeated by the situation at hand. He may seem frustrated at the situation he is in, he knew deep down that he had no other way around this. He sold his soul and his granddaughter's soul for their lives to be saved.

How could he refuse?

"What would happen to him, if he were to take souls by force," the old man mumbled but it was enough for the others to hear.

Edwin and Martha looked at Ivar, waiting for him to answer. Even though they knew the answer to Gladios' question, they felt that it was more fitting for Ivar to answer since he had been their master's personal servant for a very long time.

He was even there when he witnessed the curse being inflicted on their master, Devin.

"If he were to eat souls of other beings forcefully, it would worsen the curse given to him by his mother," Ivar answered and the old man furrowed his brows, confused.

Edwin leaned on the wall behind him then spoke. "If he ate the souls forcefully, it would also seem that he murdered them, right," he added and the old man hesitantly nodded, giving his answer.

"What was the curse given to him? Why is it so grave?"

The moment he asked this, Ivar stood up and looked at Gladios seriously. The answer he gave him was like a bomb, giving him a heavy blow of realization that gave him an answer to his question.

"His life span lessens once he eats the souls of beings forcefully. That is the grave punishment given to him by his mother."

The moment the old man heard this, he stared at the handsome immortal in front of him, his eyes wide open in surprise.

"You mean... he could die?"

Ivar nodded. "Maybe even earlier than your death if his hunger took toll of his body and sanity. If that happens, he would obviously take the souls of beings forcefully."

When the old man heard this, a pang of sympathy for their master appeared in his eyes. He didn't know that this was what he was experiencing.

And for a lot of years... he had endured it this long?

"What Edwin said was right. Doing so, him eating the souls of humans forcefully, would also be considered murder. That's why his punishment is severe," Martha added then the old man looked at the three of them then asked another question.

"Then why is he always tired every time he had his fill for the day? Didn't you say that it will stabilize his life span, and that it would help him recover his full potential?"

Martha sat beside the old man then held his hand for comfort.

"You see... once he eats souls, he would be able to feel their emotions... and see all of their memories," the head housekeeper answered and Gladios looked at her, his eyes widened by surprise.

If he were to see those memories, feel those feelings... then it would mean that Devin felt and saw them, too.

Is that the reason why he had such a moody personality? Is it why he is this cold?

"Is that why you asked me to look for humans that aren't depressed?"

Now at this time, the old man felt nothing but pity towards their powerful master. How could he have endured this much?

Ivar sighed, getting the attention of the three.

"We already did this for a week now. Even though our master is powerful, we should not let this drag on for too long. He, too... can feel a lot of things more than he could handle," he said and this made Gladios sigh heavily, having felt more sympathy for their master.

"What was that he did... that made his mother give him such a grave curse?"

When the old man asked that, the three of them kept quiet, not answering his question even though they knew fully well why.

Devin did a very grave sin in their world... and it was too despicable to even talk about it, let alone, remember it.