The World's Voice

{A Spirit's POV}

{Night}

The land is now covered with mud as the dark sky rains heavily.

Thankfully, I am just a spirit. And the skeleton won't be affected by the weather.

And so, it is fine for me to roam around the forest despite the bad weather.

"You said that I only need to find a newly dead body, right?"

[Yes Master!]

Although I felt a bit weird with the condition. I ignored the feeling and continues my search.

And not long after, I finally found it.

It was a rat.

A rat with a length of 1 meter and a height of 30 cm. Quite an impressive size if you ask me.

I found the rat's body hidden within the bushes. Its body was already half-eaten. And its blood was still flowing quite fluidly.

If I can feel the sense of heat, I might feel its body still radiating some heat.

I don't know why did the killer leave its body here though. Although quite curious. That is not my goal right now.

"What's next?", I ask the Book.

[Please summon the Lantern and hold it in front of the body!]

Hearing the instructions. I nodded.

With just a thought, I tried to summon the Lantern.

And at that moment, a cloud of smoke came from under the ground as it flies onto my hand despite the heavy rain.

But just as it quickly appeared, it disappeared almost instantaneously.

Naturally, the Lantern now appeared and is placed onto my hand.

Bringing the Lantern in front of the rat. A 'tick' sound suddenly popped up from inside of the Lantern.

Click!

The front glass of the Lantern suddenly opened, releasing the small flame to the outside world.

And as if it was its signal, the flame suddenly rages and expanded in its size, filling the Lantern whole with its dazzling bluish flame.

All of a sudden, a sense of warmth begin to fill my spirit.

Simultaneously, my vision also began to change.

The surroundings felt darker and the loud rain surrounding me turn quieter.

And yet… everything felt clearer than ever.

'It felt like the 'noise' had been filtered from my mind'.

That was my first thought as I check my surroundings.

Changing my direction back to the rat. I noticed something right above its body. A transparent yet clear image of the rat was flying above the rat's body, sleeping soundly.

'It's the soul…'

A soul was supposed to be similar to a spirit without a body…

It was supposed to be invisible to the eyes.

And yet right now, here I am, looking at the so-called invisible soul.

Ironic.

"Heh"

If I have a face, I must have been smiling right now.

All of a sudden, something happened to my spirit. My consciousness to be exact.

Dug!

As if it was a heartbeat, my spirit suddenly shook from its core.

Dug! Dug! Dug!

And for some reason, as if it is the most obvious thing. A desire came upon me.

'I… I wanted to touch the soul! I want to grab it!'

Unable to control my instinct.

My hand slowly moves towards the sleeping soul.

When it finally touches the soul.

The soul… it trembled.

And just like that, it shatters into fragments of lights.

But I am still not satisfied.

My spirit still beats as strong as ever.

And just like before, my hand moves by itself. Creating a gesture.

And as if I can control the lights... as if the light obeys me.

It moves towards the Lantern, where the flames still blazed with vitality.

And just like that, the light entered the flame…

As the light is burning inside the flame. Power began to surge inside me. Giving me a newfound power.

But… I am not concerned with such a miracle happening.

What I care about right now is viewing the scene happening before me.

I don't know why... but watching it gave me a sense of comfort. A sense of relaxation I've never felt before.

…But sadly, everything has to come to an end.

It lasts only for a few seconds before the flame finally calmed down from its rage.

Its size becomes smaller and smaller until it finally recovered back to its previous tiny size.

Following that, the Lantern closed back its window as it contained the fire back to its place.

My sense also began to return to its previous state. To its normal state.

But as that happens, a voice came upon me.

Unlike the Book. It was a detached voice devoid of any emotion.

[The World has approved of your existence]

[The World has resonated within you]

[Your existence has become more pronounce]

[Your power has increased tremendously]

[The World asks for your true name]

Despite being the first time meeting the voice. I was confused when it asks me about my name.

'Name? …But I don't have a name'

As if knowing my difficulty, the Book helped me.

[Master, you may give any name that you like. But remember, that name shall be your true name for the rest of your life!]

I contemplated for a while as I try to find a name for me.

Suddenly, a name emerges from my thoughts.

"…Grim. My name shall be Grim"

The voice then responded to my answer.

[The World approves the existence of 'Grim']

[The World has bestowed 'Grim' the title 'Reaper']

[The World hopes that 'Grim the Reaper' will fulfill his duty]

And just like that, the voice ceases from existence.

When I look at my surroundings, the rain had ended and a true silence had filled the atmosphere.

But again, the silence only lasts for a while.

[Congratulation, Master!]

[You have become a true Reaper!]

Looking at my hand, I felt something different now.

No, it's not because I have received a title.

I am more focused on my own very being right now.

Why do I felt more… natural?

'My spirit… it had fused with the skeleton…'

Clutching my hand lightly, I closed my eyes as I tried to recall the moment the voice appeared.

[The World has approved of your existence]

[The World has resonated within you]

[Your existence has become more pronounce]

'Something happened at that time…'