4. Chaotic Interrogacion

In a gothic bedroom adorned with a large royal bed and numerous expensive items, two figures sat at a table. Acheron and Luminous faced each other in silence. Acheron scanned the room, while Luminous, eyes closed, pondered her next move.

'The best approach is to start with basic questions—where she's from, and such. But first…'

Luminous took a silver bell in her delicate hand and rang it rhythmically. Within moments, an elderly butler entered the room. Upon seeing an unfamiliar face next to his mistress, the butler began to emit a threatening aura, ready to strike. However, Luminous raised a hand, halting him.

"Gunther, bring me and our guest some of our finest wine."

Gunther, the epitome of professionalism, bowed and promptly departed.

"Yes, my lady, right away."

Left alone, Luminous scrutinized every detail of Acheron. Acheron, feeling exposed, crossed her arms over her chest, maintaining her usual emotionless expression.

Luminous was fascinated. The more she observed Acheron, the less she understood about her power. It was as though she were gazing into an endless black hole, finding only more questions rather than answers.

Seeing Acheron's discomfort, Luminous smirked.

A knock on the door interrupted her. Luminous frowned slightly, annoyed by the disruption.

"Enter."

Gunther returned with a cart, carrying breakfast and wine. He set the table and began to serve.

"Here is today's finest breakfast, my lady. And for the lady?"

"Acheron."

Acheron was about to introduce herself, but Luminous answered for her.

"And for Lady Acheron."

Gunther bowed and placed a luxurious breakfast in front of Acheron, the aroma tantalizing.

Gunther set the glasses on the table and began to pour.

"The oldest vintage, my lady. I hope you enjoy it. If you need anything else, just call."

Gunther bowed again and left the room with the cart.

Luminous picked up her cutlery and began to eat delicately. After a few seconds, she noticed Acheron hadn't touched her cutlery.

Luminous had a sudden thought.

"Don't worry, there's no poison in the food."

Acheron looked at her with confusion.

"Sorry, but is this food? I've never seen anything so… noble? And how do I eat it without chopsticks?"

Luminous stared incredulously and then began to laugh softly, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Hahaha."

Acheron's confusion deepened.

'Huh, why am I even laughing?'

"Sorry, sorry. I wasn't laughing at you, just the situation. I expected you to think the food was poisoned."

Acheron nodded and watched as Luminous stood, walked over, and guided her hands to use the cutlery.

"You do it like this."

Luminous smiled.

'Huh? Wait, what am I doing? I shouldn't be doing this. Normally, I'd mock someone like this and then throw them out or maybe kill them on a spot. What's happening to me?'

Luminous let go of Acheron's hands and returned to her seat, deep in thought.

"Thank you."

Acheron began to eat slowly. It was awkward, but she tried her best.

Luminous watched her and started eating again.

After finishing their meal, they sipped their wine.

"I have to ask you, Acheron, and no isn't an answer. You must respond; that's an order."

Luminous's tone turned arrogant. She began questioning Acheron without pause, but Acheron didn't mind. For her, the important thing was that she had been fed. Even though she no longer needed food, eating still brought comfort.

"So, Acheron, are you even human?"

"No."

Luminous expected this but wanted to be sure.

"And what exactly are you?"

"I don't know. I was an Oni, but then I evolved into something else, and I don't know what to call it."

"Hmmm."

Luminous had rarely encountered an Oni, let alone one of Acheron's evolved state.

"Did you have this name before evolving, or did you evolve through a name?"

"Through a name."

This was significant information. Only a few entities could name someone like Acheron and survive it without depleting their magicules.

"And who named you?"

Acheron hesitated. Did she really want to reveal who had named her? Something told her it would be okay.

"It was the dragon Veldenava."

Luminous's eyes widened in disbelief. Veldenava did not bestow names lightly. She couldn't believe it, but no one would be stupid enought to lie about something like this.

"Alright, that's all for now. I'll ask you something else, and you can refuse to answer."

Acheron nodded.

"Why did Veldenava name you?"

Acheron closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Sorry, but I don't want to—or rather, I can't answer that because I don't know myself."

Luminous felt a pang of disappointment but masked it with a haughty demeanor.

"Hmph, alright, I'll let you keep that secret."

Then she remembered something else.

"Oh yes, one more thing. How did you even get here? I don't mean how you got lost, but the fact that I can't detect you at all. It's like looking into a void."

"That's because of my Ultimate Skill."

Luminous nodded, understanding.

'So she has an Ultimate Skill. She's definitely stronger than me.'

Acheron sipped her wine, her movements elegant yet mechanical, as if she were trying to blend in but was still a stranger to such luxuries. The silence that settled between them was not uncomfortable but charged with unspoken questions.

Luminous leaned back in her chair, studying Acheron with a mixture of curiosity and something else—something she couldn't quite identify. Respect? Envy? She wasn't sure.

"So, you said you were an Oni. How did you come to evolve into one?"

Acheron paused, setting her glass down carefully. Her eyes, dark and deep, met Luminous's.

"I evolved through battle and survival. Each fight, each struggle, shaped me into an Oni. But then one day the fight was too mutch and I was powerless in front of thet beast. Now taht I remember they called it Ivarage. Then when others helped me they brough me to Veldenava and the final change came when Veldenava named me. It was... transformative."

Luminous nodded slowly. "I see. And this Ultimate Skill of yours, what is it?"

"First, it was a Unique Skill called [Nihilist]. It granted me immense power, but at a cost. It took everything from me, including my name. That's why I had no name at htat time. Then, after Veldenava bestowed a name upon me, it evolved into an Ultimate Skill: [Goddess of Nihility IX]."

Luminous's eyes widened slightly. She had heard of such skills—powerful, almost godlike abilities with severe drawbacks. She herd it from her father, when he and Veldenava were experimanting with skills.

"I've read about skills like that. They are rare almost non existant and dangerous. You must be incredibly strong to wield it."

Acheron shrugged. "Strength is relative. I survived that was what mattered the most."

Luminous found herself intrigued. Acheron was unlike anyone she had ever met. There was a simplicity in her statements, a brutal honesty that was both refreshing and unsettling.

"And now, Acheron, what do you seek?"

Acheron looked down at her hands, as if contemplating the answer. "I seek a purpose. I have power, but without direction, it means nothing."

Luminous nodded, understanding more than she let on. She too had sought purpose, though her path had been different.

"You have found allies there. Perhaps they can help you find your way."

Acheron's eyes flickered with something akin to hope, quickly masked by her usual stoic expression. "Perhaps."

Luminous finished her wine and set the glass down, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the room. The conversation had been enlightening, and she felt a strange kinship with Acheron, a connection forged in the fires of their respective trials.

"Thank you for sharing your story, Acheron. You are welcome here for as long as you need."

Acheron nodded. "Thank you, Luminous. Your hospitality is appreciated."

As they sat in the soft light of morning, a tentative bond formed between them, born of mutual respect and shared understanding. The day ahead was uncertain, but for now, they found solace in each other's company.

The conversation lulled, each woman lost in their thoughts. Luminous considered her next steps In her kingdom. Acheron, meanwhile, pondered the strange twist her life had taken, from the ruins of her past to this unexpected sanctuary.

(End of chapter)