Trial of Will

Chapter 35: Trial of Wills

Amelia dashed into his room and checked Loki's condition like before, but something different occurred, she found out that the soul inhabiting Loki's body was different from her son's soul.

She desperately rechecked hoping that her senses were wrong but they weren't.

Her son had died and even his soul had extinguished and someone else was inhabiting his body. 

Fury surged through her, her aura flaring with intense anger.

William entered the room hastily, sensing his wife's distress. Amelia, through clenched teeth and tear-filled eyes, explained the grim reality to him.

William's own aura erupted, shaking the very foundation of the mansion. His face remained stoic, but inside, he burned with rage.

He ordered the chief butler to ready the guards, his eyes locked on Rezan with lethal intent.

They attempted to separate Rezan's soul from Loki's body, but their efforts were futile. Something beyond their understanding prevented them from destroying Rezan's soul.

Instead, they stripped him of his status and cast him out of the family.

Rezan felt hollow inside but being puzzled by his current situation, he accepted reality and left Grimheart City. 

Swish

Instantly, the memories vanished, and the spectator Rezan floated in an empty void. His worst nightmare was getting cast out by his loving family.

The guilt of impersonating their son had always weighed heavily on him. Over time, he had accepted his new life and forged bonds with his new family, but that guilt never fully left him.

Voices echoed in his mind, taunting him.

What will you do when they find out? How will you face them? What about Kiara? How will you explain yourself to her?

His inner demons whispered relentlessly, pulling him deeper into the illusion. His mind teetered on the brink of collapse, his eyes vacant and hollow.

Give up! You are nothing but an impersonator. How much longer will you deceive them? Give up already!

"ARGHHHH..."

A desperate scream tore from Loki's lips as he sank further into the abyss.

Am I just a cheap impersonator? Will I lose everything—love, care, familial bonds? Is this my fate?

He questioned himself, his resolve crumbling.

[Ding! Emergency Detected…]

[Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.]

A grand and powerful voice echoed within his mind awakening him. The words resonated deeply, and clarity began to seep into his eyes.

"I see…" Loki muttered, the meaning of the phrase sinking in.

All the negative thoughts started vanishing from his mind at an astonishing rate.

The empty void surrounding him glowed lightly illuminating the darkness within.

[Ding! Emergency cleared…]

[Ding! Host achieved enlightenment!...]

[Host conquered his inner demons…]

[Hidden condition to ??? completed…]

His emotional turmoil calmed down, he took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.

The curse was still active and he couldn't use his senses so he opted for his skill and sensed his surroundings.

"Congratulations, You've completed the trial," Issac commented, watching Loki with a hint of admiration. 

[Ding! Condition completed...]

Loki stood up, turning to see Athena quietly sipping her drink.

"Congratulations," she whispered to him offering some tea.

"Weren't you also in the trial?" he questioned, a bit puzzled.

She nodded. "I was, but it wasn't as difficult for me. Probably because I haven't experienced enough in my life to be affected by inner demons," she explained.

He nodded and gently picked up the cup, drinking the tea within. 

"Mmm… This is good." He commented the tea soothed his soul, providing him with much-needed energy and rejuvenating his spirit.

"It is a soul-pacifing tea. It helps to soothe and heal the soul. You can have more if you like it." Issac offered placing a kettle before them.

Loki didn't shy away and filled his cup with some tea.

Athena was a slow drinker so she had yet to finish her previous cup.

They enjoyed a peaceful tea time for a while, and then Issac swiped his sleeves, opening a portal beside him. He motioned them to step forward and exit through the portal.

"Congratulations again. You've cleared all the trials, so your reward awaits behind this gate. May you achieve your goals." he commented, his voice as gentle as ever. 

"Thank you!" they thanked him and passed through the portal. 

"Copy Soul element," Loki muttered before entering.

[Ding! Soul Affinity added to host's status...]

It teleported them outside, right in front of the cave.

The sun was slowly rising on the horizon, and the merchants and mercenaries were gathered, waiting anxiously for their return.

Loki and Athena exchanged shocked glances before gazing at the items in their hands. They were the rewards for clearing the trials. 

Loki had two items. One was a vial, containing a scarlet drop of viscous liquid, probably blood while the other was a book. The book was named 

[Primordial Origin Sutra].

He placed them inside his ring, planning to inspect it later. 

Athena also had two items. They were a greenish orb and a small book. 

The book was named [Verdant Heavenly Thunder Sutra]. 

Her gaze lingered for a bit longer at the orb before she stored them away.

They approached the merchants, exposing their presence to them.

Loki was wearing sunglasses to hide the fact that he was blind. He was also using his [Sensory Field] skill as an alternative for his senses.

The merchants rushed towards them, inquiring about their well-being. Their worried tone indicated that they were probably searching for both of them. 

Loki cooked up some story and explained it to them.

He couldn't expose the trials as it might attract some unwanted attention to them. Conquering a trial was a monstrous task and most people knew that the rewards accompanying it were similarly monstrous. Loki knew that people's greed had no bounds and they could even sell their souls for power so he wisely hid the information. 

They packed up the goods and continued their journey towards Beastia City. 

A few days passed by,

They arrived near the border of Beastia City all bruised and bashed.

Throughout their journey, they encountered countless battles with bandits, beasts, and monsters.

Some won due to their strength while others lost and escaped due to differences in strength.

The good news was no one had died during their battles, the bad news was the goods we mostly either destroyed or lost.

They just carried the salvageable ones and brought them with them.

"Finally! We have arrived at our destination. It was quite an exhilarating and exhausting journey. I don't think I can take a journey like this anytime soon." Loki stretched his arms exhausted and all battered up.

Athena nodded in agreement, her weariness mirrored in her eyes.

They had survived the trials and the journey, but the real challenges were just beginning.