Chapter 39: Hell

Noah's body might have been under the protection of two magic circles and a nether wall, but it couldn't protect him from the changes that were going on in his body

The reconstruction spell used by the figure didn't just affect his heart, it also affected his body and energy channels, changing them to accommodate the new origins he would come to use if he survived

His muscles broke down before being reconstructed, his bones were being broken and reformed, his energy channels expanded, nurtured and reinforced all by nether

His body was preparing itself for the usage of a new power source and it was a horrific process

After a full week of reconstruction, the process was finally complete and peace returned to the body within the protection of the magic circles

Noah's hair was now a shade of silver - gray, but that was not the only change to happen to him

His body was stronger and had changed, but as for much it had changed, he'd have to be awake to find out

Another week passed before Noah stirred from his slumber, opening his eyes.

He turned to lay on his back and stared into the sky, he was caught up his thoughts that he didn't notice the magic circle above him or the irregularity in his environs

He had just witnessed his town get destroyed with its inhabitants dead, and the woman he thought of as his mother dying before his very eyes

To make matters worse, his head was filled with so much information and thoughts that it would take some time to process

His mental state wasn't the best and his body felt sore and weak all over

Noah had lost all of his drive, he was trapped in his own mind, his consciousness sinking into the depths of his mental world

Nether was unlike any other of the origins, it was an energy that embodied on the negative aspects of the world, it would also affect the mentality of those exposed to it

The guilt, pain, anger, hate and confusion Noah was feeling was amplified even further and he was sinking deeper into his mind scape

This continued for weeks until the resentment Noah was feeling was able to take a form in his mental world

It looked just like Noah, the exception was the fox ears on its head, the claws and whiskers and the nine tails on its back

Noah standing in the midst of the darkness and void that was his mental world stood face to face to the manifestation of his resentment

As the resentment looked at Noah, black tendrils started erupting around it, and extending out, one reaching out, swiping at Noah and sending him flying

Noah snapped out of his daze after being hit, the pain spreading all over his body

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Noah had been stuck in the past, watching Diara die over and over again, watching Serah's corpse on the floor, the townsfolk with their bodies littered everywhere, Gamora on fire

Noah inherited Diara's soul essence and a bit of Maria's soul fragment so he had seen a portion of the battle from their perspective when he was in that daze

He watched as Maria healed the injured townsfolk, as the water fairy flew above the town watching the chaos and the destruction wrought by the two fighting parties

He watched people die over and over again even the final moments of Maria herself

He watched the meeting and subsequent conversation between Ryan and Diara in her office, Diara waking up and finding out about Ryan's betrayal and the battle that followed afterwards, everything up to the moment of her death

Noah watched on without being able to do anything, his screams, him launching our to stop them from fighting, nothing he did made an effect.

How could it? They were already dead, he was just watching their memories

Noah saw that even in their dying moments they still have their best to ensure he lived

Maria sacrificed her soul fragment that should have lived on inside her spirit to warn him to escape, but he didn't listen, after he was dying due to a wood spike that pierced his heart after Karl's domain fell apart, it continually healed him

He had seen traces of Maria's past, how she grew up, how she lived, her dreams and her hopes. She didn't deserve to die the way she did

Diara was even worse.

At death's door, with a massive hole in her chest, she endured the pain of splitting her soul essence just to ensure his safety

The woman had taken care of him that came out of nowhere like her own child up until the moment of her death

He had also watched glimpses of her life while in his trance

From the happy moments of her childhood to the moment she was thrown out of her family up until her death.

From the beloved princess to the exiled priestess

The betrayal from the only one she had ever loved, her friend and partner, the one that would eventually become his first teacher, Ryan.

Noah was stuck in this cycle until a strong sensation of pain snapped him out of it

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When Noah came too, he was floating in the air, gradually heading towards the ground

He tried to orientate himself so as to land on his feet, but his body wasn't responding

Before he could get a grasp on his situation, the Noah formed from resentment appeared over him, kicking him in the guy, sending him crashing into the floor

The resentment vaulted away before seeping into the shadows, vanishing from sight

Noah managed to pull himself out of the crater he formed when he was slammed into the ground

"That hurts"

Noah knew what was going on, he knew his location, his circumstances, the state of the body and the opponent he was currently facing

He also knew the consequences of being defeated in this mental scape, he'd forever lose his reasoning and become a monster driving by destruction

But knowing was one thing and snapping out and fighting back was another

The resentment popped out of the shadows at different places and angles attacking Noah at every chance

Noah couldn't fight back as he had no access to aethe in his current state, even if he did, he was still rejecting himself, burdened by everything he had seen in his trance

Perhaps it would be best if he just died

The resentment popped out in front of Noah, geared for a punch to his face

Noah braced himself, clenching his teeth while waiting for the impact, but it never happened

"You know, I never taught you to be like this son"

A voice came from behind Noah

"You should never fall, standing against all adversity or tribulations you face, so why are you faltering now Noah"

A pair of arms wrapped around him from the back and spoke into his ears

The voice and the loving embrace was one he'd never forget, after all it was his beloved Diara

Tears streamed down his face, as Noah finally broke down, crying in her arms

"Let it all out, take all the time you need, for now at least, I'll be here for you"

Diara said as she spun the youth around, resting his head on her shoulder while gently caressing him

"But how, *sniff*, I watched you die, *sniff*, and *sniff*, Ryan, *sniff* Why did he do that?"

Noah cried as he complained to Diara

'We don't have much time but he isn't in the right state of mind right now'

Diara thought to herself, Noah couldn't fall here, that she knew, so she was going to help him out

She didn't know why she had materialized in his mental world after her death but she was glad it happened if she could help him get over this slum

'void: sleep'

She cast a simple spell on Noah, granting him the first sleep he had in weeks

She sat on the floor before laying Noah's head on her laps allowing him to have a pleasant rest, well as pleasant he could get in such a situation

Time currently was frozen in the mental world as she manipulated a bit of the ether left in his body to do so

Noah was in danger of corruption at the moment she appeared so helped out

It took a long time but Noah finally woke up from.his slumber, this time calmer, no longer as jittery as he was before, he sat up opposite Diara and calmly observed her

"Good you're up, we don't have that much time left but let's talk"

Noah looked at the woman seated across him with various emotions running through his mind

"Is it really you?"

"You're smarter than that kid, plus we don't have much time to waste, taking the risk to put you to sleep was risky, but I needed you to be calm"

"Noah, I need you to understand something, whatever happened in Gamora, whatever you had seen or witnessed, everything that happened, none of it was your fault"

"Even if you were there, you wouldn't have been able to change a thing"

The light in Noah's silver eyes deemed even more at Diara's words

"However if you do not get up and take charge of your situation, it would be your fault"

"The past is the past, what had happened cannot be changed, but you Noah have the power to shape the present and affect the future"