The Boundless Void

"Goodbye, you all! Make sure to cultivate hard! I'll see you all tomorrow!"

Hasrem waved everyone goodbye as they walked out of the classroom. That was everyone except for me of course.

As the last person left the room, Hasrem walked over to the classroom door and quietly shut it.

"Are you sure you aren't up to something degenerate?" I said this with sarcastic fear in my voice. Since my last couple of outbursts, little moments like this have become the norm for this personality.

"I already told you I didn't mean it like that! Plus, teacher and student relationships are a big no-no… But if you're willing to wait a year, then maybe…" She said these words shyly. She was trying to get me back for my remarks.

I gave a slight cough to cover up the fact I had lost this exchange, evident by the blush of my cheeks. Trying to divert the conversation elsewhere, my face turned serious as I asked Hasram a very important question, "How much do you know?"

I chose those words purposefully. This way I could let her tell me what she knew without me stupidly giving any information away.

Her face also straightened up after hearing my question. I awaited the answer to my question with bated breath. As she opened her mouth, my breathing stopped in nervousness. It would be extremely bad if she somehow knew about who I was before I rebirthed into this world.

"I am a Fruit Cultivator. You know that there is an extensive list of Fruits with different kinds of uses, correct? One of the Fruits I use has the ability to detect abnormal statuses." My body froze as she said this. Did my taking over this body count as an abnormal status? This was bad.

"I make sure to use this Fruit quite often. After all, people don't normally know when they are cursed by someone with vicious intent. Or if someone has a disease that is hiding in their body, waiting to strike. But, I'm sure you are well aware of your condition."

Crap. She definitely knew. What should I do? I can't kill her as she would easily overpower me. I also can't lie my way out of it; she'll definitely have a reverend trust in her Fruit's abilities. I'll just have to try and convince her that I should be allowed to live.

As I braced myself to persuade her to keep me alive, her next words immediately threw me off, "As I'm sure you know, your emotional state is incredibly unstable. I'm talking five times unstable, and it's not stopping either. I'm pretty sure you already know this, but just in case, let me tell you decisively. You have been cursed to have an abnormal emotional state for your entire life."

I unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. I wouldn't have to beg for my life, what a relief. The tension left my body and I regained my clarity. I said in a grateful tone, "Thank you, Ms. Attu. I already knew something was wrong with my emotions, but it is nice for someone else to also know. But, why do you bring this up? Surely you didn't keep me here for just this?"

She gave a heart-piercing smile like she was happy that I was happy and said, "I want two things answered Quis, and if you can answer them, I'll give you a method to fight back against the growing strength of your emotions."

This was enticing indeed. My emotions have been extremely hard to resist as of late. If I could stabilize them, even a little bit, it would become a lot easier to enact many of the plans I had to put on halt due to my unstable emotions. I would also be able to worry less that I would accidentally attack Spiravit with my full strength; that would be especially bad. I'm sure that if that happened, I would kill him.

After considering the pros and cons for a moment, I gestured for Hasrem to ask away. She, as if expecting this answer, immediately responded, "I want to know, 1. How are you able to resist such intense emotions to that extent? I don't even think that the Sect Leader wouldn't go insane after a day of that kind of torture. And 2. Just how far does your memory loss really go? Do you remember more than you let on? It's alright if so. I wouldn't automatically trust a bunch of random people either. But at this point, I think you should admit some things."

She mercefullessly struck me in two sore spots. If I actually told her why my willpower was so refined, then it would be the same as her already knowing about my past. And as for the second question… "Well, you see. For the second question, I actually didn't remember anything about my body besides my name. But for the last couple of days, bits and pieces have been coming back." I would tell the truth. I wasn't sure if she would have some kind of lie detector Fruit, so I had to be extra careful with my words.

I paused for a moment, expressing hesitation, but after seeing the engrossed look on Hasrem's face, I continued, "I don't remember too far back, but I do remember something about being in a carriage. Something bad happened to it and I was sent away in a bubble of some kind. That's all."

She seemed a bit disappointed in my answer, but that was truly all I remembered about this body's past.

Next, I tackled the first question she asked "As for the first question you asked… I honestly am not sure where my strong willpower truly comes from. It makes me confused honestly. I seem to have a photographic memory, yet I can't remember a thing about my past. I have strong willpower, but that won't change my inborn Talent. I feel useless." I would avoid the question while exploiting this woman's emotional side.

She paused for a moment after seeing my depressed face before awkwardly responding, "Um. Well, you see. Ah, this is embarrassing. I actually have a C-tier Talent. So I do understand where you are coming from, I really do..."

She was attempting to comfort me, but it wasn't very effective. I was hoping she might be better at this since it could quell my unstable emotions. But never mind, I'll just divert the conversation somewhere else.

I opened my mouth, preparing to say something to move the conversation out of this awkward atmosphere. But then, out of nowhere, Hasrem did something unexpected.

She grabbed my hands and pressed them against each other with her hands covering them. After doing this she looked at me and gave a beautiful, genuine smile, "I also know that Talent doesn't determine everything. Quis, I may have not known you for long, but I can tell you are an amazing person."

She sat down and placed her hands, with mine still enclosed within them, on her lap. "You are reckless and headstrong, not giving up in the face of stronger powers. You will insult someone if they are asking for it, and you will commend someone for their help, no matter who they are."

She rotated her head to face the ground, and moved her and my hands to her cheek, rubbing them against her face. "You have an incredibly strong willpower, and won't stop moving just because of something as small as Talent. Quis, please have more hope in yourself…. Because I do!"

She said these last words as she turned her head toward me. There was nothing but passion in her sparkling brown eyes. It wasn't a romantic passion, but the passion of a teacher encouraging her student. It was evident... She believed these words from the bottom of her heart.

After I heard these words, I couldn't help but feel happy. It was the first time since coming to this world that I've felt positive emotions this strong. But… I'll resist them all the same.

Emotions are nothing but obstacles. Another thing that needed to be overcome for my work to bear fruit. I wouldn't let a little thing such as happiness get in my way. No, I can't lose sight of my goal.

I straightened out my foggy mind. The cloudy feeling of happiness left my heart. It was soon replaced by the oh-so-familiar empty void.

The void filled with the desire to devour all. The void that would suck in anything that dared get near it. The void that drew in all needless emotions.

The void that filled my empty heart.