CHAPTER 65: WHETHER BY LUCK OR FATE, I WILL BECOME STRONGER.

After a while, we were finally given time to rest. They provided each of us with our own room.

Claude led us through the hallways.

"I don’t know what kind of dark magic you pulled on our Onmyoji, but most of us can’t stand humans," Claude said. "The place you’ll be staying in is called the Dojo. Think of it as a training ground for Onmyoji. But I’d rather you didn’t linger here too long."

We walked down the corridor, taking in the palace’s beauty — a place overflowing with lush nature.

"Claude, why do you hate us so much? We haven’t done anything bad to you. Are we really that disgusting to you?" Lirael asked.

"You humans don’t value your lives in the slightest. Let alone your other qualities. Didn’t Sir Payton already explain it to you in detail?"

...

Yes.

After Ash revealed her true identity, the Onmyoji told us something else.

"There are five beautiful creations of God. First — forests. Second — seas. Third — mountains. The inseparable parts of nature. The fourth grants beauty to these places — animals.

And the fifth... humans."

"Hmm. Sir Payton loves telling this story. I’ve never visited your Earth, but from what I hear, it’s much larger than our lands... Hmm..."

"You big oaf, you’re dragging out your words again—meow!" Nishitani smacked him on the head. "When will it get through your thick skull—meow that you can’t cut people off—meow?"

"My apologies. Does Sir Payton wish to continue? Hmm..."

Payton cleared his throat.

"Anyway, all humans have souls. But the residents of the Void Realm... are souls that never became full-fledged humans. They couldn’t be born, and so they were sent to this world. Every soul must be given a chance at life. Even for us, God made sure of that."

But thinking about it... humans can’t even compare to these beings. The inhabitants of this realm are several times stronger than us — which makes sense, given they live several times longer.

"And you, our dear guests, haven’t even realized that you’ve already become part of this world."

"Hm? What do you mean by that, honored Onmyoji?" Claude, who stood by the door, asked hesitantly.

"Anyone who enters our lands will find their soul’s form changing. Mado, our leader, designed all living things here to emit only the energy of this land."

"So... in a way, we’ve become just like you?"

Payton nodded. Sayuri continued:

"Honored humans, we don’t order you to walk Mado’s path. Everyone has their own choice. As for that choice...

Onmyoji have different abilities, but we share similarities. Sir Payton and Sir Oldrich can summon their unique weapons.

Nishitani and Sigfried have modified their souls — becoming half-beast, or transforming from beast into human.

Sid and I have exceptional domain-control abilities.

And among us, only one Onmyoji possesses an unusual power — Sir Iceborn, who was born with the element of Darkness. Of all of us, his soul’s form is the most similar to yours."

Iceborn... so that strange guy is a master of Darkness. If Salazar chose him as her mentor...

Damn it, princess, do you really want your power back that badly? Would you die if you don’t beat Raigetsu?!

The element of Darkness... that’s the one I know the least about. Either way, I’m not choosing Iceborn or Sid. They’re too slippery.

In the corridor, we kept walking behind Claude.

"Ash... so you’re also... someone’s summon?" Lirael asked, bewildered.

"Mm-hm. Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier."

"And... did you know Atheron... is a summon too?"

"Of course."

"N-no way? But how?!"

"Every High Spirit, when summoned, is given a special ring. That’s what lets them hide their aura — something they can’t control otherwise."

"Hey, you Grimmveil idiots. You knew about Ash from the start — why didn’t you tell me?" I demanded.

"How were we supposed to know you didn’t?" Sylas shrugged. "Besides, maybe open your eyes for once — your rings are identical."

Can’t argue with that...

"By the way, Ash, since you’re a High Spirit too — what are your abilities?"

Ash smirked playfully, pressing a finger to her lips as if deciding whether to tell me.

"I wield Darkness. In my past life, I was a priestess of darkness. I’m not sure what I did exactly, but most likely I was resurrecting skeletons, hee-hee."

I froze. Darkness again... if she controls it, just how strong is she?!

"Well, there’s a twist..." Riven adjusted his glasses. "Two of us turned out to be summons. By the way, Tyrion, maybe you should include your summon in our circle too? I haven’t seen you use them."

"Oh, I dismiss him whenever I don’t need him. High Spirits can be dismissed. Unlike you, Atheron, and Ash, my Springer is a snow leopard. Can’t talk, but understands me perfectly."

"I see... so Ash and Atheron are just exceptions. I’ve rarely heard of High Spirits taking human form."

"That’s enough chatter!" Claude cut us off, coming to a halt. "We’re here."

Before us stretched a long hallway lined with doors.

"Pick any room you like. Sir Payton told me to act as your guide. But don’t bother me over trivial things — I’d prefer to see you as little as possible."

He left without another word.

"What a gloomy guy," Ash muttered.

"Hey, I can hear you!"

"W-what?! He’s a stalker too?!"

"I can hear your voice across the whole corridor! And watch your choice of words! God, you’re such a headache..."

...

Some time later, each of us had settled into our rooms. Small, square spaces with a dresser, atop which sat a teapot.

When Riven knocked on her door, Lirael stepped out in a green robe.

"Did you need something, Riven?"

"Yes... I wanted to apologize for what happened during that card game."

"Apologize? Hm. Come in."

Riven entered her room and sat on his knees. Lirael poured tea for both of them.

"Look, I acted horribly back then... because I’d already given in to despair. I really did consider killing you... Please, forgive me, Lirael!"

He bowed his head.

"A-ah... D-don’t trouble yourself with things like that, i-it’s fine."

"No, it’s not fine! Because of me, you got into trouble — and then I had the nerve to kill my friends... I should’ve just surrendered back then..."

"No, Riven, lift your head... In that moment, we were all thinking the same thing. It’s normal — in situations like that, everyone just wants to survive. I should be the one apologizing... because if it hadn’t been an illusion..."

"Lirael... What are you talking about? You won fair and square! You were stronger, and I lacked confidence. That decided the outcome. You did great — hell, I’m just glad you survived... I lost in a fair fight. I was weaker. I... I’m a disgrace to my family."

"What...? No, why would you say that?"

"No, Lirael, it’s true. I’ve been trying to get stronger for so long... and for nothing. I’m just a waste of my family’s time and resources. Useless — I nearly got you all killed..."

Lirael was at a loss. Riven’s face was empty of life.

"Don’t say that... At least you can still be with your parents. At least you know they’re safe at home. I’m sure — they don’t think of you the way you think of yourself. Compared to me... you still have plenty of time to prove to them you’re getting stronger. Use that chance while they’re still alive...!"

Her voice trembled. Every time she thought of her parents, her soul felt pierced by a hundred spears.

"I don’t know if my parents are still alive. I don’t even know where they are... But I will get stronger. I will find them!"

"Lirael..."

Seeing the conviction on her tear-streaked face, Riven realized it wasn’t time to give up.

He wanted to grow stronger — and to do that, walking Mado’s path was the best choice.

But when Riven went to look for the Onmyoji, he got lost. These corridors made no sense to him.

"..."

"Hey."

A woman’s voice came from the corner. Riven turned toward the window — there stood Sayuri, her robe collar sliding off her shoulder. He caught sight of her bare shoulder and part of her chest — a size any woman would envy.

"Come with me."