"You…how?" the seer was now terrified. The pressure emitted by Mathrim was much more powerful than the forsaken's.
While staring at Mathrim's changes, the realization hit her. "The forsaken…he…You fused with him?"
Even Ezra was left stunned. Didn't the seer destroy the forsaken?
"Haha, my god you're naïve Lilith" now that her truth was known to him, why should he keep up the honorifics.
"the forsaken never wanted to dissipate his soul, instead of going back to the abyss, trapped in darkness for decades, he surrendered his soul to me, and with it his powers. Turns out my body is a perfect match for him.
"Having the power of a god and a forsaken really opens up your perspective" golden fire and crimson mist danced around each one of his daggers.
The seer gulped. Fear apparent in her eyes. At that moment she knew that there was nothing she could do to defeat someone with power exceeding that of a forsaken. Not only that, but also wielding the power of the sun god.
"I'm the seer of the Solari, Mathrim. Whatever differences we've had before can be talked through. With your current power, the Solari will rise up to be the strongest nation on Terra. Just think of the future we can build together"
Mathrim sneered, "Even at your death door, you're still as conniving as ever, only before, I couldn't see it as I was blinded by your light. But you, my dear seer, made me realize something when the forsaken gave me his all. Light and dark, the two shall exist together, they need each other and one cannot be without the other."
Brandishing his now blazing and misty daggers, Mathrim stepped towards her. "As for the Solari. You do not have to worry, because they'll be meeting you soon"
Like slithering snakes, tattoos appeared on each arm while making their way into the daggers, carving them with golden and red markings as one glowed and the other mystified.
Ezra knew what was waiting for the seer. But alas, his vision warped again.
"No… I want to see more" he wailed like a kid his parents telling him to go to sleep but still wants to watch more TV.
What he saw next was a rapid view of the entire later life of Mathrim El'dor. How he ruled the demons after Nazaru pledged his loyalty to him. How he slaughtered the Solari in his path and married the Lunari priestess.
He conquered nations and brought down kings. Without a doubt, he was crowned as the most terrifying being to ever live.
His reign was long but had to come to an end. Those closest to him were terrified and lived under great fear of him but still managed to hide it with a forced smile. Mathrim was too drunk on his power to ever notice them.
Until one day, he was brutally plotted against. His own people turned on him and stabbed him in the back.
Feeling betrayed, he did not resist, not that he could with his powers sealed.
At his last breath, Mathrim fed his soul to his only companions that never betrayed him, never complained, and never demanded anything. But always slashed at whatever enemies were in his path and cut down the obstacle on his way to the top, his daggers.
Mathrim died and the two weapons became a myth lost in the ravages of time and were soon forgotten.
Sen, who was too immersed in the story was teleported to a forest. The air was very peaceful and clean, birds sang above the high trees and water ran along the creek where the fish danced.
It was beautiful scenery, the soil was wet and the grass was verdant, sending ease of mind to the soul.
There was a simple wooden cottage in front of him. Sen was surprised to find out that he was back in his physical body, his human body.
"Where am I?" he wondered before deciding to knock on the cottage door.
Knock
Knock
A few seconds later, a small chubby child that looked about three years old opened the door for him. Sen found him oddly familiar, but before he could ask a voice came from inside.
"Who is it?"
The boy didn't answer but ran in short steps back inside. Sen followed and saw the boy climbing on the lap of an old man. Shockingly, the old man is Mathrim El'dor himself, who Sen saw die.
"Ah you came?" the old man Mathrim looked at Sen and smiled.
"You…you were expecting me?"
"It's not the first time someone gets their soul stuck in here. I've met quite a lot of people since I came here"
Sen understood what he meant. The daggers were probably used to trap other fused energy users and they came here in search of their souls.
"My soul, do you know where I can find it?"
"Ahh, your soul. I do know where it is"
"That's great, thank y-"Sen was happy but Mathrim interrupted his happiness.
"Hold your horses, young man, I need you to do something for me first"
Sen became cautious. He had no arts, no weapons, and no fused energy. He was now just a normal weak human being. He could fight this old monster in front of him, but he would probably be beaten up black and blue.
"What things?"
Mathrim thought for a minute before answering, "The vegetable garden in the back needs weeding"
"Ah?" Sen was once again dumbfounded, "you want me to do your garden?"
"Yes my old bones are weak and I don't want this little fella here to blister his legs and hands"
"Alight," Sen reluctantly agreed and went to weed his garden which took over four hours. He had thought that he would've been done by then but the old Mathrim then said to help him repair the roof, wash clothes, fish for dinner, and even cook dinner.
"Delicious, absolutely delicious. You should really make a living from this. Forget fighting and whatnot, just live peacefully here with this old man. I can even adopt you as my son." Mathrim joked but Sen was in no mood for jokes.
"Old man! I did all of your chores, where is my soul? I need to get back home"
Mathrim was unfazed by the outburst, he laughed and stroked his beard, "home, where that is? The place you call earth or the place where your body is right now?"
"You…' Sen choked, "you know?"
"Of course I know. The one who brought you there is a close friend after all"
"Who? Who is it, can I go back to my world?" Sen had a hint of expectations as he said that.
"Young man, I'm afraid of going back to that planet isn't a plan. You see, right after you crossed over, that planet started dying. I don't know how much time it has, maybe years, and maybe dozens, but its doom is inevitable."
As Sen heard him, tears welled into his eyes again. The first time he cried when he came here and missed his brother, sister in law, and nephew. This time, he cries for them. What kind of life are they leading right now?
Mathrim gave him a few minutes to calm down. "I can lead you to your soul," he said, "only I have a request"
"What is it? Rubbing your feet? Or repainting your house?" Sen sharply said with red eyes.
"I need you to find my descendants and give them my daggers."
"Huh?" Sen felt the old man is serious. "You died, didn't you? I saw you"
"Yes," Mathrim affirmed. "But I poured my soul into both daggers and now I live in this dimension for all eternity. What you saw happened millions of years ago, on a planet we called terra."
"How will I find this descendant of yours if they're living in this Terra? And how do you even know they exist?"
"They're on your planet for some reason, I am sure of it. And as for your next question, I can feel them. All you have to do is carry the daggers with you, they will let you know once they're in your presence."
"That's it?"
"That's it"
"Why didn't the previous ones who lost their souls find your descendants? Didn't you offer them the same deal?"
Mathrim sighed, "I did, but none of them lived to it. In fact, the dagger was never in their hands. I hope that you'd be able to get the dagger as well"
The dagger was in the possession of the old lady, he hoped that he could ask Fatima to convince the old lady to give it to him.
"Okay then I agree… by the way, what did you say about the person who brought me from my world?"
Mathrim stared at Sen intently before saying, "some knowledge cannot be known ahead of its time. When the time comes, you'll naturally find out. And by the way, you are way too weak. That person may have given you a big advantage, but as long as you don't learn to control that fused energy of yours, you will never be able to progress in your cultivation."
Sen asked him how he could that since this issue has been killing him as well, but Mathrim just said that the only person who can teach him about fused energy, is a fused energy user who has mastered it. Otherwise, he should just find the way to do that himself.
They finished diner which Sen cooked and Mathrim sighed before leading the little boy who hasn't uttered a word since Sen came in, to Sen.
"This is the piece of your soul, he is"
"Ha?!" agape, Sen looked at the little boy. Now it finally hit him why he is so familiar. He looks like him, like the photos he saw of himself when he was a toddler.
"Take his hand," Mathrim said and Sen complied. The moment their fingers touched, Sen saw a flash of light before sitting up on the bed with a gasp, Leonas, Nivera, and Risa has surprised faced before they jumped out of surprise.
Sen is awake.