Although first surprised, and then scared for the sudden appearance of the middle-aged men, what
was ruminating on his head, was that somebody could sneak out into Camille's den without making her trashed out that person.
Seeing the look in Simon's face the middle-aged men laughed heartily. He put one of his hands on his shoulder while grinned.
"She won't find me. Also don't worry, I mean no harm towards you. Moreover, I am indebted to you for having to wish that to Aion, GWAHAHAHA" The man closed his eyes while he laughed merrily.
Simon quickly tried to put away his hands while glancing his surroundings searching for anyone else accompanying the man.
He was also having a hard time understanding what's going on. As he didn't know why the man was acting so familiar with him.
The man seemed to understand that as he nodded his head towards no one apparently.
He closed his eyes while closing his arms saying "I am your wish, boy. Not the naughty one." He chuckled.
"You see, that old man, Aion, put my soul into yours, I don't exactly know how he did this as I was supposed to be dead." Simon opened both of his eyes hearing his words.
'What the hell...?' he couldn't believe that something that was supposed to be a library where he could find his knowledge and this world knowledge, take the form of a middle-aged man.
Sensing his thoughts, the man raised one finger as he said.
"I'm not a living library boy, I'm much more than that. My name is Arad Caradhras, in the heavenly realm I used to be the strongest male human under the heavens will, as not even the Titans could reach my feet." With a confident smile he affirmed.
"If you were so great, why did you die?" Simon asked suspiciously.
The man smile broke when he heard Simon's questions as if he took a heavy hit.
He smiled wryly as he said. "I only was 'the strongest human' under the heavens, there are more races out there, also above me there was something so great as the Heavens himself, I am nothing in front of it. That's why I'm here, while some could say that I'm dead, I'm still living with my soul, only that I'm into yours. So at the end of the day, I'm so great that even fate didn't let myself fade from existence." He said once again with confidence.
Simon didn't know what to think of this situation, so he whispered while asking "so, you are saying that now you live inside of me?" The look on his face while asking wasn't that great.
Arad gave him an inquisitive look while he said.
"You make it sound like it's something bad, I have peered into your memories so I'm not going to take it into the heart, as I see that you aren't that well versed and you are still a frog in a well." He chuckled while saying the latter part as Simon's brow twitched, he surely got the reference.
' Oh god, no please, don't tell me he is...' Simon shuddered by his own thought and the probability of it.
The middle-aged man continued "If you have time, which I see you have plenty of, I would like to explain you a few things, so you don't keep making mistakes into your life, what do you say?" He gazed at him while he waited for his answer.
Simon wasn't sure what to think, as this was much more to take into consideration in his current circumstance. Was he seeing things that didn't exist? Did his mind reached a breaking point? Have a demon or something like that, took a root in his heart and now it wanted to entice him? Or did the man called Arad Caradhras was telling the truth?
With nothing to clarify his doubts as Camille didn't appear to be nowhere to be found, he nodded towards Arad.
Arad smiled at his action as he said amused "You are too noisy while you think, but you remain silent." He smirked, then with a wave of his hand, something akin to a cushion appeared below him, he seat on it, and when he seemed to be relaxed he said to him.
"Sit on the ground, this would take a while."
Seeing Simon eyeing his cushion he smiled and said.
"My apologies, but anything I can do can't be materialized in the real world. If you wanted I could make it so you see a cushion instead of the floor, it wouldn't feel the same but, it's all for the aesthetics." He grinned while he said to him.
Simon glanced towards him with a deadpanned expression, with a sigh and a last glance to his surrounding, he sit on the ground while he grabbed both of his knees.
Seeing him being cooperative, not minding the suspicious look in Simon's eyes, Arad said.
"To clarify, first let me tell you; yes I'm living in your soul, let's not talk too depth into the theory and just focus on the important parts, while you could see this as something bad, it has its advantages. First of all you are protected from every form of spiritual attack against you, your soul is being protected with my presence so you don't have to worry for any kind of attack directed towards it." Seeing Simon unfazed by his revelation, he chuckled to himself.
"The second would be like those stories you read in your previous life. I can help you to improve your life, isn't this great?" He smiled at Simon who remained silent all this while.
"Well this only applies in this world, as I highly doubt that you wanted to leave this place once you hear of what is outside there. Any doubts?" He looked at him.
Simon nodded as he asked him "Why exactly you have to live in my soul? What does this imply too?"
Arad nodded towards his question while he said closing his eyes.
"I need something to be attached towards the material realm, as I'm only a soul that doesn't have a vessel. This wouldn't be a problem if I didn't died, right now my soul is what you can call a fugitive, later on, I will explain this to you, but for now let me continue." Simon nodded to his words, reminding himself to ask later on.
"Living on your soul implies that I could share whatever you are doing, your memories, everything about you, if I wanted I could take the control of your body. But I'm not going to do this, as I have been given a condition to still being here, that is to act as your... mentor? I don't really know how to put in, as I would be imparting you knowledge and giving you whatever you may want to know that is in your head." Saying this, he let the information process through Simon head, as he looked at him into his eyes.
"Your soul, while it is much stronger than any normal one, as you have been reincarnated a lot of times. Isn't strong enough to carry the burden to open a spiritual place on it, you haven't even tried to train it. So I'm acting right now as a mediator, I can also help you to improve your spirit, so you can freely access it." Arad had a thoughtful expression, as he was thinking if this was all he had to explain to Simon.
He then nodded and said.
"Anything else you wanted to know?"
Simon didn't even blink through all his explanation, as he had a perplexed look on his face.
'Ok, this isn't what I was expecting but... to have an old cultivator as a mentor? I don't know if I'm lucky or I did really dry up all my luck hitting on those girls back then... Anyhow, this guy may have it's utility if all he said it's true.' Simon's head was working on process and analyze his situation.
The conclusion he reached? It was bad.
Taking a deep breath he asked "So I'm sharing my life with you?"
Arad just nodded while grinning, he was well aware of everything that he thought previously.
Simon blinked finally as he asked "Is there a way to take you out in the future?"
Arad nodded once again. But he said.
"I will appreciate if you don't do that until you have a vessel or something for me, even if I had already died once. I don't like the idea of fading away, I may once find a way to return on my own flesh body."
Now it was time for Simon to nod, while this situation seemed surreal, wasn't he in a different world after dying?
So after thinking about something he asked.
"Would you be able to help me improve my strength?" There was an anticipatory look on his face, as this answer could give him the push required to change completely his life.
Seeing the eager expression on Simon's face, Arad smiled wryly.
"I can't." Sensing what would he ask he added. "You can't get stronger with your current body, I don't know what they have done to you, but your body came from a different realm than this one, maybe that old fart really took your previously vessel or something." Arad said to him with a frown.
"You don't have the body required to improve your strength, this one is incapable, is anything like any other normal thing on this place."
Hearing what Arad said, Simon didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As for what he heard, he was doomed.
He wasn't foolish enough to not realize the implications of his current situation.
It was akin to being a disabled person during medieval times, it didn't mattered how well you fare, the only outcome was dying because of witchery or dying due to illness, famine or any other kind of disease during those times.
Hmph. Thinking that you could fare well among farmers and nobles during those times? Try to implement any kind of knowledge and you'll be accused of witchery. And if you were lucky enough to not to. Just wait until someone else took notice of the disabled person gaining something in a lost place, with no background and no one to learn from.
Now put all of that in a fantasy world, not only with dangerous people with swords and other weapons, but also Dragons and who knows what more.
Arad however, seemed to not care about his rambling mind as he continue " But you don't have to worry, you only need to strengthen your soul until it is strong enough to break from your current body. Once you've done this, and have the meanings, you could form a body that could be improved with energy. Just like anyone in this realm do." He smiled at him.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Did you realize what did you say to me?" Simon asked with a dead pan expression, his voice tone was cold.
"I know what you may be thinking of, but before all that, just let me tell you that with your knowledge and mine, you'll be able to do this. Although you may need to change some views you may have in your life, with due time you'll be able to do these things." Arad said to him, trying to convince him.
Simon however, just smiled at his words.
"You seriously think that I would be able to, how did you say it?" He inquire Arad with a groaning voice.
Arad replied mechanically "Strength your soul and break free from your current vessel"
"That." Hearing his words, Simon nodded as he continue "You think that I'm capable of that? I'm not some kind of budist monk, old man. I've just killed myself because I wasn't willed enough to continue my mediocre life, and you expect me to do that shit?" The tone in Simon voice while asking this made Arad flinch a bit.
'This fucking boy... but him putting on this way made it seem like he's right.' Even Arad would agree with Simon. If it wasn't for something else...
"Yes, you are right, you are unable. However, you're not the same person as before, Simon. You not only were granted with a second life after meeting a divine being, something that nobody could jest, but you also share your soul while a higher being, what you call a cultivator, although later we'll discuss about this as I'm much more." Arad tone was gaining more momentum as he said all of this to him.
"I'm not the representation of what you 'wished', I'm also someone who was experience on his back, I lived many years, met many people with worst situations than you, and let me tell you this, they were able to do things you may have imagine before as just pure fantasy. But this is your current situation, you are living in a fantasy world boy, don't let your narrow view cloud your mind. Don't be pessimistic with your own self while negating what surrounds you." Saying the latter part, Simon suddenly noted that his surroundings seemed to be more... Interesting.
He was suddenly aware that he was currently sitting in a few kilometers tall mountain, living with a dragon, speaking with a middle aged man after just experiencing another close death experience after saving a little girls life.... The latter was in doubt though.
"It will take time to reach until that point, however, you may also want to do some changes before you reach that point don't you?" Arad asked while Simon have a puzzled expression.
"Tell me, what do you expect to happen in your situation? You are in a hostile world, living only due to Camille's goodwill. Your mindset isn't the right one for your situation, tell me truly, what do you expect to happen in the following days if you keep with this?"
Simon looked at the floor as he muttered "Dead..."
Arad nodded as he continue "Exactly, you'll ended up dying once again but this time without a third chance, and I wouldn't be against a broken man wishes if said man didn't happen to be the one that I'm currently tied with. So, if you are incapable of making the right choices or assess the situation, I'll do it for you. If you are incapable of gaining strength, I'll find a way for you. That's why I'm here and maybe in return, I would only ask for a vessel once I get my work done, just maybe." Arad finished with a proud smile.
Hearing Arad's words Simon nodded. Then he asked a doubt that was lurking on his mind
"But why you just don't take my body and reach the last point and do what you want? What do you gain from all this?" Seeing the inquisitive look on his face, Arad gave him his most gentle smile while he explained to him.
"I have died Simon, I lived a really long life, once you reach that, there aren't many things that a normal person like you couldn't understand. You lived at the moment Simon, while I live in the centuries. While you passed all your life trying to achieve something, I have only thought of something during that space of time. I'm saying this to you only to understand that what you could offer to me, it's only a moment to think what to do next with my own life, everything that we will pass through your life, would be for me a book to read for the meantime. The only thing that would change, is that I could help the main character. Now you understand?"
Simon was shocked, as he could discern, only if it was a little, what does he mean. He was right, as in his actual situation he would only live form a few dozens of years if he's lucky, while this might be a lot for him, for someone that could live inside the soul of someone else, it would mean a blink of an eye. Watching again at the middle-aged man in front of him, Simon smiled genuinely for the first time since they both meet.
"I can't begin to fathom what you really are, but I can only hope that whatever your intentions are, you could help me fulfill a few wishes of mine. I don't know exactly what to do knowing all of this, I'm not sure if you already saw everything about me." Seeing Arad nod towards his later words, he continued.
"Well that's better, as you have seen, I tried to escape from my previous life, I'm seeing this new chance that has been given to me, like the thing I was needed to show what I have really wished to do. I only want to be for once happy, so I was trying to build the basics to achieve that, but it's hard, much more here, I'm only began to realize that. I don't know if my wish was the right one bu-" Arad interrupted him to say.
"About that, let me clarify something to you" Arad raised his finger as a grin was on his face. " Aion would have not granted you any kind of wish, while he's a Titan, something beyond a God, there are things you couldn't give to a soul, take this for example, I'm acting like a library to you, boy."
Arad paused briefly as he began to laugh, he then continue
"He couldn't build something akin to what you wished into your soul, what he did was taking my soul and put into yours so you can access somehow into your memories, and also grant you a chance. So if you were to wish for powers or something else, the most you would have been given to, would have been a new body with the capability of using energy and someone else soul into yours. Most likely some kind of sacred beast or among those lines."
At first after hearing his words Simon almost rip his hair from his head 'How could this be!? I could have been by now doing those test Camille was preparing for me! Maybe even being a talented fellow! I FUCKED UP!' But then he paused his thoughts as he analyzed better Arad word's.
Simon frowned as he asked him. "So he only pretended?"
Arad shook his head and raised a finger.
"He told you to take one thing with you, he never said that he would grant you a wish. You could have taken with you a new body with the chance to use power, your clothes, your cellphone. A lot of things you could have taken. But you only wished to have access to your knowledge and the knowledge from this world, while wanting to have a better looks" Saying the later he laughed a bit while looking at Simon.
"So the best he could do with what you've asked him, was granting you the proxy to gain enough Spiritual strength, as having access towards your knowledge is something that almost every being that has ascended have in their reach. Regarding the knowledge from this world, well that's why I'm here, I was from this world once. The most important part however was that you were granted to appear here with your memories, something that maybe many fellas tend to forget when given the chance by lesser gods or divine beings. Regarding your looks, well he only changed a few things when he brought your body here from earth, let just say is he corrected the imperfections within your body." With hands on his back, and a tone that would remind someone of a teacher lecturing a child, Arad was now smiling at Simon.
Now understanding his situation and how much he was tricked, he smiled wryly while he closed his eyes.
'Damn, not even a wish could be granted, God damnit'
Hearing his thought Arad chuckled. "He didn't deceit you, it was you who misunderstood the situation. Look, you have been granted a new life with your own memories. That's something incredible on it's own. Let's not even talk about the reason why a Titan was doing this, as in no normal situation this would have happened, but let's discuss this matter later on." Arad gestured with his hand as he glared at Simon, then he said to him with a cautious tone.
"You have to be careful, though. While being handpicked by gods or lesser divine fellas is kinda normal in these days, it is not being handpicked by a Titan, and Aion at that, later on I would explain to you who's the fella you met and why you should be worried about it. But what you need to know is the following, you have to start as soon is possible to get rid of this body of yours and ascend." While saying this, Arad was placing both of his hands on Simon shoulders while looking at him seriously.
Simon was looking back and forth between Arad serious gaze and the surrounding, uncomfortable by the situation.
'Fuck, this is going like those plots in novels, what the hell man, I kinda regret now not dying at all.' He thought to himself.
With a chuckle after hearing his thoughts, Arad let him go and said to him. "It certainly look like one, but it is what it is man, I mean, among all the possibilities, it happened to you, so you are right for having that kind of thoughts right now." He turned around as he put both arms on his back.
"But worry not, although you may suffer a little bit along the way, I'll make sure you are able to pass through whatever this life may throw at you. I'm only warning at you because this could have been an entire different situation if you were handpicked by another person, but now? Let's just hope that the light's don't blind you too much."
'Its not like I can do much about it' Simon chuckled to himself.
"Exactly, so know you just need to follow the tide and let me help you along the way." Arad raised both his hand while saying this.
Then, his face expression suddenly changed as he looked again at Simon.
"You know, if that dragon paid attention to you, she may be thinking that you are insane, I mean, you were talking to me all this time like if I was someone who was chatting in real life with you. If you really want to ask me a few things, you could just think loud in your mind, I can hear your thoughts. If not, I'm afraid that Camille would think that you lose your mind." With that said Arad disappeared from Simon's view. While he did this he said loudly in his ears.
(*I'm still here boii, I'm all ears for you, gwahahaha*)
Hearing his voice Simon smiled wryly as he began to think to himself that probably his life would be really noisy.
'Yo, old man, I still have a few questions but first of all, what did take you so much time to appear?'
He asked what was intriguing to him the most.
(*oh, that? I was just watching those images that is called hentai and other stories from your memories, it was really interesting gwahahaha*)
Simon's face suddenly morphed like he ate crap, he closed both of his eyes. Knowing that somebody else preyed into his most embarrassing moments was a hard hit. He then thought that Arad had probably seen when he had masturbated or had sex, knowing this he said on his mind.
'FUCK YOU, FUCKING OLD MAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WATCH THOSE THINGS'
He could only lament to himself as there wasn't anything he could do against that man, or better to say, pervert old man.