"Why should I live?! Life has been nothing but pain and sorrow!" He went quiet after that.
The words Aeron screamed out echoed in the vast darkness.
Godfrey looked at him with an understanding and sympathetic look. "Hmmm, that sounds about right."
"Eh?" Aeron stared in confusion.
Godfrey stood up from his spot. "The helmet chooses the most broken, hopeless individuals it can find as it's user. You, Aeron, fit that role perfectly.
I lost my family to a vile and corrupted royal family. They had a habit of ...purchasing those deep in poverty and made them do whatever they wanted.
My wife was eaten alive by their guard dogs and my daughter... she was defiled by the Prince of the family multiple times and ended up taking her own life. I slaughtered the entire family when the helmet chose me." Godfrey clenched his jaw at the memory.
Aeron couldn't help but feel pity for him, reminding himself that others experience pain on a whole other level.
Aeron wiped the falling tears from his face and calmed down for a moment.
"You spoke of a void within you. A...lacknof purpose if you will. The helm can help you fill that void, it won't heal your wounds but... it can help you cause pain to those who caused those wounds." Godfrey offered his hand to him.
"...Im Sorry." Aeron didn't know what to say, all he could do was offer his condolences.
Godfrey simply nodded.
Aeron tried to contain his emotions. 'What's wrong with me?! I'm not usually this open and emotional!' He cursed himself for having this reaction.
"Oh that? Since we're basically connected, you can't lie or hide things from me. At least whenever we're within the Blankscape.
That's why you pretty much immediately opened up to me about your pain." Godfrey answered Aeron's internal confusion.
"Huh? No, hold on now. Why?! I didn't even agree to taking that damn helmet yet." Aeron didn't appreciate his painful experience forcefully removed from him.
"Did you read my mind?!" he yelled out.
"Unfortunately once the helmet picks you, that's final. You're the current user. We're connected, open honesty is a requirement for a healthy partnership." Godfrey retorted with a chuckle.
"Tch, whatever. Just go back to origin story of this fucking helmet already." Aeron reached out and grabbed Godfrey's hand, helping him stand back up.
Aeron stood by his side and regained his composure. The dark surroundings began shifting once more.
--------
They appeared in what seemed to be a meeting room, a few hours after Samael and Sariel's fight.
A large, circular wooden desk was placed in the middle of the room. Six seats surrounding it yet only three of them were occupied.
Sariel was sitting on one of those seats. She wore her usual cold, aloof expression on her face. She was engaging in a heated discussion with the woman seated next to her.
This woman furrowed her platinum blond brows in frustration. Her short, blond hair was tied in a pony tail with noticeable strands of hair out of place causing her hair to look somewhat messy. The most attention grabbing feature of this beautiful woman was her glowing lavender eyes, they were so gorgeous it was intoxicating. Their hypnotic glow could make even the most hateful and prideful man drop everything and treat her like a goddess. Several traces of freckles dotted her peach coloured face.
"I told you to keep that hot head in line, Sariel. Keep him moderately satisfied so he is somewhat predictable and controllable, we've gone through this thousands of times!
And what did you end up doing? Enraging and antagonizing him!" the blond woman spoke with a disappointed frown.
"There are more pressing matters than Samael's tantrums, Seraphina." a masculine voiced stated in a deadpan tone.
This voice belonged to a muscular, intimidating man wearing glasses. His short , chocolate brown hair seemed to have been slicked backward giving him a sophisticated and formal appearance. A small scar was noticeable on his olive toned face, specifically in the right side of his mouth.
"We lost two fifths of our forces in that battle. The corpses of our fallen soldiers will either be used as food or get converted into appalling demons." he continued as he used two fingers to push the bridge of his glasses upwards.
"Blame Sariel's incompetence for that." Seraphina responded.
Sariel was about to respond but the sound of the door bursting open caught everyone's attention.
Samael kicked the door open and strolled in the room with a sinister grin on his face.
"I've made a breakthrough." He couldn't help but cackle to himself.