Freidris felt his soul burn from his abdomen. He felt his hundreds of thousands of years worth of cultivation being shattered in a brutal fashion and he couldn't do anything about it but watch and scream at the top of his lungs!
Given the current weakened state he was in, defending against someone within the same realm of power as himself was impossible, especially considering that he was in a mortal body that would be destroyed if he used his full strength.
The King felt his energies leaving him. He felt his Realm Essence being absorbed into Edmarch's hand, which shocked him immensely!
His Soul Essence was nearly depleted as his soul lost the lustre of immortality and grandeur of a high realm power, degrading at a shocking pace.
Normally, having something like this happen to an individual was fatal without exception but Edmarch had used a certain treasure he had prepared for this moment to make sure that the King did not see death even after he lost all his strength. The ring which was on his hand.
It brought him great pain to see the once proud and powerful King lose everything, including an immediate means for vengeance. However, it was for his own good.
He had stored the Realm Essence so as to not light up the entire World ablaze and call forth the King's enemies.
Soon, he felt the King's soul become no different from a mortal's. It emitted a dull blue light within Denva's body.
Freidris looked pale, his body trembling from the unbelievable amount of pain he had just experienced.
He couldn't even speak a word, his eyes locking onto Edmarch with a look of rage and sorrow.
Edmarch caught Freidris' body as it was falling and his Essence pulsed into it with a colourful ripple, rushing towards where his heart was supposed to be. The replacement that Freidris had created had been dispelled after he lost his strength, but a new heart was formed within less than a split second as Edmarch's Essence facilitated healing throughout his body.
His arm that had burnt off regenerated, forming new flesh that sat over his bones, his broken bones and torn skin on his chest emerging with a healthy tone as well. His bloody clothes were cleansed of all blood leaving them looking as good as new.
Freidris felt a new strength within him as his trembling receded. Even his soul was mended, however, the wound from the spear remained as a rupture on his shoulder.
Edmarch patted Freidris' shoulder once before showing a slight smile and vanishing from the spot.
The area which had been agitated from the Grand presence of an expert in high realms started to mend itself until it regained its stability.
Freidris took in deep breaths as he stood straight.
His strength was gone.
He was back to square one.
The rage and anguish he felt were immense, yet he couldn't let it out.
He simply walked away from the shore, his body moving towards the direction of a brightly lit settlement in slow and heavy steps.
*
Freidris saw nothing in his vision but the scenes of the fall of his kingdom. His soul ached as he thought of it.
The vibe he gave off as he moved towards a certain house drew people away from him but he neither saw nor heard any of it.
People who knew the previous owner of this body had tried calling to him but were ignored as the figure of a young man trudged his way ahead.
Freidris' hand lay on the door handle and he turned and pulled, entering the house. As the door squeaked open, the rushed footsteps of a certain individual were heard coming to welcome whoever had opened the door.
"Big br—" a cute voice had said jovially but halted when a deep pressure eclipsed the entire hallway that faced the door.
The small figure drew back as she sensed the dark vibe that existed between her and the figure at the door whose face looked dark even while illuminated by the light of simple light bulbs on the ceiling.
"...brother," said the voice again with concern more than anything else, the figure of a small child trying to call to the person she loved with her entirety.
The soft voice entered Freidris' ears and coursed through his mind. It echoes in his brain until he focus his vision, the slaughter from his sword and the background of an intense war vanishing slowly and being replaced by the image of a hallway where a small figure was trembling while looking at him with concern.
Freidris trembled as he withdrew his emotions while wearing a shocked expression. He was confused as to where he was.
Denva's body which knew the way from anywhere had reflexively taken him home while he was wallowing in his grief. As he saw the girl before him, Freidris lamented at the fact that the remnants of his strength had conjured such an ominous atmosphere around him scaring the child.
Scrambling through his memories, he recognised who this young girl was.
It was his younger sister. Denva's sister. The only sibling he had.
She was a short girl, six years of age with long black hair and large aquamarine blue eyes. She was slightly chubby, but her short figure made it all the more absurdly cute.
The most outstanding feature on her, however, were her cheeks. They were the large kind, but with a flexible texture and round like apples jammed to sides of her face which gave one the urge to just pinch them incessantly.
Freidris knelt on the ground and wore a bright smile as he extended his hands.
"Come, Charlie," he said in a soft voice.
The little girl felt the heavy atmosphere vanish and seeing her brother's sweet smile, she grinned.
With her little feet, she rushed over towards him and leapt into his embrace!
Freidris hugged the little girl firmly, the sensation reminding him of what he had just lost.
"I told you. Don't call me Charlie! Call me Chubby Chubs Charlie," the little girl said, feigning anger.
"Alright. I almost forgot," said Freidris as he lifted her up and walked down the hallway. "I'll call you that from now on, Chubs."
Freidris pinched her cheek lightly. Charlie pouted.
Another set of footsteps was heard as a woman with long red hair and aquamarine blue eyes came from one of the rooms and saw two of her children in the hallway.
She wore a relieved smile, hiding her anxiety.
"You're late Denva," she said in a soft voice.
Freidris gazed at the woman his memory serving to remind him that this was Denva's mother. Synthina. He recalled that it was quite late and even though she tried to hide it, he could see the concern in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, mother. I should've told you I'd be home late," he said with a sheepish smile while apologising.
Synthina was taken aback. She had expected the usual rebellious words and tone of her son that transcended the norm. Seeing his genuine apology, which she was a bit sceptical of, she softened her voice further as she spoke.
"Oh, it's quite alright dear. I have your dinner heated up. Go sit in the dining room while I bring your food."
"Okay," said Freidris, wearing the face he thought would best fit the scene.
He got a good look at the house as he walked towards the dining that was at the end of the hallway. The beige and worn-out wallpaper that was falling apart on the walls, the light bulbs expelling a diming light, the cement floor which had holes on several spots and the ceiling which was non-existent above the dining.
As he sat down on the old wooden creaking chairs in the dining, he saw the lounge which faced the dining.
Old brown couches surrounded a TV stand upon which sat a large-headed TV with aerials.
'Hmm. I wonder what kind of world this one is?' he thought as he tried to digest Denva's memories bit by bit. He had managed to learn the language here seamlessly through Denva's memories, and in all honesty, its simplicity compared to the languages within Realms was a marvel.
Charlie sat on the chair to his right. She looked at her brother bobbing her head to and fro.
Freidris, from Denva's thoughts, knew what that meant.
"You're hungry?" he asked.
Charlie almost jumped back in shock, her large cheeks blushing.
"H-how... how did you know?!" she asked with a stammer.
Freidris smiled.
'Every time,' he thought. Charlie would always reel in shock when someone found out she was hungry without her saying anything.
Synthina came to the dining with Denva's food and set it on the table. In a white clay plate was fine white rice with swirls of chicken soup along with what looked like green beans and a small roasted drumstick.
The aroma wafted into Freidris' nose and his body violently quaked with hunger almost shaking him off the chair!
Freidris was embarrassed.
Synthina giggled.
"Eat up dear. You know that your body needs more nutrients now that you can wield World Essence," she said with a smile before glancing at Charlie who's eyes were shining as she ogled the plate. "Charlie let your brother eat, okay?"
"It's okay. I can share with her," said Freidris as he picked up his sister and sat her on his lap. Soon he was eating with a spoon, sharing his food with Charlie who munched on happily.
However, she only ate a few spoons of the rice before patting her stomach and emitting an 'Ah' from her mouth.
"I'm full now, brother. You can eat the rest," she said.
Freidris looked at the little glutton and could tell that she was lying. She was merely being considerate. The issue of this family being not quite well off was no secret which pulled at his sympathy.
"I know you're not. Let's finish it together, Chubby Chubs," he said while pinching her cheek.
Charlie smiled sheepishly and nervously accepted the spoonfuls of rice from her brother.
After the meal, Synthina took the plate away after receiving a grand show of gratitude from her two children.
She returned to the dining and spoke to Freidris who was carrying the already sleepy Charlie.
"Alright, you go to sleep now. Tomorrow's the last day of college, I'm sure you'd love to be there," she said as she looked at Charlie who was barely awake. "She refused to sleep without seeing you home safe, you know?"
Freidris looked at the little blob and smiled.
"I won't make her worry again," he said.