Author's Note: Last chapter of Rage. 1 more chapter coming out today and 2 on Saturday, with, this time, the actual surprise. Enjoy, the last few chapters!
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That was when something snapped within me. This feeling... I never felt something like it before. Of course, I have felt anger before, especially when someone I knew was getting ostracized or when I first met Miria but, it was never this intense.
Is this rage?
Wait, how am I thinking this calmly when I should be feeling nothing but anger? I open my eyes and see something. I can see? I thought I was supposed to be blind.
(Hello.)
(Oh, what's up, Calido?)
No wait, Calido? Hey, I finally have someone to tell me what the hell is happening right now. That is pretty convenient.
(So, Calido, do you know what is happening right now?)
(Right now? Well, right now, your body is throwing nonstop verbal abuse towards most of the people in the central plaza.)
What?! First of all, what the hell!? Second of all, what the frick!? I know I keep saying the exact same things but, everything is just so weird that I can't help saying the same thing over and over again. How does Calido know what is happening when he is supposed to be hiding in the mountain?
(You seem to have many questions. Just look over here.)
Just then, my point of view changed. I am no longer looking at the sky and now I am looking at the central plaza. Huh? Right in the middle, there is the figure of a young boy arguing with an older one. Wait, is the younger one me? Wow, I definitely grew. No wait, how is my body there?!
(How am I here?! Is this your body, Calido!?)
(Yes, this is indeed my body.)
(So, what exactly happened in the past few minutes?)
(It seems like a case of Soul Rejection.)
The what now? Soul Rejection? How does he know about those things? Oh, wait, he did mention to me before when we first met that only Gods and Divine Beasts should be able to manipulate their soul at will.
(Soul Rejection?)
(It is a rare case. You see, since Gods and Divine Beasts such as myself are able to move our souls around, that means that we also had the option of taking over someone else's physical body.)
(You could do that?!)
That sounds scary. Well, I shouldn't be that surprised as I was the one who fused my soul with his so...
(However, there was a limitation. Whenever a soul tried to take over a body, the invading soul and the local one should have ideals or motives that are similar to a certain degree. If they are in any way different, the invading soul will be rejected. But, I didn't know that a body would be able to reject it's own soul.)
So, when I felt something snap, was that my connection to my body? I need more information... and fast. It looks like the argument is about to devolve into fighting.
(How was I rejected?)
(It was probably because even though you were feeling intense rage, you still tried to think in an almost eerily calm way, just like right now. But, I don't know why your body is still able to talk when it should be only acting on pure emotions and reflexes without it's soul.)
Me thinking calmly and rationally was the reason? Well, I mean, I am feeling a bit too calm in a situation like this. So, is he suggesting that it would have been better to have just give in to my anger? Also, my body is probably able to still talk because, well, anatomy.
The technology of this era is much less advanced so, I doubt a regular citizen would know about all of the functions of the brain. Calido seems to think the soul is the only way for something to think, but that is partially wrong. The soul is only connected to our mind, which would be our consciousness. Even without a soul, something can still be alive as the brain still works without the soul.
It is kind of like talking in your sleep. You aren't willing yourself to talk but, you still retain the ability to do just that and can even do it when you are subconscious. Wait, why am I speaking about science right now?!
(Calido, how do I get back in?)
(This never happened to me before but, I think you must try to get back into your own body and control your emotions.)
(Thanks for the advice!)
(You are very welcome, Alex.)
Hey, he addressed me by my name! That means our bonds are growing deeper. Or, it is just like what he said before. That his mind will regress into a child's mindset due to the age of my soul. He never did refer to me by name before so, the process of mental regression must be starting now.
I manipulate my soul towards my body and force my way inside. Whoa! Oh my Death God! Why is there such a huge flood of emotions right now?! Wait, is my body seriously thinking about hurting this guy!? There are an abundance of morally disturbing ways to hurt him as well and, to be Frank, they're quite enticing.
"If you hurt me in front of this crowd, my father will report this to the city guards. My father is a high-ranking knight in this city and is one of the instructors, so I don't think his punishment will be mild!"
This guy is seriously pissing me off right now! But, I need to take back control now or what he just said might come true later. I can't afford to let Uncle, Aunt, and Kyra get targeted because of me attacking him so, I will make a compromise. I'll just intimidate him a little so that he will run away and no one gets hurt.
"Aren't you a little saint?! Protecting a demon after everything they've done!? You're-"
"Shut up! Race doesn't matter in this conversation!"
"It has everything to do with it!"
"She's a demon but, she is still my family! I know that they have done unspeakable terrors but, it is not like she has done something that would allow you to speak badly of her! No matter how many people reject her, I will accept her just as many times!"
I know all too well to be judged by what you were. The soldiers thought I was weak in my past life because I was delegated to the job of butler so, I kind of understand Kyra's pain.
I then gather the shadows of everyone in the plaza and focus it all on my back. I then make it looks like tentacles are sprouting out of my back and from the ground as well. If he doesn't run away now then, I will have to do something he'll regret.
"I'm not afraid of you! Those things are just some sort of flashy trickery! You can't use high-level Shadow Magic, no matter how much of a prodigy you think you are!"
Alright, time to activate my trump card.
"You haven't seen anything yet. I'll make you know the true face of terror."
I grab Aether out of my shadow and point it at where I think he is. Calido, it's about time for your thing!
"Immolation!"
My sword catches on fire after my words and worried whispers run rampant through the crowd. They all know that he provoked me so, nothing to fear.
"T-those are f-fake as well!"
"How about we test that theory? If it is hot when it touches your skin, then we will know for certain that it is real."
"Enough!"
What?
"Alexander, Uroshi, this is getting nowhere!"
"What?! Instructor Kaneduro!?"
Frick, Glaive is here!
"I was watching you 2 from the very start. I thought that you could have at least talked it through, but it instead spiraled into chaos! You will both be receiving severe punishments for this!"
"But, he provoked me!"
"He threatened to kill me!"
"Be quiet, both of you! I told you, Alexander, that I wouldn't be playing favorites just because I knew you personally. You have both violated some rules! I understand that Uroshi started this fight, but Alexander, shouldn't you have just ran away?! Or, otherwise, contacted a guard!? Your behavior today was shameful for people who would become the next generation of honorable knights. Both of you will get a 2-week suspension!"
And, that was what happened that day. My very first punishment happened on that very day. I was given ample time to reflect during that suspension before the Proving started.