NATHAN
The tornado tossed me around, throwing objects that would instantly kill anyone without godlike senses to alert them. My only objective was to find Winifred and get out of this mess. But, I had run out of options. How exactly does one deal with a being that is greater than a god?
I kept leaping over objects that were being tossed around, looking around for any signs of her. The dark mist obscured my efforts to search for her, making me grow increasingly frustrated by the minute.
"Please, Winifred. Come back to me," I whispered into the most, dodging another object clearly headed for me with the intent to reap my head. I intended to keep reaching into the darkness but I didn't have to go too deep to see her. She was just standing calmly in the midst of the mist.
When I noticed her, I was noticed too. She raised her hand, reaching for me.
"I can't see a thing, Nathan. Help me."
Her voice was thin and fragile, finally resembling that of a child. For some reason, it tugged harder at my heartstrings than her normal voice. I just assumed it was something akin to paternal instincts as I reached for her as well. I grabbed hold of her and pulled her into my arms.
"Don't worry too much, my lady. I'll protect you."
"Of course you will," she replied.
The chaotic tornado slowly began to quieten. There was no longer debris trying to take my life and the mist seemed to be clearing as well. I didn't know if she was the one controlling it but it was enough to be frightened about this power. If she couldn't control it again, it would not end so simply.
The next thing I knew, we were standing outside of her tent and I was carrying her in my arms. The bastard priest and the prince soon appeared before me, panic on their faces.
"Lord Sebastian, I had no clue you were here. Is there something wrong with Winifred?" The young priest asked, his brows furrowed deep in worry.
If he were the one with her, would he have been able to save her? His reaction made me wonder if he would risk his life against a being greater than the gods for a girl that was not even his blood.
"She's feeling unwell. She has a fever," I replied. She sat quietly in my arms, her face buried in my chest.
"Is that so? I had no idea it would get this bad. Perhaps we should return for now. Can you handle things here, Bishop Matthew?"
"Yes...your highness," the bastard priest replied, his gaze on Winifred. I turned to leave and made sure he didn't see her face. I could trace the carriage from where I was and the prince just trailed behind us.
"I swear things have been so strange since we got here. There was that strange energy last night and today as well. Maybe it was a terrible idea to come here," the prince muttered to himself. Well, from his perspective, it was a terrible idea. But now that I had found my body, it made such a difference to me.
------------------------------
When we arrived, I took her straight to her room without a word to the prince or anyone for that matter. She was also quiet, the warmth of her breath against my chest the only reminder that she was still awake. But when I arrived inside the room, I didn't know whether to lay her down or keep carrying her in my arms.
"Put me down," she instructed. I did as she asked and watched her adjust her gown. She sat at the edge of the bed, guiding herself with what little eyesight she had.
"Do you... remember what happened?" I asked gently. I doubt she even remembered that she led me into such a trap.
"What happened?"
I knew it.
"There was an abundance of dark mana below the building you were just at. I don't know much but there was a great entity there. It claimed to have surpassed the level of the gods."
She raised her left eyebrow, waiting for me to explain. Honestly, I didn't know much either.
"There might have been some truth to what it said. Even the present gods would have a hard time battling with me in this weak state. But that thing...it made me afraid. And it kept calling you 'Daughter of Darkness'. Do you know what that means?"
"I do not. It might mean it plainly. I am able to control dark mana more skilfully than anyone you've ever seen. Isn't that quite colloquial?"
"It's just too crude for what I've seen. Well, as long as you're fine, my lady."
"Hmm. Use your real body, Nathan. Or are you ashamed of it?"
"Why don't you take a nap, my lady? There are things better to do once you regain your strength, alright?"
"Don't test me," she replied, grumbled and lay on her bed. I rang the bell and summoned in other servants to attend to her. I wanted to wait before proceeding with anything, despite her kind words.
-----------------------------------
"My lord?"
Samuel's voice felt distant even though he was perched on my shoulder. My sense of self was still strongly attacked to my body even though I hadn't been in it for several centuries. Perhaps it was because it was preserved in a near perfect state since I vacated it.
"There are no problems with it and the preservation seal placed atop of my seal can still last a few centuries more. I could occupy this body right now."
"I thought you promised to give the lady your eyes?"
"I'll still do that. There's other ways for me to see without them. But that's not what is bothering me right now."
"What is it, my lord?"
"Maybe it's because it has been a long time but this feeling...it's strange. It's so similar to what I felt when I met the being summoned in darkness."
"A god?"
"Not quite. I wanted to wait before possessing my body again but I have to see this."
"I'll stand guard, my lord."
Three legged crows were loyal creatures, being god-like creatures themselves. I could trust him to take care of me while I did the transfer. But there was no harm in taking precautions and
erecting barriers.
Thoughts buzzed in my head as I drew the circle for the barriers. Only an amateur would make a mistake drawing a circle without concentrating so it wasn't a problem to me. I just really hated not knowing things. It did cause a lot of problems for me in the past.
Samuel found a new perch for himself and his beady eyes followed my every action. My thought strayed to my dear little lady but I knew she was fine. That creature would protect her and the darkness would not hurt her.
Once the barriers were completely constructed, I activated them. Standing in the midst of the barrier, I started the transfer of souls. My body was accepting of my soul and assimilation was going well.
Memories I didn't even know I had came back to me. Memories of when I was born and lived like a fugitive as a child. Memories of a life that was so long ago, it was like another life. This body suddenly felt like a shackle.
"Focus, Nathan."
I completely assimilated to my original body and began to synchronise to my senses. Moving my limbs and making my heart beat again wasn't going to be easy but all I needed was time. Samuel was watching. I could feel it.
Time trickled by slowly as I waited for my heart to start beating again. In the body of the man surnamed Sebastian, my senses were disjointed. But now, I could feel the gentle breeze on my skin.
I heard my own heart start to pump blood again. Air flowed in through my nostrils to my lungs. I could slowly feel my limbs come alive.
I waited till I could properly stand and sat up on the table I propped my body on. My body was naked but I wasn't too worried about that. I needed to make sure my virility was intact. It was.
There was one more thing I needed to test. I stretched my arm and one of the scalpels I kept on me flew towards my hand. I covered it with the strongest spell I knew and split my palm. From the open wound, golden blood spilled to the floor.
I finally realized what was so strange about my body. It was...the body of a god.