Andrew was still lost in the euphoria of his latest discovery about his totem when an unexpected voice jolted him back to reality.
A cold chill spread through his mind as he turned around to see who it was. It was none other than Aeon, the unsettling and spectral figure that had somehow managed to penetrate his innermost soul space.
"Wow, that totem you have there is absolutely amazing! It's got you feeling pretty excited, huh?" Aeon sneered, his voice dripping with a cold and ominous tone that sent shivers down Andrew's spine.
The ancient sorcerer seemed to have abandoned all pretense of civility, and his eyes exuded a chilling glint.
"Your eminence, Aeon!" Andrew said, his voice trembling slightly. "Don't you know that entering another sorcerer's soul space is taboo? What brings you here?"
"What do you think?" Aeon questioned with a sly gleam in his eye. "You know I'm a soul shaman, right? I'm sure you've already figured out what I'm after."
"Looks like my worst fears have come true," Andrew spoke, his eyes locked onto those of the ancient sorcerer. "Aren't you worried my mother will come after you if you do this?"
"I have something interesting to share with you," said Aeon with a chuckle, shaking his head dismissively. "While you were undergoing your awakening, I monitored that woman's residual presence. The good news is that her aura disappeared after you awakened those bloodline memories. She must have used all her remaining powers to help you obtain the inheritance. Fascinating, isn't it?"
"I shall take over your body," Aeon proclaimed, "and then I'll move on to another mortal world where I'll remain hidden until I attain rank seven. After that, I shall ascend to the immortal realms and bide my time until I'm powerful enough to confront that woman. Let's see if she can locate me before then."
"I won't let you get away with this," Andrew declared with unshakeable confidence. "I'd rather destroy my own body than allow you to possess it."
Without the least bit of hesitation, he initiated a messed-up meditation technique, fully determined to force his mind and body through a mana deviation.
"I don't think you heard me," professed Aeon on seeing Andrew's suicide attempt. "I'm a skilled soul shaman, a sorcerer with unparalleled power when it comes to dealing with the soul and its associated domain!"
With a mere movement of the ancient sorcerer's hand, Andrew's soul space was consumed by a frigid light. In an instant, he was rendered completely immobilized and unable to move.
He struggled fiercely against the invasion of the foreign force, summoning all the willpower he could muster. However, his efforts were ultimately in vain, as Aeon's control took hold of his thoughts and actualized soul form.
"You know what really gets under my skin?" Aeon's tone was thick with disgust as he spoke. The pleasant demeanor he had previously exhibited was now a distant memory. "I can't stand people who rely solely on their lineage and background to gain power. It's nothing but pure arrogance and entitlement."
"I was once a genius in my own right," spoke the ancient sorcerer as he slowly approached Andrew. "It took me only twelve thousand years to become a peak rank-six celestial sorcerer. But for every rise in power I experienced, I had to work for it. I had to explore dangerous grounds to obtain every treasure that helped me rise to the next rank."
"But what of you? You messed up one life, and your mother had to bear the consequences. She not only brought you back to life — but also helped you unlock a bloodline. And now, she wants me to hand over my inheritance to you, even though you only managed to awaken a shitty human-grade totem during your initial awakening. Do you think it's fair that she expects me to gift all my hard work to a talentless brat on a silver platter?"
Andrew, unfortunately, was unable to provide a response. His thoughts had become as slow as an aged snail after the ancient sorcerer had frozen his soul space. He couldn't speak, and all he could do was watch on helplessly as the enemy stopped his monologue and began making preparations to dispose of his soul and possess his body.
Soon enough, an ancient three-dimensional ritual spell model appeared in Andrew's soul space, just above his book-type totem. It was Aeon's handiwork, and he reassured Andrew, saying, "Don't worry, my friend. We're about to start the ritual, and before you know it, it will all be over."
The ancient sorcerer must have been afflicted with a perplexing condition of the mind. His speech had undergone a dramatic transformation again, shifting from a tone of pure disgust and hatred to one of civility.
The sorcerer suddenly started moving towards Andrew, his hand extended as if he meant to harm him. However, he was abruptly stopped by a timeless and poignant sound that echoed throughout the soul space. The sorcerer became motionless and silent, frozen in place.
Just as that happened, Andrew sensed the instant release of all the restrictions that had been imposed on his soul space, and his mind became clear. He then observed the sorcerer's terrified expression and wondered what could have caused such a reaction from someone as powerful as him.
Aeon's eyes continued widening in terror as he pointed an accusatory finger behind Andrew. "You set me up!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear. The soul space was thick with tension as Andrew slowly turned to face what was behind him, unsure of what he was about to see.
Then, just as suddenly, Andrew's heart pounded hard, his mind racing with confusion and anxiety, as he saw a ghostly figure emerging from his book totem. But as the figure became more vivid, he realized it was his mother's spiritual form, who he thought had already left after revealing the secret of their bloodline inheritance.
Andrew breathed a sigh of relief, grateful to see his mother again, even if it was only her ghostly presence. With her around, he could finally feel at ease, knowing that Aeon would no longer have a chance to harm him.
"I can't believe you set me up! You set me up..." Aeon spoke again, his voice tense and trembling. He sounded like a frightened child, betrayed by someone he trusted. His words trailed off as if he had given up all hope.
"Aeon! Aeon, don't be like that," Andrew's mother's voice cooed inside his soul space as she watched the ancient sorcerer with a cold expression. "I didn't set you up. I just gave you a chance, but you refused to take it. I warned you not to have any bad intentions towards my son, but you didn't listen. Now, what am I going to do with you?"
Andrew watched what was happening with widened eyes. His mouth turned into an O-shape as he suddenly saw Aeon, the esteemed ancient sorcerer, perform a kneeling gesture there in his soul space. Before he could tune his mind to the stunning sight, more surprise hit him as the man started groveling and asking for forgiveness.
"Respected Madam," he spoke humbly, "I am well aware of my wrongdoing and seek your mercy. If your kind heart can find room to forgive me, I shall remain ever grateful and serve Andrew with utmost loyalty for eternity."
"Enough!" With a deep frown, she cut Aeon's words short. "Your actions bring shame upon this sacred land of Edhen. You had your chance to make things right, but instead, you squandered it. Now, it's time to say goodbye."
In a swift motion, she waved her hand, and without a moment's notice, Aeon's spiritual form began to shudder and explode into glittering particles. It was a sight to behold as each particle started dropping into Andrew's conscious sea, causing ripples that spread through his mind.
Andrew felt the impact immediately as he absorbed particles from Aeon's destroyed form. His mental strength swelled, and his head throbbed, but he suppressed the condition.
Turning to his mother's spiritual form, he gazed at her, hoping to discuss crucial issues before she disappeared again.
She smiled reassuringly, saying, "Don't worry about anything else right now. Just take a moment to breathe and let the purified soul particles work their magic. They'll help you reach a higher mental state before your breakthrough to rank one. We can discuss all the other stuff later."
With a bright sparkle in his eyes, Andrew nodded enthusiastically and eagerly started to absorb the particles with a newfound burst of energy.