*** From now on, I will write more from Cain's POV. ***
Relentless, maybe because of the excitement, or maybe because of the fear, or perhaps maybe both, the sleep wasn't taking me.
"Lysara, can you hear me?"Materializing herself, Lysara says to me, "I always listen to you, so yes."
I look at her; she is standing on the chair at the table in front of the windows, looking outside at the beautiful sky of the night, filled with an endless number of stars, each one more beautiful than the other, but no one more beautiful than her, or at least that's how I see her. My soul-bound avatar. Curiously, I ask her. "Lysara, are you the weapon or are you inside the weapon?"
Still looking outside, she responds to me. "Both, I am not entirely the weapon; I like to be treated more like a real being; I am one, well, at least was. To be more precise, my core was used to create the weapon; the weapon core and my core are the same. But the core of a person is bound by the soul. So they are more like a soul-core? Anyway, so I am not entirely the weapon; my core is the weapon core, and I am inside the weapon, but I am an avatar, not a weapon, Cain. Night's Whisper and I are not the same.
"I think I understand now, Lysara. Thank you for everything."
"Well, welcome, but I haven't done much yet."
Turning to face him, she continues, "Cain, this trial will be a lot more dangerous than the one before. You can die this time. Promise me that you will be careful and that you will listen to me."
"I promise, but what do you think I should prepare? I can't sleep anyway."
"Mhm, for now, let's take a walk in the garden; everyone is sleeping anyway, and I can make myself visible only for you."
"That is a good idea; let me take some clothes on."
After getting dressed up, Cain tells Lysara to follow him outside.
After arriving in the gardens, Lysara and Cain are taking a stroll."Cain, you may not know yet, but this is not your first life."
I was a little taken aback by this information, but after accepting it, I returned to my normal self. "Somehow, I know. I may have been a little 5-year-old boy, but I see that I am different from the others. I am more mature and cold, and when I am fighting, everything comes naturally and instinctively, like I already know everything; I am just relearning, or better, I am just remembering things I forgot. And also, during the Trial of Silver and Blood, I unlocked a memory of my previous life. Everything is still blurry. But at least for now. I want to be Cain Silverblood. Who was a beautiful family and a master and is just a 5-year-old child. Not the old Cain. Brother of Abel: "
Nodding her head and smiling a little, she sings that she is satisfied with what she heard Lysara say: "Mhm, that's good, Cain. Do not lose yourself in the past. But also, don't forget it. Learn from it, Cain. You will learn more when the time comes."
As we continue talking, we arrive at the table where my mother drinks tea or wine in the afternoon.
"It seems like your mother left some wine behind; maybe the servants forgot about it. Let's take a seat; I haven't had a drink in centuries."
After taking a seat, each one on a side of the table, and pouring some wine into a glass for Lysara, I continue, "So, about my mission, what should I prepare?"
Taking a sip from her glass, Lysara continued: "Yourself, most probably you will be in the wild for some days, maybe weeks. The Shadow Forest is a dangerous place, but not the most dangerous. If you stay on the outskirts, where the shadow wolf and other soldier-class monsters are, and don't engage recklessly, you will survive.
"I got it. Don't go deeper, and do not be reckless. Also, why a shadow wolf?"
"Hehe, because if you manage to hunt it and get his core, you can bond with a shadow wolf puppy that will become one of your summons, or more like a companion because he will be forever with you. And trust me, a shadow wolf as a beast companion is very useful and rare. They can be forever with you, and if you manage to evolve it and get a powerful lineage, who knows, your master is doing you a good thing by sending you on this mission. I like her."
"A wolf companion—that sounds awesome, but if he is so useful, why are they so rare?"
"Because to find a shadow wolf, and even harder, to find a shadow wolf puppy, you need to have some inclination toward dark or shadow magic. Also, the wolf needs to want to be found by you. Remember, a shadow wolf in a shadow forest is like a fish in an ocean. You can find it only if it wants to be found by you. Also, these wolves often feel the hunter's soul and decide if they are worthy of bonding with their puppy. They have an innate desire to be bonded with a powerful soul; this way, they can grow and evolve. A shadow wolf grown in the shadow forest in its natural habitat rarely goes over Captain Class. But a soul-bonded shadow wolf can grow to the King Class even without other evolutions or lineages."
"Are they that powerful? I ask with wide eyes."Oh yes, but they are also very hard to find, to grow, and to evolve. Also, if you have a shadow wolf bonded with you, a lot of bandits and people working on the black market will come after you."
"I see pros and cons. Let them come; I will make sure they stay forever."
"I like this part of you, Cain; maybe someday we will have a spar if you become strong enough. I liked this evening; it was good to get some clean air and have an enjoyable conversation with my partner. Remember, I will always be here for you, Cain." As she says the last words, I see how she disappears, returning to the spear that holds her soul.
"Good night, Lysara. Thank you"