"In the act of saving others, we sometimes find the path to saving ourselves."
(POV: Ryomen Sukuna)
The moon was high in the sky, casting a comforting white glow on the environment, as the sky was completely clear.
The city's noise was nothing but a distant sound as I had strolled quite far this night.
My footsteps on the gravel occasionally broke the peaceful silence of the night.
However, my thoughts were in turmoil.
Do I belong here?
I asked myself this question everyday. This question had been gnawing on me ever since the first day I arrived.
The thrill of battle, the rush of power, it was all hollow, as if something within me went unfulfilled.
I felt no sense of purpose, no connection to this world, even though I knew I couldn't live without some of the people here.
I sighed, stopping and looking at the sky.
The moon seemed beautiful, there were fewer craters on it than I was used to, but most of my last life, I did not have the fortune to gaze upon it so peacefully, so I can't complain.
I sighed again, lost in my thoughts.
As I was just standing there, a faint sound reached my ears, an unclear sob.
My senses sharpened. I didn't want to be disturbed today, but it seemed as if something pulled me towards a certain place.
My legs moved on their own, walking at a fast pace, going through alleyways.
As I walked farther away from the main roads, the environment got darker, the moonlight the only thing illuminating the surroundings.
I reached an old building, which looked like a school.
The sobs got louder. I looked around, but saw nothing. I scanned around for mana, and I found a new signature.
And it was...
I looked up, my eyes widening as I saw a silhouette falling towards me.
It was a little girl, tears dripping down her face as she slowly fell down, her eyes tightly shut, as if not wanting to look at anything anymore.
My body seemed to move on its own as I jumped into the air, reinforcing myself with cursed energy.
A part of me wanted to stop, to go away and act as if nothing had happened, but another part of me...it propelled me forward.
As I flew in the air, time seemed to slow down, my heart was beating hard in my chest as I saw her slowly getting closer.
I extended my hands, on which she landed. She was light...almost too light.
I pulled her closer to my body as we landed gently on the ground.
The world seemed to be frozen as I looked at her limp body. My heartbeat fastened as the thought of her dying passed through my mind.
I checked her breathing and pulse, and it seemed normal enough.
I felt the faint beating of her heart and the slow rise and fall of her chest when she breathed.
I sighed in relief. She had just passed out from emotional shock.
Tear marks still stained her face as I looked at her, my eyes glinting with a rare sympathy.
A question arose in my mind...Why did I save her?
She was none of my business...I had a strict policy of not interfering in anything that might cause me trouble.
I thought of leaving her right here, but something deep in my mind stopped me.
But suddenly, my eyes widened and my grip on her tightened as I noticed something.
She had three souls.
I had always thought that souls were, by default, supposed to try to devour each other.
Never had I seen even two souls come close without trying to eat each other, so this really...intrigues me.
As I kept observing the souls, they were gently moving around inside her body, sticking to each other.
I made up my mind.
Still holding her in my hands, I quickly ran away, the sounds of soil crushing under my feet the only thing reaching my ears.
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(POV: Elara Bloom)
I slowly woke up from a deep sleep, and I felt...peaceful.
This was nothing like how I was usually woken up, things being thrown at me.
I noticed the coldness. The air around me was damp, and as I slowly opened my eyes, I realized why.
I was in a room, a room made completely out of rocks, with no windows. There was a door on the opposite wall.
I felt something on my cheek. I wiped it with my finger and it was...tears.
Why was I crying?
As I looked around the room, I spotted a man sleeping on a chair in a corner.
His features were sharp, and his presence commanding, even though he was asleep.
Looking at him, a rush of memories went through my mind as I realized what I had tried to do.
I hugged myself, the coldness in my body not dissipating.
What does he want? I asked myself.
As if responding to my thoughts, he woke up, his eyes sharp yet eerily...beautiful.
For a moment, I couldn't look away from them, as if something was attracting me towards them.
"You're awake," he said, getting up from the chair slowly as he walked towards me, his steps silent.
I nodded, not finding any words as I hugged myself tighter, retreating a bit on the bed.
He kneeled next to the bed, getting to my level. "I'm Ryomen Sukuna," he said, his voice gentle.
His voice seemed to calm me down. "I'm El...Elara Bloom," I said, my voice almost a whisper.
He leaned closer. "How old are you, Elara?"
I was hesitant, but pausing a few seconds, I responded. "10 years old."
His gaze didn't waver as he looked at me, his expression showing almost no changes.
"Do you remember what happened?" He asked, his voice the same as he looked at me in the eyes.
Tears fell down my face as I struggled to get words out. "I...I tried...to..."
"You tried to escape," he said, his voice neutral, but carrying a strange kindness. "What led you to this?"
The tears didn't stop as memories surfaced in my mind.
"You can tell me," he said, leaning closer to me.
My body trembled as I sobbed. "They...they threw food at me," I whispered out. "They...slapped me...everyday."
He got closer to me, pulling me into a hug.
I was surprised for a moment, instinctively trying to push him away, but I had no energy to do so.
His embrace felt...comforting. This might be the first time someone has hugged me in my life.
Slowly, I hugged him back, my tears staining his shirt.
"They...made me eat...from the trash," I whispered out, my voice trembling as I let everything out.
My grip on him tightened as my finger dug into his back.
"I couldn't breathe...it was a nightmare," my voice a mere whisper. "No one would help me."
"And you thought ending it was the way out?" He asked, his voice harsh, yet it was filled with something...gentle.
I nodded, my face buried in his chest. "I just wanted it to stop. I wanted to feel...nothing anymore."
He was silent for a moment before he broke the hug.
I missed his warmth, but my thoughts were overridden as he lifted my chin with his hand.
"But you don't feel 'nothing' now, do you?" He asked, his voice gentle.
I shook my head, my eyes lowering. "I feel...lost," I replied, sobbing.
I small smile formed on his lips. "I can help you."
My ears perked up at that, my eyes rising to meet his own. "You can...help?" I ask, my voice desperate.
"You've been wronged, Elara," he said, his voice lowering. "They don't deserve to walk safely."
A chill ran down my spine at his words, but there was something inside me that wanted to hear more. "What do you mean?"
He stood up, his body casting a shadow over me. "You want it to stop, don't you?"
I nodded slowly, my thoughts clouded with a mix of fear and intrigue.
"Then make them pay," he said, his voice getting dark. "Show them the fruits of their cruelty."
My heart beat in my chest as I looked at his towering figure. "But...I'm not like them."
"You're stronger than you think," he said, his voice reassuring. "And I can give you power to do it."
His words were almost hypnotic, they were awakening something buried deep inside me, taking over my mind the more I thought of them.
"Make them suffer, how they made you suffer," he whispered, his tone commanding as he turned away.
"I...I don't know," I said hesitantly, my thoughts dancing between temptation and morality.
"They took everything from you, Elara," he said, his back facing me as he started to walk away. "Shouldn't you take something back?"
I gulped, his words repeating in my mind like a chorus. He was giving me a way out, a way to escape the misery.
I looked at his back. He promised me power...revenge.
And slowly, going against all my instincts that told me to decline, that told me to run away, I nodded.
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(POV: Ryomen Sukuna)
I walked out of the room, the wooden door shutting behind me as I left Elara to contemplate.
I walked through the dimly lit passageway, which opened up at the side of a mountain, clear sunlight hitting my face.
A cool breeze passed through the air, hitting my skin.
Elara Bloom...that name echoed in my mind as I closed my eyes, turning my head up to the sky.
The girl was like a clay doll, fragile and broken by the cruel world.
I did nothing but mold that clay into what I want.
I was easily able to make her spout her deepest secrets, and make her yearn for revenge.
But only one thing repeated in my mind.
Why did I care?
I had seen her eyes when she woke up...They were filled with the same emptiness as I feel.
But, that's not it...was it the three souls that made me feel this way? Or was it something deeper?
I sighed, shaking my head as I opened my eyes back up, slowly walking down the mountain.
Eva... her name brought many feelings to the surface.
She was another person I felt deeply attached to. The sharp girl who always tried to break the walls I had placed around myself had secured a place in my heart.
I couldn't help but feel sad as I thought about today.
She would be smiling, happily holding my arm as we walk.
I could almost see it, the smell of blood in the air, the screams of those who were going to be used as sacrifices in my game.
All of it was covered up by a single date.
But, the thought of Eva kept creeping into my mind, her smile which would be replaced by something worse.
"Damn it," I muttered, realizing my own conflict as I walked down the rocky path, the stones shuffling under my feet, creating silent grinding noises.
I needed to focus...today would be a turning point.
I had already informed my parents about the date.
My mom, bubbly and enthusiastic, gave me a warm smile, wishing me best of luck with all her heart.
My dad, who was more reserved, gave me a smile and nodded approvingly, a gesture of support.
I did not tell them about the true nature of the date, of course. I want to let them live in peace as long as they can.
I would smile, laugh, flirt, but won't let anyone get any idea of the scheme.
Though, I have to tell Eva about the plan soon.
I wonder how she'll react...maybe disgust, or maybe she would be repulsed by my very face...or maybe, she'll accept the plan.
As I reached the more congested roads, the sound of people chattering gnawed on my ears, breaking my train of thought.
I sighed...Eva's face kept flashing in my mind.
I looked up to the sky, steeling my resolve as I took a deep breath.
The world will know who I really am.
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Guess who's back?
Damn this chapter is extremely late, but I hope you enjoyed it :3
2050 words.
gimme POWER STONES :>