"I want to live..."
"Even if it means facing the hardships and miseries that Aura will impose on you throughout your brief and agonizing life?"
"Yes..."
"Even if it brings you pain and suffering in exchange for fleeting moments of glory and joy?"
"Yes..."
"Why do you wish to suffer so much without any grand reward? Why subject yourself to such a situation? Wouldn't it be better to just give up and embrace death, which will take you to eternal rest?"
"... I don't want to give up... I can't give up on living. I received an opportunity I never thought I would one day have. I MUST NOT WASTE IT."
____________
"The foundation of every Link, Aglaya, is mutual trust between individuals. And not just for a Link—trust is the foundation of every society and the cornerstone on which all the cultures we know today were built. Our ethics, our customs, our behaviors, and even our daily lives are guided by the trust that emanates from one individual to another. This is why a Link between two individuals starts from the principle of mutual trust—the certainty that one will help the other when the need arises.
When one falls, the other extends a hand to lift them up. When one suffers, the other offers sincere comfort. When one needs encouragement, the other cheers to boost their spirits. When one is happy, the other shares in the joy, magnifying it. This is the foundation of a strong and healthy Link... The more one trusts the other, the stronger the Link between them."
"Hahaha... Don't say that or the girl will start having flowery dreams, Abigail. Today is a special day, a day that will change all of their routines, whether for better or for worse. To prepare for the changes, she needs to understand the true relationship between a Link and emotions and, most importantly, with Trust.
In fact, since this Lord is one of the main culprits behind the changes, let me give you a brief explanation on such a matter.... Tell me, girl, have you ever hated someone so much that you wanted to kill them?"
"I have."
"Ohhh... No hesitation. But anyway, what Abigail says is the purest truth, girl. We teach this in all the Academies for women of all species. However, just as there are doubts to every truth, there are nuances in the linking process that make Links both sublime and dangerous.
Some people, even when fully trusting each other, could never establish a Soul Link, let alone a Full Link. Yet I have personally seen cases where a Socius and a White Elf, who genuinely and powerfully hated each other, managed to establish a strong and robust Soul Link with ease, nearly achieving a Full Link.
I'm not saying that Trust isn't important—on the contrary, trust is essential—but there isn't just one way to build trust. Loving someone doesn't mean you blindly trust them. Similarly, hating someone doesn't mean you'd never trust them.
The best way to know how much you can trust someone is to test them..."
"And if I told you I could help you, Child, what would you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Simple... With my help, you'll be able to nearly bypass Aura's influence on your life. You'll have an almost normal life, and I'll provide opportunities that few could achieve even by sacrificing everything. But in return..."
"I want it..."
"Temptations can bring out someone's true nature. They expose to the world what a person truly desires deep down... There's no better way to reveal a glutton than by offering a feast."
"???"
"No matter what you ask in return, I accept..."
"Even if I ask you to sacrifice yourself for me at some point in your life?"
"I'm not afraid of anything as long as I get a new life for a few good years. Thirty years would be more than enough..."
"Thirty years is plausible, but I can give you more than that, don't worry. However, I want more than just your temporary sacrifice. I want you to be mine... I want you to live for me."
"I'll give you everything..."
"Don't take it the wrong way, girl. We all have something bad within us. There's no being in this world without negative thoughts or intentions. Everyone feels hunger when they see a bountiful feast, covets something that belongs to another, or feels lust for someone extremely attractive.
That's absolutely normal..."
"Do you understand what this means, child? Do you have any idea what these words might cause?"
"If it's for you, I would gladly die. I'm sure your intentions are good because, since I entered this test, I haven't felt any negative feelings. I haven't perceived hatred, resentment, disgust, fear, or apathy. In fact, the closest thing to a bad feeling I've noticed is the melancholy that has been afflicting you even now."
"??!!!"
"You're not someone bad or with malicious intentions... On the contrary, your situation saddens me and makes me feel sympathy. I know you intend to help me, no matter what I choose, and so I want to help you as well, no matter what you need."
"However, resisting temptation is proof of one's worthiness. Trusting someone means believing they won't fall into temptation when it arises, that they will have the willpower to honor commitments and the goodwill to keep promises. Make no mistake—someone may freely and willingly help you with various tasks, but trusting someone means knowing they will go out of their way, drop everything they are doing, and run to help you as quickly as possible.
That is what a robust and enduring Link truly requires. That is the trust you need in your companion, and they in you."
"Your words are misleading, boy... Kind and sweet enough to fool my perception and make me believe you mean them sincerely. Perhaps you really do, but I choose not to believe them."
"I have no reason to apologize; my words were true."
"Very well... However, I need more than mere words to believe you. You must prove to me that you are someone who will truly honor your promises and is worthy of trust."
"Tell me what to do, then. But I also need proof that you will keep your promise."
"If you pass the test, your rewards will be immediate, and you'll have certainty of my credibility. However, if you fail, you'll be relegated to a crippled life. Not by my doing, but because of your own fate."
"So my only option has always been the test..."
"If that's how you want to see it, so be it..."
"What will the test be?"
"I will kill you five times..."
"That's it for today... But understand, Link is an extremely complex subject, girl. What I've said is just a tiny summary of it."
"... I understand... Thank you very much, Great Lord Akachi... Thank you, Lady Abigail..."
"Don't be deceived by Lord Akachi's humility, Aglaya. Nuances like these are extremely beneficial for your development. Reflect on these words carefully, not just you, but also Hendrina, Sonia, and Mahara. And don't forget to pass them on to Marien and Anya."
"We will. Thank you very much..." (x3)
"Finally, to answer your initial question, Aglaya, yes, they're fine. In fact, they're much better than before."
"Hehe... Hehe... What do you mean by killing me five times?"
"Don't worry; you won't actually die... But you'll feel something that many consider worse than death. In fact, you've likely felt the same sensation before. When your core was almost extinguishing your consciousness, before Marien helped you avoid disappearing..."
"You mean when I was in the limbo of pain? And who is Marien? The woman holding me when I woke up?"
"Yes... She risked her life trying to help you. But now is not the time to talk about it. Do you accept the test or not?"
"Is there no other way? No other type of test?"
"No. And be quick. I need to go, as my onirilis is weakening too much. The path to the right means you accept our agreement and will start the test. The path to the left means I help you leave here and live for a few years, but Aura will punish you severely and unrelentingly. The choice is yours. Farewell, for now."
"... She's gone... But now there's no turning back. So let it be death, then."
"Since this linking process began, somehow they've been healing and helping each other and vice versa. And as for your other question, normally, when we establish an Aura Link, the Socius can navigate our consciousness calmly, as if a boat were carried along by a current when left adrift.
While navigating, he is guided only as far as we consciously desire. Depending on the level of the relationship between the woman and the Socius, an Aura Link or a deeper Link can be established, thats Soul Link. We, Women, can control whether we wish to create this Link or not. The males have no say in this matter. However, when the relationship level reaches a certain point and the male is capable enough to navigate deeper into our consciousness, he can establish a Full Link.
We still have control over it, but by this stage, our emotions are so intertwined with the Socius that we can only hope he succeeds. For this reason, establishing a Full Link depends entirely on the Socius' ability—or rather, the Consors."
"BY AURA! Does that mean Lady Inessa and that human are..."
"CONTAIN YOURSELF, Sonia... I will not tolerate such disrespect in the presence of Great Lord Akachi and Lady Abigail..."
"Uhhrgghh.... Forgive me, I sincerely apologize... Forgiveness..."
"Forgive us, Lady Abigail... I beg you, clarify this for us. Is Lady Inessa establishing a Full Link?"
"Sigh No, this isn't a simple Full Link being established. Look closely, Aglaya. Pay attention to every detail and try to notice the nuances of the aura within the barrier."
"Let this Lord help you... Snap..."
*Crack* *Shatter*
"Now, without the barrier, you can clearly feel the Aura... Take it in, girls, and you too, Abigail. This may be your only opportunity to personally witness the consecration of a Nexus Link."