Laquila leaned back into the plush couch, her fingers delicately cradling the teacup. The faint clink of porcelain filled the luxurious living room as she took a slow sip, savoring the rich aroma. Despite her serene demeanor, her gaze occasionally flicked to the empty space across from her.
As she set the teacup back onto its saucer, a ripple disturbed the pristine air of Solum Astra.
The distortion spread outward like waves, and a figure emerged from the void. Draped in a hooded cloak that obscured his features, the man's presence was commanding, his very being exuding authority.
Laquila did not flinch. If anything, she appeared utterly at ease, her lips curving into a faint smile. She reached again for her teacup and took another unhurried sip, as though she had been waiting for this very moment.
"You're late," she said lightly, breaking the silence. "I was wondering how long it would take for you to show up."
The cloaked figure's reply came not with words but a palpable shift in the air, heavy and charged. His voice followed, deep and sharp, cutting through the room like the crack of thunder.
"You knew I would come," he said, stepping forward. "And yet, you still went through with it."
Laquila let out a soft chuckle, setting her teacup down with an elegant motion. "Of course I did. I assumed you'd want to talk it over tea." She gestured toward the couch opposite her and, with a flick of her wrist, summoned another teacup beside the steaming teapot.
"Please, sit. I'm sure we can discuss this amicably."
But the figure did not move. His tone grew colder, stripped of any hint of patience. "Enough games, Laquila. Why did you interfere with the soul meant for judgment in the Sixth World?"
"Oh my," Laquila murmured, leaning back slightly. Her smile remained, though the light in her eyes took on a sharper edge.
"That soul," the man continued, stepping closer, "was meant to ascend and face judgment. Not to be snatched away by your whims."
"Whims? Is that what you think of me?" she asked, her voice as calm as ever, though her gaze now locked firmly on the figure.
"Even if the Sixth World falls under your jurisdiction, it does not give you the right to tamper with its natural order," the man pressed, his tone tinged with quiet fury.
"Your actions must be justified. Otherwise…" He let the weight of his words hang, the air thickening with unspoken intent.
The tension between them mounted, but Laquila, unshaken, folded her hands neatly in her lap. Her smile shifted, losing its playful undertone and settling into a more composed expression.
"So, you've come to lecture me," she said, tilting her head ever so slightly.
The man remained silent, his hooded figure looming as his aura bore down on her.
"Very well," she said, her voice smooth and measured. "Let's have this conversation. After all, misunderstandings between colleagues are best resolved before they cause... complications."
Her words hung in the air, calm and deliberate, as though this confrontation had been part of her plan all along.
The silence between them stretched on, broken only by the faint rustle of Laquila's fingers adjusting her position on the couch. She was the first to speak, her voice smooth and deliberate, as though she had expected this confrontation all along.
"Agnis, Guardian of Souls," Laquila began, her gaze never wavering from the cloaked figure standing before her. "Would you believe me if I said I have a solid reason for this?"
Agnis, his form still cloaked in shadow, seemed to take a moment to process her words. Then, with a scoff, he spoke.
"Solid reason, huh? You've got to be kidding me. You've stolen a soul destined for judgment, and now you expect me to buy some excuse about it?"
Laquila's smile didn't falter as she leaned forward slightly. She was used to these kinds of exchanges, and something about Agnis's skepticism was almost... amusing.
"You see, Agnis," Laquila said, her voice softening into a more serious tone, "guardians of souls like you are tasked with guiding the departed to their final judgment. Souls destined to ascend are led through your hands to their appointed fate—whether that be Heaven or Hell."
"You're also responsible for capturing souls that have slipped away, wandering between realms, avoiding the inevitable. Of course, that doesn't apply to those set for reincarnation. Their paths are different."
She paused, allowing the weight of her words to sink in, before continuing. "And lastly, it's your job to guide those souls to their vessel, their next life. Born anew. The vessel, their birth, is just as important as the judgment you help them receive."
Agnis, clearly unmoved by the explanation, folded his arms tighter across his chest. He listened, but the irritation in his posture made it clear he wasn't convinced. He stared at her for a long while before responding, his voice a little more restrained.
"And what does this have to do with the soul you just…snatched?" he asked.
"Why did it need to be taken from the cycle? You've got my attention now—tell me why."
Laquila's lips curved into a slight grin, and she leaned back into the couch, her voice lowering as she spoke, almost as if revealing a secret.
"It's because there's something peculiar about this soul," she said, her gaze now fixed on Agnis, piercing through the hood that obscured his face.
"I'm sure you've met him, Agnis. I'm certain you've even guided him toward his vessel before."
Agnis's eyebrows furrowed slightly at the implication, his eyes narrowing as he processed her words. "What are you talking about?" he asked.
"Who are you referring to? What does this soul have to do with me?"
But before he could get another word out, Laquila waved her hand dismissively, her voice casual as she spoke over him.
"I'm talking about merging souls," she said simply. "And yes, I may not have complete control over the essence of souls, but when it comes to merging them, that's something I can handle."
Her gaze softened slightly. "This soul of his—well, it's in a mess. His soul isn't whole, Agnis. It's incomplete and what's more, he shouldn't have even be here."
The words hit Agnis like a sudden wave, but before he could voice his concerns, Laquila continued, her tone growing more serious.
"I wasn't about to let him remain like that," she said, her eyes intense.
"I couldn't simply let him wander, unstable, in a place where he would eventually fade into nothing. So I helped him. I brought him back into the cycle, but in a very different way."
She leaned forward. "His soul, if left in the state it was, would have crumbled. The only way to save him was to merge him with another soul. And so, I did."
Agnis stared at her, still processing what she was hearing. He rubbed his temple, the motion slow and deliberate. It was the first time he had done so, and the gesture was almost imperceptible, but Laquila noticed it immediately.
"No wonder," Agnis muttered under his breath. "When I accompanied that soul toward its vessel, I could feel a resistance. It wasn't strong, but it was there. Something... something was pushing it back. As if the world itself was trying to reject him."
He paused, then sighed deeply. "I see now."
He seemed to deflate for a moment, leaning back as though the weight of the situation was slowly sinking in. "A soul like that… in such a state... It's no wonder it couldn't find peace."
Laquila smiled, satisfied with Agnis's understanding. She had anticipated this reaction. She was clever, after all, and knew how to get under Agnis's skin when necessary.
"Exactly," she said softly. "But what you don't know, Agnis, is that it's more complicated than just that. I had to act quickly. So, I merged his soul with a weaker one—one that had slipped into the cycle but was on the brink of being lost. It was the only way. And now, that soul is complete. It's whole again."
Agnis, looking slightly perturbed, rubbed his forehead in frustration. "I can't believe I'm listening to this... but I suppose it makes sense, given the situation." He sighed again, deeply this time, before looking at Laquila.
"I suppose I should have expected something like this. But even with your... explanation, I can't just let you off the hook. You can't simply act without consequences."
Laquila raised an eyebrow, her smile shifting ever so slightly. "I did provide a satisfactory reason, didn't I? More than you were probably expecting." She didn't seem fazed by his growing irritation.
Agnis's eyes narrowed, and he let out a low chuckle, though it wasn't one of amusement. "And here I thought I'd have to deal with paperwork for the rest of my days. What a pain in the ass this is going to be."
"Paperwork, indeed," Laquila said with a laugh, almost as though she were mocking him. "But I'm sure you'll manage."
She then leaned forward, her voice lowering to a near-whisper. "So then, Agnis, would you care for a deal?"
Agnis shot her a look of pure annoyance, clearly unamused. "A deal?"
His voice was dry, bordering on sarcastic. "I'm a soul guardian, not a businessman."
He paused, sighing deeply for the second time in their conversation. "Forget it. I'm out."
With a final, dismissive glance, Agnis began to turn, the space around him rippling once again as he prepared to leave. But before he could fully depart, Laquila's laughter rang out softly, the sound light and carefree.
"Ah, always so dramatic," she mused, her voice teasing. "Agnis. Do take care."
Agnis didn't respond, though he seemed to pause for a moment, as if pondering her words. Then, without another word, he vanished into the rippling space, leaving Laquila alone once more, sipping her tea with an amused smile playing at the corner of her lips.