_God… not again._
A sharp, searing pain tore through my skull, like my brain was trying to claw its way out. I gritted my teeth, the throbbing nearly unbearable.
_How many times have I fainted?_
This was getting ridiculous.
Suddenly, a glowing window materialized before me, hovering in the air.
**[THIS IS BECAUSE YOU ARE OPERATING WITHIN A MORTAL SHELL.]**
The words pulsed in my vision, each one pounding against the inside of my head like a drum.
**[AND DIDN'T I WARN YOU? THERE WOULD BE CONSEQUENCES FOR USING SOUL TRANSFER WHILE IT'S STILL ON COOLDOWN.]**
I blinked, trying to focus as the message continued, the glow intensifying.
**[YOUR DOMAIN AND RADIANT LIGHT'S GOD DOMAIN COLLIDED. HAD I NOT INTERVENED, YOU WOULD'VE BEEN REDUCED TO NOTHING BUT A VEGETABLE.]**
_You're awfully talkative today,_ I thought bitterly, squinting at the glowing screen. My head still throbbed, the pain refusing to fade.
"Why not tell me sooner," I muttered aloud, "that my main consciousness is hiding inside me and aiming to swallow me whole?
The screen pulsed as if it were sighing.
**[UGH, YOU'RE SO ANNOYING. YOU MAKE ME WORK WAY TOO DAMN MUCH.]**
Wait a second—something clicked in my head. My eyes narrowed at the flickering words.
"Wait… Are you?" My voice dropped to a growl. "Are you _Ereshar_?"
The response was immediate.
**[YES, AND?]**
Oh, that did it. That _really_ did it.
Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed the glowing screen. It was insubstantial—like mist, yet solid enough to resist. I yanked it down and slammed it against the bed frame with a sharp _thud_.
The light shuddered violently.
**[??????]**
**[WHAT WAS THAT FOR?]**
"You," I hissed, shaking the thing like it could feel my anger. "_You!_ You must have had a hand in this! Dragging me back from my well-deserved rest. I was at peace, wasn't I? Dead and done. And you—" I hit the screen against the bed again for good measure—"_you_ pulled me back!"
**[SUICIDAL MUCH? LOOK, I DIDN'T KNOW, OKAY?!]**
**[IMAGINE SMOKING SOME DOPE-ASS MUSHROOMS AND, IN YOUR HIGH, YOU CHATTED WITH THE ORIGIN OF ALL AND SIGNED A DEAL.]**
I froze, staring at the screen as it vibrated smugly, its glow pulsing like a heartbeat.
"Then you should have nullified the contract," I spat through gritted teeth, my knuckles white as I gripped the shimmering projection.
The light blinked out for a split second before returning, brighter than before, as though mocking me.
**[OH, SURE, BECAUSE NULLIFYING DEALS WITH PRIMORDIAL BEINGS IS _TOTALLY_ EASY. WANT ME TO ALSO FETCH YOU A CUP OF TEA WHILE I'M AT IT?]**
I could feel my frustration bubbling over. "Yes, please do. I am dying to drink some tea."
**[YOU THINK I _WANTED_ THIS JOB?]**
Calm yourself down.
I exhaled slowly, forcing my voice into something steadier, calmer.
"Relax. We're in this together, aren't we?"
The light dimmed for a moment, as if hesitating, before buzzing back to life.
**[FINE. BUT WHAT SHOULD I EVEN CALL YOU?]**
The letters reformed quickly, the frustration evident in their sharp glow.
**[I CAN'T CALL YOU ERESHAR. THAT'S _MY_ NAME.]**
**[AND I CAN'T CALL YOU RADIANT LIGHT, BECAUSE... WELL, YOU'RE CLEARLY NOT.]**
I raised an eyebrow, my lips twitching at its tone.
"You sound like you're about to throw a tantrum."
The screen blinked in response, its glow flickering irritably.
**[I'M SERIOUS. A GOD WITH NO NAME IS WORSE THAN A DEAD GOD.]**
"Well, you'll figure it out," I muttered, leaning back. "That's your job, isn't it?"
The light buzzed again, though this time, I could swear it was grumbling.
**[FIRST THINGS FIRST. YOU NEED TO RETRIEVE THE THREAD OF ARCANE. IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO PULL RADIANT LIGHT OUT OF YOU.]**
"Patience showing sign of permanent brain injury,", a calm, measured voice echoed nearby.
I turned my head slowly, the lingering ache in my skull making every movement feel sluggish. Standing beside me was a woman—no, a Dualsage—dressed in a pristine white coat that seemed to gleam under the harsh overhead lights. Her two horns curved elegantly above her head, their smooth ivory surface catching the light like polished marble.
Her presence was stunning, almost otherworldly. Her sharp features were softened by porcelain-like skin, unblemished and serene. A cascade of silver hair flowed down her shoulders, shimmering as though woven from starlight. But it was her eyes—calm, piercing, and a shade of crystalline blue—that anchored her beauty, as if they could see through the layers of my very existence.
"It appears the patient's brain is still capable of processing... certain impulses."
I placed my right hand on my left shoulder, bowing my head slightly as a faint smile played on my lips.
"Your beauty is otherworldly—so much so that it pulled me from the depths of madness back into clarity."
"Is it against protocol for a nurse to have relationship with a patient," She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "I think I'd better run some tests to check for brain damage."
She motioned to a sleek, metallic device in the corner of the room. It looked like a cross between a high-tech helmet and a spider, its appendages curling and uncurling with eerie precision.
"Sit still," she said, guiding the machine over my head. "This might feel a little strange."
A faint hum vibrated through my skull as the machine began its scan.
After a few moments, the nurse studied the holographic display that appeared above the machine, her brows furrowing slightly.
"Well," she said, her tone calm but firm, "it looks like you've pushed your brain to its limit. Using your... gift has overstrained your neural pathways. The activity levels are dangerously erratic."
I tilted my head, trying to gauge the severity of her expression. "What does that mean? Am I okay?"
"You'll recover," she replied, her voice softening, "but you need to take this seriously. No more using your ability for a while—or the damage could become permanent."
"How long are we talking?"
"At least until the neural pathways stabilize. It could be around 40 orange glows."
**[THAT'S CORRECT.]**
"I'll leave you to rest now. If you need anything, just press the call button."
The nurse turned to leave the room.
"That's just great. Guess I will just have to practice using weapons."
"Hey, Open Skill List for me."
[
2. **Soul Absorption**
- **Description:** Absorb the essence of souls from recently deceased beings to collect energy and potential.
- **Condition:** Unlocked. The necessary criteria have been fulfilled, and the skill is now available for use.
]
**[WAIT, HOW?]**
"I intentionally let Radiant Light absorb me to learn it."
**[THAT'S --- QUITE IMPRESSIVE.]**
"Oh, please. It was nothing."
I sank back onto the bed, exhaling as the tension in my body began to ease. My mind was already planning the next steps.
Tomorrow, I'd start practicing with weapons. If I was going to hunt creatures and claim their souls, I'd need to be ready.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
I could choose to ignore it and continue resting, or I could let the person in.
I could handling the visit quickly and efficiently, allowing me to return to resting and If the visitor has a purpose, whether urgent or important, it's better to deal with it now rather than risk something critical being delayed.
"Come in," I called out.
The door creaked open, and Thalvyr stepped inside.
"How are you holding up?" he asked, his gaze searching my face.
"My head's still pounding like crazy," I muttered, rubbing my temples.
"Yeah... sorry about that," Thalvyr said, shifting awkwardly. "I didn't know. While we were practicing, this loud, thunderous sound came from the east side of the settlement. Elder Elies had to go check it out."
"Apparently, it was a humanoid cavecrawler," Thalvyr continued, his voice heavy. "It attacked Veshira."
[**?!**]
"Yeah, the whole settlement's in an uproar right now. Everyone's shaken. Once you've had some rest, maybe consider visiting Veshira. I know you two had a fight, but... I think you're the best person to comfort her right now."
"I'll go see her as soon as I am up and running."
"I will go then."
"Wait. Thank you. If you hadn't brought me here… who knows what might've happened to me."
As soon as Thalvyr left the room, the screen flared to life, its glow pulsing erratically—frantic, furious, almost panicked.
**[WHAT? WHY ARE THEY MOVING SO FAR AWAY FROM THE RUINS?]**
The text blinked faster, each word appearing like a flash of warning.
**[AND HOW DARE THEY ATTACK VESHIRA!]**
I stared at the frantic screen, unimpressed by its blinking fury. "Panicking doesn't solve anything."
I turned my back to the screen, "Let me rest and then I will deal with it."
The screen flared even brighter.
**[REST? REST?! WHILE THE THREAD OF ARCANE SLIPS FURTHER FROM REACH? WHILE VESHIRA—]**
I didn't let it finish. "You want me at my best, don't you?" I said flatly, turning my head just enough to glance over my shoulder. "Charging in half-dead and exhausted won't solve anything. Let me rest."
The words on the screen froze for a moment, like a creature caught mid-snarl. Then the glow dimmed reluctantly.
**[FINE. DON'T BLAME ME IF YOU WAKE UP TO A DISASTER.]**
"Noted," I muttered.
Good. Finally, some peace. I breath in slowly and closed my eyes, shutting out the world—and the frustrated entity blinking furiously behind me.