The Villain's Story

Chapter 869: Alan Peccator: Origin.

The soul sea of every individual is unique; some may appear similar, but there is always a difference.

No person is the same, even if they pretend to be. Everyone has their own minute differences, ones that define them far more than they think.

Alanʼs soul sea is magnificent, despite how young it is. A vast cosmos covers the top, whilst the bottom is a shallow sea, both a perfect fit for each other. However, Alanʼs soul sea is based on the soul sea of another being. Although the general structure is still the same, Alan has its own specialties.

Alan Peccator is an artificial being. He isnʼt someone who was born in a normal way. He is far from the standards of the Weave, and it all began in this tattered old sea.

This soul sea was broken and battered, and infinitely smaller than Alanʼs. But it was still where Alan Peccator came into being, or rather, the artificial soul meant to be controlled.

A sky that used to be filled with chandeliers of gold and silver, miniature suns and pearly white clouds. Now, nothing but broken pieces of gold and stars devoid of light decorate it. What little light it does possess comes from the core, that too, at the breaking point.

The ground used to be filled with liquid gold, but now, the color has faded into something more grotesque. Furthermore, the soul sea flickers in and out of existence, like a glitch.

James walked through this soul sea, his hands behind his back. His polished shoes and the ends of his pants were ruined by the liquid at the bottom, but for the first time, the perfectionist didnʼt seem to mind it much.

Luckily, due to the small size of this particular soul sea, he didnʼt have to travel much. James quickly approached the core, and unlike Alanʼs, there was no defense mechanism here.

It simply couldnʼt afford one.

James, standing in front of the broken core, offered a polite bow.

”I pay my greetings to the esteemed golden princess.”

The soul belonged to Alearia, the first and only child of the current King of Dragons, whom everyone besides a select few had forgotten. The first victim of Lapsus. How had she managed to maintain her existence when every other being failed to do so?

It was simple; she wasnʼt the one maintaining it. It was Aranus, doing everything he could to stop Lapsus from devouring everything about her. However, even he couldnʼt control his skill to such a degree once it had been activated.

James had halved her soul to diminish the effects of Lapsus; that half had landed in Kulakʼs hand, which allowed him to remember her still, only if he underwent constant pain by holding onto her fragment.

”Hmmm, you canʼt do anything right now, can you? Well, rejoice! I have exactly the thing you need.”

James pulled out the other half of her broken soul and threw it at the broken core. It wasnʼt enough to repair it, but it was enough to let ʼAleariaʼ take some form. Her soul sea, now whole again, tried to repair itself, but it simply couldnʼt.

Lapsus had taken its toll, and soon enough, the skill would devour her completely. She didnʼt have much longer to live.

As the two halves became whole, a single thought reverberated throughout the soul sea, reaching James, who smiled.

Where...am I?

”In the confines of your own Soul Sea, donʼt worry, youʼre safe.”

He answered, interested. It was his first time seeing someone so... broken, like this. Her voice changed many times, and so did the Soul Sea. Endlessly trying to repair itself but to no avail.

However, he had a few doubts.

”Do you know of someone called Aranus?”

No... who... is that?

James didnʼt answer for a moment, thinking.

ʼSo she forgot him... That was expected, but what about herself?ʼ

”May I ask you a question? Princess?”

Alearia didnʼt answer for a while, which only strengthened Jamesʼs suspicions; however, when the answer came. It was in a form he didnʼt expect.

The Soul Sea began to tremble violently, the liquid beneath evaporated, and every broken chandelier that was in the sky vanished without a trace. His eyes narrowed.

ʼShe doesnʼt.ʼ

Who... am I?! ARGH.

ʼAre the effects of Lapsus continuing? Damn it.ʼ

That meant Aranus was having a hard time outside; it meant he needed to hurry.

”Princess, I-”

Princess? Princess? What do you mean?

The shaking stopped, and the violent breakdown of the soul sea halted for a brief moment. James let out a whistle, attempting to reignite some memories, if he could.

”Has her majesty forgotten? You are a princess, heir to the greatest empire the universe has ever seen, an empire of Dragons!”

There was no response, but James knew it; something had occurred. He could feel it, the Soul Sea was beginning to change in some sort of way; it was fluctuating, not chaotically like before, but following a steady rhythm.

James calmly waited for the change to complete, curious as to see what it would be.

You, who are you?

This time, it was a calm and collected voice, although it appeared to be that. However, unlike before, it was clear. It didnʼt change, and neither was the Soul Sea collapsing; for a brief moment, she was there.

Alearia had regained her memories. She was stable, free from the effects of Lapsus. A testament of her Supreme Strength and her lineage.

Although James knew it was only for a moment.

”My name is James. You could say Iʼm a friend of Aranus.”

Alearia wouldnʼt know of him, she had ʼdiedʼ much earlier than James first ever appearance in the universe.

Friends... of him? How is he? What is happening right now? Where am I, and what happened to me? Where is Dad?

”Heʼs exhausted, fighting a pretty mean dragon by the name of Valus. We are currently in the midst of your Soul Sea, and you are in... letʼs say a bad situation, a very, very bad situation.”

What do you mean?