The Soul Keeper

We finally meet, Keeper of Souls.

His voice – thoughts? – echoed in my mind. I drew a sharp breath, my eyes wide. 

A non-existent wind blew his pitch-black hair gently. I could see the purple streaks of his hair glow with magic. He was wearing a light armour, made from a weird, dark coloured material. It looked like cloth, but I could see scales on it. He didn't carry any visible weapons – it's not like he needed any anyways.

No words?

His voice once again echoed in my mind. I gulped. All I could think of was 'I am so dead'.

The Demon Lord chuckled. Could he read my mind? 

I guess that's a 'no'. I expected more of a reaction, really.

He almost sounded disappointed. I could almost believe that if I didn't see his expression. Almost. But it was clear as day to me that he was enjoying this moment. Savouring it.

I couldn't believe my eyes at first.

His expression didn't change one bit as he stepped closer. I wanted to step back but had to stop as my back faced the lake. I didn't have anywhere to retreat.

You were supposed to be dead – killed, by those who would take our world, consume it, and move on to the next.

His words sent shivers down my spine. Was he talking about the Ereth? And did he not know I wasn't the original Keeper of Souls? Did he still think I was my predecessor? Vixia knew I wasn't him, so I could see no reason for the Demon Lord to believe so.

And yet, somehow, you're alive. Or so I thought when I first saw you.

He furrowed his brows ever so slightly as he took another step towards me. 

That exiled Divine did it though – he brought back the body of the Keeper of Souls yet couldn't find his Soul. I appreciate his effort, though I found it quite disgusting at first – no other soul should have ever been given free reign over that body.

I gulped. He wasn't wrong – Fetheion's method was indeed not very ethical and I would have much preferred to not have found myself in this body, but the entire affair was out of my control in the first place! 

I sook to kill him for it, at first. But then, Vixia came to me with important information – the Keeper of Souls, you, had been killed. I was furious.

I glanced around – could I fly out of here maybe? No, the guy could freeze time if he wanted to do so. My shoulders dropped as I was forced to accept that I had no way out of this one.

"I lived." I forced myself to speak.

So, you do have a voice. 

He chuckled, but it didn't reflect in his eyes. 

I would have killed you right here and now, but I just finished talking with that Exiled Divine. 

I flinched. He knew where Fetheion was!

"What did you do to him?" My heart raced as I glared at the Demon Lord. Was Fetheion dead? Had he killed him? What about Mona? Asher? Lucius? All of the others? What had happened to them?

Nothing. He lives and continues to do as he pleases. Like I said, I would have killed you, if not for what he told me. 

A smile formed on his lips. A wicked, dark smile that could mean nothing good.

He told me, that the Soul of your predecessor had been taken away by those who would devour our world.

I drew a sharp breath. Fetheion had insisted that we shouldn't jump to conclusions. Had he told this to the Demon Lord just so he wouldn't get killed, or had he found more evidence to prove his theory right? 

"You mean the Divine Matriarch Aelith?" I asked. Speaking every word took effort – more than I thought it would.

Indeed, the golden witch who would not hesitate to sacrifice anything for more power. She took your predecessor's soul, and she tried to turn you into her puppet. I see her 'gifts' are no longer with you – I am glad. 

His gaze focused on my ear, where the earring Aelith gave me used to be. 

"Thanks to Fetheion." I replied. Why the hell were we having this conversation? 

Indeed. As such, he earned some more time for himself. And now, it's your turn.

His words sent a shiver down my spine. What did that even mean?

You will free your predecessor's soul from the Golden Witch's grasp. Do that, and I will let you live. Fail, and I will make sure your soul never meets the sunlight again.

He raised his hand as he took one more step towards me. His claw-like fingers were now almost touching my face. I didn't dare move – I don't think I could have even if I wanted to anyways.

A black crystalline… something formed in his palm. 

Soon, she will lead an assault on us – we are ready to meet her and her armies and win. You will take that chance to do two things for me.

He looked me in the eye.

That, or death. Choose.

I took a deep breath. "What do you want me to do?"

In the distance, thunder echoed as I sat with my back leaning on one of the crystals. "How the hell am I supposed to know what time it is?" I mumbled to myself as I absentmindedly looked around in my interface. 

I assumed it was a couple hours past midnight.

I decided to wait for a bit longer before being on my way.

I still hadn't shaken off the surprise, fear, and a host of other emotions I felt when the Demon Lord appeared before me. I was still having a hard time believing that I was alive. 

Before he left, I asked him how he found me here – I was sure I was being careful, not leaving any tracks behind. His response was only a wicked smile he showed me just before he left.

I sighed. What the hell was going to happen now? Well… It was pretty obvious actually. I had about a week before things started moving. In a week, Aelith's army would start marching.

I absentmindedly navigated to the map in my interface. The previously incomplete map was now fully complete. I could see the shape and details of the whole continent. And it didn't just show topography anymore. The names of villages, ruins and any other important landmarks were shown. I could also see a total of three golden dots on the map.

Those were the newly erected, incomplete Divine Pillars. They were all north of Baile Chailce – it didn't take a genius to tell they were there to prepare for war. It was clear to me that they wanted to use the near infinite power of the Pillars to fight against the demons.

I took a deep breath. I had gotten myself into quite a lot of trouble – so much that I felt like all of this would continue to haunt me even after we got out of this deadly game. 

The distant rumble of thunder startled me. Was it time to get moving? I couldn't tell the time. 

I pushed myself up on my feet and used Soul's Aspect. As I took on the form of the corrupted demon, seeing my own claw-like hands felt weird. I looked almost exactly like the Demon Lord when I was in this form. I stepped towards the clear lake and looked at my reflection.

My hair was different, at least. A silvery white, just like before. At least that didn't change. Though, it was still weird to look at my own reflection and not see crimson hair, bright blue eyes and… well, normal, human features. Despite the months I had spent in this word, it was still tough.

I didn't think it was ever going to get easier. I looked at my hands as I formed them into fists. One week. Then a little bit more. I had his word, didn't I? 

I looked into the air, then formed a rift before me. I didn't feel the same resistance that I felt earlier. Probably because he wasn't watching me anymore. Or was he? I wasn't sure – I had no way of being sure. His power was at such a different level than mine – and everyone else's, frankly – that I didn't think anyone but Divine Matriarch Aelith with a Divine Pillar nearby could stand a chance against him.

Once the rift became large enough to allow passage, I took a deep breath and stepped through. A split second later, I was breathing the cold night air in another part of the world. I opened my eyes to see a wide, not too shallow river in a field of grass. On the other side of the river, I could see an old building that seemed like it was about to fall apart. 

I ended Soul's Aspect as my gaze wondered. My body returned to normal, and I finally spotted what I was looking for. A flicker of light through a broken window.