章 16: Soteria's Purpose

Back in the mansion, found on the flying island within the Realm of Divum.

Soteria went down the stairs while carrying numerous things that would benefit them during their adventure. Though, as she arrived at the bottom. She only found Shai and didn't see Alastair, who was her master. She was relatively confused and wondered where Alastair was.

Shai, who still sat on the chair beside the table, smiled and spoke with a calm voice. "Miss Alastair is currently going on her first mission as a Krieger. It would be challenging as the limitations of a Krieger are extremely obvious. However, I hope she would be able to pull it through, despite the manipulation needed to achieve the soul deal."

Soteria raised an eyebrow as numerous thoughts emerged from her mind. She looked at Shai with an emotionless expression as she sighed and placed the things she had carried on the table. She then sat on the chair where she had recently eaten and spoke with an aloof voice.

"Is there something you want, Miss Shai?"

It was a simple question within Soteria's mind. She wondered what Shai wanted from her. She was good at judging people from their body movements and facial expressions. Shai, the lady in front of her, didn't even bother to hide anything. It was unnatural and unnerving for Soteria.

Hearing the words of Soteria, a smile once again emerged on Shai's face as she replied with a soothing voice. "There is something I want from you, Miss Soteria. It is relatively simple, and it wouldn't take something from you. I hope that you will hear it clearly."

"This is about, Alastair."

A cold expression emerged from Soteria's face upon hearing the last words of Shai. She furrowed her eyebrows as she replied with a cold and aloof tone. "If you're asking me to do your dirty work, I would respectfully decline. I will not work for you or anyone other than my master."

Her words echoed throughout the table as Shai didn't have that much reaction to her hostile behavior. Shai continued smiling as she said in her soothing tone. "I am not trying to poach you from Alastair. Though, it appears that the two of you have gotten along well."

"I want to tell you one thing. It is about the reason for your creation."

Soteria raised an eyebrow as more questions emerged from her mind. At first, She wanted to know if Shai was playing a mind game with her. Though unfortunately, her instincts were telling her that Shai was serious about her words. Realizing this fact, Soteria sighed once again and questioned.

"Wasn't I created to serve, Master Alastair? That was the information given to me by the three beings of judgment. The reason for my creation was, more or less, guiding Master Alastair to the zenith."

Shai nodded in agreement upon hearing Soteria's words though that wasn't the only reason. The smile on Shai's face faded as she looked at Soteria with a serious expression. She then spoke with a cold tone, which echoed throughout the mansion. "You have another goal and mission."

"Alastair Hecate is the first Krieger the beings of judgment had created. But, as you see, the first things they made didn't end up well or had problems in their souls and minds. The Emperor of Inferno and the Monarch of the Heavens. Extremely dangerous beings that needed the guidance of judgment."

"Unfortunately, they wouldn't be able to guide Alastair. So you are created in their place. But to lead someone. You must shackle them first, to you. Your ability is simple. You can create chains that could specifically stop Alastair no matter how strong she becomes."

"Chains?" Soteria tilted her head in confusion as Shai nodded and continued her explanation.

"The Chains of the Abyss disables her ability and weakens her. This ability will continue to be within you until that time comes. The moment she would stand on the peak." Shai finished her explanation as Soteria felt a little bit disgruntled. Confusion plagued her mind as she didn't want to become her master's shackle.

Does she have to do this? Couldn't she tell her master? What would her master think of it? Would her master hate her? Numerous questions once again emerged from her mind as this responsibility was something she didn't want. It would only create a wall between her and her master.

Noticing Soteria's confusion and hesitation, Shai sighed as she understood the disgruntled nature. She needed to say it in a way that made sense and was clear to Soteria. Shai then took a deep breath as she continued her words with a tranquil tone escaping from her lips.

"The crow is extremely unstable. To protect her, you must stop and stand in her way when needed."

After such words, Soteria's vision blacked out. She couldn't see anything or hear anything. Amidst the confusion plaguing her mind and heart, she calmed herself as the last words of Shai kept echoing within her mind. They were distracting, but it didn't take a while for her to calm herself.

A while later, her vision returned back as she found herself shrouded by the gloomy darkness. She also noticed the backpack behind her back, which carried the things they needed for the long adventure. She furrowed her eyebrows and understood that Shai must have teleported her to where her master was.

She turned her gaze upwards and noticed the gathering dark clouds slowly becoming a thunderstorm. It seems that her master had already acquired the soul deal. The only thing her master needed to do was achieve it and gain its rewards. With this in mind, Soteria walked toward the center of the thunderstorm.

While walking in the dark forest, shrouded by the eternal darkness of the night. Soteria kept thinking of Shai's words. After a while of realization, she concluded her thoughts with a simple sentence deep within her mind. 'I should just tell my master.'

Soteria wanted to hear her master's opinion about the subject, though she would have to carefully explain it.

"Though I am curious on how Master Alastair managed to strike a soul deal. Since she couldn't touch anyone or anything, she would have used her words to make the contractee agree to the contract. Well, it does need some kind of manipulation so that the agreement of the contractee could be gained."

Soteria silently uttered within herself as she walked through the dark and gloomy forest. The storm above her got stronger and stronger as, after a while of traversing through the dark, she had finally arrived at the decimated village where the eye of the storm was found.

She looked around in curiosity and found numerous dead bodies from the villages. Some were mangled, stabbed, and sliced apart. Some also got burned or crushed by the debris and the crimson flames. It was a bloody scene though what intrigued her more was her master.

Alastair was surrounded by numerous bandits, and seconds later, they began charging toward her without any hesitation. Soteria almost walked forward as she wanted to help her master. Though unfortunately, this was her master's soul deal. She needed to let her master handle everything.

And as expected, Alastair did handle everything without that much of a problem. She crushed the necks and destroyed their lungs and ribs. A quite horrifying and slow death for the bandits. After Alastair had killed the bandits, Soteria looked at her from afar with a tinge expression of admiration plastered on her emotionless face.

"The difference between the normal her and the serious her really is like the heavens and the earth. Despite being in the same world, the difference between the two spans the horizons." She silently uttered as she nodded to herself and walked towards her master.

She was behind the last surviving bandit as she slowly revealed herself to Alastair.

"Oh, Soteria, I was waiting for you,"

Alastair said with a calm voice as a slight smile formed on her face. The last surviving then turned his gaze behind him and noticed a gorgeous maid walking towards him. He furrowed his eyebrows, wondering who it was. Though, it appears that it was the acquaintance of the sorcerer.

After revealing herself, Soteria slightly bowed toward Alastair and spoke with an emotionless yet respectful voice.

"I apologize for being late, Lady Alastair."

Alastair shook her head upon hearing the apology of Soteria and replied with a calm voice. "There is no need to apologize. I was almost finished with the job given to me. I only have to handle this man. His elimination is needed for the soul deal to be completed."

Soteria looked at Otis with an emotionless expression. It had a tinge of coldness. She sighed as she released the words she wanted to leave her lips. "Understood, Lady Alastair. But first, I would like for you to know one thing. It is the reason for my creation, a hidden reason."

"Hmmm?"

Alastair found herself confused as she wondered what Soteria was trying to say. Another reason for her creation? What was that reason? Many questions emerged from Alastair's mind as it seems that Soteria was nervous about this reason. Despite not releasing much emotion, Alastair could tell a bit of it from clues behind Soteria's speech and action.

"What is this reason, Soteria?" Alastair questioned with a calm voice as she looked at Soteria with her light magenta irises. Her face had an expression of curiosity and wonder. Otis, who was looking at the maid, and the sorcerer, knew that it was the perfect time to escape.

He then tried moving though he couldn't move a single muscle. He furrowed his eyebrows and gritted his teeth as he turned his gaze downwards. He then noticed his legs slowly decaying. There wasn't blood escaping from it but simply a slow decay as if he was already dead.

"You don't have any chance of escaping, bandit. Try that again. You will have the most painful death compared to the other ones." Alastair warned with a cold tone as Otis felt a chill within his spine. After giving a warning to Otis, Alastair waited for Soteria's words.

"The reason for my creation was to shackle you or stop you when you lose control of yourself. No matter how strong you become. In my chains, you would be weakened and imprisoned. I apologize for this, Lady Alastair." Soteria said with her emotionless voice as she looked at Alastair with a straightforward expression.

She wanted to see Alastair's reaction. She was ready for anything that came through. Though, the response Alastair gave was something unexpected. It was the words Soteria didn't even imagine while contemplating the reason for her creation.

"And so?"

"Don't tell me you are feeling bad because of that?" An intrigued smile emerged on Alastair's face as she couldn't help but slightly chuckle at Soteria's recent actions. After her short-term chuckling, she wiped some tears of interest which escaped her eyes.

Alastair then looked at Soteria straight in the eye and said with a soothing voice.

"That is to be expected. I am the first Krieger, the first subject of this power. If they didn't do something like that, then I would be highly disappointed in them. The fact they had created you to stop me if something happens tells me a lot of important information about my power."

"You know... I rarely have anyone near me trying to stop me or disagree with me. They always say yes, due to fear or admiration. But, on the other hand, my enemies would always say no due to hate. So I want someone that would disagree not because of hate but because of something else."

"Being offended due to some limitation is extremely foolish."

"I am not someone that is a power-maniac who loves eating power or taste pleasure from it. I speak through logic and would like to talk through emotions. I do my job, nothing more, nothing less. So, with explanation, I can accept the disagreement without that much of an offense."

Alastair's words were quite long though they made Soteria realize something. Admiration and love create biases along with hate and fear. From what Soteria could tell, her master wanted someone that wasn't biased by such emotions. Unfortunately, Soteria was one of them.

Though at this very moment, Soteria swore within her mind to consider herself and her master as more or less equal.

"Besides, Soteria... I wouldn't want to become a mindless abomination that would destroy everything in my path. So if that is possible, I trust you to stop me until I can gain some of my sanity."

"After all, what looks flawless from the outside might be abnormally broken in the inside."

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