บท 32: Flame-haired Woman (IV)
There were past memories buried deep in her heart, Laplace remembered who she really was. She was a witch who was loved and respected by many men for her kindness in helping people.
When someone was sick, she would heal them. When the land was drought-stricken by summer, she would summon rain. When people fell into poverty, she would create gold from pebbles.
Laplace would give everything to all for humanity.
However, one day a group of titans invaded the village where she lived. They killed and devoured humans like animals. Without mercy and compassion, dozens of lives were lost to fill their hungry stomachs.
Unable to bear the suffering of his people, Laplace offered herself as a sacrifice to the titans, in exchange, they had to stop attacking the village. The titan leader, Surtr, granted her request.
After the titans stopped attacking, Surtr took her back to the titans' home. Discovering Laplace was a witch who could see everything, Surtr burned her in the fire, mixed it with copper and forged it into a pendant.
Turning the beautiful lady into an arcana.
Surtr and his army of titans waged war on every race living on the edge of the continent. They won thousands of wars thanks to Laplace who resided in the pendant. Laplace showed Surtr everything; revealing the power of enemies, thoughts, death, and even the future.
From then on, the pendant was known as the [Eye of Laplace].
"An interesting story."
Klaus sat in the chair and his feet on the table, he listened to Laplace tell her life story from beginning to end in a concise manner.
"I've heard all sorts of myths about the [Eye of Laplace], but hearing it directly from you feels like a true story."
"But that is indeed the truth of my life story."
Klaus pursed his lips. The reason why Laplace told her history was because Klaus was curious why she wanted to be treated as a human. Now, he already knew and understood how she felt.
The spirit had resided for thousands of years in the pendant, restrained and confined in an inanimate object. The "runes" affixed to the pendant bound it forever in it, and Laplace would not be able to reincarnate or die if no one released her.
Laplace promises to serve Klaus for life if he gives her a new medium for her soul to reside in, namely a young female body. Of course, it was easy for Klaus to grant.
However, there was still a bothering thing on his mind.
"Your power, you can see things, right?"
"Yes, I can see everything. Your soul, power, memories, and even your future, I can see them."
Klaus smiled falsely. "That means you can also see my death, right?"
"Yes."
He picked up the pendant before he stood in front of the spirit's face. "You didn't tell me why Surtr died. Tell me about the last minutes of his life?"
Laplace did not answer, just closed her mouth and remained silent.
Seeing the spirit residence, Klaus immediately knew what was happening. He flowed black mana into the pendant, and Laplace screamed in pain instantly.
"Aaaaaaah! Stop it! Please!"
"You think I'm stupid! The titan race is just like angels, they can't die if they're not killed. If you could see the future and his death, you should have told him, but you didn't! And I'm sure, a titan leader of Surtr's caliber would never not ask about his death! You lied to him!"
Klaus couldn't believe Laplace. He might not be able to see the future, but he could tell a person's hypocrisy. In hundreds of years of his life, Klaus had seen a lot of hypocritical people. He would not be fooled by her trickery.
Klaus stopped flowing black mana into the pendant. "Now, tell me the truth."
With fear all over her soul, Laplace told how her former master died. She tricked Surtr into a battle and made the titan leader fall into the enemy's trap. Laplace did it because she could no longer bear to see thousands of lives lost at Surtr's hands.
Since the master's death, the pendant had changed hands and brought death to whoever held it, until it was finally banished to an unknown world.
"Now I understand why some people say [Eye of Laplace] carries a curse. You deceived every one of your masters. How can I trust you if you betray everyone you serve?"
"I have no choice. Everyone who holds me always brings destruction and death. They have black and corrupted souls," Laplace cried in pain.
"Then how are they different from me? You also see how my past is, right?" Klaus growled, his body giving off a dark aura.
"I also saw your life for the past 18 years. You love harmony, even though you are chaos by nature. You could have destroyed this world, but you preferred to suppress your power to the lowest point. You have compassion."
Klaus was silent. For a moment what she said was true. All this time he just wanted to live peacefully, but the people around him always wished death upon him. In the end, his hands always ended up dirty with their blood.
However, everything changed since he was reincarnated into this world. His peace and compassion made him soft. And some new experiences made him a better human being.
But that didn't mean he's changed completely. Klaus was Klaus. A cold-hearted man, a deathbringer. There was no mercy for anyone who had ever tried to cheat him.
"I don't believe you."
"Aaaaarg!"
Laplace was hysterical as the darkness engulfed her body, and her common sense began to get mad. Fear, horror, anxiety, trauma, and all the negative feelings crept into every part of her soul. Klaus did not merely kill her, but he tortured her until her existence vanished.
"I will swear! I will make a soul contract with you."
Hearing her plea, Klaus stopped pouring his power into her, and Laplace looked relieved that she could just breathe.
"Soul contract, huh" Klaus muttered.
In the world of his previous life, there was one magic that was commonly used by magus and races to make an agreement. That was [Soul Contract]. This magic bound two people in an oath, and if one of them broke it, that person would receive the consequences.
The soul contract was only valid if both parties agreed with each other with a sincere heart so that the magic could be maintained.
"What contract do I get?" Klaus asked in a skeptical tone.
"If you die, I will sacrifice my life for yours. If I die, you won't have to bear my life."
"Hm, well, that's a good idea."
Klaus held out his hands and Laplace touched them. As she closed her eyes, a bright golden light forming a magic circle appeared below them.
A series of unique glowing inscriptions floated in the air, surrounding them like vines on a fence, and a warm, soft sensation was felt in his chest.
Not long after, the light disappeared.
"I have done my duty, my liege."
"Good. For now, you remain in this pendant until I find a vessel for your soul."
Laplace turned into a mist-like flame and she entered the pendant.
Klaus picked up a pair of earrings in his desk drawer. It was common-grade arcana bought by his mother when Klaus took the certification test.
"Laplace, tell me the information about this arcana."
<Yes, my liege.>
Not long after, a golden screen appeared before him.
[Name : Twilight Sky Earrings]
[Type: Arcana]
[Class: Common]
[Effect : Speed +5%, Strength +5%]
[Material : Wind stone 2x, Black iron 1x, Harpy fur 1x]
[Runes: ᛏᚹᛁᛚᛁᚷᚺᛏ ᛋᚴᚤ ᛖᚨᚱᚱᛁᚾᚷᛋ]
Seeing the detailed information of the arcana in his hand. Klaus laughed out loud in his office. Finally, he could start his plan.
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