I stood in my room, the silence feeling heavier than the air itself. Hina and Yumi were hovering over me, their eyes filled with a suffocating mix of relief and anxiety. I didn't want to snap at them, so I tried something new. I didn't order them; I requested.
"Could you... give me a moment alone? Please," I said softly.
They looked surprised, their defensive walls crumbling at my rare moment of vulnerability. Reluctantly, they left. Finally, I was alone with the ghosts in my head. I began to piece the puzzle together. Every time I died, I gained something. Every time I inhabited a new body, a new element manifested. It wasn't just luck; it was a pattern.
I thought back to the old stories of the two Goddesses who sought to rule the world. They had summoned Heroes to fight their wars, offering them a single wish upon victory. But the Heroes were wiser—they cast the Goddesses out, choosing to maintain the balance of the world instead. But that raised a terrifying question: Who were the two Heroes who succeeded? Were they among the Seven Ranks, or were they something... else?
"Night!" I screamed internally, my voice echoing in the void of my consciousness. "What did you mean by the Weight of my Soul?"
Night (Kiran) remained silent for a long moment before his voice surfaced, unusually grim. "The weight of a soul is its essence, Reyansh. A normal human soul weighs nothing to the cosmos. But yours... it weighs as much as a hundred men. That 'Mother' from the dream—the one from the First or Second Rank—she told you she was giving your soul a 'form' because it was too chaotic to be contained."
He sighed, the sound like wind through a graveyard. "Every time you switch bodies, you don't just inhabit them. You absorb the fragments of the souls that were there before. When you were in that demon's body, you ate its essence. That's why your weight is so immense. If you keep using this power recklessly, your soul will crush your own body from the inside out. You aren't just a host; you're a graveyard."
I felt a chill. If I switched again, would I absorb Night too? I shivered, realizing I was a monster that devoured its own sanctuary.
"I have two 'Mommies' protecting me, Night," I mocked, trying to hide my fear with a laugh.
"Don't joke about them," Night snapped, his voice flickering. "I can't tell if they are your guardians or your executioners. Sometimes your voice cuts out... as if they are silencing you from me."
A Walk in the Shadow of Death
I took a deep breath, pushing the existential dread aside. I opened the door and found Hina and Yumi waiting.
"Would you both... like to walk through the city with me?"
They froze, their eyes widening in shock before a blush crept up their cheeks. They nodded vigorously. We stepped out, accompanied by Lady Knight Seraphina (not the Hero, the guard) and a small detachment of soldiers. The path was cleared for us.
The city was a contrast of emotions. I saw people cheering for the recovery, while others sat in the dirt, mourning the lost. Hina and Yumi each grabbed one of my arms, clinging to me as if I might vanish. It felt nice—human, for once. But the feeling was an illusion.
In the shadows, I felt them. The messengers from the First Kingdom. They were suppressing their auras with elite training, but I could still feel the prickle of their gaze on my neck. 'We are watching you,' their presence whispered. I wasn't the only one; other eyes, darker ones from the nobility, followed my every move. I was walking through a beautiful market with two beautiful girls, but I felt like a lamb being watched by a pack of wolves.
The Calm Before the Storm
We entered a high-end clothing boutique. I watched as the girls tried on exquisite dresses. I tried to act like a normal guy, complimenting everything they wore, but they caught me. They knew I was just being "nice" and wanted my honest opinion. For a moment, the war, the demons, and the soul-weight disappeared.
"Look at me... on a date," I thought.
"Who are you talking to?" Night grumbled.
"Just a joke, Night. Relax."
By the time we returned to the palace, the sun was dipping below the horizon. The comfort of the day began to fade, replaced by the cold reality of the upcoming banquet. I went to my room to prepare. As I was stretching—testing the limits of Night's incredible physique—the door swung open.
Lady Knight Seraphina walked in, stopping dead in her tracks as she saw me half-dressed. A deep crimson flooded her face.
"I... I think I came at a bad time. Please, get ready and join us," she stammered, fleeing the room.
I actually felt a pang of embarrassment. It was the first time in a long time I felt like a normal human boy. I dressed in royal attire, combing my hair and looking at the mirror.
"Your body is amazing, Night," I whispered.
"Keep your eyes on the prize, kid. Tonight is a battlefield," Night reminded me.
When I stepped into the hall, Hina and Yumi were already there. They weren't just pretty; they were breathtaking. They looked like goddesses descended to earth. For the first time, I spoke from the heart, my voice steady and sincere.
"You both look... absolutely beautiful."
They smiled, a genuine, radiant glow on their faces that almost made me forget the blood I would likely have to spill before the night was over.
"Shall we?" they asked.
I nodded. The banquet of vipers was waiting.