The sound of flames burning could clearly be heard in the distance as the house was slowly being consumed.
But the silver-haired woman only continued to observe the black-haired boy before her with deep interest.
For a brief moment, her violet Amethyst-like eyes glowed subtly and slowly became a deep shade of light blue before returning to their original colour.
However, when she saw what was inside the soul of the boy before her, her luscious lips painted violet slowly parted, moving as she muttered.
"I knew it... You're the one I've been searching for." The silver-haired woman said, her lips spreading into a faint smile.
"Wh-Who are you?" The black-haired boy asked.
Though his eyes held no light in them, even though he was curious about the identity of the woman who stood before him, it was as if part of him really didn't care.
He had just lost both his parents when his house suddenly caught on fire, even though he was supposed to be glad he was alive.
It didn't matter that he had still lost everything; what was the point in his being alive anymore?
Seeing the state he was in, the silver-haired woman couldn't help but frown. She then took a glance around the surroundings, observing the slightly blackish coloured flames which were slowly consuming the house and let out a heavy sigh.
"I must apologise, it seems I was too late... that woman had already sent her people here." The silver-haired woman said sadly.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"For you to understand that I must first tell you who I am, or rather, who I once was." The silver-haired woman said.
"I'm the goddess of vitality, Udea. And I'm also the little sister of the goddess of death, Eva." She explained.
The black-haired boy looked at her while blinking blankly. Goddess, he was slightly confused. Was he really talking to an actual goddess?
The black-haired boy looked at her somewhat dubiously.
"Yes, I know what you are thinking, I am a goddess, the goddess of vitality to be exact." She said as her purple lips became upturned. And as though proving her identity, a silver aura spread out with Udea in the centre.
"Wha?!" The black-haired boy, Ellard, widened his black eyes as he felt his exhausted body recover energy rapidly from his earlier fatigue.
"Hehe he... Do you believe me now?" She asked, while elegantly placing her hand against her mouth, chuckling. With his stamina now recovered, Ellard could now stand on his feet while keeping his vigilance towards the woman before him.
"Okay, where were we? Oh, right in this world, there was once one single goddess that ruled it from the shadows, my sister and I are that goddess... We were once a single entity that ruled this world, but."
After explaining that much, Udea finally came to a stop as she stared at the young black-haired boy before her and sighed.
"One day something happened between us, causing us to separate and become two completely different individuals.... As for what happened, unfortunately, I can't remember. But someday we are going to have to face each other again. There can only be one of us after all, so we are forever cursed to fight each other until one of us can take the life of the other." She further added.
"For billions of years we continued to battle, none of us can get the advantage over the other, and.... That's when we came up with a brilliant idea. We decided to give magic, spiritual magic and other types of magic to humans for them to help us face each other."
Udea smiled beautifully as she stared at Ellard before her, or rather, she stared at the object inside his soul, before extending her hand outwards towards him.
".... And that's why I need you, will you come with me?" She asked.
However, Ellard's expression was indifferent as he said coldly. "I refuse. Why should I go along with you? I have already lost everything inside this house. Find someone else to help you in your messed-up fight against your crazy sister."
However, Udea only shook her head as she smiled. "Unfortunately, I can't do that. I need you; you may not know it, but there is something very interesting sleeping inside of your soul right now. Only with that do I really stand a chance against my sister." Udea replied.
Her words only confused Ellard. How was he supposed to help her face her sister, who was also a goddess?
Ellard couldn't help but shake his head. What was he supposed to even do?
He was never talented in the art of magic, nor was he good at spiritual magic either, so what was he supposed to do? He looked at her outstretched hand in deep contemplation.
Meanwhile, the goddess Udea kept her entire focus on Ellard, awaiting his response patiently.
It was as if she had all the time in the world, even though the entire house was slowly being consumed by darkish flames that were gradually spreading with each passing second.
"No! I have already lost everything! What's the point in someone like me going along with you? Your interest and my interest aren't the same." Ellard shouted, glaring at Udea.
He then looked around his surroundings. All possible exits have already been closed off.
If this is his fate, then... Who was he to fight against it? He had already lost everything, hadn't he?
It would be much easier if he simply gave in to it. Thinking like that, he sat down on the ground with his head downwards.
Looking at him like that, Udea sighed as she continued to keep her hand outstretched.
"Indeed, you have already lost everything. Does losing everything really mean that you have nothing else in this world to live for?" Udea asked, her voice filled with complicated emotion.
"If you have nothing else to live for, then find something, please take my hand. I'm granting you such an opportunity right now. Take my hand and live, live for me."
Ellard kept his head down; however, he slowly raised it, and at a position where his black hair was covering his face, preventing Udea from seeing his expression, he asked in a detached tone.
"What happens if I go along with you?" Ellard asked.
Even though a part of him felt broken now that he had lost his parents, a part of him didn't want to die. He wanted to live, who wouldn't? Even though having those thoughts was pure contradiction, his desire to survive this hopeless situation could not be completely extinguished.
That wasn't all; he also wanted power; if he was strong enough, then maybe he wouldn't have lost his parents today. Ellard clenched his fist as he thought of his own powerlessness.
Seeing that look on his face, Udea's purple lips moved upwards, though it was slightly imperceptible as Ellard didn't notice this change.
'Fufufu! This boy has a lot of potential. And if the spirit sword that is sleeping inside his soul is what I think it is, then I can see why my elder sister wanted to get rid of him so badly.' She secretly thought.
"... Fine, I'll go along with you, will doing so make me any stronger?" Ellard asked. He stared intently at her face to see whether or not she was lying.
However, as though she had already expected that, she simply nodded her head without hesitation.
"Yes, you will definitely become strong, so you can rest assured," Udea said, her purple lips spreading into a sweet smile.
Ellard then looked at her outstretched hand once again before reaching out his own.
"I look forward to working with you," Udea said in a gentle tone.
At the same time, deep inside the soul of Ellard, a silver sword with a red blade could be seen. Once Ellard's hands had made contact with Udea's hand, the sword glowed faintly as it stirred. It was thanks to this sword that the name, Ellard. The great "Overlord" ruler of the battlefield was born!
...
Back to the present time...
'Do I still have my connection to the 'Blood reaper sword?' Alan couldn't help but wonder.
Even if he was reborn, his connection to it should still exist. After all, reincarnation was just the transfer of the soul from one body to another, so, in essence, his soul, which was connected to his spirit sword, should also exist within this body.
Trisa continued to observe Alan, who was so caught up in his own thoughts that he had completely ignored her presence.
However, soon the door opened as a beautiful woman with long black hair and green eyes came running in. As soon as her emerald eye landed on Alan, who was still lost in thought, she promptly embraced him from behind, enveloping him in her warmth.