Chapter 3: 2

Darkness.

There's nothing around but darkness. Funnily enough, I don't feel my body either. But I feel like I belong here. This is where I'm supposed to be. It's just like I'm a part of the darkness, and not a different entity.

I could stay here for a while and not get bored at all.

[Don't feel too comfortable in the dark, my child.]

I should feel scared, maybe. Especially when I'm in a place I don't know and a voice starts talking to me.

But I don't. I feel safe. This is the safest place I've ever been in.

[You are not listening to me, are you?]

Who are you, anyway?

I don't open my mouth. Or I don't think I did but a voice came out.

[Who I am is not important. What matters is the role that you will play now.]

What role?

I can feel the other voice smiling even if I don't see it. [You will know soon enough. I will be here for you every step of the way.]

…What does that even mean?

[As a gift, I will let you stay here a little longer.]

There's so many things I could say about that but what comes out is, thank you.

A smile.

I don't see it but I know the voice just does.

*

In the darkness, there's one slight light that flickers.

*

I don't know what it is but suddenly, my brain starts receiving what seems to be photos or videos of something. And it's coming in waves, it doesn't stop to let me breathe. I just realize belatedly that this isn't just videos or photos, it is a bunch of memories. Something about it hurts my brain. Probably on how fast the information is being processed, the amount of it, and how long. And then it isn't just my brain, it's my head, my face, my chest, my stomach, my back, my thighs, my legs, my feet and the more they hurt, the more painful the memories get.

The memories are simple enough at first. A baby was born. She didn't have a normal childhood. She was either in a palace or being taught in classes. She excelled in everything, and she became a candidate for the Crown Prince position. The Crown Prince never liked her from the get-go, and apparently liked a commoner. But just like the most cliché royal stories, he had no choice. They got married but the Crown Prince never touched her. The commoner became a mistress, by force. She got pregnant, gave birth and killed herself. The Crown Prince became more and more agitated and started hurting the Crown Princess.

Then the Crown Princess became sixteen years old, and started standing up for herself. She took in the commoner's child and named him Hades. The Crown Prince had another mistress who turned out to be a traitor and she was under the command of Crown Prince's half brother, Lyst, the one who got exiled in the coldest place in the North.

And he attacked the palace to take the throne that he thinks is rightfully his by using the mistress of his brother.

Funnily enough, it suddenly dawned on me on why I'm seeing these things.

Shit.

This is my new life.

*

I gasp as I finally succeed in waking up. Every part of my body hurts, especially the place under my rib — oh, Christ. That's a gaping hole. A bloody gaping hole. I'm alive with this hole in the side of my stomach?

"Mommy! Mommy, you're awake!"

The boy — which I belatedly remember is my adopted son — comes running towards me with a worried look on his face. His face is also wet with tears and snots. He reminds me of my younger sister when I forgot we were supposed to play hide and seek and I finished washing the dishes before I realized it.

"Hades?" Still, I try to confirm.

"Yes, mommy?"

Okay, that's one less thing to be worried about. And the list of things I'm worried about is unsurprisingly long.

"How long have I passed out?" I croak out. My throat feels too dry.

"A few hours." Hades lets out a tiny sob. "Lady Rosie stabbed you, mommy!"

…who?

Lady Ro — ah. The mistress.

I look down at my stomach. Yeah, that's still a gaping hole. I glance at my hands, and feel slightly relieved it's clean. I rub his hair. "I will be fine."

…Hopefully.

But just for the sake of it, if I die here, what will happen to me?

The Universe might take interest in me and find out I'm not supposed to be here. A shiver runs down my spine. Surely, that wouldn't happen?

I try to sit up by myself but everything really hurts, Hades has to take it upon himself to help me. He looks really worried. "I'm okay." I say but honestly, my pain rating is ten out of ten. I have never felt this before. But I'm not gonna tell that to a child. "Sit with me. Mommy is cold."

Hades sits, and cries quietly. Ah. Maybe, my statement was a bit… but that's okay. I close my eyes and call for a name.

Evie.

I don't know if this is what I'm supposed to do but that was the instruction they told me. Apparently, I'm right, anyway,  because a few seconds later, I hear a voice.

Ramonie?

Evie!

You're actually — you finally called!

I finally called…?

It's been two years. In your time, anyway. Even Daria is worried. If it wasn't for Medusa, that Guardian Angel and I would have travelled there, Universe be damned.

For some reason, I feel touched but at the same time… I've been here for two years? A few memories flow in my mind.

That wasn't me. Those memories. I wasn't the one doing them. 

— you know? Anyway, how are you?

It's surprising to find out that I was apparently awake for a few years when I just gained consciousness right now, while I'm bleeding to death. It seems like a scam.

Something is wrong. Something is really wrong but for some reason, a part of me didn't want to tell Evie. 

Sorry about that. I settle with this instead. I have been busy.

Clearly.

And I'm sorry if I'm only now contacting you…

It's fine.

But is it okay for you to search for something for me?

Search you what?

Something to fill a hole with.

What do you mean?

Right now, I am about to bleed to death.

…

Silence.

Did I render an Archangel speechless?

You what?!

I am about to bleed —

I heard you, the first time! I can't see you right now! Medusa didn't tell me this! Okay! Okay! Okay! Give me a second! You're about to bleed and there's a —

Relax…

Relax?! Are you dumb? Wait, let me — let me send you something!

Don't… What if the Universe notices me? That's an entirely different set of problems for us?

And let you die? Evie replies drily. We'll figure it out.

I wanted to remind them of what happened before, on how they dragged two innocent deities that got nothing to do with this but it seems to be a moot point.

Suddenly, another voice is heard. This time, it sounds robotic.

[Archangel Evie sends you 100% Health Bar]

I can feel something heavy embracing me, but I try to endure it until it's slowly entering my skin. My body's pain starts lessening too.

This is good?

This is good. I tell Evie.

Evie clicks their tongue. I want to give you another one but I need to contact Isaac and Medusa about this. And a weapon. And possibly a house. Maybe some other skills? Maybe, I should send you everything I have. By the way, do you need money?

I wanted to stop him since the 'some other skills' part. But Evie just talked like they're a rapper, I can't get a gap. Not right now.

I forgot to give you the skills here. I'm sorry. Daria is going to choke the life out of me.

It's okay. Even if Evie had given me them, I was out of it for two years.

If anything bad happens, contact me right away. I'll go to Hell now.

I smile despite myself. Okay. I open my eyes, and see that Hades falls asleep.

Now that the pain in my body is starting to fade and my gaping hole is now becoming less of a hole, I have the chance to look around. We are in a prison. In my memories, I can clearly remember Lyst, the half-brother, dragging the Crown Prince and his underlings taking me and Hades to the prison cells. We had been here for a while and —

"Sebastian." I murmur.

— he was giving us food because taking us out right now would be suicide. It was my decision to do so… it's weird to say that because I know that was not me who ordered it. Nevertheless, it was the right decision.

However… Who was that person? Was it me and I just didn't remember? Or… Doesn't that mean somebody else is in my body right now?

Then I remember the dream I had. The comfortable darkness and the voice. Is that related?

I shiver. That wouldn't be a problem, right? 

Well… even if it is, I have some other things to worry about this time.

Like, this morning, or night, I couldn't tell the time because there is no concept of that in prison. Rosie, the mistress and the traitor, came here and told me that she was going to be queen. I didn't really care and I think that was what pissed her off. That's when Rosie stabbed this body.

…Strange.

I touch the hole in my stomach. It's close. I breathe a sigh of relief. The pain has subsided too and I can move around. The problem, though, is Lyst, the half brother. How many have he killed right now? Is he still killing the nobles? It's been a few days… it isn't impossible.

Suddenly, the thought of death makes me feel things I can't explain. Dying is a natural concept of life but there's no coming back after that. Even if I knew where the souls would go, it still seems upsetting. Of course, they will either be reincarnated or their soul will be taken by the Universe but the idea of losing everything you are, every memory, every story you ever had, every loved one… it was a fear I didn't know I had.

This is what 'Death' is.

For the first time in my life, I know what kind of burden it is.

I don't need such thoughts right now though. What I need is to get to safety. But I can't do what I want because I hear footsteps coming nearer and nearer. Hades opens his eyes abruptly and becomes suddenly on guard.

"It's a knight."

That's right. Every hour, a knight will come here and check every prison cell. I'm not too sure but I can tell there are a few knights at the door.

The knight takes a long look at me when he reaches me. He narrows his eyes and clicks his tongue. He turns around for a bit to come back where he came from and then he goes back to us again to throw a bunch of bandages.

"I won't bring a doctor for you."

I cough and act like I'm really sick. "Thank you."

He doesn't say anything and goes back to what he was doing. Well, thanks to him I got bandages. Though, I don't need them anymore.

"Mommy, let me help you." Hades takes the bandages and starts pulling the part of the dress that got stabbed. I wanted to explain first that I'm no longer in a state where I'm about to die but he sees it first and gasps softly. "Mommy…?"

"Yeah, about that…" I try to search my memories about this place. Anything that could explain this predicament.

This world is like a fantasy world where mana, alchemy and magic exist. Mana is when your body accepts nature's help to make you stronger. You have to have a high affinity with nature to make this work. Alchemy is when you use ingredients to make a weapon. Bomb, gun, sword… and Magic is all about manifestation. It is similar to mana but it is more with the power in your mind than nature's help.

People who use mana are called mages, and people who use magic are called magicians. And they are enemies. Alchemists just mind their own business.

But Hades doesn't ask further. He just helps me wrap the non-bleeding part of my body. It feels like he has done it before. He has a look that says, 'I don't need to know, it doesn't matter' on his face. It renders me speechless.

Truth to be told, I have zero explanation for him even if he asks. This body doesn't have mana or magic. She was an ordinary person but didn't live an ordinary life. Come to think of it, her life could be the tragedy tag on this fantasy novel-like world.

There are many mages, magicians and alchemists in this world so nobody is surprised if you are one. The problem is, this body came from a long list of 'talented' mages and magicians and we are also connected to the royal family by blood. It is expected of her to be the same. But this body was born without it. And her family had high expectations for her because they wanted to take the throne from the current royal family. It is possible because the family of this body and the royal family are connected.

That's right. This body and the Crown Prince are possibly cousins in some sort of weird family tree, if anybody tried hard enough.

It means we are also a family with the 'royal blood', not just the direct descendant of the royal family. That was why the King was pleased when I didn't have any talent. They could keep their position because I can't do anything to take it if I'm weak.

And that's also why I was abandoned by my family. They have been planning to take the throne for a while now, and I wasn't strong to start a revolution. Funnily enough, nobody won in the end. They did all of that only for it to be taken by the half-brother.

I smile in irony.

The knight comes back and looks at me to check if I used the bandages. He nods in satisfaction before leaving.

Time passes by.

Hades sits next to me, cuddles me despite the heat in this place. He wakes up abruptly, and falls asleep almost immediately.

I wait.

And then it comes.

Sebastian emerges from the shadows holding a bag. He stops for a moment to stare at my eyes. "Ramonie?" He whispers.

"Sebastian."

His clenching jaw suddenly relaxes. This is someone who was with this body for two years. This demon knows something… I wanted to ask.

Sebastian seems to realise but he shakes his head. "I don't have much time."

I snap my mouth close.

Sebastian pushes the bag he's holding towards me. Inside, there is an abundance of food. In my memories, when I take the food, the bag will dissolve. Sebastian learned some mage techniques. Or is it a magician?

He asks, "When can I take you out?"

"Not right now." I've only been here for like, a few hours and I can already tell the level of security this place has. "If I'm gone… I'm not too sure what will happen."

I want to gather information, too.

Sebastian has no expression on his face but for some reason, I know he doesn't like this.

The original Sebastian and the original Ramonie are related. But Sebastian came from the lower level of the family tree while Ramonie is on top. They never met. The only reason why Sebastian is here is because his human soul is now gone and replaced by a demon. I remember this body asking what happened and Sebastian just casually said, dead.

Maybe Lyst killed him. I don't know but it is possible. If I was Lyst, it's something I would do. It is a cliché plot point in fantasy novels, anyway.

Sebastian nods. "I need to go. I will be back."

"Be careful." I tell him.

He walks backwards and the darkness swallows him whole.

That's cool as fuck. I want to learn one. Maybe if I asked…

Realising the Universe might notice, I shiver.

You are reading story The Journey Of Being The Next Reaper at novel35.com

*

Lyst has no last name.

He was a 'sin' of his mother who got pregnant by someone that wasn't by her husband, the King. He heard that she loved him, even before he was born. She took great care of herself when she was pregnant with him, protected her stomach more than ever when the King was getting physical with his abuse… but then she died giving birth to him and named him before she passed away.

His 'crimes' accumulated and even before he was six years old, he was exiled to the North as a Duke. It was a useless title. Nobody cares about the North.

But now, he's sitting on the throne.

It's been a few days since he won the war for this silly, little chair. It's not even that comfortable. But he needed a reason to keep going because he wanted to die, and those thoughts… they're much more powerful than any thoughts he ever had. So, he tried looking for a reason to live and this is the only thing he could find: revenge.

He achieved it. He killed the King and is now looking at his half-brother with scrutiny in his eyes and he still feels empty.

He still wants to die.

The Crown Prince — his name is Rico. He never met this brother. Rico hated him, just like Lyst hated the world.

Staring at him like this, as Rico is on his knees, doesn't give him the satisfaction.

Rico scoffs at him, his ocean blue eyes rolling as he does, and the Knight beside him kicks his jaw.

Lyst leans forward, his elbows on his thighs. "How is it, Brother? How does it feel to be at the rock bottom?"

Rico glares at him. "A garbage is still garbage even if you cover it with gold."

"And gold is useless if it's a fool." Lyst beams at him. "Which one do you think you are?"

Rico doesn't say anything but his angry eyes are enough.

Lyst leans back to the chair. He turns his head to find another seat. That's right. The Queen's. When his mother died, nobody else could sit on this because the King refused to remarry. Everyone might think, is it because he loved her? They could never be more wrong.

It is because he didn't want anyone to threaten his position, just like Lyst did to him. Based on the information Lyst had, the former King had many mistresses.

Lyst lets out a laugh.

Come to think of it, didn't Rico have a wife? That woman who had no talents for mana or magic? The one who adopted his stupid half-brother's child from another woman?

He asks his aide, Jerome. "Where's Rico's woman?"

Jerome seems to know who Lyst is talking about. "Do you mean Lady Ramonie, Your Majesty?"

Ramonie. What an odd name. "Yes, where is she?"

"She's in the cells with the boy." Jerome leans towards his ear and whispers. "We heard Rosie stabbed her but the Knight checked on her and said she survived."

Lyst sighs. He never met this woman but he can pity her. They probably experienced the same tragedy but Lyst at least escaped, even if it was essentially a trap. She had to stay here and continue being married to Rico. "I want to see her."

Jerome nods. "Understood." He immediately goes back to his original position and starts telling the Knights to drag his stupid half-brother back to his golden cage.

Rico starts yelling some nonsense that Lyst doesn't care about.

But it all falls into ears that don't want to hear it.

*

This is your fault!

What? What did I do?

You dragged her to your mistake and she had to pay for the price!

Wait — hey! Isn't that a bit much?

I sigh. There are two voices bickering in my head and it's becoming a metaphorical headache. It has been this way since I woke up from my nap. I'm starting to feel a little gross but reminding myself that people are dying outside when I'm just being put in a cell… anyway.

Will you guys stop? I ask.

…

…

Evie is still at fault.

Daria!

I'm about to cut off contact but they both suddenly start clamoring.

I'm sorry, we won't do it again!

We won't!

I raise an eyebrow. You won't start fighting each other?

No.

No.

But I can feel Daria glaring at Evie. I almost laughed.

Daria suddenly speaks up. Anyway, unlike this stupid Archangel —

I am still your superior!

— I won't forget to give you a weapon. I managed to change a bit of the function of the ring. You can use it now to protect yourself.

I was about to send her something!

Shut up! Daria hisses. To me, they say, Let me tell you how it works.

Because of the constriction that they have with the Universe, Daria can't send me a big weapon. Sending something like that could alert it on where I was and why I'm here. It's not just that, weapons are being documented by what seems to be the HR version of Heaven. And a weapon coming from a Guardian Angel to be sent to the Human Realm in Hell… that just seems like a neon sign to tell everybody my presence but Daria did something, a loophole almost.

You can turn on the weapon by touching the middle part of the ring. The ruby. But there has to be a reason why you need a weapon, you have to have a strong desire for it.

Makes sense.

A tiny dagger will come out of the ruby and you have to cut a piece of your skin for this to work. Because your blood is the weapon.

…?

What?

The dagger has the Energy of Hell, Heaven and The Middle. We thought putting three Energies would help to hide the presence of my Energy. These Energies will guide your blood to shape itself to whatever weapon you can think of.

…that sounds cool. Like a sword made out of my blood? Isn't that the coolest thing you've ever heard?

Obviously, you can't use another dagger or knife to hurt yourself for your blood to come out. It specifically has to be the one in the ring. Do you understand?

Perfectly. I answer.

Good.

[Guardian Angel Daria is asking you to accept the ownership of the weapon Blood Ruby]

…yes?

[You are now the owner of Blood Ruby]

The ring in my finger suddenly feels warm, then it starts getting hotter to the point it almost burns me. It hurts so badly that I have to bite my bottom so that I can taste copper.

Endure.

I know! I breathe hard, trying not to wake Hades.

The pain stops with no warning. I want to open my eyes to check but I don't want to lose my connection with the Angels.

Good. It's yours now. Daria's proud voice is heard.

I can't be forgotten! Evie exclaims. I will give you something, too!

You can't. Another voice that doesn't belong to Daria. It's Medusa.

What are you — how did you even get in here? Evie asks.

You are so incompetent, it amazes me.

Whaaaat?!

[Right Hand of the King of Hell sends you their Pet Snake]

…Huh?

You don't have to give me this —

I need to make sure you're safe. Medusa cuts me off. You almost died because we aren't aware of what's going on. For two years, you didn't need our help and we got too comfortable. Think of this as my eyes on you. If you don't accept this, Isaac said he will send a dog.

I don't believe it for a second. It will probably be something like Cerbarus.

I sigh.

[You accept the Pet Snake]

I feel something slimy touching my right leg.

[Pet Snake is asking to be named]

[You named Pet Snake Ru]

Evie angrily mutters. How can you give her something but I can't?!

Didn't you give her the health bar? Medusa answers with a voice that sounds like they don't want to take any crap from Evie.

I'm about to say something when I hear footsteps. I immediately cut off the connection when Rosie reached my cell. She looks at me with ridicule in her eyes.

Hades has been awake since the first footstep. Seriously, this kid…

"It's nice to see you…" she says. "Are you having fun?"

I know she stabbed this body but this is the first time I'm meeting her. She looks very beautiful, I can see why the Crown Prince took her as a mistress. She looked like Hades' mother from some angle.

…

Now, hold on —

"You don't want to answer the question?"

I look at her, but I'm not exactly looking at her. She told me she pities me but… well, she probably didn't love the Crown Prince.

"Answer!"

"What do you want me to say?"

Rosie raises an eyebrow. "Are you talking back?"

What the — how?! "I just asked what you wanted me to say. If I tell you one thing, you get angry. So you might as well just tell me now what you wanted to hear so you can leave me alone."

Rosie laughs sarcastically. "Did this cell make you insane? You are forgetting you are a prisoner! You have no right to insult me!"

… I never insulted her? Is this like an inferiority complex talking?

"I'm in a better position than you. You might have married Rico but he chose me. You might have been the Queen but your title is empty. Mine wouldn't."

I absolutely have no idea what she's talking about.

Rosie's eyes suddenly turn to Hades. I grabbed him.

Her eyes suddenly grew interested. "Ah, yes, that bastard."

A thump in my heart.

"I forgot you adopted the sin of your own husband."

I look at Hades and see him shaking.

He knew. Of course, he knew. That awful Crown Prince probably told him that. He hated this child because he killed his one true love.

"Don't listen to her." I tell him. Damn… this child is my main mission, you stupid traitor.

"Did you adopt him because you thought your husband would return your affection? Are you using him for that?"

Affection…? Of whom? Even with my memories, I know original Ramonie never had 'affection' towards the Crown Prince. Some respect, maybe, but that's it. She was just forced to marry him. For goodness' sake, this body is eighteen years old.

"That child is the result of what's wrong with you and you took him in? Pathetic."

Hades closes his eyes. "Mommy… sorry…"

This child. He has been with me since the start. He saw me with a bleeding wound and took care of me. He's such a wonderful child.

He reminds me of my younger sister.

My heart thumps again. But this time, the thump happens over and over again until it grows cold and I feel a familiar feeling… comfort.

My body bursts in energy.

I stand up and walk towards Rosie. Somehow, she can tell what I'm about to do. Normally, she probably can move back so I can't touch her. But I feel faster, for some reason. Stronger, too. I grab Rosie's neck, and I can tell she's shocked. I squeeze it, just a tiny bit, just enough for it to hurt.

"You say that again about Hades, I will kill you." And that's a promise.

I let her go and push her off so she stumbles down the dirty floor. I have been sleeping on this dirty floor for a while now, maybe she should know what it feels. I turn my head towards the Knight that's with her, and tell him, "What are you doing? Drag her out of here before I actually beat her up!"

The Knight suddenly realises what's going on and grabs Rosie who's coughing and wheezing. She stares at me with fear in her eyes.

I'm about to turn back to comfort Hades when I hear the Knight exclaim, 

"Y— your Majesty!"

…Lyst is here?

I hear footsteps again. I grab Hades and put him behind me. Million of thoughts run through my head. What if he kills me? What if he kills Hades? Can I use this weapon well? What if —

[Archangel Evie sends you Beginner Sword Skills]

…Thank you?

Wait, did they send this despite the — Evie!

But all of my thoughts stop when I see a man with dark hair, red eyes and thick lips. He has tan skin and a big body. I can easily imagine him as a male lead of a fantasy romance novel.

He smiles at me and says, "It's nice to meet you."

…Fuck.

*

There's an idea that Evie has.

Heaven and Hell are a place where the Universe is the center. Heaven handles the reincarnation, Hell handles the sin. But all in all, these duties came from one place, or entity, or whatever you want to call the Universe. Which means the Universe just knows things. It's just aware of what's needed so it will give duties and responsibilities and create helpful things to make the work easier.

Which means it's smart.

That's why Evie is not convinced that the Universe isn't aware that they killed a human soul.

The debt of killing a human soul is big. Because of Fate. Everything is already 'planned', maybe you change a few of the scenes of one's life but the ending will always be the same. If something changes that, everything will be ruined and the Universe has to take something else to fill up the hole. Whether it is an entire Realm or an Archangel, the Universe will 'fix' it somehow.

Evie did that crime and yet they still live. The Human Realm they took the human soul is still intact. Isaac probably has a slight idea for this, too, Evie knows.

Maybe… just, maybe… this is also Fate.

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