62 Complete Control

The ripples were like small waves carrying me to the shore.

While I waited, I sat in the relief of being able to think coherently again.

Hmm, I'm not really sure how to feel about how used to pain I'm getting; I guess it's fine, but losing the... the umph of pain feels somehow symbolic of losing my youth; I barely had any time to just... settle into it all.

Letting out a sigh, I let the thought drift away; there was nothing I could do about it now.

Instinctively, I raised my hand to my upper chest. Nothing seemed off, and I felt more or less the same despite the soul splitting or whatever. Well, it wasn't completely split since it was partially emulsified, which I guess means it was awkwardly stitched together.

[Exp Store: 0]

As expected.

For a while there, I thought it was referring to some kind of shop somehow, but I s'pose it means 'store' as in 'storage'.

The crystal fruit was also used to apparently great effect...

Glancing over at it, its small imperfections were more apparent to me now.

I had noticed them before, but wasn't really in the state of mind to think about it; however, now that some of its 'energy' or whatnot has been used, it seems to have gained more grey spots—a bit like imperfections on a moon; resemblant of oceans from afar.

Perhaps I can revitalise it...

I'll store that thought away for now. Maybe I can get some information from Karin or Johan.

Recommendation. Re come mend ation. I looked at the screen still floating to my side—the same screen I had conveniently ignored.

This system is so strange, and it also didn't shut down this time. Actually, perhaps that's what the exp was for, and I was simply keeping it afloat with my leftovers.

At the same time, I'm pretty sure it can always help with things inside its 'prerogative', which appears to be 'only I can control it'; if anything external to me tries to influence it, it will fight back...

Besides that, it also helped after making a mistake, so that must be another part of this mysterious 'prerogative'.

It basically comes down to: 'only I can control it, and it'll do everything in its power to enact my decisions with the energy it has access to'.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I massaged the water into my face, content with my flawless analysis.

Hmm... just like my flawless skin and flawless fac...

Oww.

I winced at the stab of pain, and my face ached slightly.

Frowning, I carefully touched around the horn protruding from the side of my head.

I guess that's karma huh.

Wait, has it grown?

Ooh, how exciting! it's a shame I have absolutely no idea what its for—besides looking more... fierce and cool.

A smile naturally began to grow on my face.

Hahhh, I feel so good right now, like a weight's been lifted from my shoulders.

Looking up to the sky, I took in the light of the numerous iridescent orbs that seemed to stretch off to infinity, illuminating this entire small world.

Evolve my inner-world huh... I can't really focus on it right now, but once this has all blown over, I might stay in the forest and try some things out, and maybe gather some information from whatever towns are nearby.

Preferably, I'll expand this space and make a miniature recreation of sorts...

At the thought, my arm brushed the outskirts of the pond, and I pushed myself up while shaking the water out of my hair.

Oh, wow!

My eyes sparkled as I peered over the sheer cliff face that barely passed by the edge of the pond.

The walls were jagged and rough, and if I looked closely, I could see thick plant-like roots connecting the two halves of the world together far below. What was strange was how abyssal it appeared, like the darkness was actively devouring the light pouring in from above.

Yet this didn't put me off, despite its deathly visage. In fact, I felt quite drawn to it, comforted by it even; but that wasn't unique, it was true of everything in this tiny world of mine.

Tilting my head to the side, I squeezed the water out of my hair and watched it vanish into the depths below.

I smiled lightly and pushed myself up, directly meeting the gazes of some silent angels who had been oh so patiently waiting for me.

Fortunately, my clothes had manifested themselves here, and the water ran off the dress as if it had never been submerged; this didn't apply to the skirt, however.

Well, it wasn't really a big deal; I was just happy not to be nude or something. I hadn't really paid attention before, back when I was alone here.

It was my turn to be patient now, continuously flicking my sight from one face to the other.

I could see it in their eyes—they were all lost... and this place completely superseded their imaginations. It tickled my pride, and I couldn't help but embody a smug attitude with my posture.

Seeing this, the three of them looked at each other and got to their feet, now standing tall on the other side of the great ravine.

Surprisingly, it was Kharn who opened his mouth first.

"Demon, what is this place?"

There was an unexpected politeness to his tone; they had obviously decided that gathering information was more important for survival, especially since I seemed so familiar with this place.

But my smile still darkened, and his face stiffened slightly.

"Oh... Demon is it? So that girl's eyes make her a Demon, but mine don't make me an Angel? Is that how it works? Or do you just pick and choose as it suits you?"

I crossed my arms and watched each of their expressions change.

Kharn actually looked contemplative; Laurie didn't seem to be phased, and I couldn't see through what she was thinking... On the other hand, Kesef tightened his fists and took a step forward, his brows furrowed into an almost jagged point.

"Don't play games with us, kid, or..."

"Or what?"

Suddenly, a vast popping sound cut through the air like the warning echoes of a landslide.

A black mist arose from the abyssal fracture and dissolved the blades of grass daring to reach across the edge.

Seeing this, Kesef's anger vanished, and he hesitantly stepped back, an ounce of fear colouring his expression.

Kharn looked resolute, and there seemed to be a newfound maturity in his eyes, like nothing he saw could ever break him.

"She's just playing word games like they all do, Kesef. The dark magic makes it obvious, yet she'll still try and toy with your thoughts."

He spoke, paying no mind to the darkness as if it weren't even there... Perhaps he felt it was an illusion, or maybe he simply realised that if I wanted them dead, they would already be.

I had managed to hide it, but I was actually a bit stupefied myself.

I attempted to call upon my dark magic and force him to back away, yet it was the world that changed and heeded my call...

An undecipherable smile grew on my face.

Without warning, a nebulous aurora flooded the sky and surrounded the orbs of light. Randomly, the emerald vapour would ignite around the orbs, sending out a wave of holy energy and leaving tiny granular particles that shone with a vibrant lustre.

They were like igniting sparks of life frozen in time, only to be affected by gravity, allowing them to drift to the ground and meld with the earth.

"What?!"

"How?!"

Kharn's stoic mask fell away, and he looked like a boy lost in a field of grass too tall for him to peer through.

Belief of illusion dissipated in their eyes as the particles fell upon their skin and melded with their bodies, revitalising their energy.

Even the withering grass returned to life as the darkness receded.

Kharn turned to stare at me with a strange face, but I didn't meet his eye, instead pretending to make nothing of it.

Hehe, I can even use this here without backlash, and it's enormous too.

Wait a minute, I'm...

"You..."

Kesef spoke.

"Who are you?"

...

"I'm the Goddess of this domain."