Avarosa

Avarosa didn't immediately answer, but it spoke after a while: (You remember your previous plight, no?)

Laurellius nodded.

(Then that makes this easier.  The moment you passed out, I used the brief time where your spirit was not unconsciously protecting your soul and entered your innate mental domain. I then took over your domain, and brought you here by force.)

Avarosa's voice was calm as if she was only stating facts. Which she actually was, but for some reason, Laurellius felt uncomfortable with what she said.

With an uncomfortable expression, Laurellius asked: "W-Wait! What did you mean brought me here by force?!"

(Do you not understand the basics of language, plebeian?) Avarosa retorted with sarcasm.

Laurellius snapped back: "Of course I do! Aren't you the one who doesn't understand basic human interactions?"

(. . .)

Somehow, Laurellius felt like Avarosa was growling at him.

(Never mind. It matters not.) she spoke, sounding like it it's anger. It then added: (I shall speak to the point. I can save you, plebeian. On one condition.)

Laurellius furrowed his brows:  "Condition?"

(Yes. And want you to open that seal.)

The moment the voice finished talking, Laurellius suddenly shifted his gaze by instinct. His eyes widened, as he exclaimed:  " That's!.."

What he saw was a large spherical ball of light that glowed in pale blue light. It was a bit transparent, so he could see visibly inside. And what he saw was. . .

"A.. girl..?"

It was an incredibly beautiful young girl. Her golden hair shone like golden silk strands, as it cascaded down her knees, and she was in a curled position where she was hugging her knees. She floated within the ball, as she seemed like a divine image of a sleeping goddess. Laurellius almost forgot to breathe just looking at her.

(Free me, plebeian.)

Laurellius was shocked as his eyes widened further. This girl was the owner of the voice? Then why is she inside the ball? And why did she ask me to free her? Who exactly is she?..

Countless questions flowed like a broken dam within Laurellius, mind. However, the girl's voice resounded in his mind, snapping him out from his stupor: (I will save you in exchange for letting me free from the sealed core. And I shall guarantee that you also gain enough power to rise above this world. Not a bad deal if you ask me, plebeian.)

Laurellius became wary at her words:  "You can give me power? Then why are you still inside that—core, was it?  Why can't you escape on your own?"

Avarosa seemed displeased by his questioning: (Though I have no obligation to say it, it seems you will not be satisfied unless I answer, will you? Very well.

I have circumstances of my own, and I was betrayed by the people I once trusted. And because of that, I was forced to sacrifice my physical body to escape and seal my soul and spirit to survive. And thus brings me here. I am sealed inside, and it is impossible to leave without outside intervention.)

Laurellius was surprised by her recollection as he inadvertently gasped. However, he had more questions:  " Then what about the innate domain that you mentioned? And how did you bring me here by force?"

Avarosa scoffed at him but still answered nevertheless:  (To think you would not even know the basics in the cultivation of Power.. Very well. Let me enlighten your inferior mind.

An innate domain is a rare—even from my understanding—special ability that is born alongside a soul. It is considered a curse, and at the same time, a blessing as it severely limits the soul power of the person who was born with it. However, once it is awakened, it accelerates the growth of the soul and even improves the power of the soul by a tremendous margin.

Awakening an innate domain is a near-impossible feat here in the lower worlds, but once it is a mere trifling matter for me. So with what you currently have, I'm sure you have felt your energy vessel begin to grow, as well as your senses for the mystics.)

She explained the first question in an easy to understand manner, which enlightened Laurellius. However:  "That still doesn't answer the second question."

Avarosa hissed at him:  (Silence, plebeian! I will not tolerate you interrupting me in my lecture!)

She then paused and continued her explanations:  (And as for how I was able to bring you here, it was from not long ago.

After I noticed that no one was still able to find me when I arrived in this world yesterday despite releasing some energy fluctuations, I concluded that no one had enough talent in this world to perceive me—or to be precise, no one had a soul strong enough to do so.

As such, I began to search for anyone with enough talent by the time the revolving star had long gone to the other side. And so, I sent out a calling to anyone who might be able to hear my voice, and then—I found you, who had an innate domain.

It was a perfect opportunity, so I took the liberty to awaken it and tried to reside within, but your soul was more powerful than expected thus I was repelled, and a rebound on both sides occurred. As such, I am sure it has brought pain upon you. That I apologize.

Moving on, I then began to observe you, and finally found an opening when your soul was shaken by the fact that you were taken captive. I wasted no time to enter your domain, and took over it as my soul is far stronger than yours. As such, I grabbed your consciousness  and brought it inside this domain when you were still unconscious. )

Laurellius found it ludicrous that she had mentioned several things that stupefied him with a straight face. Though he didn't really understand much of her explanations, he at least understood that she did something to improve his magical prowess.

That's why Laurellius asked:  "I get it now. In other words, you did something to help me, right? In that case, I want to ask."

He paused, then continued:  "Are you a person who would kill for no reason, or enjoy hurting others?"

It was the crux of the matter that Laurellius was concerned about. He wasn't exactly of saintly disposition, but Laurellius didn't like others getting hurt because of him.

Avarosa scoffed:  (Hmph! The lives of lowborn do not interest me, nor am I interested in taking them. And I still have a goal to accomplish, so I do not have time to waste by hurting others.)

(Unlike lowborn, I am not so free in time.) she added.

Laurellius heaved a sigh: "So? Tell me what to do."

He decided to accept Avarosa's proposal. Although he didn't really care if she was lying about giving him power. All he cared about was the fact that she could help him escape. There were so many things he needed to do, so he couldn't let his magical prowess disappear, nor become a slave.

Laurellius could feel Avarosa smile, as she spoke gleefully:  (First, approach the sealed core, and put a hand on its surface.)

Laurellius didn't say anything and did as she said. He walked next to the core, facing Avarosa's body. He then placed a hand by its surface, as Avarosa spoke once again:

(Now push your arm inside the core, and take my hand.)

Laurellius wanted to retort as her body was curled and her arms were wrapped around her knees, but before he could say anything, Avarosa's hand peeled away from her knees, and reached out, as if asking for salvation.

Laurellius' chest tightened as a strange feeling welled up within. But he ignored it and pushed his arm forward.

His arm pushed through as though it was penetrating a heavily viscous substance, and grabbed Avarosa's hands.

Avarosa continued:   (Now pull me out. Slowly. And do not let go until I tell you to.)

Laurellius nodded, and slowly—as she instructed, pulled her. Her hand came out of the core first, then it was her arm, and then her shoulder. She was still closing her eyes in the entire process, but she was moving her body away from the core.

As Laurellius pulled, he watched as her delicate limbs, and her fragile-looking body slowly exits the core. She looked like she was only about two years younger than him—14 years old, maybe. She was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen.

Laurellius found himself unable to peel his gaze away from her.

The process continued until Avarosa's upper body was finally out.

'Alright. Just a bit more.' Laurellius thought.

He then continued to pull her out, but suddenly. . .

"Gasp!.."

A gasp left Avarosa's lips as her eyes suddenly snapped open. It opened wide, revealing her dark blue eyes, reminiscent of the bright, starry evening.

Laurellius was entranced by her beautiful eyes, as he inadvertently paused in pulling her out.

But all of a sudden, he suddenly felt a force drive him backward, as Avarosa had suddenly pushed him back.

"Huh?.." he uttered in dumbfound.

Laurellius last saw Avarosa being pulled back by the core, as his vision went dark.

• • •

BOOM!

A sound of an explosion suddenly shook the surroundings, as Laurellius' eyes snapped open.

"Gasp!.." with a deep gasp, he shot upwards instinctively, as a metallic *bang!* suddenly resounded and he immediately halted after a certain height. The dangling of chains followed up in his ears, as he then realized that he was bound.

" Wha!.."

Laurellius was shocked for a moment, but before he could cry out. . .

BOOM!

The entire place shook as an explosion once again reverberated in the surroundings.

" Boss! We're surrounded! What do we do now?!"

" Shut up! For now, just hold them back!! What about the traps?!"

" It's useless, boss!! It's all fried up! They've got mages on their side!!!"

Panicked conversations also reached Laurellius' ears as he listened intently. A short while later,  a click resounded in his mind as he remembered what happened.

That's right! Wasn't I captured by slave traders? What's happening?!

Laurellius was confused, but a sudden magically enhanced voice called out from what it seems to be outside.

[Alright, criminals. I'm not sure how you'll react, but unfortunately, you're all surrounded. If you free that little mage you've captured, then I might be able to spare some of you. You have 10 minutes to decide.]

Laurellius' eyes instantly widened. 'That voice.. the Arcanum Inquisition Commander! He's here to save me!' He thought as hope welled up inside him.

" Damn it! How did that asshole find us here?! Wasn't the mage we got a no-name?!"

Laurellius heard a desperate voice from nearby. He knew that voice too. It was the courier. It seems he was the boss.

" I don't know boss! I checked properly, and found nothing about any backing!"

" Then why did THE Vergil have to appear of all people?!"

Vergil Weissman. A well-known Inquisitor that was the youngest to become a commander ever since the 400 years of the Arcanum Inquisition Institute was founded. Before he joined the Inquisition, he was a rather infamous delinquent mage with pyromaniacal tendencies, but his talents shone in the service of being an Inquisitor.

His record of capturing almost 100 criminals a year was the first in history.

[Alright. I've changed my mind. 10 minutes is too long, so I'll just give you 10 seconds instead. 10.. 9.. 8..]

"That fucking insane asshole!--can't he stick to his words?! Damn it!"

" B-Boss! What do we do?!"

The boss and his gang began to feel cornered as they panicked. It was one of the reasons why Vergil was so famous. He was talented at cornering criminals on the verge of insanity.

[2.. 1.. Alright. Time's up. I'm coming up there. I'm gonna listen to your explanations in person.] Vergil Weissman's disinterested voice resounded.