Chapter Sixty One: Surprise

Eliza's three days of basic training with Sun concluded, impressing Heine with her swift progress. Mastering both known spells and those newly taught, she showed a remarkable talent. Impressed, Heine knew she was prepared for the next level: advanced training.

On the fourth day, Heine called Eliza to his room, a subtle hint that something important awaited her. Having hinted on the third day about a special occasion, Eliza was curious about what it was, leaving her to wonder what exactly Heine had in store for her behind the closed doors of his rooms.

Eliza made her way towards Heine's room. She knew her advanced training would begin soon, and she couldn't help but wonder if this was the surprise Heine had hinted at. Once Eliza reached Heine's door, she paused for a moment before gently knocking on it. Taking a seat just outside the door, she waited patiently.

"Foolish junior," Heine's voice echoed from inside the room. "You must be wondering what the surprise is."

"If this is about the advanced training, then that really isn't a surprise, you know," Eliza remarked as she leaned against the door.

Suddenly, the door opened, catching Eliza off guard, and she stumbled backward, landing on the ground. Startled, she looked up to see an old man in a black robe standing before her. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"E-Ehh!? I didn't mean to! I thought the door was locked!" Eliza exclaimed, scrambling to her feet in a flustered manner. With a quick glance at the old man, she quickly left the room, closing the door behind her with an awkward thud.

The door creaked open once again, and the old man said. "Foolish junior, this is the surprise. You're worthy to look at me."

"T-This is the surprise..? H-Heine?" Eliza stuttered, her disbelief noticable. She had never seen Heine before, except for the portraits scattered around the sanctuary from his younger days.

Heine lifted his staff and bonked Eliza on the head. "Foolish junior, how many times must I tell you. Call me Lord Heine or Soul Eater!" he exclaimed with a grin.

"Ow! What did you do that for?" Eliza exclaimed, she held her head. "Ehh, wait, more importantly, you look so different than what I expected," she added, her surprise evident in her voice as she observed Heine's appearance.

"That's what age does to someone, genius," Heine said with a chuckle. "Nothing but a shell of my former self, a relic from the past."

Eliza's expression lightened, she softly smiled. "I'm going to start my advanced training soon, aren't I?"

"Huh, after all this buildup, that's your question?" Heine chuckled softly before continuing, "Well, regardless, yes, today you'll begin your advanced training with Moon."

"Before you begin your advanced training, I thought a little field trip might be in order," Heine suggested as he walked out of his room, gesturing for Eliza to follow.

"Hmm, a field trip?" Eliza murmured, following behind Heine as they made their way through the sanctuary.

Heine led the way to the lake behind the White Trial sanctuary. Upon reaching its edge, he reached into his chest, extracting a sluggish white orb. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it into the waters, revealing a hidden passage, ethereal stairs ascending from the depths.

Heine ascended the ghostly stairs, his figure bathed in the ethereal glow, Eliza hesitantly followed behind him, her steps cautious and uncertain.

As they ascended further, a blinding white light engulfed them, obscuring their surroundings in a radiant glow. Eliza's senses were overwhelmed by the intense light, similiar of the ethereal space where she first spoke with Heine. In this empty void of pure white, she felt a sense of disorientation.

"Eliza Kinhana, is there anywhere you really wanted to travel?" Heine's voice echoed softly in the vast expanse of the white void.

"Huh? Hmm," Eliza thought about his question, her gaze drifting into the void, "now that I think about it, I've always wanted to visit the winterlands."

"The winterlands, huh? Consider your wish granted," Heine said with a grin, reaching into his chest once more and dropping another sluggish white orb into the white void.

In a sudden burst of light, they were teleported to a forest covered in a blanket of snow. The snowflakes falling from the sky resembling crystals as they landed on the ground.

Eliza's eyes widened in surprise as she reached down and grabbed a handful of snow, feeling its chill against her skin. "Heine, you could've given me a heads up about this. It's freezing here, and that magic you just did... Was that your Ornament? The one that lets you control souls?"

"Technically, I did give you a 'heads up' earlier, but let's focus on the real purpose of our trip. We're not here to speak about me; we're here to speak about you, Eliza," Heine replied.

"You're more than just a mage, Eliza. You're a being with emotions, dreams, and aspirations," Heine looked up into the sky.

"Well, I'm half human. But don't forget, I'm also part beastkin," Eliza said jokingly.

"What I'm trying to say is, don't make the same mistakes the White Trial made back then. Giving up humanity, morals, sympathy, sanity, and much more is no way to live. I'm hardly a saint myself, you know," Heine revealed.

"What do you mean, Heine?"

"As you know, my Ornament grants me the ability to utilize souls as my power source, allowing me to convert them into any form of energy or ability I want. However, it's important to understand that not all of these souls were those of sinners. In truth, I would argue that the majority of the souls I've used back then, belong to innocents," Heine explained.

"And before you ask, no, I didn't go around killing innocents. However, I did allow many innocents to perish for my own purposes," Heine admitted.

"No, all the souls I have now only belong to sinners. I would be foolish to continue using the souls of innocents," Heine explained. "But this is what I'm trying to say: don't be like Victoria, Glanvill, Aemanil, and I. When I said you could be stronger than us, I didn't mean just by strength alone."

"If not by strength alone, then what do you mean, Heine?" Eliza asked.

"Strength comes in many forms, Eliza," Heine replied. "It's not just about physical power or magical abilities. True strength resides in one's character, their commitment to moral principles, and their ability to make right choices even in the face of adversity. It's about continually striving to improve, not only for personal growth but also for the betterment of others. It's about being a role model, someone others can look up to."

"A role model, huh? I never thought about it like that," Eliza remarked, her expression thoughtful.

"Consider this friendly advice. You can take whichever path you see as fit. But remember, every choice has consequences, and it's up to you to decide what kind of person you want to be." Heine said as he took out another soul.

Eliza's eyes widened as she watched Heine bring the soul to his mouth and began to eat it. "Ehh, a-are you eating that soul?"

"Oh, my bad, did you want one?" Heine asked nonchalantly, as if offering a simple snack.

Eliza shook her head. "N-no, I'm good, thanks."

Heine chuckled, enjoying his strange snack. "Are you sure? They surprisingly taste good, in every way possible. Raw, fried, boiled, and even candied," he said, eating another soul.

"Maybe once we're back in the sanctuary," Eliza said, laughing nervously.

"You better remember those words," Heine said as he grinned. "Because I won't. But who knows, maybe it'll surprise you and you'll develop a taste for them." He chuckled.

"More importantly, why don't we go for a little walk," Heine suggested, gesturing towards the snowy landscape around them. "You wanted to see the winterlands, right?" He began to walk ahead, inviting Eliza to explore the scenery together.

As the moments drifted by, Eliza took in the breathtaking sights of the expansive winter forest known as Invierque. From the majestic mountains to the lake named Frosdra, she was amazed by the beauty of the winterlands. Each step revealed new wonders, and she found herself lost in the serenity of the snowy forrest. Soon enough, Heine teleported them back to the lake behind the White Trial sanctuary.

Eliza thanked Heine for the short trip and then began to walk back towards the White Trial sanctuary.

"Eliza, it's important that you get as much rest as possible. Your training with Moon begins at midnight, and you'll need all your energy and focus." Heine said, waiting for her response.

Eliza turned around, surprise evident on her face. "At midnight? Well, I guess I can't complain," she laughed lightly, "Thanks for the heads up, Heine."

"Oh, and one more thing..." Heine paused for a moment, a grin spreading across his face. "Don't think I forgot," he said, taking out a soul.

"Ah, right, I completely forgot..."