Aenon

A gentle breeze on his face is what woke Aenon up from his deep slumber. He felt relaxed but extremely weak. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was the obnoxious ceiling staring down at him. He was within his bedroom at the mansion in Pinespire, with no recollection of how he got there. He sat up groggily to find several maids and servants standing attentively at his bedside, one of them operating some contraption that was blowing air towards him.

"Ugh, wa…wa…ter" Aenon said weakly. His throat was parched, and his voice came out very raspy and broken.

A flurry of activity broke out as the attendants rushed to their tasks. A male attendant hurriedly left the room while the others fetched an assortment of items. Aenon was in a daze, his memory returning in bits and pieces. He felt someone helping him sit upright, before placing a soft pillow behind his back. His Sovereign's Eye also wasn't working properly. But he still managed to recognize Mira sitting next to him, raising a cup to his lips. He tried gulping down the water, but she held back, forcing him to take smaller sips.

"How long was I out?" Aenon finally asked once his thirst was quenched.

"You just slept through the night, sire," Mira responded before getting up and reaching for a tray held by another manservant. She held a bowl of soup, bringing a full spoon to try feeding him.

Aenon wanted to protest that he could eat by himself, but his arms felt like jelly. Too tired to argue, he just ate in silence. The broth felt warm as it went down his throat, soothing his nerves in the process. The weakness abated slightly with each spoon, and his memory cleared. He recalled what he was doing before passing out, which clarified why he had a bunch of pending System notifications.

Before he could gather his bearings, his bedroom door swung open, followed by a dogpile of bodies trying to force their way in. Front and center were Talia and Jenny, followed by Ignar and his group. A bunch of shadows also creeped in, but the wolves didn't emerge from the Shadow Realm. Last in line were Thalindra, Mrs. Ashvein, and Henry. Everyone had various degrees of worry and disapproval written across their faces.

"Thank you, Mira," Aenon said in a slightly stronger voice. "And thank you Mrs. Ashvein for the soup."

Even though Aenon had barely familiarized himself with the wizened old lady, he had at least learned to identify her world class cooking.

"And I appreciate everyone for showing up to check on me," Aenon addressed everyone in the room. "But I am totally fine and there is no cause for concern."

"Yeah, right," Jenny scoffed with folded arms. "You realize we can…"

"I think we need to give Lord Fenrast some space to recuperate," Thalindra interjected. Aenon felt guilt from her soul, but overall, she looked a lot better now. The burden from her soul chains had reduced significantly. He needed to have a private discussion with her about their last interaction, but for now he had to deal with the crowd.

"That won't be necessary," Aenon waved off the concern. "I will be back to fighting strength in an hour or so."

It wasn't exactly false posturing either. Except for the weakness when he woke up, he felt completely normal. He didn't pull up his status sheet yet, but he could tell there were no debuffs for his latest stunt.

"Are you certain, Alpha?" Bane asked as he appeared next to Ignar.

"Absolutely," Aenon said while unleashing his Aura to demonstrate.

He only did so for a brief second, since the room had several low-level attendants. That put everyone at ease, several of them visibly sighing in relief.

"What exactly did you do this time?" Talia asked with a pout.

Thalindra fidgeted nervously, which was picked up by only Aenon and surprisingly Ignar, who cast a furtive side eye towards the green haired soul mage.

"Just helping out a friend, little one," Aenon said with a smile, just realizing that his mask was still in place. He playfully ruffled her hair to calm her down, something that worked pretty well.

Several people exchanged glances, but didn't question the statement.

"Well, it's good that you are doing well, Lord Fenrast," Velastra said with a polite bow.

"We actually have a lot to report," her husband added. "But it can wait."

Aenon sensed deep concern from the elite party; the dwarves in particular sporting dark looks that barely concealed their thoughts.

"Very well," Aenon said with a nod. "We will hold a meeting in an hour. There have been some…interesting developments on our end too."

Aenon looked at Henry as he finished the sentence, plunging the man's soul in nervousness and guilt. Aenon didn't want to put the man on the spot publicly but still wanted to convey his disapproval.

"I need a word with Henry," Aenon commanded. The room went silent as they all took turns to bow and leave one by one. Bane just disappeared into the Shadow Realm and led the pack out silently. Talia was the last to leave, after a quick hug of course.

The empty room was eerily silent as Aenon regarded Henry. The man was a picture of professionalism, but his fear was clear as day to his Sovereign's Eye.

"I apologi…," Henry started to say while getting down on one knee.

"Save it," Aenon cut him off.

The man's perfect posture cracked as his shoulders dropped for the first time. Aenon felt resignation starting to rise within his soul.

"I will accept your apology, when you have demonstrated some improvement," Aenon continued.

The kneeling man raised his head in shock, his mouth agape.

"I acknowledge that old habits die hard," Aenon spoke in a softer tone. "Which is why I am giving you another chance. You represent me, Henry. And I absolutely abhor bowing down to bullies."

"I…I understand Lord Fenrast," Henry finally choked out the words.

"I don't think you do," Aenon corrected him. "Not yet at least. You have seen me in situations where I am stronger than others, but not vice versa. Once you have experienced that, then maybe you can begin to understand."

Aenon didn't explain about his past situations with Overseer Velcodirust or the Empires. Dropping something like that suddenly was a recipe for disaster. Instead, Aenon decided to start small.

"Bring back all the citizens who were transferred elsewhere. This is my house, and only I get to decide who lives here," Aenon commanded firmly.

Aenon sensed reservations from Henry, but the man nodded in compliance. "It will be done, sire."

"Is the representative here yet?" Aenon asked next.

"No, sire."

"Good. When he does show up, make sure he is housed in an inn, and not at the mansion," Aenon continued. "Same goes for the adventuring party. In fact, place them in the worst possible location within the city."

Henry's breath caught up in his throat, but he nodded, nevertheless. Seeing his state, Aenon decided to explain.

"No one threatens my citizens," Aenon said coldly. "And you are more than that. Any disrespect towards you, is a direct attack on me."

Henry's eyes widened in surprise, realizing that this was retaliation for what must have happened when the arrogant fools manhandled the City Admin.

"Any questions?"

"No, sire," Henry said with a bow. As he was marching out, Aenon added one more instruction.

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"Make sure Ignar and his wife are with you when you kick those pompous fools out of my house. And send Thalindra in as you leave."

Henry's nervousness almost vanished when he heard that. He gave a grateful bow before leaving the room.

The door hadn't even closed before Thalindra grabbed it and entered slowly. She too was nervous, but for entirely different reasons.

"How are you feeling?" Aenon spoke first.

"Ah, much better," the usually confident woman said hesitantly. "What about you? Your soul injuries should be healed…"

Thalindra froze at what she let slip. Aenon guessed it was because she basically acknowledged the existence of the System Nurse, a secret no one was privy to.

"Yes, I am as good as new," Aenon reassured her, tactfully ignoring the unsaid secret they now shared.

Thalindra regarded him with a complicated gaze, her eyes getting a little misty.

"Words cannot express…," she closed her eyes to collect herself before continuing. "Words cannot express the debt I owe you. I had resigned myself to my fate, not even daring to dream of progressing on my Path. Yet you shattered that obstacle, at such a great risk to your own soul. I can never…"

Her voice faltered, but Aenon stayed silent. Observing her without judgement, even as tears started to flow down her cheeks.

"But you know what the craziest part is? Despite everything you have done, I still do not feel any ulterior motives from your soul. No expectations, no desires, not even pride at what you have accomplished. From the day I was born, everything in my life has been transactional. Either for power, or love, or respect. Everyone who has done anything for me has expected something in return. And yet you…"

Thalindra took a few deep breaths to calm herself, before asking, "I just want to know why? I know I said I don't want to know your past. But I am unable to understand your motivations. I…I just need to know what pushes you on your Path."

Aenon observed her for a moment before leaning back and looking at the ceiling. Several memories flashed in his mind. He didn't want to dig at those wounds again, but he still wanted to impress upon her the burden he always carried.

"Because no one was present to protect me and my family when we were at our most vulnerable," he said solemnly. "And because I was too weak to protect them myself."

Thalindra's shock was clearly visible as she reflected on his words. Even without him explaining the details, she understood the gist of it. Especially since Aenon didn't try to hide his emotions from the experienced soul mage.

She gasped and covered her mouth in horror as a realization dawned on her. That these were the words of a thirteen-year-old. Aenon hid his mask and gave a weak smile as he continued.

"That is why I do not expect anything in return. Because that is what I needed at one point in my life. And the reason I go solo is because I need to be the strongest there is. So that I am never in a position where I fail to protect."

Aenon stood up slowly, carefully feeling out his body. He cracked his neck and back as he walked to the window and looked out at the city below.

"Power begets power. I have realized that long ago," Aenon continued in a sad tone. "Those who have already reached the pinnacle will try their hardest to maintain their hegemony. The only way to snatch some of that from beneath their clutches is by risking it all—my soul included. More than likely my Path will end in failure. But even if there is the tiniest chance of success, I will seize it. Not just for myself, but for every broken soul out there who has been told to live within their means. That the sky is beyond their reach. If the powers that be dictate their fates, I will lift them all myself. Or get crushed along with them."

Aenon turned towards Thalindra with a vicious smile, his eyes glowing an eerie grey.

"Like you said, Thalindra. I despise chains, and by extension any limitation placed upon us by those in power. I walk the path of the Unfettered Soul."

The air thrummed with his Aura.

"And there is no chain I can't shatter."

* * * * *

Thalindra

Thalindra felt a shiver run down her spine as she listened to his declaration.

"And there is no chain I can't shatter."

The message was conveyed at a deeper level than mere words could achieve. She instinctively knew what he meant. She felt her soul vibrate uneasily, trying to break free from the rest of the chains. Not to grow stronger, or anything mundane like that. It wanted to connect with something…stronger. Purer.

Thalindra noticed several ethereal chains floating around Aenon. But unlike the ones around her soul, each of these radiated with power, each having a heartbeat of their own. She used her soul powers to sense one of them. It felt…cold. Like ice given form. The next one felt hot. It was then that she realized what these were. They were soul links.

Thalindra had experienced something similar once before. It was right after she had obtained her soul powers. In her childish ecstasy she had run towards the mansion of her family's patriarch. Eager to reveal her newfound Class in the hopes of earning his approval and favor. But she had collapsed before she even entered the building. A cold terror running through her veins.

She later learned that the Sylvathorn patriarch was meeting with an Overseer. But not just any run of the mill entity of such a grand rank. It was Overseer Velcodirust. She had only managed to get a glimpse of his form. But that was enough for her will to collapse like a house of cards. For she didn't see the man before her. She saw the inconceivable number of soul links emanating from him. And each of those links gave her a very malignant and oppressive feeling. The brief eye contact she had with the man almost shattered her will to live.

That was the first time she had started to fear her own soul powers. It showed how truly monstrous one could get by using them. And the harm it could cause. She had never revealed what she saw that day to anyone, the vision replaying in her mind every time she tried.

But today, something felt off. The links around Aenon, they didn't have any oppressive quality to them. They felt…soothing. One gave a strong feeling of life mana, like her own soul. She immediately knew that this one was linked to Nocthrya, the World Tree. She could feel the positive effects of the link that benefited both parties, something she didn't know was possible.

She clutched her head as a sharp pain started hammering away from within. A white tendril was trying to attach with her soul. But she felt a deep sense of dread and mistrust towards the link. Something that made no sense to her. She could clearly see all the links Aenon had, and each one felt positive. And yet…

Thalindra collapsed to the floor in agony, as various emotions warred within her. Her true soul craved the link to Aenon, yet…something was telling her to spurn it. She closed her eyes and entered her inner soul space. She sensed great turmoil happening within her outer soul. Hence, she decided to stay within the confines of her inner soul. The only place she felt…

"Thalindra?" she heard Aenon's voice from her outer soul. "Are you ok?"

"Stay back," she screamed in terror. "I am safe here. I am safe here."

She started chanting the line like a mantra, trying to tune out anything else.

"It's alright," Aenon's voce tried to reassure her. "You…you need to come out here and stop this. I don't know what these links from my soul space are, but one of them is trying to connect to your inner soul. But one of the chains…"

"I am safe here. I am safe here."

"Thalindra?" Aenon said a bit louder.

But Thalindra refused to listen. She didn't want to. Going outside was bad. She knew it…

"Enough."

A truly oppressive feeling engulfed her, shaking her out of her reverie.

"Come out here."

Thalindra didn't think, didn't question. She just followed the command of the dreadful presence lurking in her outer soul.

She took up a battle stance as she emerged outside the confines of her inner soul space. Aenon stood there menacingly, staring coldly into her eyes. But he didn't move to attack, just glaring at her silently.

"Who are you?"

Thalindra had never been this terrified of anything in her life. It was like she was standing before an entity comprised of pure hunger and hate. Yet, she felt compelled to answer.

"Thalindra Sylvathorn."

"Who am I?"

"You are…," Thalindra blinked in confusion, unable to recall who she was facing. She felt like she knew the person before her. Yet it felt hazy, like a long-forgotten dream.

"Who. Am. I?"

The dreadful predator made no move, yet she felt like her soul was on the verge of being devoured. All other emotions got swept away in an instant.

"You are…Aenon," she finally said as some clarity started to return. Her mind felt…addled, like she was drunk.

"The white chain. What does it do?"

Only then did she notice the battle that was raging within her outer soul. Two chains were lashing at each other, like vipers in a fight for territory. One was white, while the other was dark.

"The white one…links me to you. It will help me…on my Path."

"And the black?"

"It will…"

For some reason the black chain sprung towards Thalindra. But before it could coil itself around her, Aenon caught it with his bare hand. It thrashed violently, trying to break free. But it couldn't. The white link on the other hand just floated calmly next to him.

"What does the black one do?" the domineering voice asked dispassionately.

"It…makes me fear my power," Thalindra said as a sharp pain burned her mind. "Aaaaaargh."

In response, Aenon tightened his grip on the black chain, reducing the pain significantly.

"This is your soul. Your domain," Aenon spoke without imbuing his Aura into his words. But his words held a lot of weight even without it. "Your will is absolute within these confines. Neither of these links can win against the other without your support."

Thalindra eyed the two constructs closely. One that was thrashing vehemently to break free, while the other waited patiently. Her soul craved them both, like an enticing meal placed before a starving man. But she knew she could only choose one.

"How is the choice mine?" Thalindra asked. "You obviously have the power to eliminate the one in your hand. Then I will have no choice but to choose the link to you."

Thalindra was finally able to think clearly. That's why she knew that Aenon could very easily purge the black chain if he so wished. She knew very little about soul links, even though she had access to a lot of books on the topic. She was somehow always hesitant to learn that topic.

Aenon's eyes narrowed as he considered her. He turned towards the white chain, which started to retreat obediently.

"No, wait," she screamed, making him face her again.

"The choice will always be yours," Aenon replied firmly.

Thalindra stared into the grey eyes of the boy before her. Her decision made, she nodded.

Aenon smiled in response, before letting go of the black chain. Both the links dashed towards her.

As Thalindra reached out for one of them, she made a firm resolve. To exact revenge on the one responsible for her plight.

The death mana in her outer soul stirred, finally answering her call after so long. It gathered in a tempest around her before clashing with the black chain, devouring it with abandonment.

As the dust settled, she felt the link connecting her to Aenon. A link between equals, with each gaining something from the other.

When she made eye contact with Aenon, she knew what she would become. What Path she had to walk on.

The life and death mana within her soul swirled around her, highlighting her two different colored eyes—one green and the other black.

"I walk the Path of a Wraithborn."

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