"...." Robin's brows drew together tightly, his expression darkening with the weight of his thoughts. If Rinara, who wasn't even from one of the ancient ruling bloodlines, had sothing as powerful as a purple defensive barrier to shield her, then what about Helen—the direct heiress of the prestigious Destra family? The very sa Helen that both Neri and the mysterious All-Seeing god had spoken of with such gravity, claiming that her father had placed imnse expectations upon her shoulders? Surely that spoiled heiress had been protected from infancy by every conceivable form of royal defense—enchanted seals, defensive spells, soul barriers, and probably even an arsenal of curses designed to retaliate upon attackers.
This new concept Rinara had introduced—the borrowing of soul force—had briefly eased Robin's mind. At least for a few seconds, it reassured him that Helen probably hadn't yet reached the terrifying level of a Royal Soul Master. That was a small relief. And yet... that sa concept had cracked open a massive door in his imagination—a floodgate of dangerous possibilities. After all, who could say how many purple-grade soul borrowings Helen had in her arsenal? Dozens? Hundreds? Was she walking around with layers of borrowed might, each more terrifying than the last?
"What the hell am I even thinking..." Robin muttered under his breath, shaking his head sharply as if to clear away the fog of spiraling thoughts. He even slapped his forehead lightly in frustration. Why was he using Helen as a benchmark for anything?! Why let her image dominate his thoughts like this?
The All-Seeing god had never told him exactly what he did to deal with Helen. Robin was certain she hadn't been killed with all that talk about fate strings, but the All-Seeing god must've done sothing... sothing miraculous. Sothing that would force even a prideful girl like Helen to stop and think a thousand tis before trying to attack him again. If not, what was the point of the All-Seeing god's interference in the first place? If Helen simply returned and killed him the mont he accepted the twin missions, then all of it would've been aningless.
So... it was safe to assu she wouldn't be reappearing in his life any ti soon. Or at least not for the imdiate future.
"What cos next...?" Robin turned to Rinara and gestured toward her with his entire palm, his voice laced with intent. "I've roughly figured out how the Empress of the Pit of Destruction ended up having the so-called Curse of Eternal Stillness. But you still haven't told what the curse actually is. And more importantly—how do I undo it?"
"As for what it is, you've already seen glimpses of it for yourself," Rinara replied calmly, her eyes holding a weight of experience. "The curse has multiple uses. It can be employed in cruel, sinister ways—like imprisoning dangerous individuals indefinitely and turning them into horrifying living warnings. Or it can be used for more... noble purposes—like halting soone's aging process until a cure is found for their illness. It all depends on the intent of the one who casts it."
She paused montarily, then added, "But the real question is how to undo it. And the answer is: You can't."
Rinara raised a hand to signal him to hold off his inevitable questions and continued, "As long as the original curse remains tethered within the soul domain of the Empress of the Pit of Destruction, she alone holds the authority and the ans to undo it." A faint, sly smile crept onto her lips. "Now that the golden soul shard has appeared, maybe she's reconsidering her feud with you. Why not try speaking with her? Perhaps—just perhaps—she'll release your companion for your sake."
"What? That damned woman? You seriously think she has enough reason left in her to negotiate like a rational person?!" Robin's voice erupted with disbelief, his tone almost accusatory. He clenched his teeth hard, his canines pressing against each other with frustration. "...Isn't there any other way?!"
"Hmm, well... there are alternatives, but none of them are remotely practical," Rinara replied, shaking her head in resignation. "You could, for example, try to locate a Royal Soul Master and convince them to examine the seal placed on your companion. From there, you'd have to persuade them to invest their precious ti into developing a unique counter-curse, tailored specifically to your friend's condition. But as you know, even though the theory behind the Curse of Eternal Stillness might be standardized, each soul master—each 'chef,' has their own unique recipe."
She exhaled slowly, then added, "That said, I strongly advise you to abandon that path. Even the weakest Royal Soul Master stands at the threshold of the Nexus stage in term of power. They are incredibly rare, and their ti is endlessly demanded. Even I have been trying to purchase a few defensive borrowings just to secure myself a bit better, but nothing has been available in the market for quite so ti... For one of them to personally inspect your companion and then forge a tailor-made counterasure? That's... well, in my opinion, it borders on fantasy."
Her voice softened, a slight trace of sympathy creeping into her tone. "So I'll tell you plainly: try opening negotiations with the Empress of Blood and Destruction. It's a bitter pill to swallow, yes. But if your companion ans that much to you... it may be your only viable option. If you want, I'm willing to act as a diator between you two."
"....." Robin's expression twisted into one of quiet tornt, his brows furrowed so tightly they cast a shadow over his eyes. After several seconds of contemplation, he shook his head firmly and muttered through clenched teeth, "No thanks. I'd rather spend the rest of my life getting needles shoved into my eyes... Let Jabba stay petrified a little while longer."
"The only way?" Robin's mind echoed the thought for a heartbeat. No... there was another path—a third one.
A road far more daunting, yes, but perhaps the most certain in the end. He could ascend... and beco a Royal Soul Master himself.
He had already set foot on that path. A quarter of the way, even.
Yes, the remaining journey might span millennia. Yes, he might have to endure countless trials, impossibilities, and pain few could imagine.
But ti? Ti was his companion now. Ti was his ally.
One day, without question, without doubt, he would reach that realm of power.
It was not a matter of if.
It was only a matter of when.
"No matter," he muttered under his breath. "If we've reached the point where we're discussing needles in the eyes, then I guess there's really nothing else to be done."
Rinara gave him a bright, clean smile—a smile too pristine to be fully sincere. "Now then," she said, keeping her tone airy, "is there anything more I can assist you with? Anything at all?"
Robin tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly. "Wait... did you help in the first place just so you could help more?" He waved a hand dismissively. "You know, I'm starting to think the reach of your grand empire isn't quite as impressive as I was led to believe. Maybe we're better off sticking to shallow trade, nothing more."
"Lord Robin," Rinara said with practiced calm, her voice smooth like polished marble, "conversations like these are built on mutual exchange. Give and take. As for our empire, we are not a fledgling force. We've endured through the rise and fall of civilizations for millions of years. Our influence isn't just vast—it's woven into the very fabric of the middle belt. Why not allow one more opportunity to prove that to you?"
She took a breath, barely letting her frustration show, and continued with a soft, composed voice, "I realize your so-called list likely won't include much of what I seek. You wouldn't sell secrets like the art of building Living Cities to outsiders. And you certainly won't offer rged laws—the kind I witnessed being wielded by your sons."
Robin raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh?" he said, the corners of his lips curving into a sly grin. "You know, they say greed gathers nothing. You ask for too much, you choke. You eat more than you can digest—and boom. You burst."
Despite the subtle threat, Rinara kept her smile frozen in place, not flinching. "Lord Burton," she said, addressing him formally now, "you are a wielder of Truth, one who forged his pillars using the master Law. There is a high likelihood that you are this age's Great Truth Chosen. For soone like you, crafting one or even two rged laws is likely as easy as breathing. Even if you gave away everything in your possession today, you'd have replacents forged within a matter of days."
Robin laughed—a genuine, chest-deep chuckle at her logic. "You're right," he said finally, "but I'm still not giving you everything I have."
"And I never asked you to," Rinara replied smoothly, folding her hands neatly in front of her. "All I'm asking for is the opportunity to purchase a few... highly unique items. That's all." Her voice softened, almost pleading beneath the professional tone. "Just na your price, and let's start there."
Robin tapped a finger against his armrest, his eyes narrowing in thought. After a few monts, he gave a slow nod. "Fine... you've convinced . I'll play along."
He took in a deep breath, then said calmly, "I want a Planet Displacent Tool."
"A... Planet Displacent Tool?!" Rinara's composure cracked for just an instant. Her eyes widened, and she nearly choked on the air she was breathing.
Then, with practiced grace, she quickly reassembled her calm expression. "...Why would you need sothing of that scale? You're not likely to encounter enemies strong enough to truly threaten you in the Young Belt. And even if you did, a few carefully placed words from could solve almost any conflict. Not everyone is as irrational and bloodthirsty as the Empress of the Pit of Destruction. Not all Sovereigns hold a personal grudge against you."
Robin simply shrugged, completely unbothered. "I have a Galactic Seed," he said plainly, lifting his shoulders with theatrical innocence. "So… can you get it for , or not?"
Rinara fell silent. For several long seconds, she weighed the implications.
Then, finally, with a faint nod, she answered, "...I can search for it on your behalf."
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