"Finn! Yo! Finn!"
Who’s calling my na...?
The voice started out distant, but beca louder and more incessant, till Finn snapped his eyes open.
"Finn!"
"Huh!" Finn jerked in his seat, eyes open widely as he stared at the source of the loud voice.
The person was seated right across him in what looked to be a carriage. A young man with tousled blond hair, fairly good-looking face and an averagely built fra. He had the confident air of soone who was good with words and knew it.
"Rick." The na left Finn’s lips instinctively and naturally without thinking.
"You effing weasel. I thought you said nothing happened between you and Violet last night?" The guy nad Rick smiled knowingly at Finn. "Look at you sleeping midday huh? So you finally got so action. So of that—" he proceeded to do a weird twisting and jerking movent with his waist as he grinned.
Finn frowned, "No. I left right after I escorted her ho..." he replied naturally yet again.
What is going on? Why do I know this?
It felt normal to him. There was no sense of disconnect. No feeling of ’this is not my body’. Just a minor bout of disorientation as his mind sorted through this version of his mories.
The fight that’d just happened had not faded from his mory, but it had beco distant and unreal, like it had been just a dream... one of those weird dreams that occurred during a short mid-day nap that you forgot after a minute.
Finn absolutely felt like this had always been his reality. If he could describe exactly how he was feeling right now, all he’d say was it was like he’d peeked into so alternate life. So other version of himself in another reality.
"Hey man, are you okay?" Rick asked with concern on his face. "You seem a little dazed... More dazed than usual at least."
"Ah!"Rick suddenly snapped his fingers in realization. "Is it that dizziness again? Just go get yourself checked by a healer mage, man. You have the money anyway."
As Rick spoke, the required mories ca to the fore of Finn’s mind, providing context instantly. It was seamless, and there wasn’t a ti he was left wondering what his friend ant. But besides that, unless he thought specifically about it, no other mory ca up.
"I’m fine." Finn assured his friend.
"Hmm..." Rick nodded, then shrugged, not fully convinced. "Well we’ve arrived for a while now, princess. You’re the one who said you wanted to et my guy..."
The Grade 2 Initiate Revenant. Finn rembered again. They were here to et a soul mage. A Revenant, to be specific — an unofficially sanctioned soul mage.
And that was why they were being secretive about it. Besides the fact that Revenants were not sanctioned by the ruling houses, there was also Finn’s father.
If he ever finds out about this...
"Then let’s not keep him waiting," Finn stepped out of the carriage, but not before putting up a hoodie.
Rick followed right after, tapping the body of the carriage twice to alert the coachman to move.
The thwack of reins sounded behind them as their coachman spurred the horses down the road imdiately.
Rick walked to the front and led the way. "Try and keep close, princess," he chuckled, adjusting his hoodie to cover his face more, "you don’t wanna stray from where we’re going," he patted Finn’s shoulder.
They had stopped right at the outskirts of the red light district, choosing to walk the rest of the way despite the fact it was mid-day and the place wasn’t even close to its nightly bustling atmosphere.
They weaved their way through the district, passing through nooks and corners, buildings and alleys, with their heads down, not paying attention to the courtesans who called out to them even in broad daylight, till they finally reached their destination – A small nondescript building slotted in a lone corner.
"You know, maybe we’re being too hasty with this, Finn..." Rick glanced at his friend. "Two rich family scions willingly bringing themselves to such a shady place...? This looks like where you walk into and don’t co out alive..." Rick began to rethink his decision as he observed the deserted surroundings.
But Finn stepped forward unhesitatingly. "You’re the one who told about the guy. You’re the one who brought here," he stared Rick dead in the eyes. "I’m not going back without what I ca for."
Finn was surprised at his own words. The him from Earth wouldn’t be this daring. He could be strong-headed at tis, yes. But not to the point where he risked his own life...
But considering his current situation...
Finn knew exactly why he needed to see this Revenant. It was sothing that had beco vital and urgent imdiately the mory surfaced in his mind.
Rick stared into Finn’s eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation, but all he saw in there was a firm will.
Finn was determined to et with this Soul mage, despite the fact that he was a Revenant. Why?
"Finn..." Rick suddenly stilled, watching his friend’s face with an ominous realization, "you’ve already assimilated a soul mass..."
It all made sense now. The dizziness. The out-of-character behaviour for the past few days. The eagerness Finn had shown when he ntioned he might know a real soul mage...
Finn had already assimilated a chaotic soul mass!
Rick’s expression morphed into one of utter terror after Finn remained silent, confirming his claim.
He imdiately grabbed Finn by his shirt, jerking him close, whispering with a surprising nacing tilt to his voice, "Are. You. Fucking. Mad, Finn!"
Finn closed his eyes in what seed to be surrender, letting out a sigh while his friend scolded him harshly.
It was true though. He had been stupid... The previous him...
The current Finn would never have made the sa decision.
Back in the carriage, when Rick had ntioned the guy they were supposed to et, the required mory had slotted right into the fore of his mind, giving him the context required.
It was exactly then he knew the severity of his situation and why he needed to see a real soul mage.
The previous Finn had dabbled in soul magic — A path that was not looked upon in a good light, especially in this part of the world where Arcanists — normal mages — reigned supre.
Soul mages were seen as parasites. They could not use mana, and therefore could not use magic. They were practically like every other average person who failed to show any talent for magic, fated to live out their lives doing normal jobs.
But there was a vital difference that separated a soul mage from the average person.
The ability to sense, cleanse and manipulate Chaotic Soul Masses.
Whenever Arcanists died, their mana-saturated souls devolved into a chaotic mass that corroded living creatures, and the very fabric of the world itself. And for so reason only a very small percentage of the population could sense vividly, and interact with these soul masses.
Soul mages...
Or more officially — Ossuarists.
Only certified, official soul mages were called Ossuarists...
But unfortunately, Finn was no official soul mage...
User Comments
0 comments from readers