Chapter 282: Heir of the Flaw of the World
A moment later, the darkness slowly crept toward them, as the Great Spirit smiled knowingly.
Ruvian hesitated, caution and curiosity warring within his heart. He knew exactly what a Covenant Pact was. It was a Soul Bond forged between a spirit and its contractor.
And this was far beyond anything Ruvian had been seeking.
His original goal had been nothing more than borrowing a mere fraction of the Great Spirit’s power. But this... this was as if she was offering him everything she possessed.
Smiling slyly, the Great Spirit tilted her head slightly, her gray eyes quietly studying every change in his expression.
"Whatever troubles you, child?" she asked in a gentle voice. "Was this not the very strength you sought from the beginning?"
Ruvian answered with a smile of his own.
"Do you really take me for a fool?"
The Great Spirit’s smile widened even further.
"I did, only a moment ago," she admitted without the slightest shame. "But it would seem you have already seen through me."
"Then say it. What price do you expect from this so-called mutual exchange?" Ruvian asked as he searched for even the smallest crack in her calm expression.
Like the ancient being she was, the Great Spirit slowly raised one hand and pointed toward him.
No, not toward his body.
Toward his soul.
"You are not the true owner of that vessel, are you, child?" she asked, her voice gentle despite the weight behind every word. "And you do not appear to belong to this world either. Your soul is foreign to this place."
’Huh, so she knew.’
Ruvian’s gaze sharpened, searching through every moment they had shared, trying to understand when she had uncovered the truth.
Yet after several seconds, he cast the thought aside, knowing there was little point in guessing when the answer stood before him.
"Yes, everything you said is correct," he admitted, his voice steady despite the unease crawling beneath his skin. "But how did you know?"
The Great Spirit lowered her hand.
"I was observing the vision alongside you, child, and your corporeal form within it was not the same as that boy’s body," she explained calmly. "Your manner of speech, your choices, and the way you reacted to his memories revealed more than you realized."
Ruvian remained silent.
"And finally, there was your soul," she continued, her expression slowly growing solemn. "I only noticed it after you were torn free from that shell, but your soul bears no thread of fate..."
"...You are not bound to the great web that governs every life born within this world. No past awaits behind you, and no future has been woven before you."
Ruvian’s eyes narrowed.
"Such a thing should be impossible," the Great Spirit murmured, her gaze drifting toward something far beyond him. "Unless, perhaps, your thread was never meant to belong to this world in the first place."
She paused, then looked back at him with a faint, unreadable smile.
"It would seem that something beyond the reach of fate has already laid its hand upon you, child. How interesting."
’Something that had laid its hand upon me? What does she mean by that?’
Ruvian sighed.
Then, his expression tightened as her words settled inside his mind.
"So the price you want in exchange... is my soul?" he asked, his voice carrying more confusion than fear.
The Great Spirit stared at him for a moment before a soft laugh escaped her lips.
"No, child. If I desired your soul, then what purpose would there be in forming a Covenant Pact with you?" Her smile deepened. "You would have been dead if I wished for that. Our covenant pact would be futile then."
Ruvian remained silent, his gaze fixed upon her.
The Great Spirit slowly drew in a breath, and the quiet amusement in her eyes faded into something far more solemn.
"Know this, child. I have learned something of great importance today."
Her gray eyes rested upon him.
"You and I... in this timeline, it seems like we were destined to meet, and we were destined to form this pact."
Ruvian’s brows slowly drew together. The more he heard, the more confused he became.
"It would seem that Father, and whatever being brought you into this world, had already arranged for this moment to occur long before either of us became aware of it."
"However, I do not take kindly to having such a fate imposed upon me without my consent," the Great Spirit continued, her calm smile slowly turning thin. "Yet it seems that troublesome Father of mine knew me far too well."
Her eyes shifted toward [The Endseeker].
"He left behind just enough questions, just enough doubt, and more than enough trouble to draw my interest toward you," she murmured. "That shameless old man arranged this entire mess while knowing I would eventually choose to form a pact of my own will."
Despite her words, there was a trace of warmth hidden beneath her complaint.
"What became of Father? What happened to the boy who possessed the power to return through time?" Her gaze returned to Ruvian, growing quieter with each question. "And for what purpose were you brought into this world? Yes, I’m really curious about all of that."
Ruvian said nothing.
"But above all else, if the demons are truly returning... like how the vision showed..."
The Great Spirit paused, and the darkness around her grew unnaturally thick.
"Then perhaps it is time I finally answered a debt that has remained unpaid for far too long."
"Anyway," the Great Spirit continued, placing one hand against her chest, smiling deviously. "I am merely an ancient and remarkably wise spirit burdened by an incurable curiosity—"
Ruvian’s eyes narrowed slightly at the shameless praise, but he allowed her to continue.
"—Therefore, the price I ask in exchange for this pact is simple," she said. "I simply wish to learn more about you."
Then, she added:
"Of course, not the life of the vessel you borrowed, nor the name and memories that belong to him," she continued gently. "I wish to know about you, child. Your world, your life, and the person you were before you came here."
Naturally, hearing that, Ruvian hesitated as a wall of caution rose within him.
Should he truly allow such a thing?
Should he agree to let her see the life he had left behind?
Worse, what would happen if she learned that she, along with this entire world, had once existed as nothing more than words inside a novel?
Ruvian searched for a suitable answer, but none came easily.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Listen, Spirit—"
’Spirit?’
The Great Spirit frowned, somehow offended by being referred to by that.
Yet, unaware of that, Ruvian continued:
"—Certain truth are not meant to be known," he said, his gaze fixed upon her. "Knowledge beyond what one was ever meant to understand can become a curse, which far worse than ignorance."
His expression slowly hardened.
"Are you truly certain you wish to know?"
The Great Spirit’s smile did not waver.
"Do not mistake me for some fragile mortal, child," she said, pride ringing clearly beneath her gentle voice. "I have endured truths with far greater weight in this world, so whatever secret you carry, I shall decide for myself whether it is a curse."
Ruvian studied her for a moment before releasing a quiet sigh.
"Fine. I will agree to that exchange," he said at last. "But remember that I warned you though, so don’t complain."
The Great Spirit simply nodded. "Yes, child."
"Great, let’s do it."
Without waiting for long, the darkness enveloped the two of them.
[You have forged a pact with a Greater Spirit.]
[The Sin of Creation, Morvayne, has answered your call and became your bound spirit!]
Before long, something stirred in him, vast and alien. He felt it pressing outward, as though foreign strength had claimed him as its vessel.
’Huh... wait, this power—’
[The accursed power recognizes its claimant.]
[Step forward, and let the Runes whisper your Covenant Name...]
Ruvian clenched his teeth.
[Covenant Name:
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[Chapter 282: Heir of the Flaw of the World]