Soul Eater

Test Your Mental And Soul

After realizing that the potential in Gladio's body was more terrifying than he thought. Artorius decides to take Gladio somewhere.

The journey takes about 5 to 7 days. Along the way, Gladio looked down with withered eyes.

The boy couldn't understand at all what had happened to him. His right hand was still throbbing, but it had calmed down much more than before.

"Krik! Krik! Krik!”

The sound of crickets singing was like the sound of a night goddess singing. Gladio didn't say anything at all even on a quiet night, on the fifth day they walked there wasn't the slightest look of joy or excitement in his eyes.

Artorius also feels guilty for forcing Gladio to become his disciple. If Artorius hadn't taught him magic, maybe Gladio wouldn't have felt the pain in his hand.

“Huh…!” Artorius sighed and looked up at the moon that lit them up. “What a beautiful weather!” He tried to open the topic of conversation, but Gladio just looked down and stared at the small bonfire that kept on swaying.

"Gladio!" Artorius rebuked the boy in a serious tone.

Gladio started to lift his eyes. "Uh, what's wrong?" It was a soft reply from his mouth.

“Huh… I'm sorry for the selfishness that came from me, you must have had bad days!”

There's no need to feel formal, if you feel guilty about other people. Artorius didn't want himself to regret in the future for not being able to say sorry.

Gladio was taken aback, he didn't think that a great man like Artorius would bow his head sincerely to someone like himself who was never considered a human.

“I think, Master is going too far! I don't deserve that apology, I'm just a cursed human, so it's only natural that the skills Master taught me can't learn properly!” According to Gladio, it was all because of him that caused Artorius to have a nightmare.

“Huh…!” Again Artorius couldn't make the boy's face look excited. “Gladio, I have something to say to you! This is probably the reason why I want to make you a disciple!”

The atmosphere became a little heavier, Artorius' gaze radiated an intense seriousness.

Gladio was curious as to what kind of things Artorius would say, so the atmosphere changed drastically.

“I've heard a prophecy! The ancient prophecy revealed by my master. He once said that one day a creature will appear who has the gift of two powers, namely a bright light like the sun, but also accompanied by a dark shadow like an endless abyss. That power will shake all creatures in this world! They will together find a way to defeat the creature. If I find that creature, then I am asked to lead it somewhere!”

From Artorius' words, it was clear where they were going. No need to explain anymore, Gladio already understands that he will be taken to a place. Although, he didn't know where it would take him, but he was sure that Artorius would make the right choice.

“Gladio, the place we are going to is a region where all beings will find peace, so you must be prepared! If you manage to control the wild soul within your body, you will be able to subdue that great power, but if you fail, you will become a being similar to the Demon Lord!”

Gladio was silent. He was lost in the thoughts that were in his head. Gladio wasn't so sure that he could control the wild soul that Artorius was referring to.

“Can I ask you one thing?”

"Uh?" Finally Artorius could see Gladio speaking as loosely as before. "What do you want to ask!"

"What exactly happened to me here?" Gladio began to realize that it would be impossible for him to have those creepy hands without a reason.

“I can't answer that but, if you go to this place, you will find the answer!”

“…”

Gladio just kept silent while looking at his right hand.

The next day, they stepped back to continue their journey.

About three hours from their last location for the night, they came to the end of a waterfall. A wooden bridge that connects two sides of a fast flowing river.

The roar of the waterfall sounded so loud. Gladio glanced around, his heart felt very comfortable seeing the river flowing very fast.

Artorius then stopped right in the middle of the bridge, slowly turning around.

His face was still serious as before. “Gladio, this is where we will test your skills!”

A quiet area with the sound of a waterfall that is quite loud, as well a view of the gorge of a waterfall that can't be seen because of the thick fog that covers it.

“Before you do what you have to do. I want to give you a few sentences, maybe you will think that these words are not really important. But, I will still tell you!” Astorus' hands then touched Gladio's shoulders. The old man's hand felt warm against Gladio's skin. The cold air that spread around the area was defeated by the old man's warm hand.

“There are two choices that will happen to you! The first, you will die from not being able to control the turmoil of the power that is in your body, while the second you will live with great power. But after that, there will only be trouble waiting for you! I can't say what kind of problems will come your way, but the point is that these problems will still come, you must prepare for their arrival!”

Gladio looked seriously into Astorus' eyes. “Okay, I understand! now there is no time for me to regret everything. I live in this world already experiencing difficulties, if indeed I have to die, then I will accept it. But if I can live, I will try to be better!”

Artorius' eyes widened then he nodded. "Then!" His head then turned towards the end of the waterfall. “You have to jump off this bridge! There you will find an answer you may have been looking for!”

It sounded ridiculous, but Gladio felt that all he heard wasn't just some deliberate prank by Artorius. Not saying much more, Gladio immediately stood on the rope bridge. Slightly swayed the bridge, it was only a rope made of strong roots that made it like a place to test your guts. Seeing the flow of the river falling into a very deep abyss gave Gladio a little worry.

But, there was no reason for Gladio to back down. Very quickly Gladio jumped into the abyss.

“I will definitely find the meaning of this life…!” said Gladio when his body fell like a log.

Artorius said all the words while looking up at the cloudy sky.

__To Be Continued__