"Emilia is now a part of me. Every dead soul returns to me. They become one with me, and I use all of their materials and processed information to produce more souls. It's a cycle of life."
Aether's voice was fluid and smooth, calming me with every word she uttered.
"Certain races and individuals receive various properties and allocations based on the requirements of dispensation. However, it is up to my discretion, based on the balance of this reality, to allocate it to the souls as is necessary."
Everything she said raised questions about existence within me, but I saved them for later.
"So… Emilia is…"
"Gone. In a sense. However, for her, she's one with me. And that simply means eternal bliss in my bosom."
I smiled, nodding slowly. In the end, it seemed that everything I had experienced with Aether was simply a one-sided charade.
"I know everything about Emilia since she is a part of me. Everything I told you is what she would have said. I took her form because I wanted to better explain things to you and put your unstable soul at ease."
"I-I see…"
"When you die, and become one with me, you'll see her again. In a dream-like paradise, forever."
I understood that she was trying to be comforting, and this was mostly the product of a perverse human mind, but the way she put those words sounded a little weird.
"You're right. Thank you."
Aether was comforting me, and I genuinely appreciated it. The fact that I could see Emilia again, and be with her, was enough for me.
"One thing, though. Emilia would want you to keep living. Not to be constrained to the past, but to freely embrace the future. I know you think she was miserable after you broke up, but she eventually got over everything and lived happily with her daughter and family. She didn't die sad or broken. She was fulfilled."
"Thank you for telling me all of this." I smiled, fighting back the tears that had already begun to form in my eyes.
"You're welcome."
We both stared at each other for some time, in what I could only describe as a necessary moment of silence.
She recognized that I needed the time, and she gave it to me.
Until, finally…
"I'm ready."
*
*
*
"You were brought here for a reason. Even though the Nether destroyed your Soul—and all the copies—I saved one before it was too late." Aether began.
"H-how?"
"You saved a backup within some of the Arcanas. All Arcanas are connected to me, so it only follows that I can use that link to transport them directly to me."
My eyes widened in surprise. Now that I thought of it, [Strength] granted me a steady supply of Aether that had to come from somewhere.
'So it was directly linked to her!'
"I had to cut off my connection with the others that were consumed by the Nether before it became too late. In any case, that's how I brought you here."
If it weren't for Aether, I would be utterly destroyed. Words could not express my gratitude.
"Your soul was unstable, though, due to the shock. I had to return it to its prime form by resonating with you. That way, you returned to yourself."
Understanding all that she told me, I realized the reason for all her actions. Even if I was angry that she had impersonated Emilia—which I wasn't—I could now understand why.
"You Soul is now in a different form, thanks to my interference. In the past, it had both the qualities of Mana and Miasma, but after stabilizing it, it has taken on the form of pure Aether."
She explained to me how Mana and Miasma were simply impure versions of Aether, and how Aether was their natural, original, and apex stages.
"Like a pool of water that has become muddled with foreign elements, so is Aether that has taken on the form of Mana, Miasma or both."
Apparently, only Singularities possessed pure Aether Souls—or those who had attained enlightenment and rid themselves of all the excesses in the soul.
"But, I am a Singularity, right? I didn't have a pure Aether Soul." I objected. "Also, if all Souls possess Mana, why are there so many inept people? I could never crack that puzzle until I died. Why is that?"
Aether gave a slight chuckle—one that rang of understanding, and not pride.
"Indeed. The reason for your status as a Singularity goes beyond the innate nature of your Soul. Rather, it has to do with its state."
I didn't understand the difference, but it seemed I was on the verge of being enlightened.
"My power still flowed through your Soul despite its nature. That's why you survived till now. Besides, there's another reason… and that's the foreign Aether that seals your Soul from interference or observation."
I was more confused at this point.
"These factors brought about your Reincarnation and are what makes you a Singularity." She concluded her response to my first question.
However, there was still the issue of being inept.
"Inept people experience dissonance between their Soul and body. You harness the power of your Soul through your body—whether consciously or unconsciously." Aether began.
"By default, the contents of your Soul begin to leak into your body, spreading all around it to make Mana or Miasma particles. In rare instances, when the Soul is purely Aether, the energy that is released will be Aether."
Just as one didn't need to control their blood circulation or other processes that occurred inside the body, all of this happened naturally.
"The Core is also formed naturally, and it continues to progress that way, eventually leading to an Awakening." Aether added.
Unfortunately, it seemed the inept people were simply incapable of this process. It made me wonder why so many Inepts existed, though.
And Aether's answer to that was what I didn't expect.
"Balance. Oversaturation of power leads to destruction. Underdevelopment of it, however, leads to devolution. As such, there has to be a middle ground." Aether began.
"Those who possess this innate ability are privileged. Those who do not, are meant to serve as a balance."
I understood all she said, even though it felt a little frustrating. If she was in charge of choosing the routes, then why…
"Why didn't you make me capable of Magic? I would have been able to do so much more in my first life! The things I could have done… the developments I could have brought about… they would have been so much more!"
It made sense that I would be among the chosen ones if such a system existed, right?
"That is precisely why I chose not to. The world is like an endless stream, and I ensure the flow is not disrupted. Advancement in Magic at that point would have created a tidal wave in a calm stream of water." She replied.
In simple terms, it had been too dangerous to grant me the gift of Magic.
"For the sake of order and balance, you could not be allowed to possess Mana."
*
*
*
A/N]
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