Chapter 63 - Soul's Evolution

"Yes, it's an acquaintance that I met, do you remember that demoness from before?  when we just entered the alleyways? she's a good one I promise." Vera already knew this is going to happen, but she's determined to have them know that Sasha is not a bad individual.

!!!

Valentine grit his teeth harshly upon hearing those words, of all people... a demon? if anything they learned is to not trust any of those cunts.

"Vera!" He held her hand and yelled, not wanting her to meet that 'demoness' what if that person has a hidden agenda? if Vera is trusting her it's obviously because she has shown enough rapport to deserve that trust but still, so did Lucretia and the bitch scammed them without any kind of remorse.

"She helped me save you, believe in her, please... I'll just tell her that everything is okay, she was waiting outside." Vera shrugged Valentine's hand lightly, determined to convince them otherwise.

"..."

"..."

For a period, the two lovers didn't know what to say to one another.

"We managed to squeeze ourselves out of this mess somehow." Fayette laughed self-mockingly, she had bravely jumped on the sacrifice like a pair of reckless lovers only to end up facing the threat of eternal damnation, she didn't regret it, but now that she has the opportunity to recapitulate, this is indeed a far better outcome.

All thanks to Vera.

"Taking her that day, it truly wasn't a mistake... I should follow your judgement more often." She smiled, recalling how it had been his idea to give Vera a chance, back then she was like a jealous girl, thinking he was being seduced by the girl but... it proved to not be the case, Vera has guts.

Valentine sighed and scratched his head, also recalling this scenario.

"Even I couldn't have possibly expected that events would turn out like this... Vera, she's different... I don't know exactly how long it has been for her away from us, but she has changed... she reeks to blood but at the same time I can still sense her bashful behaviour..." He concluded, let alone reeking blood, Vera's clothes were more red than white.

She had obviously gone through several harsh moments, and she squeezed through them with her own strength, compared this woman to the vulnerable girl they found at the beginning, he wasn't lying when he said he's proud.

A part of him could even see Rose in her.

"I love you..."

Those words came too suddenly, prompting him to turn his gaze to the infatuated Fayette, she didn't need any reason to say it.

"..."

"I just wanted to say it because I'm immensely relieved that we're out of that hell, that one, not this one..." The girl raised up to give him a few pecks, ones she had been missing immensely.

She tasted some blood on his lips and furrowed slightly, but realising who is the one... she just sighed and let it be.

"The things that I saw... I imagine you went through them as well..."

"You never stopped looking at them, did you?" Since she never woke up, he imagines this is the case.

"I couldn't... the more I saw it, the more wrath I felt... when I saw that bitch putting her hands on you and to my daughter, it was worse... sorry, I guess I'm not as mentally strong as I thought..." The itch hadn't subsided for even a single instant.

"Don't worry... it took me a while too." Valentine locked Fayette's lips in a more prolonged kiss before he raised up his hand, letting the tired lady's head fall on his chest.

"Hey, tree..." With nowhere else to look, Valentine redirected his gaze to the beautiful tree amidst the sparkling pure lake.

Upon placing his eyes on it, he noticed how it rustled in an organic manner and released some leaves.

...

"... what do you want, boy?" The Mahogany Tree answered nonchalantly.

"What exactly are you?" Trying to reign in the fact that he's actually speaking with a 

"I'm one of the cursed regiments of wrath..."

'That name and your appearance don't coincide.' 

If he could name this tree, rather than that frightening name, he'd call it 'Oasis of splendour' or 'Tree of Life'.

"And what is that exactly?" Fayette inquired next, having the same thought in her head.

"An entity in charge of punishing sinners in the netherworld, I live by plundering your vitality... and in exchange, show you the error of yours ways..."

"So basically, you steal my vitality and 'soul energy' and in exchange... torture me?" His eyebrows tickled in a reflected snort, that's like getting scammed and having to say 'thank you'.

"If you want to call it torture... I'm not the one showing you the nightmares, those nightmares exist within your mind, boy... your punishment is self-imposed, your trip to the netherworld was orchestrated with your very own hands."

"..." 

"And I have to say, yours is quite appealing... silver souls come relatively often in the span of millions of years... but yours is the 5th golden soul I have tasted through aeons, you are special..."

"..." The 5th in millions of years? in a world where who knows how many millions arrive every day... he couldn't help but think he's not that unique, what exactly is so special in a golden soul? he can barely defeat a demon soldier, who is theoretically, the second weakest class of demons.

"Not everything in this world is strength, the process to attain strength is also important, boy.

"..." 

'Did she just read my mind?'

...

"Why Vera? what did she do? is your request going to threaten her life? what do you mean that she's a Mahogany Tree now?" Fayette didn't understand everything, but so far she can get the gist of it, in order to save them, Vera accepted some kind of deal that could put her in danger.

She must know if there is a way they can help her.

"Two reasons... one, she's the first individual within my domains that has transitioned from a bronze soul to a silver soul, such a thing is even rarer than finding a golden soul... transitions from carbon to onyx happen often, from onyx to bronze... they're immensely scarce and from bronze to silver... they're nigh-impossible." 

"..."

"..."

"For me, this is the first one I have seen, I don't know about the others... let alone, she's also the first one that has ever tried to fight me within my domain, although her efforts would have been futile were I to try and constrain her, she passed my test with flying colours and hence, was chosen by me."

The tree's voice even contained awe, it fluttered its branches and a few more leaves fell softly on the clear water, producing delicious waves that spread through the entire lake, seamlessly.

For the two of them, those waves were, captivating.

But they quickly regained themselves to think about the words she just said, transition... does that mean that one can evolve the soul?! If so, what's the difference?

!!!

"What do you mean she transitioned!?" Fayette struggled to sit up aided by Valentine who pressed her against his chest, she's curious.

"What it sounds like, she's now a silver soul, just like you..."

"And what's the difference between each soul?" This time Valentine asked, this tree doesn't look like 'someone' that would lie.

"Will power, strength, faith and fate... the higher the rank of a soul is, the closer they're to the creator... made in his image and likeness, haven't you heard that before, human?" 

He has, still, what does it mean?

...

"Does that mean that golden souls are the closest to him..?" He bit on his lips, surprisingly accepting on this topic while Fayette who was from a catholic upbringing, paid special attention.

"Why would you think that a golden soul is the most graceful kind of soul there is? are you that narcissistic despite your obvious flaws?" The tree is criticized like a hot needle against an open wound.

It could hurt, but also... heal.

"... then what is it?"

"That's for me to know and for you to research, you have a life in the netherworld, surely you can entertain yourself disinvolving the secrets of creation together with your lovers, little boy." 

At the mention of 'lovers' Fayette rolled her eyes while Valentine sighed, another matter to address later.

"Do you have a soul?"

"I wonder about that...? perhaps I'll meditate on that assertion for the following million years." As the tree shuddered, several of the leaves reformed at a visible rate, having the light coming from the lake transition to a soothing blue.

"How can one evolve one's soul?" When Valentine asked this question he had in mind that likely by devouring other souls and cores, but it wasn't any farther from the truth.

"... pain, and the evolution of consciousness, no more questions..." The elderly grandma-like voice answered that last enquiry before the light suddenly dimmed and the tree went to 'sleep'.

"..."

"..."

The couple sighed and lay against each other's bodies, meditating on her words.

"At least Vera is not in any danger, it's just a mission... as for being a Mahogany Tree, we will realise that with time." 

"Hmn."