Chapter 165: The Old Soul Rests

Einar walked inside a void of white that seems to resemble a stadium. In front of Einar was an old man who was in his mid-fifties or could be older. He was a grizzled old man with signs of battle; the tell-tale for his life. This soul was the bits of pieces that remained of Nolan Salvatore, his soul was old, and if it weren’t for the support of two souls and Einar. Nolan Salvatore’s soul would be no longer be around. Einar and Nolan share the same soul and the same mind. However, the ego of the old man and the newly born soul would sometimes clash, though not in a hostile away. Like a spectator watching over Einar, hoping that he wouldn’t make the same mistake as Nolan.

“Well I have nothing to teach you,” Nolan said. “We share the same mind and body, so you only need to grow healthy. That’s good, you should grow strong and healthy, and always keep in mind that you could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”

“I understand,” Einar Elior said. “Though talking my inner self is still odd.”

“Can’t help it now,” Nolan said, brandishing an old iron sword. “We are of different egos and through my help, you are born with confidence with your strength and abilities. When you are born strong you become strong in character as well. Look at me, I’m a broken fool who could not sway a woman away, always pitying about the things I could not have. But you are different in a way that your ego is part of mine. I am only the bits of pieces and sooner or later I might just disappear from your ego as well.”

Einar brandished his sword, “So will you vanish then?”

“Vanish?” Nolan chuckled. “A part of you is a Salvatore, and well, let me share you what I know. A part of my name, by law, and the blade that I striven forever since I chased after my former love.”

Nolan took a stance, “Do what though wilt shall be the whole law; hear me my blade; hear my longing and the grasped of my hand, this blade of a thousand journeys, the blade of fool who walked the bleak. Blaze, burn, and let this exalted blade shine through this overwhelming darkness!”

Nolan disappeared, appearing before Einar. Einar crossed his blade across the body, blocking the blow, but flung like a ragdoll as he Nolan finishes his strike. Einar clenches his sword, his figure appearing before Nolan, cleaving downwards, his blade turning ghostly. Nolan calmly parried his blade, pulled Einar forward and hit him right in the face.

Einar kneeled, rolled backward, and took a stance, his sword facing forward.

Nolan smiled, “You blocked my Exalted Blade, that’s expected. Try this then!”

Nolan flashed before Einar, his sword coming down at him. Einar blocked with his sword and tried to counter. Nolan parried, hit Einar’s leg, and did a haymaker, putting him down. His sword was then pointed at Einar’s throat.

“Again!” Einar became wraith and appeared above.

Nolan flicked his blade and strikes his sword against Einar. Einar lost his balance and before he could regain it. Nolan palmed his chest. His body was blown back, rolling twice before being able to regain balance.

“Try not to use that ability,” Nolan said. “It makes you reliant and if it is gone then you are helpless!”

Nolan went for a vertical slash. Einar blocked the attack, raised his left leg and hit Nolan right in the rib. Nolan clenched his jaw, took Einar’s leg and threw him down on the floor. Einar however, supported his body with one hand, deflected Nolan’s sword, and plunged his sword right in between Nolan’s ribs.

“Well you can fight better,” Nolan said, pulling the sword out of his chest by simply waking backward. “Well that’s it, I should not worry whether you can survive out there or not. It is up to you now, I mean I’m just a ghost who cling to a soul. I don’t even know if we truly are separate egos or not. But why does it matter?”

Nolan sits cross-legged in front of Einar.

“You have my memories, so isn’t it odd that my journey has been rather too long? I won’t share the rest of my sufferings for your own good. Still, who knew a college boy who wanted to travel the world would somehow end having this kind of talk inside a soul that harbored two egos?”

He laid his back on the floor and stared at the white void.

“I could feel my soul tiring so madly. I think I lost all of my strength after this.”

“I barely manage,” Einar said. “Still, sooner or later I would reach the Exalted Blade with this body. You have timelines worth of experience in fighting, and you bestowed it all to me. I thank you.”

Nolan stretches his limbs and stood up before Einar. Nolan Salvatore vastly differed from Einar in appearance. Nolan was old, and his body was covered in scars and giant gashes. He has a perpetual tired look on his face and it could be said that his face was too scarred. No part of his body wasn’t damaged by battle. This was the true appearance of his soul.

“Einar Elior,” Nolan’s body started turning into particles of light. “My skills, my memories, and the things that I striven for are yours now.”

Nolan’s soul flickered as he disappears.

“But do not hesitate to call upon my soul for I shall rest in the chamber of your soul. I pray that the day where you would voluntarily call for my soul shall not happen.”

Nolan Salvatore turned into a wisp of light and buried itself inside Einar’s soul.

Einar’s body strengthened as he was given power. The soul that did not suit the vessel finally was able to perfectly fit in. Einar felt his regrets and despair yet he felt like the troubled soul that was Nolan Salvatore has taken his rest inside him.

“Sleep well, old man. I’ll try not to wake you up.”

And Einar walks out of the white void, the voice that was lingering, finally in slumber.

For now, there was only Einar who walks this path.