Abyssal Awakening

[So that old tradition still lives. . . Alice, I believe this kid is part of an. . . Old ritual. Similar to the one that Ria was part of but more brutal.]

'More brutal??? Than Ria's???' Alice paused in surprise.

While she didn't know the full details of the ritual that Ria was involved in, what little information she had was enough to tell her of the brutality of the Eclipse.

How they treat lives as nothing but material for their next ritual.

Yet despite knowing what Ria had gone through, Cayla still said that what Jin was a part of was even more brutal!

[The purpose of this old tradition was to cultivate vessels that could act as anchors for the Apostle's power. Mediums for them to channel and use. In short, it turns whoever 'survives' the Ritual into a one time use expendable item.

[During this ritual, the candidates are… reshaped to become perfect vessels for the Apostle. Anything that doesn't sync up is eliminated. Emotions, ideologies, hobbies and so on. The details are largely unknown but I do know that the success rate is low. The requirements of a vessel is very stringent and if they do succeed, the product becomes highly valuable and looked after by the Apostle personally.

[If I recall, in history, I know of only two successful completions. Each success was essentially akin to a fake Apostle. Stronger than a Lord, weaker than a true Apostle. With that in mind, even a slight benefit could turn the tides of battle in an instant.

[Back then… Even Nyer struggled a little against the fake Apostle.]

Hearing this, Alice frowned. She knew full well how strong Nyer was. And if he struggled in the past, then the person beside her was essentially a ticking time bomb.

'So he has no control over his life? Any moment he can just flip sh*t and become the fake Apostle of War?'

[Much like Ria, it seems like the ritual wasn't finished properly. Right now, he's in an incomplete state. He still has his own thoughts, hobbies and personality. Otherwise, you'd feel the power of an Apostle from him and he'd be a much different Jin to the one you know now.]

Scratching her chin, Alice couldn't help but praise the Trifecta for beginning the Coup.

If the Ritual succeeded, then there's a high chance that Enris would have two and a half Apostles at her disposal.

Not a great sign considering they might need to deal with Famine if they want to help Allura.

'So should I take care of him early or not?' Alice narrowed her gaze.

Now that she knows that Jin was a potential vessel for War, even if she enjoyed his presence, this was not a risk she was willing to take.

[He's already incompatible. If anything, it's more valuable to keep him alive. He's still a product of the ritual. Therefore, so long as he exists, they can't conduct more rituals of the same nature without a significant setback unless they kill him. He essentially acts as a floodgate right now.] Cayla clarified.

As concerning as it was that Jin was a potential vessel, he had far more benefits alive than dead.

'So as long as he's alive, it's harder for the Eclipse to get a fake vessel?'

[That is the case yes. At least if the ritual hasn't changed since the time I got the information.]

Scratching her hair, Alice sighed in frustration before giving Jin a slight push and retrieving her killing intent.

"You're not going to kill me?" Jin asked curiously, wondering why Alice spared him.

If she knew the ritual that he was part of, she must understand what the Cult was trying to do. What they were looking to accomplish.

"And what would killing you accomplish other than saving the Cult some effort? This ritual that you're part of, as long as you're alive you can delay their next ritual right?" Alice asked as Jin paused before shrugging.

"The ritual never concluded since the Coup interrupted. But enough time has passed and I doubt my instructor would be happy with what I've become." Jin scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"And is your instructor the Apostle of War?"

"Pft, if he was, I wouldn't have escaped from the South." Jin admitted with a laugh.

"Becoming a disciple of the Apostle is the final step to the ritual. It's where he overlooks the final steps to ensure the vessel was made properly. Once it reaches that stage, there's no going back. My instructor was someone familiar with the philosophy of the Apostles.

"To hammer it into my body and prepare me to accept the teachings fully." He sat down, waiting for Alice to decide his fate.

If she decides to kill him, there's nothing he could do. If she spares him, he'll wander the region as was his original plan.

Looking at the lad who resolved himself to his fate, Alice felt a vein bulge on her neck.

No matter what the context was, seeing him give up in such a manner annoyed her. She hated the fact that he didn't want to fight back, she hated the fact that he was letting someone else control his life.

Granted, she was no different when Kaden found her.

She couldn't take her own life, she couldn't escape. All she could do was hope that the prison blew up or something, taking her along with it.

Looking at him felt like looking at her own ugly reflection.

She hated it.

"You wanted to defend yourself right? So that you don't become the same as the Apostle and get your body stolen from you." Alice asked as Jin wasn't sure where Alice was going with this.

Regardless, he nodded his head.

He wanted to protect himself so that he could fend of those who might be seeking to finish the ritual. Or perhaps those who wanted to eliminate him so that the ritual could be restarted.

Without sufficient power, he could forget about trying to survive any of it.

"I don't know sh*t about your traditions and the whatnot. But what I do know is that you're better off alive than dead. Every day you're alive is another day that the Eclipse is held back from doing another one of these rituals.

"So you're going to make a contract with me. In return for me teaching you how to fight, you'll try your best to survive. And not just survive either. You have to live.

"Find hobbies, make friends explore the world. As long as the Eclipse doesn't get to you, that's fine. And in return, if you ever find yourself in a situation where the Eclipse will take you away or turn you into a vessel, your soul becomes mine." Alice needled down in front of Jin as the seriousness in her eye gave him quite the shock.

However, this was a far better option than just dying. And if he's captured by the Eclipse, his fate is already sealed. Therefore, so what if Alice takes his soul? It's better than giving it to the Apostle of War.

"Alright."

Hearing his confirmation, Alice placed her hand against the ground as blood began to expand with them in the centre.

Golden ritualistic symbols appeared, woven by fine threads of energy.

Little by little, the nature of the contract is transferred to Jin's mind, letting him know what the clauses are.

A binding contract reinforced by the strange violet flames that spawn from Alice's blood.

A Law of Agreement that takes his life the moment the requirements are fulfilled.

To sign his soul away to the Eclipse or to sign it away to Alice.

This was the question posed to him right now. With that in mind, he might as well give it to the girl in front of him. The one that wanted him to surv- no, to live a proper life.

As he accepted the contract, Jin flinched in pain as cuts appeared on his arm.

His own blood filtered out of his body before turning into a dark red thread that weaved itself with the ritualistic symbols that Alice summoned.

An acceptance of the contract and a link connecting to two together.

Alice could see faint fine threads linking them with the world acting as the catalyst needed for this contract.

While Alice was seeing the connection, Jin felt a connection form between them.

In an instant, he was sent to a world of darkness with nothing around him. Little by little, chains start to manifest as the wailing of souls went from a quiet whisper to a roaring screech.

He felt as though he was merely one in a mass of countless, a speck in the ocean. It wasn't that he was transported into a realm of nothingness but rather there were too many souls around him!

Was this… his new fate?

Jin couldn't help but wonder if he made a mistake when Alice tapped him on the forehead, snapping him out of it.

"Now that the contract is sorted, we'll begin the proper training. You will tell me all the Sigils you have and I will draft up a plan. I will be teaching you casting and how to properly expand your zone.

"Alyss will be teaching you how to fight and she'll also be responsible for refining your instincts. Try not to die." Alice narrowed her gaze with a grin as Jin shivered.

He could feel the grip she had on his shoulder.

Firm, unyielding and refusing to even budge.

He couldn't run.

###

Sitting with her legs crossed, a cloaked woman could be seen scratching her chin before a wide grin appeared on her face.

It was a mix of both anger and amusement.

A sixth sense knowing that someone touched what belongs to her.