UT: Unbound Souls

Vance leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply as the warmth of Toriel's freshly baked pie settled in his stomach. The quiet crackle of the fire in the kitchen gave the room a peaceful ambiance, a stark contrast to the emotional whirlwind of the past few days. His battle with Toriel, the revelations about the past fallen humans, and his strange connection to Chara and Nina still swirled in his mind, but for now, he pushed those thoughts aside.

"I've been thinking," Vance started, setting his fork down on his plate, "since I'm staying in the Ruins for now… I don't want to just sit around doing nothing. I don't want to be a burden, either. So… what kind of work can I do around here?"

Toriel blinked, surprised by his question. She folded her hands in her lap, her ears twitching thoughtfully. "Oh, my child, you are no burden. I have told you this before."

"I know," Vance said quickly, scratching the back of his head. "But still, I want to do something. If I'm going to be here, I'd rather be helpful."

Toriel hummed, considering his words. After a moment, she smiled gently. "Well, there was a role that a previous human once filled. Perhaps you could take inspiration from him?"

Vance straightened. "A previous human?"

Toriel nodded, her gaze distant with memory. "Yes. The one who carried the Soul of Kindness. He lived with me here in the Ruins for many years, as you know. But unlike you, he had no great desire to leave, at least not at first. And so, to occupy his time, he took it upon himself to aid the monsters here."

Vance raised a brow. "How?"

Toriel chuckled softly. "He called himself 'the Manager of the Ruins.' It was a rather unofficial title, but he truly made a difference. You see, despite being the so-called 'caretaker of the Ruins,' my role is more symbolic than practical. Many of the monsters here are either too shy or too stubborn to seek my help. My status as the former queen makes some wary of me, and others feel I am simply out of touch with their struggles." She sighed, a note of sadness in her tone. "Though I do try my best, I find that few come to me with their troubles."

Vance frowned slightly. He hadn't considered that. It made sense, though—Toriel had lived in isolation for centuries, and while she was warm and kind, not everyone would feel comfortable approaching her.

"The Kindness Soul boy, however," Toriel continued, "he found ways to help that I could not. He spoke with the monsters, listened to their concerns, and worked to improve life here however he could. The Ruins are not like New Home or Snowdin, after all. We lack many resources. The monsters who stay here tend to be older, loners, or simply unable to live comfortably elsewhere. With little trade and few materials, development is… difficult."

Vance nodded slowly, absorbing her words. "And he figured out ways to improve things?"

Toriel's expression softened with fondness. "Indeed. He used what knowledge he had from the surface to help. Small things, but meaningful ones. Organizing a proper food distribution system, repairing homes, and even setting up small events to lift everyone's spirits. He was well-loved, that child. He never turned down a request for aid, even when it exhausted him."

She sighed, her gaze lowering slightly. "Unfortunately, after his disappearance… things changed. The next child who fell—the one with the blue soul—brought chaos. They did not have the same heart as the Kindness child. They struck down many monsters, from the Ruins to Snowdin, leaving fear in their wake. After that, many of the bonds that had been built crumbled, and the monsters of the Ruins became wary again."

Toriel's voice grew quiet, a heavy sadness lingering in her tone. She shook her head as if trying to dispel the weight of the past. Then, turning her gaze back to Vance, she offered him a small, encouraging smile. "But you, my child… you are different. In the few days you have been here, I have already seen some of the monsters watching you with curiosity rather than fear. Some have even spoken of you, finding you to be… familiar." She chuckled lightly. "Perhaps you, too, can help improve the Ruins. Or maybe, you will do even more."

Vance drummed his fingers against the table, considering. "That actually sounds… doable. I mean, I don't know much about infrastructure or organizing, but I can learn. And if the Ruins need help, then I want to try."

Toriel's eyes widened slightly, then softened into a warm smile. "You are truly kind, my child."

Vance rubbed his nose, feeling a little embarrassed. "Well, I'm not exactly a prodigy or anything. But if I can help, I want to. So… where should I start?"

Toriel considered the question before standing up. "Perhaps we should take a walk. I can show you the areas that might need the most attention, and you may speak with the monsters yourself."

Vance pushed back his chair and stood, stretching his limbs. "Sounds good to me."

As they stepped outside, the cool air of the Ruins greeted them. The dim purple glow from the ceiling above bathed the stone walls and pathways in soft light. Vance glanced around, realizing that despite having spent time here, he had never really paid attention to the small homes tucked away in different corners, nor the monsters who lived within them.

As they walked, Toriel pointed out various places—the older buildings in need of repair, the dwindling food supplies, the occasional disagreements between the Ruins' inhabitants. "Some monsters live in isolation," she explained. "They have not spoken to another in years. Others wish for better trade with the outside, but as you know, leaving the Ruins is… difficult."

Vance nodded. He could already see how much work there was to do. "So, first step is probably talking to everyone, huh? Seeing what they actually need?"

Toriel smiled. "That would be wise."

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Vance walked beside Toriel, taking in the surroundings with fresh eyes. Now that he was actively looking, he could see the signs of wear and struggle among the monsters. The stone houses, while sturdy, had cracks running along their walls. Some homes had poorly patched roofs, likely leaking during the Underground's occasional water drips from above. The dirt paths between settlements were uneven, with deep grooves from years of use. Even the small farms tended by Vegetoids looked like they barely produced enough food for the community.

He swallowed, suddenly realizing the scale of the challenge ahead of him.

"I knew things would be rough," he admitted, looking over at Toriel, "but this is worse than I expected."

Toriel sighed. "It has been many years since any real development has been made. The Kindness Soul child worked tirelessly, but after his disappearance and the… unfortunate actions of the next human, many monsters retreated into themselves. Fear and distrust replaced what little progress had been made."

Vance clenched his fists. That was something he could change. He had to.

"Then I'll have to work harder," he muttered. "But first… I should meet everyone properly, right?"

Toriel nodded, leading him toward a small gathering of monsters. "Yes, though it may not be easy."

The first community they visited consisted mostly of Froggits, Whimsuns, and Moldsmals. The Froggits were the most vocal, their deep croaks echoing through the air as they regarded Vance with hesitant eyes. Whimsuns fluttered nervously behind them, and the Moldsmals remained eerily still, their gelatinous bodies pulsing faintly.

One particularly large Froggit stepped forward. His moss-covered skin and weathered expression told Vance he was older than the rest. "The Queen brings another human among us," the Froggit croaked, his golden eyes narrowing. "And what does this one seek?"

Vance stood his ground, despite the weight of the gazes upon him. "I want to help," he said simply. "I know humans have hurt monsters in the past, but I'm not like them. I want to make the Ruins better for everyone who lives here."

The elder Froggit blinked slowly before glancing at Toriel. She gave a small nod of reassurance, but Vance could tell that her presence alone wouldn't win them over.

"We shall see," the Froggit murmured.

The meeting continued in a similar pattern with the other monster tribes. He was introduced to the Looxs and Astigmatisms, who seemed more skeptical than outright hostile. The Vegetoids and Parsniks, the ones responsible for food production, were more practical, questioning what a human could possibly contribute to their work. The Migosp colony, led by an old but nimble Migospel, was the only group that seemed genuinely curious rather than apprehensive.

Though they listened, Vance could feel it—this was only surface-level trust. They were willing to cooperate, but only because Toriel was here. It wasn't real trust.

If he wanted their respect, he had to earn it.

That's when the idea hit him.

Vance turned back to the assembled leaders, his golden soul pulsing slightly in his chest. "I want to challenge you."

Silence fell over the gathering.

The Froggit elder's throat bulged slightly. "You… what?"

Vance took a deep breath. "I challenge you to a battle. Not to hurt you—just to prove myself. I won't fight back. I just want to show you I can hold my own."

A murmur passed through the monsters. Some looked intrigued, others concerned.

Toriel immediately frowned. "Vance—"

He turned to her, eyes full of conviction. "Toriel, I know it's risky, but this is how monsters understand each other, right? Through battle. If I can't show them I can handle myself, they'll never truly respect me."

Toriel hesitated, clearly torn. But then she sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before nodding. "Very well… but be careful."

Vance turned back to the leaders. "Well? What do you say?"

The Migospel chuckled. "Hmph. Bold, aren't you, human? Very well. Let's see if you can dodge."

The first battle was against the Froggit elder. Though old, his movements were deceptively quick, his powerful legs tensing before launching him into the air. With a deep croak, he sent shimmering waves of magic rippling toward Vance, the energy forming into crescent-shaped projectiles.

Vance felt his heart pound, but unlike before—unlike the fight with Toriel, where he hesitated, where doubt plagued his movements—this time, he moved with instinct. His feet slid back, body shifting fluidly as the projectiles barely missed him. His mind wasn't frozen with indecision; it was focused, clear.

He ducked as another blast came, twisting his torso just enough for it to sail past him. His golden soul flickered in his chest, steady and strong. But underneath it, something else pulsed.

Silver.

Vance didn't notice. Not yet. But Toriel did.

Her sharp eyes narrowed as she observed him from the sidelines, watching the way his dodges became sharper, more calculated, almost mechanical in precision. This was not simply a child learning to dodge—this was a child adapting unnaturally fast.

The Froggit elder finally landed, his golden eyes studying Vance as he croaked in approval. "You move like water, human. Not bad."

Vance exhaled, feeling the first beads of sweat on his forehead. "Thanks… but I'm just getting started." The next battle was against the Loox leader.

The next battle was against the Loox leader.

Unlike Froggits, who relied on mobility, Looxs were more direct. This one, in particular, was an expert in precision-based attacks. His eye glowed menacingly as he fired piercing energy beams, each one traveling in straight, unavoidable paths that required Vance to predict their trajectories.

The first beam shot toward him at blinding speed. Vance barely twisted out of the way, feeling the heat sear past his cheek. The second came instantly after, forcing him into a sideways roll.

Then the third came.

Too fast. Too sudden.

Vance had no time to react—

His silver soul pulsed.

Before he even realized it, his body twisted unnaturally, moving just enough for the beam to miss him by a hair's breadth.

Toriel's breath hitched.

That movement.

It was too clean. Too refined.

It lacked the raw, frantic energy of a beginner dodging by instinct. This… this was something else entirely.

Vance, however, didn't dwell on it. He was already reading the Loox leader's patterns. Three beams in rapid succession. A brief delay. Then another set.

His feet shifted before the next attack even came. He was already dodging before the beam was fired.

The Loox leader narrowed his eyes. "Tch. Predicting my movements now, human?"

Vance only smiled.

For a brief moment, he felt something foreign settle in his chest. A lack of fear. A lack of hesitation.

This was a fight.

And he was winning. The Loox leader sighed after several more failed attempts to hit him. "I see why the Queen has taken interest in you," he muttered. "You're no ordinary human."

Vance straightened, rolling his shoulders. "I've just been learning fast."

Too fast.

He didn't say that part out loud.

The fights continued.

Each battle pushed him further. The Vegetoid chief unleashed razor-sharp vines, forcing Vance to weave and roll with precision. The Parsnik elder used a mist-based illusion attack, making it harder to tell where real attacks were coming from. The Migospel leader utilized rapid, unpredictable strikes, nearly overwhelming Vance with speed alone.

And each time—

He adapted.

His golden soul burned bright, his determination steady. But beneath it, his silver soul flickered and grew, feeding off the intensity of battle.

And elsewhere, unseen to him—

Two figures watched.

Chara's form flickered in the unseen void, her expression unreadable. "Hah… so that's how it is," she murmured.

Nina, barely holding together, pulsed weakly beside her. She didn't speak, her form glitching in and out.

Chara smirked slightly. "I wonder… is it changing him? Or is this just who he's always been?"

The fights stretched on.

By the time Vance faced the final challenger—the Astigmatism elder—his muscles ached, his breath came in ragged pants, but his mind—

His mind was steady.

His fear had dulled.

Not gone. But fading.

The Astigmatism elder was different from the others. He was a survivor of the old war. His attacks weren't just tests of skill; they were ruthless, efficient, and meant to kill.

Blades of light slashed through the air, cutting inches away from Vance's skin.

The boy moved, weaving through the onslaught. His mind processed faster than ever before, his body following without hesitation.

He ducked. Twisted. Leapt.

One misstep, and he'd be cut down.

But he wasn't afraid.

His silver soul pulsed stronger.

Toriel saw it.

Her hands clenched into fists, heart tightening with something she couldn't name.

Then—

The final attack.

A vertical blade of light, too wide to dodge fully.

Vance acted.

His legs tensed, and at the last second, he shifted his weight unnaturally, leaning back in an impossible angle. The attack barely grazed his chin, a single strand of hair cut in half.

He landed, chest rising and falling.

Silence.

The Astigmatism elder stared at him.

Then, he nodded. "Hmph. You've earned it, human."

Vance exhaled, finally allowing himself to feel the exhaustion. His limbs shook slightly, but his heart—

His heart was steady.

Toriel stepped forward, concern hidden beneath pride. "You are reckless, my child… but you have done well."

Vance forced a tired grin. "I'll take that as a compliment."

And as he stood there, surrounded by monsters who now looked at him with something deeper than tolerance—

He knew.

He had won more than just their respect.

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Vance stood amidst the gathered monsters, their wary gazes now tinged with a newfound respect. The battles had been grueling, but they had served their purpose. He had proven himself—not as a threat, but as someone willing to stand with them, to fight for them, even if it meant enduring their attacks without striking back. His golden soul pulsed steadily, a beacon of his determination, while the faint silver flicker beneath it remained unnoticed by all but Toriel, who watched him with a mixture of pride and unease.

The elder Froggit stepped forward, his croak softer now, less guarded. "You have shown courage, human. More than most would expect from one so young. What is it you seek to do here?"

Vance wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind already racing with ideas. He had spent countless hours in his previous life immersed in stories—anime, TV shows, books—where characters faced impossible odds and built something greater from the ashes. He had also seen the efficiency of his world's governments, flawed as they were, in organizing and sustaining communities. Those memories, combined with his growing understanding of the Ruins and its inhabitants, sparked a fire within him.

"I want to help," Vance said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "But not just by fixing roofs or handing out food. I want to make the Ruins a better place for everyone. A place where monsters can thrive, not just survive."

The monsters exchanged glances, murmuring among themselves. The Migospel leader, a wizened old monster with a twinkle in his eye, chuckled. "Ambitious words for a child. But ambition alone won't feed us or mend our homes. What do you propose?"

Vance took a deep breath, his mind organizing the ideas that had been swirling since his conversation with Toriel. "First, we need to organize. Right now, everyone is scattered, doing their own thing. But if we work together, we can accomplish more. We can create a system where everyone contributes what they can and gets what they need in return."

The Vegetoid chief, a stout monster with leaves sprouting from his head, frowned. "A system? Like… a government?"

"Not exactly," Vance replied. "More like a community council. Leaders from each group—Froggits, Looxs, Vegetoids, everyone—can come together to discuss problems and solutions. That way, no one feels left out, and everyone has a say in how things are run."

Toriel's ears twitched, her expression thoughtful. "A council… that is an interesting idea. It would allow the monsters to have a voice without relying solely on me."

Vance nodded. "Exactly. And once we have that, we can start tackling the bigger issues. Like food. Right now, the farms are barely producing enough. But if we work together, we can improve them. Maybe even expand them. I've seen how the surface world grows food—there are techniques we can adapt here, even without sunlight."

The Parsnik elder, a gnarled monster with a voice like rustling leaves, leaned forward. "And how do you propose we do that? The soil here is not like the surface. It is… different."

"That's true," Vance admitted. "But we can work with what we have. Maybe we can find ways to enrich the soil or grow different kinds of crops that thrive underground. And if we can't grow enough here, we can trade with other parts of the Underground. Snowdin, for example, has access to water and fish. If we can establish trade routes, we can bring in more resources."

The monsters murmured again, this time with a hint of excitement. The idea of trade, of connecting with other parts of the Underground, was something many had long given up on.

The Loox leader crossed his arms, his single eye narrowing. "And what about repairs? Many of our homes are falling apart. Can your 'council' fix that?"

Vance smiled. "Actually, yes. If we pool our resources and skills, we can set up teams to repair homes and infrastructure. Some monsters are better at building than others, right? We can assign tasks based on strengths. And if we need materials, we can scavenge or trade for them."

The Astigmatism elder, who had remained silent until now, spoke up. "You speak well, human. But words are easy. Actions are harder. How do we know you will follow through?"

Vance met his gaze, his golden soul glowing brighter. "You don't. Not yet. But I'm not asking you to trust me blindly. I'm asking you to give me a chance. Let me prove that I can do this. Let me work with you, not for you."

The monsters fell silent, considering his words. Finally, the Froggit elder croaked, "Very well. We will give you this chance. But know this, human—if you fail us, if you betray our trust, there will be consequences."

Vance nodded solemnly. "I understand. And I won't let you down."

With that, the meeting began to disperse, the monsters returning to their homes with a renewed sense of hope. Vance watched them go, his heart swelling with determination. He turned to Toriel, who had been quietly observing the entire exchange.

"You did well, my child," she said, her voice warm but tinged with concern. "But this is only the beginning. The road ahead will not be easy."

Vance smiled tiredly. "I know. But I'm ready. I have to be."

Toriel placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You are brave, Vance. Braver than most. But remember, you do not have to carry this burden alone. I am here, as are the others. We will support you."

Vance nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude. "Thanks, Toriel. That means a lot."

As they walked back to Toriel's home, Vance's mind continued to race. He thought of the council, the farms, the repairs—all the things he wanted to accomplish. But more than that, he thought of the monsters. Their struggles, their hopes, their fears. He had come to this world with a love for its story, but now he felt something deeper. A sense of responsibility. A desire to make things better, not just for himself, but for everyone.

When they finally reached the house, Vance collapsed into a chair, his body aching from the day's battles and his mind exhausted from the weight of his plans. Toriel brought him a cup of tea, her expression soft.

"You should rest, my child," she said. "Tomorrow will bring new challenges."

Vance sipped the tea, the warmth soothing his frayed nerves. "Yeah. But I'm ready for them."

Toriel smiled, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and something else—something Vance couldn't quite place. "I believe you are."

As the fire crackled in the hearth and the quiet of the Ruins settled around them, Vance felt a sense of peace. He had taken the first step. The road ahead was long and uncertain, but he was determined to see it through. For the monsters. For Toriel. And for himself.

With that thought, he closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the fire and the comfort of Toriel's presence lull him into a deep, dreamless sleep. Tomorrow would come, and with it, new challenges. But for now, he allowed himself to rest, his golden soul glowing softly in the dim light.