Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Flama Astoria
Under Vahn’s calm eyes, Lilith performed some kind of secret Art of Darkness. With a deep, resonant hum, a black mirror instantly buzzed into life, looking ancient and powerful. It was a disc of pure, solidified shadow, radiating ancient energy.
"This is the Gateway of Souls," Lilith explained, her voice low and focused. "Let me connect with Flama, then you will enter inside. But remember, only your Soul can transfer to the other side, which will limit your actions to some extent."
Vahn nodded seriously, acknowledging the danger and the limitations. Yet, his gaze was fixed on the mirror, a strong curiosity overriding his caution. He wondered what the Saintess of Fire looked like.
Though their Marriage Ritual had been broken, Vahn could still see all the bonds listed in his system interface. They hadn’t been removed at all. It was as if their connection was something beyond that petty Ritual, something far older. He was determined to discover the truth of it all.
Suddenly, a domineering voice echoed from the black mirror. "Lilith! You dare to breach the sacred barrier?"
Lilith replied first in her cold, authoritative voice, "Silence, Flama. I am not here for an attack. I am here to let you meet someone."
"Who? I don’t want meet anyone. I am very busy!"
Following the annoyed reply, the mirror’s surface shifted, reflecting the face of a young maiden. Vahn finally got to see her: Flama Astoria, the Saintess of Fire. Her features were sharp, powerful, and currently etched with deep frustration and impatience.
"Go!" Lilith commanded, her tone final.
With Lilith’s signal, Vahn’s soul detached from his disguised body, rushing forward in a pure stream of conscious energy. He entered the churning shadows of the Gateway of Souls.
When he regained his vision, he found himself inside a small countryside house where smell of herbs and medicines were heavy.
"Pervert! Hooligan! Hide your disgusting part at once!"
The young woman before him suddenly screamed with utter fluster and deep disgust.
Only then did Vahn realize: He was in his Soul form, but not in Damien’s face. He was the glowing projection of his original self; and completely naked.
Slightly embarrassed despite being a projection of consciousness, he quickly wrapped a towel around his waist using pure spiritual energy.
But once he saw her appearance, even Vahn couldn’t help but stare.
Even though he didn’t care too much about outside beauty...she was truly a sight of breathtaking beauty.
She had a calm and graceful aura that felt almost otherworldly. Her long, smooth red hair fell straight down her back, shining brightly in the sunlight.
A golden crown rested on her head, decorated with delicate red flowers and elegant designs that made her look royal and divine.
She wore a flowing red robe with golden details, the fabric soft and light. Her skin was pale and flawless, glowing softly against the rich color of her clothes. Around her wrists and neck, she wore golden bangles and jewelry that shimmered with every small movement.
Most importantly, Vahn noted her slightly pointy long ears, which most probably a mark of a higher bloodline.
Currently, she was holding a golden object carefully in her hands, looking both alert and furiously insulted.
"You! The heretic! The Demon’s Child!" Flama spat, recognizing his face instantly. "Lilith, what twisted game is this? I will destroy his soul!"
"Calm down, Flama Astoria," Vahn said, trying to smooth things over. "I merely wish to speak some truth to you. Your elders are using you. The Forbidden Marriage Ritual was a lie. I was bound to you all not as a husband, but as a sacrifice to drain my power."
"Lies! Demonic Lies! We are protector of righteousness. The elders would never do such a thing," Flama projected, her spiritual form trembling with conviction and terror.
"It’s not a lie... and you know it very well," Vahn’s voice dropped into a sad, wounded tone, entirely focused on manipulating her sense of duty and guilt.
"Our marriage pact might be broken, but can you bear to see me hunted like a dog? What did I do wrong? How can you all treat me like this?"
Flama’s furious expression faltered under his disheartened words. The sight of the innocent, vulnerable projection of Vahn’s soul made her hesitate.
Thinking the iron was hot, Vahn proceeded to solidify his position. "Still, I am not asking you to join us. Nor go against your ’respectable’ elders. I just want to talk to you for a while."
He had successfully turned the confrontation into a personal plea, leveraging her innate sense of fairness and the shock of the elders’ betrayal.
Flama Astoria slowly lowered her head, her fiery aura diminishing completely. The revelation of her elders’ betrayal was a severe spiritual wound, but she maintained a facade of unwavering composure.
"Whatever," she projected, her voice flat. "You can talk whatever you want. But don’t expect any reply from me. I am busy with my work."
Saying that, she put away the golden object and got busy with the items on the table. The small room was filled with various vials and apparatus.
Vahn leaned closer, watching the colorful liquids contained within the glass bottles. Strangely, some of them felt intensely familiar to him.
"Huh, isn’t that Nitrogen Dioxide? And that Carbon Dioxide and Ammonium?" Vahn blurted out, his curiosity overriding his caution. Though he hadn’t studied very far on Earth, he was knowledgeable enough in the basics of chemistry to recognize the compounds’ states and colors.
Hearing his blabbering, Flama turned and scoffed at once, her composure breaking at the insult to her craft.
"Don’t speak nonsense when you know nothing. They are called Death Breath, Aetheren, and Transmutite," she retorted, correcting his nomenclature with instant indignation.
Though she had just said she wouldn’t speak to him, when it came to her passionate subject, alchemy, she couldn’t sit idly by.
Vahn instantly understood that she was also a Passionate Alchemist, a secret identity beyond the Saintess of Fire the world knew.
Vahn seized the opportunity, realizing her passion was his new entry point. He quickly dropped the act of the victim and adopted the persona of an interested scholar.
"My apologies, Saintess Flama," Vahn said, his voice carrying a trace of genuine excitement. "I meant no disrespect. It’s just that the crystalline pattern and volatile essence of your ’Death Breath’ remind me of something I once read in ancient alchemical texts. They spoke of a miraculous potion that could make anyone laugh uncontrollably. Would you allow me to demonstrate it for you?"
Flama hesitated for only a moment, "A potion that makes anyone laugh? Are you saying the truth?"
"Completely," Vahn replied, smiling with confidence. "It may sound foolish, but its composition is both elegant and precise. I’d like to show you, if you’ll permit it."
"Very well. Show it to me then, Vahn Necrotis. If your so-called ’miracle potion’ truly exists, I will judge it myself."
Vahn nodded, widening. "Then watch closely, Saintess. Alchemy isn’t always about destruction; it can bring joy too."
Flama’s lips curved faintly, creating a mesmerizing beauty. "We’ll see about that. First let’s witness your miraculous potion. You have my full attention."