"You… Why would you… do that…?" Grace dragged her feet and pulled Arnold to face her, "Why!?"
"…A knife wound wouldn't kill her."
"How do you—"
Someone who controls life and death and is the living embodiment of darkness. Being darkness itself allows her to reject it and always return from death, no matter how grave the wound.
For that is the blessing given to her by Aedri, Goddess of Dark Magic.
The world came to a stop.
--
Ding!
-You have completed the quest: [The Death God's Consort]: Unlock Elizabeth's full potential by awakening her incarnation factor.
Reward: Subclass Selection Draw. You can now select any sub-class of your choosing. Required stats for the following classes will be automatically added to Player's status.
Choose from the following rewards:
1. Elementalist
2. Bloodsworn
3. Rogue
4. Tamer
5. Enchanter
6. Augmenter
7. Warden
8. Spellblade
9. Soulbinder
10. Plaguebearer
11. Beastheart
12. Thornmancer
13. Chronomancer
14. Illusionist
15. Hellcaller
16. Runesmith
17. Artificer
--
A list of numerous classes appeared before him when the [Reward Window] appeared. He now had the option to get a magic class.
And he already knew which one to choose.
Arnold's finger moved without hesitation.
…
Time began to flow again after he made his selection.
Dark energy suddenly erupted in front of the two and twisted around Elizabeth's body, clinging to her like tar.
Then came the light.
A single beam cut through the darkness, radiant and warm, swallowing the shadows whole. The corruption writhed in protest, then burned away, vanishing like mist at sunrise.
Elizabeth's body arched, suspended in the light. The scales peeled away, her flesh smoothing, healing. Her posture straightened. She grew eyelashes and eyebrows; her lips became a supple pink and her once scaly fingers became slender and delicate.
When her feet touched the ground again, she was changed.
Where the twisted form once stood, now stood a young woman of striking beauty—her long black hair falling past her waist, skin soft and unmarred by any corruption, her body glowing faintly with divine grace.
She did not radiate the air of a normal human in that moment.
When she opened her eyes, a blinding white light escaped them, analyzing the two mortals before her.
Aedri had taken hold.
Arnold could tell from the error he got from the system readings.
The goddess raised her hand as if testing the air, her expression unreadable.
Then, softly, she spoke.
"You have my thanks, Human. No, I feel it is inappropriate to treat you so coldly since you are my Elizabeth's soulmate. Thank you… Arnold. You have freed me from Thanrion's clutches by granting me the power to challenge him. You've given me the chance I needed and for that I shall repay you greatly once my battle with him is over."
She glanced at Grace but then lost interest in her completely, turning towards a full body mirror nearby and checking Elizabeth's body out.
"W-Wait, what's going on!?" Grace seemed genuinely confused, "How did killing Elizabeth bring out Aedri!?"
'She knows who this is…?' Arnold glanced at Grace in a suspicious light, then up at her status to see if his suspicions were for naught.
He could see her status just fine—the same weak human he knew from the game. Though that's not the only indication she's a player, it's still worth a look. Players often hide their statuses to avoid being seen on the maps in the game. You can't even see their names.
Either he's being paranoid or Grace knew how to fool other players.
"For some odd reason, the incarnation factor I bestowed upon her could only be awakened in a life-or-death situation, trauma or death itself, which Arnold was able to deduce on his own." She smiled at Arnold, "I could do nothing for 16 years but look at how my child suffered due to her birthright as the daughter of a maid and her lord. She is destined for far greater things than dying as some unknown necromancer. From today onwards, she will be Arnold's aid—one befitting the title of my incarnation."
"What do you mean by my aid?" he asked, acting surprised at something he already knew was going to happen.
"Oftentimes when mortals fall in love, a passion within their hearts recognize the ones they love as soulmates. That thought resonates whenever they think about or interact with that person. I am here to tell you that what you felt was no mere desire driven by love—she is destined to love you and die with you. She is the pillar for when you fall and you hers when she falls. She may be the ruler over life and death, something given by me, but there will be times when even that power is useless to save you, dear Arnold. It is that day that she will fulfil her role as your soulmate and join you in death, passing my power onto me once again so that I may find another."
She spoke with divine serenity, a voice of a mature woman and that of Elizabeth.
"If you have more questions, feel free to ask them."
"I have one: where is Elizabeth's consciousness?" Grace asked, "I know she is an incarnation factor but only Oracles should be able to handle a god's descent into the mortal realm without their souls disintegrating."
Arnold was also worried about Elizabeth. She wasn't supposed to unlock her power this early. In fact, for the entirety of the "School Arc", she remained a nobody. That's about two years of constant training to improve her abilities.
The goddess laughed elegantly with one hand in front of her mouth.
"You underestimate her greatly. She is currently in my dimension and should return soon."
Grace sighed in relief.
"Tell her that, should she grow bored of her immortal life, I look forward to welcoming her on to my throne so that I may give up the title of Goddess to spend my days protecting the divine realm from the Dark Forces. Quite hilarious how my one desire in life is to atone for my sins, is it not?" she asked to no one in particular in a smaller voice.
"If we want to see you, where should we go?" Arnold asked curiously.
"One of my fragment selves are in my shrine, atop the same mountain I've conducted rituals to keep the Dark Forces away for centuries—go there and I shall greet you. Though, you will have to forgive me for not greeting you personally as my battle with Thanrion may take a while."
'Why the hell is Thanrion so obsessed with this woman…?' he genuinely didn't know since this plotline wasn't mentioned in the story.
"I am his queen, the lowly undead said to me when he caught me by surprise in the middle of my usual ritual to keep the Dark Forces at bay. Then he imprisoned me in his dimension. Pah, I am now in a foul mood remembering that day. I take my leave so that I can teach that skeleton a lesson." A golden light surrounded Aedri. "This is farewell for now, Arnold. Human girl."
And with that, the light rose once more, lifting from her body as Aedri's presence withdrew—leaving Elizabeth behind, whole and beautiful, slowly waking from the divine trance.
'So, by making Elizabeth awaken her power, I also saved Aedri in the end… Was she too weak to fight Thanrion?'
It wouldn't be a stretch to think she was using Elizabeth's blessing to fight the Death God. Blessings can be powerups as well apparently. If the incarnation factor grows, so too does the god who granted the blessing.
"…Eh? W-What?" dazed, Elizabeth regained consciousness, body full healed with not a blemish or scab in sight. "W-Where is she… My Goddess…!"
Arnold placed a hand on her head with a small smile.
"I used to doubt it before but Aedri confirmed it—You are my soulmate."
"!" her red eyes widened and her entire face turned red.
"Elizabeth… Is that really… you?" Grace grabbed her hands and thoroughly inspected them.
"E-Eh? Are those… mine?" befuddled, she looked at her hands in a daze. Then she looked up at Arnold for answers.
"You awakened your incarnation power after death—and are now the embodiment of death." He said vaguely and approached the door, looking out with an expression that told others he was satisfied with himself, "In the process, you were also reborn."
'Now that that's done with, I can go see Lauran then take her to see Anais to talk about the teleportation gates. I wonder how Wistorina is doing with her interview?'
Wistorina and Lauran were in the office, having an interview with one of the school board members. Since this academy needs to ensure everyone deserves to study here—it's one of the most prestigious academies, after all—they conduct several small competency tests befitting the person's field.
Arnold turned his attention back to the goddess-like beauty as she admired her own figure.
"…I'm… this is… me?" she stared at the mirror, touching her flawless skin. Her slanted eyes formed tears and a sniffle came of out her as she fell to the floor, "Ahhh… Ahhh…"
"…" Grace sat down with her and rubbed her shoulder. He noticed her looking at him with a frown.
"…How did you know this would happen?"
"They say there's a crazy old man living in the mountains who claims he's been to the divine realm before—I met that old man selling his paintings at the foot of those mountains after I heard a rumor that he sold a painting that looks just like Elizabeth's mother. One of those paintings had Aedri's face drawn on it, confirming the rumor."
Elizabeth lifted her head, looking at Arnold through the reflection in the mirror.
"—How could I ever forget your mother's beauty? It was a complete replica of the perfection I fell in love with that night I saw that painting. No… it wasn't a painting. It was a prophecy. A whisper from the divine."
He paused dramatically as he looked at Elizabeth's perfection beauty that knew no equal besides a literal goddess.
"Incarnation Factors don't lie. They carve a god's reflection into the flesh of mortals in the womb of their mothers. Elizabeth's beauty was hidden like a masterpiece beneath soot. Had I known this before then my disappointment never would have stayed with me years later. In fact, I would've sought ways to cure her!" he proclaimed loudly like a knight confessing his love to the lone princess imprisoned in her tower.
Grace's frown deepened.
Condition: suspicious
Arnold ignored her, continuing, "But I knew. I remembered how her skin glowed when the light struck her at just the right angle, even with the blemishes. I remembered how her voice cut through the air, so serene, like distant bells. I just… knew the divinity was still there, waiting to wake up. And yet, my disappointment overshadowed that feeling, never to arise again!"
He looked down at Elizabeth, offering her a gentle gaze that made her face flush with a tint of red.
"I just trusted my memory and knowledge of legends. And now… look at you." He lifted Elizabeth's chin with one finger.
Talking like some "Prince Charming" who wants to get into the panties of a cold beauty, was going to make him kill himself. It's just too unbearable. He prefers the Holy Sword's [Curse of the Afterlife] over this.
Elizabeth's perfect face burned bright red and she fell back on the floor at his action.
"…That's a wild tale but… it certainly does seem plausible… As the church of Melis says, a god's power can cure any illness and dispel any corruption." she turned to her friend who was squirming on the floor, sighing slightly at how the only thing that changed was her appearance.
'Phew…'
Arnold cleared his throat, relieved that he managed to fool the most difficult person to fool that he knew. He did not want to act like what he did earlier, ever again.
"I have a favor to ask, Grace." He broke eye contact with Elizabeth and spoke normally again.
"…What is it?"
"Help Elizabeth make friends. Even if she's healed, she's still the same person." He glanced at her, noticing that she was still touching her face and body.
"…I'll do that."
He gave a nod in thanks before leaving the room. He could hear Elizabeth bawling her heart out. In a situation like this, he should be the one to comfort her, right? After all, he did just confess to her—by calling her his soulmate.
"…"
Arnold felt an intense gaze next to him.
"…What's wrong, Ceru?"
The one giving him that intense glare was Ceru in her human form, wearing… a school girl uniform? Arnold had no idea where she got it from. The skirt was so short that one could see her panties from behind while she's floating around. Of course, no one other than him can see her right now. If others could, the boys she was floating in front of would look right into her plump butt and pink panties.
'Papa never patted my head before….' She spoke telepathically.
Arnold blinked. 'That's what you're upset about? I thought you'd be angry that I told Elizabeth to kill herself for me. Isn't that selfish? I wanted to do that because I need Elizabeth's power, you know?'
He was expecting the righteous fury of a divine protector to descend on him. Angels, after all, were the Divine Realm's last line of defense—not just in battle, but in the preservation of mortal dignity and life. It was written into their very essence, a law older than time: to protect all life, even the fragile and flawed lives of mortals.
Ceru should have been furious. Not just morally, but instinctually.
And yet… she wasn't angry.
'Eh? But I don't care about that! She should be glad to serve Papa! A Martial God needs servants to serve him!'
'No… I am not a Martial God…'
'But you are! You're the S—'
"Huh? Is that Celeste?" Arnold noticed his Big Sis walking down the hallway, getting a lot of stairs from shirtless boys and those in towels.
There could be only one reason why she would come to the male dorm.
"—Good morning, Al. I was expecting to come wake you up." She looked quite grumpy but managed to smile.
Whatever business she had to finish probably took a lot out of her.
"Morning, before we go to the committee's office, I need to go get someone… It'll be quick."
"Fine. Myrena is usually in the teacher's offices having tea at this time so we should have about," she checked her wrist watch, "ten minutes."
"That's a bit too short…"
"What's the issue?"
"Well… I need to go see Anais as well. She won't be at the academy anymore after today. come to think of it, I never asked her if she's going to study at the Magic University."
Although he could use his warrior sense or even the system itself to look for her, he wanted to finalize everything today since he wants to focus on other things. Serz, Tyran, his city, Selia—there were equally important things to tend to.
Celeste looked at him silently with a side glance as they walked.
"Is that a no?"
"Myrena will give both of us a headache if we aren't there early so you go finish your business with that someone you mentioned first. I will try to stall Anais by taking her out of that mess of a lab so that you can catch her in time. It appears she does not want to be part of the announcement in the auditorium so she's packing up her stuff in the lab at the moment."
"Thanks a lot."
"I am not doing it for you. I would love nothing more than to see Myrena discipline you." Celeste harrumphed, something he recalls her rarely doing.
She suddenly started walking faster, ahead of him.
Since when has she been so childish, he chuckled to himself.