Chapter 102: Sinking in Flowers (1/2)
”She said… that your soul changed?” Allan said as Rakna stood up from his meditative stance. ”Now that I look at you, your ears and tails do look kinda different. Your eyes too…”
Rakna paused for a moment. 'My soul… I see. So, The Harvester goes as far as modifying my soul. I can't tell if that's a good thing or not,' he thought then looked at Evelyn. ”I think I know the cause of the change but why is she like that?”
The succubus breathed in when she heard the question. She recovered her balance and smiled at Flavia for her help before answering, ”Sorry… when I was sensing your soul, I think it reacted reflexively and attacked my own. At one point, I was looking at you and in the next, three beasts appeared around me and a lion jumped at me.”
Rakna blinked in surprise. ”Interesting… Soul Breath might have caused it. This would mean that there's a chance I can summon the souls of those beasts…” He muttered to himself.
”Am I the only one who has no idea what's going on?” Allan uttered. Nyx and Flavia shook their head and only Evelyn seemed to have some understanding of the situation.
”Well,” Rakna spoke up. ”I guess this is another hint I can give you about my Nirvana Skill. What she saw has something to do with it.”
”The three beasts, huh?” Nyx scowled and looked at Evelyn. ”Can you describe them?”
”One of them was a nine-tailed wolf. Another was a sort of griffin-like creature, though it seemed to be half-eagle and half-wolf. The last one was a large lion with black fur.”
”I see…” The former goddess smiled faintly. She had solved the puzzle.
”Going by that smile, it seems you figured it out,” Flavia remarked and she nodded. ”Mind telling us?”
”Only if he allows it,” Nyx replied and glanced at Rakna for confirmation who simply shrugged and sat down on one of the couches.
”Do as you please. I don't mind you knowing as long as the secret doesn't leave this room.”
”In that case; I believe that your Nirvana Skill allows you to absorb the powers and main features of a creature,” she declared. ”That would explain how you turned into a therian and while how you met a nine-tailed wolf eludes me, you probably assimilated it during your Initiation. As for the winged beast, it was probably the result of you using that skill on Aquila.”
”I see,” Flavia said. ”This new change must be from another beast too then.”
”On top of that, I also remembered what Baires mentioned when you sold the bodies to him. They had their hearts missing. That would mean you have a use for them. This, along, with what you told us after the Tutorial, I believe it is by eating them that you acquire new abilities,” Nyx added and this time, Rakna's eyes widened a little, impressed that she had made the connection.
”Ah! So that's why you said hearts taste good!” Allan exclaimed. ”Damn, I thought you were joking.”
”Now you know,” Rakna said offhandedly. ”My ability aside, are you done with your training?” he changed the subject.
”For today, yes. What about you? What did you use your Nirvana Skill on? Evelyn saw a lion, but what kind?”
”I'll keep it a surprise,” Rakna said and they all sent him a blank look. ”In any case, I will stay here for the night so you guys can do whatever you want.”
”Here?” Flavia frowned. ”It's not a healthy way of sleeping…”
Rakna snorted. ”Technically, I won't be sleeping per se. I will be using the soul meditation you saw me do. It works as a substitute for sleeping and helps me improve my control of soul power. One stone, two birds.”
”And I guess you won't be here in the morning?” She asked with an exasperated expression.
”Perhaps. I think I will go to Trafford at about 7 am then I will probably spend the day resting or practicing with soul power. In the meantime, you four can continue your training.”
”If you say so…”
”Oh, and I recommend you buy some basic skills from the Shop if you haven't yet. With the money from the gold eater, you four could can all get something decent,” Rakna added. ”Of course, if Nyx and Flavia don't mind sharing.”
”I don't have any complaints with that idea,” the former goddess said and Flavia agreed with a curt nod. ”Rather, don't you want some of it as well? We know you sold those bodies for a decent sum but it's still less than what we could share with you if you just asked.”
”It's fine,” he shook his head. ”I have more than enough money at the moment thanks to my recent excursion. If anything, I should be the one to ask if you need some.”
”Really? How much do you have?” Allan asked in curiosity. He had already been told how much the squirrel had been sold for from the girls.
”About two million and a half.” The blond did a double-take at that and Rakna seemingly ignored it and continued, ”Though, I originally had something closer to three million; I spent some to buy a skill and a few consumables. I'll probably use a bit more tomorrow too.”
”I can't believe this guy…” Allan facepalmed and the girls weren't much different. Only Evelyn was stuck in the 'shocked stage' since she had yet to get used to Rakna's abnormality.
”Whatever. I'm going to bed. I heard they have a hotel in the commune section,” Allan stated as he unceremoniously went down the stairs and exited the Filter Dimension.
Flavia chuckled wryly with a shake of her head. ”I will follow his example, I think. Have a good night, Rakna,” she said and left together with Nyx who simply nodded at the werewolf with a smile.
After they were gone, the only person that remained was Evelyn. She had a nervous expression as Rakna eyed her inquisitively. ”What's wrong? Do you need anything? If it's about Sonata, you can keep it until I'm finished recovering.”