Journey to Become the Zenith

The Soul’s Eternal Covenant

Victor continued.

”If I perform the technique...”

”Your soul will become anchored to mine.”

”You will no longer wander this world.”

”You will exist within my spiritual domain.”

”My spiritual power will nourish your soul.”

”As long as I live...”

”...your soul will continue to exist.”

”When your soul fully recovers...”

”You may choose your own path.”

The woman lowered her eyes.

”You would spend your own spiritual power...”

”...for someone you’ve only just met?”

Victor answered honestly.

”I don’t help people without reason.”

”I never have.”

He looked toward Clara.

”Your daughter entrusted herself to me.”

”I accepted that agreement.”

”Saving her family is part of that promise.”

Clara stared silently at him.

She hadn’t expected such an answer.

It sounded cold...

Yet somehow...

It was strangely reassuring.

The woman smiled gently.

”Even so...”

”I would become a burden.”

Victor shook his head.

”No.”

”I wouldn’t have offered if I believed that.”

Clara suddenly stepped forward.

”What exactly does...”

”...anchored to your soul...”

”...mean?”

Victor looked into the woman’s fading eyes before speaking calmly.

”The technique I use is unlike an ordinary soul contract.”

He paused for a moment, carefully choosing his words.

”It is closer to what ancient spiritual records describe as a Marriage of Souls.”

The room fell silent.

Clara blinked.

”...Marriage...?”

Victor nodded.

”When two souls become completely intertwined, they acknowledge each other’s existence.”

”They become each other’s anchor.”

”It is an unbreakable bond.”

”My soul will become the vessel that prevents yours from disappearing.”

”My spiritual power will continuously nourish your soul.”

”As long as I live...”

”...your soul will never fade.”

Clara’s beautiful face instantly flushed crimson.

”M- Marriage...?”

Her heart skipped a beat.

For some reason, merely hearing those words made countless embarrassing thoughts flash through her mind.

If Mother’s soul is bound to Victor...

Then... doesn’t that mean...

She quickly shook her head.

W-Why am I thinking about something like that now?!

The translucent woman looked between the two of them.

A gentle smile slowly appeared on her face.

”So that is the price...”

Victor calmly corrected her.

”It is not a marriage between man and woman.”

”It is merely called that because two souls become inseparable.”

”There is no romance.”

”There are no vows.”

”There is only trust.”

The woman closed her eyes for a brief moment.

When she opened them again, they were filled with relief instead of hesitation.

”I understand.”

She looked directly at Victor.

”You could have simply let me disappear.”

”But instead...”

”...you chose to offer me another chance.”

”That alone tells me what kind of man you are.”

She smiled warmly.

”My greatest regret...”

”...is leaving my children behind.”

”If preserving my soul allows me to watch over them a little longer...”

”...then I accept.”

She slowly bowed her head.

”Victor...”

”I entrust my life...”

”...and my soul...”

”...to you.”

Then she turned toward Clara.

”My little one...”

Her smile became as warm as it had been when Clara was a child.

”Don’t cry anymore.”

”I’ll still be with you.”

”Perhaps not by your side...”

”But I won’t truly be gone.”

Clara’s tears flowed even faster.

She grabbed Victor’s sleeve with both trembling hands.

”Victor...”

”Please...”

”Save my mother.”

”I don’t want to lose her again.”

Victor met her tear-filled eyes and gave a single nod.

”I will.”

Without another word, he slowly raised both hands.

Ancient symbols blossomed around his fingertips.

Golden threads of spiritual power spread quietly through the room before gently wrapping around the fading soul like strands of warm sunlight.

The scattered fragments of light gradually gathered once more.

For the first time since appearing, the woman’s soul stopped fading.

Clara stared at the unbelievable sight, unable to look away.

”W-What...”

”...what kind of technique is this...?”

Victor did not answer Clara’s question.

His entire focus remained fixed on the fragile soul suspended before him.

The golden threads of spiritual power continued to spread from his fingertips, weaving together into an intricate formation unlike any magic Clara had ever witnessed. Ancient symbols revolved around the translucent woman one after another, each carrying an indescribable aura of antiquity.

The room gradually grew quiet.

Even the cold wind blowing through the broken doorway seemed to slow.

Victor’s golden eyes never wavered.

The soul has already begun to disperse...

Fortunately... it’s not beyond saving.

This technique wasn’t something that could be used carelessly.

It demanded extraordinary control over spiritual power.

A single mistake...

A single unstable fluctuation...

Would cause the remaining soul to scatter forever.

The golden threads gently wrapped around the woman’s fading figure.

Unlike chains, they resembled countless warm rays of sunlight embracing her.

The woman’s expression gradually relaxed.

”I can... feel it...”

Her voice was filled with surprise.

”The pain...”

”It’s disappearing.”

Victor finally spoke.

”Don’t resist.”

”Let my spiritual power guide your soul.”

”If you reject it...”

”The technique will fail.”

The woman nodded without hesitation.

”I understand.”

She slowly closed her eyes.

The moment she completely relaxed, the countless golden threads became even brighter.

Clara stood nearby with both hands tightly clasped against her chest.

She didn’t dare breathe too loudly.

She feared even the smallest disturbance might interrupt Victor.

Her eyes remained fixed on him.

His expression was calm.

Steady.

As though preserving a soul was simply another task that demanded his full attention.

Yet Clara noticed something else.

Tiny beads of sweat had begun forming along his forehead.

His breathing had become noticeably slower.

For the first time since meeting him...

Victor looked slightly strained.

He’s... actually pushing himself...

The realization left her speechless.

She had always thought Victor was someone who could accomplish anything effortlessly.

Seeing even him exert himself so seriously made her heart tighten.

The woman’s transparent body slowly became clearer.

The flickering light surrounding her stabilized little by little.

She looked down at her own hands in disbelief.

”I can still... exist...”

Victor gave a faint nod.

”For now.”

”This technique preserves your soul.”

”It doesn’t restore your life.”

”You will remain a spiritual existence.”

”You cannot interfere with the living unless your soul becomes much stronger in the future.”

”I understand.”