BXBX NOVEL Chapter 293: I have been chosen. [2/2]
"David Thomas was the reason she died. We were part of his assault team, and one night his soul collapsed. And she was one of the sacrifices to bring him back."
It was just that I remembered what Zach had said earlier.
"Look, the issue is not that we cannot lock them up. Its not even the amount of undead they take down. The issue is related to David. As a Revenant, his mental wellbeing is paramount. So nothing can happen to Xander Rutherford."
"In short terms, David owes Xander. It is partly David's fault Xander created the Saviors. Touching the Saviors means getting into conflict with Xander. We are in a difficult period. David cannot be troubled by such trifling matters."
"..."
Savior. A being meant to save another. What the hell happened to make his army so twisted? Unable to answer, I just kept listening.
"You see, I didn't forget immediately, so I wrote everything down before my memories slowly faded. I created the Saviors for one purpose. To kill reapers suffering from soul collapse.
"The journals I read from were stained with blood and tears. Emotion was evident in the pages But to me now, it felt like the words of a stranger.
"Despite the grand sounding name, I read that I tried to kill David with them. But he ended up murdering all of the original members of my group except for one. I can't even remember the names or faces of those who died."
"Who was the only survivor?" I asked curiously.
"It was Robert Acwellan. He was someone who had his entire village massacred. His rage created his {Fate} {Blood Feast}. Currently I only protect the group because of him. When I forgot my reasons and my anger, I left and just killed undead for a few years. The current members were all recruited by Robert."
This. This was a hell of a lot to take in. No wonder Roland said it was hard to care about anything for Specters.
Long-lived species in fiction were written to have the same quirks.
Elves, vampires, dragons, and demons. With the blessing of long life came the curse of mortality.
Not to them, but to those who managed to enter their hearts.
The best analogy to humans would be loving pets. No matter how hard you try, a cat or dog will never live beyond 20 years. Therefore, it was normal for a person to have 4 or 5 pets during his or her 80 years of life.
Loving such animals always came with the danger and pain of the inevitable separation. Most could get over it and go on to raise another, but others took months or even decades to recover.
But unlike elves and the like in fiction, reapers will eventually forget even the time we spent with them. Nothing could be more heartless, or more merciful, depending on who you ask.
Raymond chimed in as the others sipped their drinks.
"I am the same brat. I could care less what you do to the Derycks. As far as I'm concerned, they're just gofers. I don't care if you take them. Just like this fucker, I forgot why I became a reaper".
Roland continued where he had left off.
"This is one of the truths that most do not know. The legions of Specters did not hide in cowardice, they simply lost interest in enduring such hardships. They lost their "why." Those who can continue to fight even after losing everything are the ones who eventually become Revenants."
"..."
Roland's whole demeanor changed. If he was a cheerful grandfather before, he now exuded the majesty of a king.
His eyes were like little suns that pierced my being.
"John Smith, you have repeatedly told not only your harem, but even David, that you wish to become a Revenant and close Hellsgate."
"I have."
"Then I ask you, are you willing to do this even if you have much to lose?"
"..."
Roland then stood up and walked towards me, feeling that I couldn't afford to remain seated, I also stood up with my drink.
"John Smith, unlike when you died as a human. You have much to lose now. I can see it in your eyes. The emptiness has been replaced by many things. Love, pride, satisfaction and happiness. Do you still want to go on knowing that all that you hold dear might be taken from you?"
"..."
"You have heard what these two had to say. Might is not enough to reach the heights to which you aspire. You have already done more than most. Your regrets are mostly resolved, right? You have wealth, beauties, and power. What more do you want?"
If survival was all I wanted, I could skip the Seeker War and just farm undead for money. My ability would allow me to gain wealth even if I did the bare minimum. But as I remembered the faces of the Sirens. I knew one thing.
'If I just took it easy, I would be betraying them. The world was the cause of their suffering. They did not give me their {Fates} so that I could sit idly by.'
Probably seeing my hesitation, Roland the continued his case. His words began to sound like the serpent in my strange dreams.
"Why? Why not just forget all this and live happily in ignorance? Would you be willing to waste the rest of your life on uncertainty? What you wish to do, no one has succeeded in time memorial, yet you wish to continue?"
{Forswear all thy hopes and embrace thy destiny. I shall bring back thy lovers and thou shall be together in Elysium, blissful for all eternity.}
If I follow the future I envision, I will have my many battles and people will die. I have already prepared my heart for this. But even then the Sirens were not completely safe.
Yet even if I gave up fighting and just enjoyed life, Hellsgate would still break open and we would all die anyway.
{Now bid upon mine name and end thy suffering. Reunite with those thou love and awake from this nightmare.}
But did I really have to worry? If I could spend a few decades with the Sirens, that would be enough. Live in the now, so to speak. Who cared about the future?
Roland's words sounded irresistible, but somehow, just like the words of the serpents, I began to remember the warriors.
{Away from me you vile serpent! Your seduction has no meaning. I will be the one who will end you! If not now, then in another life. Until the day I cleave your head off your body I will never surrender!}
"It is up to you now."
As if showing me my future, I know I understood the dreams I had. The warriors took up their weapons even though they had no allies or support. It was only for one reason.
{Even so, until my soul breaks. I will try again. Wait for me, serpent! Our dance will continue for one last time!}
As if the symbolism was meant to drive home the possibility before me. The reason I am alive is because of those who have died. If no one fought for the future, there would be no future.
Thus, I answered Roland with my true feelings.
"I do. I have been chosen to end this."