Nova woke to the scent of fresh strawberries and damp hair. The bed shifted beneath him as two small forms settled to his side.

'Mmh, how much time has passed? The sun is nearly gone already… This should be enough rest to keep me going.'

His senses picked up the faint shimmer of a barrier formation wrapped around his body. Through the familiar magic, he could see Millie chattering away to Annelie, but not a sound made it to his ears.

'Aha, so she feels fine using magic again? This is the muting formation I taught her.'

Nova snapped his fingers, dismissing the invisible barrier. The surrounding sounds rushed back as he smiled at Millie. "You feeling better?"

"Yep!" She beamed at him with water still clinging to her blonde hair. "Only using magic I know should be fine, right?"

"It should." Nova rubbed sleep from his eyes. "But I don't want you to force yourself either."

Millie nodded solemnly. "I won't. Just the ones you taught me." She traced a simple rune in the air, leaving a brief trail of light. "See?"

"Good." Nova pushed himself up, feeling his muscles protesting. "How long was I asleep?"

"A few hours." Annelie peeked at the rift through the window while brushing her black hair. "They came to pick up the formation, and should be preparing it now. Cardinal Victoria told me when she joined us in the bath, saying she had to protect us."

"Huh, I didn't expect her to go that far. But that's good." He swung his legs off the bed, looking down at the formation. "I couldn't leave them any notes, but they should understand that bigger is better, right?"

Annelie was busy fixing a ponytail in her hair using the reflection in the window. "I think so. Why couldn't you leave notes?"

"Ehh… I don't know how to write. Or read."

"Ahh, that makes sense. You haven't had access to any books, right? I can teach you later." She turned to him with an exaggerated movement, showing off her ponytail.

Nova met her eyes, feeling it was time to make some decisions. "Do you have supernatural teaching abilities? Or are you planning to join us in Collport?"

"Uhm…" She bit her lips nervously. "What do you think I should do?"

"That's not for me to decide. And I don't know what would be better. I would love for you to join us, but is that the best way to save people? Do I need the help you can offer?"

"... I think we're stronger together," Annelie replied. Her body language showed a mix of nervousness and determination, twisting her hands in her lap but facing his stare directly. "I mean no offense, but you put yourself in danger too frequently."

"Hmm…" Nova chewed on her words, thinking back to all the times he had taken unneeded risks recently.

'Confronting Governor Newark was a risk, but a needed one. Killing one of Nihil's underlings before knowing his strength was a hasty decision, and following the woman to meet him later was overly brave. I was in a hurry to gain Soul Power, but not so much that I needed to take such risks. I was overly confident in my ability to escape, even if I was right.

Then the Soul trader, that was not my brightest moment. Quinn should have warned me about trading human souls, but I should have considered it myself as well. And the outlands… I definitely should have died there, but I would argue that was a stroke of terrible luck instead of stupidity.

… I'll admit the school infiltration was too risky. I underestimated their connection to the system and the assessment process. That was… human error.'

He looked over at Millie, watching her smell her hair again with a big smile. He had weaknesses.

When not getting a response, Annelie continued. "You walked a thin edge when meeting the Cardinals, and while I understand why…"

"No, you're right."

"And the rift?!" Annelie's voice rose sharply, having too much on her heart to accept his words. "You're waltzing into the rift with three thousand Soul Power? Are you mad?"

Millie's eyes filled with worry as she stared at the two of them, sensing a fight.

"... Let's discuss this somewhere else."

"Right." Annelie's voice softened, looking at Millie. "Sorry."

"Millie, we're going outside for a little while." Nova patted her head gently. "Just yell if you need us, okay?"

She nodded, still looking at them with uncertain eyes. "I'll be fine."

Nova led the way to the door, Annelie close behind. They stepped into the torch-lit corridor, closing the door quietly behind them. The cathedral's halls felt emptier now, their footsteps echoing off bare stone.

On the off chance that someone was listening, Nova swapped to their secret language. "I'm immune to the madness."

"I'm coming with you." Annelie planted her feet, folding her arms. It was clear she still considered him her senior, but she was standing up to him instead of backing down.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"No." Nova shook his head firmly. "Annelie, you don't have the resistance to the void you think you do."

"I lived there!" Her hands balled into fists. "I know more about its dangers than you!"

"You lost yourself in the void." Nova stayed calm, but he felt the tension in his voice rising. "For all we know, what remains of you after your soul escaped could still be in there."

"What?!" Annelie recoiled like she'd been struck. "Are we making things up to win an argument now?"

"Can you deny it?" Nova's eyes searched her face. "The void twists, transforms, corrupts... I've never seen anyone but me survive its influence unaltered."

"You've never seen another reincarnator either!" Her voice trembled, seeped in emotion. "I'm fine! I remember all my memories, all my emotions, and I haven't changed. I'm still me."

Nova caught the flicker of doubt in her voice and felt his chest tighten. He'd gone too far. Living through as many lives as they had, their sense of self was the only constant. It was the anchor that kept them from drifting and losing themselves in the dark.

Nova stared at the floor for a moment. "I'm sorry." His voice softened. "Perhaps you're right, and something is keeping you sane through the madness. But I can tell that the rift is affecting you, and you know it."

"...Not negatively." Annelie leaned against the stone wall, taking a breath to calm herself. "I might be more emotional, but if anything, my positive emotions are amplified."

"And what would happen if those emotions were amplified another ten times?" Nova's hands spread in frustration. "It's too unpredictable. You're not coming along."

"Nova..." She pushed away from the wall, stepping closer. "Don't do everything alone. Don't carry every burden on your shoulders. You're already tired, you've spent your strongest fragment, and the plan is outright madness."

"Then tell me what to watch out for." His voice stayed steady. "The void isn't a place of physical violence, it's a place of mental domination and madness. I can go through it easier than anyone."

"What's with the confidence?" Annelie's eyes narrowed. "You've never even entered it!"

Nova's calm tone vanished. Her words tore at the most painful memories. "If you can find anyone in any world that has studied the void more obsessively than me, I'll give in. But you won't. I developed every ritual you've seen so far on my own." His voice gained traction with every word, impossible to stop. "I gained supernatural powers as the only person in that world, obsessively searching for a way to fight that fucking blackness! I swore to never fail again!"

He caught himself, quickly reigning in the emotions that had spilled out. But before he could bottle them up completely, Annelie embraced him.

She pressed his head gently against her shoulder. "It was an obsession after all… You're still so wonderfully human, Nova. I can't be mad at you for not wanting to put my life at risk."

Nova let out a slow breath. He knew Annelie wanted to say more, to still convince him.

'...Am I being too stubborn? Taking too much on my shoulders? They can bear much, but not everything…'

"I think I did lose myself in the void," Annelie whispered near his ear. Her voice trembled. "I don't... I don't want you to go in there alone. It's hell. Even if you're immune to madness, it takes the most vulnerable spots in your mind and squeezes until you cry blood. The only reason I survived was because I could fight the attackers physically."

"... And you still want to go?" Nova pulled back slightly to study her face.

"I do." Her grey eyes met his steadily. "Someone to talk to could save us both in there."

Nova let out a long breath. "...Fine. You win. Let's enter it together, and have you join me back in Collport." He let go of the embrace and stared into her grey eyes. "I'll still take risks, there's no avoiding that… But at least I might avoid the dumbest decisions like this."

A warm smile spread across Annelie's face. "Thank you, Nova. I won't let you down."

"I don't think you can let me down." Nova's lips curved slightly. "But I appreciate it."

"I'm not perfect either, you know." She tilted her head, clasping her hands behind her back. "I will make mistakes."

"You could only let me down if you betray me or lose sight of our goal." Nova shrugged. "And I don't think you will."

"... I am human, just like you." Annelie's voice softened. "We both have weaknesses, right?"

"Sure, but..." Nova glanced toward their room. "Even if you make a selfish choice, I'm sure I'll understand it."

"I'll hold you to that." Annelie smiled, noticing his glance. She knew well what his weakness was. "Now let's get ready for this little trip into hell."

The Celestial Moon Priming formation was spread out over a large open park on the backside of the cathedral, hiding the rift from sight.

Nova stood near three of the Cardinals, watching the moon slowly drift into the perfect position. To ensure Millie's safety, Cardinal Victoria had chosen to stay in their room while Nova journeyed into the rift.

Annelie was hidden nearby, keeping her Soul Power completely undetectable. There was no way the Cardinals would agree to letting her join him, so they had to do it covertly.

"You can start preparing now," Nova said, staring into the sky. The moon was perhaps larger than usual this evening. But that seemed to be the case every time he looked at it. "It's nearly time."

"I'll do it," Collier said, walking forward and putting his hands on the formation. It didn't need nearly as much essence as the spatial formation, so one Cardinal was plenty.

The Stronium Bomb rested in the middle of the formation, ready to receive the focused essence. Everything relied on that bomb.

"The soul you gave me will come in handy," Nova said as he waited.

"It should," Darius rumbled, folding his arms. "But due to its Soul Power, you'll only have a brief moment to use it. Spend it well."

"I will." He walked forward to Collier, putting his tiny arm on his shoulder. "Go ahead."

Collier nodded, and soon, his essence flowed into the formation. Blue light traced through the carved lines, spreading outward in an ever-widening circle. The runes pulsed gently as they activated.

Moonlight seemed to thicken above them, condensing into visible streams that poured down toward the formation. The silvery light twisted and coalesced as it hit the runes, transforming into pure celestial essence.

The bomb began to hum a clear melody, one everyone could hear. Its grey surface took on a pearly sheen as it absorbed the concentrated power. Nova listened to its song grow stronger, climbing steadily in pitch.

'Almost there. Just a few more minutes.'

The formation's glow intensified. Waves of celestial energy rippled through the air, making Nova's skin tingle. Above them, the moon hung impossibly large and bright.

Finally, the bomb's song reached its peak—a pure note like that of a small crystal glass, but many times louder. The formation dimmed as it completed its work.

"It's ready." Nova walked across the formation and lifted the sphere carefully, removing the breakable conductor to stop any essence from escaping. Despite its weight, it felt alive, sending light undulations through his hands.

He slipped it into the reinforced backpack. "I will go alone from here. You should stay away from its line of sight."

"You're certain about this?" Shivere's still blue eyes studied him intently.

"I am." Nova adjusted the pack's straps. "I don't know how long it will take, so try to gather the silver you can find in areas with many people. That will at least halt the madness briefly."

Cardinal Collier wiped sweat from his brow. "May the God of Order protect you."

Nova nodded and turned toward the rift's location. Somewhere in the shadows, he knew Annelie was preparing to follow.

'I hope the rift enjoys fireworks. And that I'm making the right choice here…'

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.