novelraw Chapter 297: The Third Circle
Chapter 297: The Third Circle
Chapter 297: The Third CircleSoren watched the scene before him continue to play out as it did before. The turbulent expressions of numerous nobles, mixing into a menagerie of horrific faces sown together by grief, anger, confusion, and most of all… guilt.
Guilt so destructive, even the very masks that concealed their true natures couldn’t hold any of it back. The maelstrom of horror spun violently around Camilla as she stood quietly at its center, watching it all be unleashed. The butterflies in his eyes couldn’t stop consuming it all—the curiosity he felt in that moment was enough to drown him in ecstasy, but a level of control he never possessed before seemed to have manifested in response to this growing sensation as well.
He could only watch the dramatic play unfold with an obvious grin masking his expression. Soren asked the quiet Camilla a question that’s been on his mind ever since he discovered the truth behind this elaborate masquerade:
“Your sister… Why did she offer herself as a sacrifice to the Hyades people the nobles had shunned? She was the Duchess, sure, but her sister—you—was the one they coveted. You are the Guardian Spirit, the symbol of the nobility and of the castle itself.
“That very same castle that sought to oppress them.”
He shook his head. “I find it difficult to believe this was an act of pure love—there had to be another motivation behind the swapping of your identities.”
Camilla stood there in silence, unsure of how to answer. No, perhaps she simply didn’t want to think of an answer—her mind was grasping at anything that could conceal this inner turmoil.
But as the storm of hatred and desperation grew more chaotic, the Guardian Spirit became even more calm and collected in response. She eventually sighed and shook her head.
“My sister was braver than me. I didn’t want to face my crimes directly—I was afraid of what they might do to me.” She glanced at the surrounding expressions and smiled slightly. “I am no different from the rest of them. I too wanted to escape from my responsibility. And so, my sister decided on her own to face the darkness in my stead.”
Turning around to face him, Soren immediately locked eyes with the young woman. She was no longer as mature and calculating as she had previously presented herself as. No doubt, the mask had fully shattered. The Duchess Cassilda had vanished from her identity completely—even the Beyond reflected that now.
Her smile widened slightly. “Cassilda had always been the type that never wavers in the face of adversity or responsibility. Did you know—before she became the Duchess or even Lord Arthur’s fiancee, she was known as the Princess of Melodies? She was one of the best singers across the lands—many nobles from around the continent would come and watch her performances. And Lord Arthur was one such figure…
“After witnessing her abilities, He quicklyasked for her hand in marriage. And because of the family’s precarious situation at the time, our father agreed to His demands immediately in order to secure House Azrathiel’s position.”
Camilla sighed. “My sister never disobeyed nor did she ever issue a single complaint. For the good of the family, she was willing to give up even her singing abilities. And indeed, after their engagement was announced, Arthur forbade her from ever singing to anyone but Him.”
She glanced at her reflection on the marble tiles below. “Of course, everything changed for the worse after Arthur cancelled their engagement. Many in the family who once supported her began to shun her instead—insulting her dignity and labeling her as the ‘Useless Bride.’ It was all truly laughable… For years, they had showered her with praise only to sharpen their tongues the moment she fell from a high ledge she never had any control over in the first place.” The disgust in her eyes couldn’t be concealed.
“Nevertheless,” Camilla shook her head, “my sister weathered the storm of insults, not caring for any of it at all. It was only after they began to target me as well that she changed her demeanor and began to lash out against them violently. After that, the cold snares and verbal abuse waned. And, with her status as Duchess fully cemented, none in the family dared to oppose her, especially after father finally passed away.”
She glanced back up at him and smiled. “No doubt, it was this resilience that made her do what she did… Even if I was more responsible for the Hyades people’s suffering, it was ultimately the Duchess, the one who ruled these lands that needed to shoulder their grievances. At least, that was likely how she saw it.”
“And you decided to follow in her footsteps?” Soren said casually, prompting her to nod swiftly:
“That is why I continued my role here in the banquet. The preservation of this castle—of this noble family and the lineage they hold… That is my role as the Guardian Spirit.”
“And do you believe you’ve accomplished that duty so far?”
This time, he was met with a chilling silence. There was no emotion in her expression—only a cold, senseless look. As if she had turned back into a nightmarish ghost or puppet.
Soren could only stare back at her in silence as well, watching as the crowd of nobles drew closer and closer—pushing harder against the invisible wall blocking their paths.
Just when he began to think they were drawing far too close, Camilla finally answered:
“I don’t know.”
Soren immediately broke out into laughter. “All that thinking—just to come to that conclusion?!”
“.....”
He held his stomach tightly, “No, no… Sorry—it's just~” he chuckled even more loudly. “I didn’t think you’d say that in such a serious manner, that was uncalled for! How am I supposed to resist laughing at that?!~”
The more he talked, the deeper his grave became. But in his personal opinion, that only made things even more comical.
Eventually, she simply shook her head and sighed. “Well, I’m sorry for disappointing you, Mr. Traveler.” She rolled her eyes, letting the anger dissipate with the swift gesture. Indeed, just as the mask had shattered, so too did her false persona. This was no longer the cold, ruthless duchess he spoke with before.
After finally calming down, Soren shook his head and sighed.
“I really need to control my curiosity…”
His lips curled up slightly. “You know, my current state isn’t exactly dissimilar to yours. I too don’t really know what I’ve become, or what my role is at all anymore…
“Though, in the beginning, I sure did act like I knew everything. And, perhaps in a way, that hasn’t really changed all that much. By all metrics, I still very much am an arrogant asshole.
“However…” He chuckled, “That doesn’t mean arrogance can’t be humbled.
“In my original world, we have a legend about a man named Icarus who confidently believed that his wings of wax would let them reach the sun. Of course, the story ends with him falling from the clouds to his death. His wings had melted before he could even get anywhere close to his goal…
“In many ways, I feel a strong kinship with Icarus. I too have lost my wings—my purpose… It's a very strange feeling, honestly. I shunned my original home, and was desperately wanted by my second home that I decided to embrace. And now… It is this world and its forgotten shores that shun me instead.
“The curiosity that compels me forward—a part of me still loathes it. Every fragment of enjoyment is paired with its own fragment of disgust. Indeed, although I wish to accept this new persona I've crafted, there is still a portion that wishes to reject it.”
Camilla crossed her arms. “What’s your point?”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Nothing too exciting to hear,” he chuckled softly. “Just that… life is defined by its contradictions. Not knowing the answer to my question just means you’re not confident enough to form a solid conclusion yet. And… that’s fine. Time exists for a reason, after all.
“Well, not here exactly, but you get the point!” He scratched his hair. “Since you don’t know whether you’ve fulfilled your duty or not, why not allow someone else to interpret that truth?”
She furrowed her brows.
He shook his head. “Though… You probably won’t like what I will have to say.”
“Say it.”
“On second thou—”
“Say It. Now.”
“.....”
Soren finally gave in with a sigh. “Its simple. I am of the belief that you haven’t actually accomplished your duty. In fact, I believe you’ve been doing your job as the Guardian Spirit wrong all along.”
Her eyes finally widened. “W-What…”
Soren instantly began to notice strange shifts in the surrounding space, as if reality itself was warping uncontrollably. Invisible winds rushed past from all directions, threatening to knock him to the ground.
He put his arms out in her direction. “Wait! Calm down for a bit and let me explain! Don’t you want to hear what I have to say first?!”
Almost instantly, the surrounding shifts in space paused, as if time itself had frozen. He glanced around to see even the surrounding inanimate objects had also paused in a moving state.
Sensing the calmness of the situation, Soren finally relaxed, deciding not to expand his Soul Realm. He dusted his clothes slowly and sighed.
“Your sister… As I said before, me and Ynixia met her prior to entering the castle. As we were leaving, she asked me something strange that I didn’t fully grasp at the time. Only now, after meeting you, do I finally understand what she was trying to convey…”
Camilla tilted her head slightly. “What… did she say?” There was still pain beneath her blank expression. Her sister’s eternal suffering on that pyre was weighing heavily upon her heart.
Taking a moment to observe her closer, Soren finally answered.
“She asked me a rather simple question:
“Do you also possess... a mask?”
Upon hearing this, Camilla’s eyes instantly widened. Her expression was stricken with horror and pain, but also curiosity and understanding. As if she had finally realized something profound.
She fell to her knees immediately.
“Camilla?” Soren came closer, noticing her distraught countenance.
“I see…” She hugged herself tightly as she observed her own reflection in the marble. “I get what you’re saying now…”
Soren nodded with a sigh. “Your sister was likely awaiting the arrival of someone like me… A person without a mask.
“And no doubt, it was because she wanted me to try and help you.”
“But why…” She gripped her own arms even more tightly. “Why would she want you to help me in abandoning my own duties!”
“Like I said, you were never fulfilling your duties to begin with.”
She glanced up at him in shock.
“You think your duty as the Guardian Spirit is to serve the nobility. And you’re not exactly wrong, but there is a flaw in your logic.”
Camilla remained silent as he continued to explain, “Being responsible for maintaining the nobility doesn’t mean conforming to their every wish. It means being responsible for their existence—how you go about it is your prerogative!”
“But…”
“Besides,” Soren continued, “The Azrathiel family is still around, even after the Dead Empire’s fall.”
She stood up in surprise, “Really?!”
“Really,” he nodded. “I am not really sure of the specifics, but there is a branch of the Azratheil family that still exists. They now serve under the Mother of Silver, a deity that is known for Her fairness.”
“They even have a patron deity!” She couldn’t believe her own ears. This entire time, she had fully assumed that the cataclysm had consumed every one of her family members. They had finally returned to Carcosa, but not in any way they expected…
“So do you get it now? Your sister—she didn’t intend for you to become the servant of the family, but its moral guide as its leader. A just leader that acts on their principles and morals.
“Think about it… You have been preserving only a remnant of the family which never fully exists to begin with. There are actual Azratheil family members out there that could require your assistance far more than these idiotic nobles. You’re wasting your time here!”
“So then… what should I do…”
Soren grinned. “Make them remember.”
“Remember…”
“Yes,” he nodded, “Make them remember their sins. Make them remember who they all truly are… I have just the right magecraft spell to help you achieve this. Since you’re contracted with the castle, violating its rules directly will carry a penalty.
“The same, however, doesn’t apply to me. I am an anomaly—an error in the system. Without my shadow, the castle has no way of subjugating me with the mask. Unless, of course, you decide to actively stand in my way.”
He crossed his arms. “So make your choice, Camilla. Will you allow me to help you in achieving your true duty as the Guardian Spirit, or will you continue this farce that aids no one but that filth surrounding you?
“Your sister wanted you to be the one to lead the family on her behalf. Why else would she choose to swap identities with you? You might not be the Duchess, but you are still her successor! And as the House Lord, what authorities do you possess when it comes to punishing those who harm the family’s reputation?”
The question spun in her head for a while… Eventually, She clutched the seams of her dress tightly:
“Exile…”
Soren chuckled. “Correct. Would you still have the duty to ensure their existence if they no longer belong to the Azratheil family?”
“No…” As she said this, Camilla finally stood up and looked into his eyes. She wiped the few tears that remained from earlier as her expression tensed:
“I am ready.”
“Good answer,” Soren nodded approvingly then chuckled. “Then allow me to begin…” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
In an instant, a small field of willpower bloomed into something more magnificent. His Soul Realm which had been constrained in the past had now grown to the size of the banquet hall itself. He could sense strange clouds of anima merging together at the peripheries, all of them made of violet and white string-tangled butterflies flying side by side in harmony…
The Cabinet of Curiosities… Certainly, it wouldn’t be a ‘Cabinet’ if it didn’t contain exotic things. In this case, the two kinds of anima that were once vying to obscure his sanity were existing in harmony. Although mixing them directly wasn’t possible, they were at least no longer bickering uncontrollably—that was the benefit of possessing a strong magecraft persona that could overpower the Shades of Self’s anima.
Indeed, with his eyes open, he could see his anima much more visibly. And it seems Camilla had also noticed this change. The clouds of harmonious anima were all collecting together, forming what looked to be the spinning wall of a hurricane or tornado. Although it was calm, there was a sinister and unmistakably deep layer to it that couldn’t be easy to understand.
“So this is what the Kindled Stage feels like…” He took another deep breath and refocused. A soft smile tugged at his lips.
“Perfect timing, really. Let’s see if that spell me and Biblion created will finally have its use!”
With that said, he began to channel his anima in accordance with the spellform. Countless shapes began to take form within his mind—all of them passed on through his wand and projected into the Soul Realm swiftly.
As the final pieces of the puzzle were assembled, Soren finally smiled and took a step forward with his eyes closed. Then another step. Then another…
All of them seemed to mimic a certain pattern. Camilla watched this odd performance in confusion. This was the first time she saw such a strange spell…
Ignoring her odd stares, Soren continued his ‘dance’ rhythm quietly, each movement precise and calculated. It didn’t take long for the first of the spell’s effects to become noticeable.
One by one, strange, mirror-like projections of distinct figures began to form across the marbled floor. They stood idle and unmoving for a while, but Camilla was much more busy deciphering their silhouettes than anything else.
But it was then that she realized something even stranger…
These transparent projections—they were all following the path Soren was taking in his awkward dance!
“Could it be… Did he use his mystic eyes to observe the dance move of every noble in this banquet hall?!” Now that she was thinking about it, those silhouettes resembled the nobles themselves… The path he took with his movements was mimicking their every action during the last dance session!
Is it a medium of some sort? She wondered.
“Correct,” Camilla finally heard his voice again—this time brimming with excitement and curiosity. The flames in his eyes shimmered brightly:
“This will be my first Third Circle spell, Historic Recital…
“I will use it to break this idiotic masquerade once and for all!”