Getting Ready

After killing Johanna, Marcus eyes returned from grayish to red and finally back to his blue color. His mind was clearer and his heart beating at a steady rhythm. Realizing that Johanna's body had disappear, he couldn't stop figuring how it happened.

[Don't worry, it had been absorbed into your heart]

[Huh?!]

[While you were killing her, I started to absorb her fear and despair allowing to recover some of my previous power. With the little power I regained, through your eyes I capture her body and turned into energy while storing it in your heart.]

[And what I will used it for if I´m going to die soon? Also, what you mean that my heart has darkened?]

[First, close your eyes and calm your mind, then guide your conscious into your heart]

Marcus did what he was told and after stabilizing his mind while breathing slowly, he started to guide his awareness to his heart. Once arrived, he was shocked beyond believe. His heart has darkened, and gray aura was emanating from it. Sturdy chains and seals were tightening it, but he was also able to see four giant doors. The first one had already crumbled and was located at the from. The remaining three were on the back and sides of his heart. He felt a chill and at the same time a familiar feeling from that dark heart.

[What´s the meaning of this?! How can my heart be black and emit that gray aura? Also, what are those chains, seals and doors?!?!]

[Calm down, you need to know that this was your original heart. I´ll tell a bit about yourself. However, this will take a time so it will be better if you die immediately and I bring your soul into my space before knowing some things.]

[Why?!?!]

[Because if you die while being in my space it will difficult the action that I´ll make and before asking what it´ll be, just do what I told you otherwise you will lose your chance to confront your fate because your soul will dissipate and you will never awake again] said the female childish female voice.

Without a chance to retort, Marcus was brought back to his body and realize he was still on the room, but his body had started to get cold. Taking the knife, he brought it close to his heart. [I´ll be considered a fool for following those orders but at the same time, that voice has helped me. Whatever, soon I´ll be able to meet Liza in the afterlife soon.] he thought for himself.

Suddenly, he stabbed himself on his heart but there was no pain. He closed his eyes and felt that his conscious was pulled.

After a moment he heard that voice saying [You can open your eyes now]. And what he saw stunned him for some time. He was on an enormous throne room. He could see that the floor was made of black marble, hundreds of red columns were aligned on rows along the room. There were sculped figures on them: dragons, phoenixes, tigers, snakes, wolfs, and more. The figures were so detailed that he thought seeing them moving for a moment. Precious stones such as rubies, emeralds, sapphires, pearls where used as eyes for the figures.

While walking through the room he also saw giant sculptures and the sides: warriors with different weapons, divine and devil beast, mages who were using spells. They represented different races and also they were so vivid, so fine and exquisite.

At the same time, he spotted stained glass windows that were representing what were seem important events: battles, conquests, praises.

When he reached the end of the room, he saw a platform that was elevated at 5 meters from the floor. On the front, there were two golden thrones that gave the feeling of supremacy and dominance. And at the side of this couple of thrones, he spotted two groups of three small thrones. However, these ones were gray and, even though they give the aura of superiority, they couldn´t be compare to the two golden ones.

While he was in deep appreciation a figure appeared at his side saying:

"Beautiful isn´t it?"

"Indeed, even the royal palaces that I have robbed can´t hold a candle to this one"

"Of course!! This one is the best of best. It belonged for the being that hold´s in his hand the fate and destiny of all existences." "And also, to the one that I worshipped and loved" she faintly muttered.

"You said something?"

"Nothing you idiot!!" she said while pouting her mouth.

Hearing her answer, Marcus was able to return his sight from the mesmerizing golden thrones to his side.

There stood a female child. She was wearing a dark golden dress and a gray crown. She had a crimson long hair that reached her hips. Her eyes were blue, and they reflected everything, like a clear and pure lake. Her skin was smooth and soft, emanating an addicted fragrance that could put all men in the world to their knees so they can worship her. Her high was almost like a child of 8 or 9 years old. However, he failed to notice two black horns that were poking over her crimson hair.

[If she is this beautiful while being a child, I don´t dare to imagine how it will be when she turns into a fine lady] He said on his mind.

"I´m not a child" she roared.

"Huh?!?! How can you know what I´m saying on my mind?"

"Stupid, haven´t you realize that what you said on your mind I can hear? However, your personal thoughts I can´t read or hear"

"Hahaha, so that´s how it is hahaha. Still you look like a child"

"Idiot, bastard!! I have said already that I´m not a child. You will be frightening if you knew my real age"

"How about you tell me then?"

"Brute, don´t you know it is a bad manner to ask a lady age? Guess that was the reason that you were still a virgin if not for my help. You are a brute. Hmph"

"Ok, OK. I´m sorry. Then, how about we introduce ourselves. I´m Marcus"

"Hmph. Don´t you think I already know your name?! Whatever, I´m Zia"

"Mnnn... Zia, a beautiful name. Your mother was a genius for giving you that name"

"Wrong!! It was father that gave me!!! Apologize immediately!!! She roared and the temperature of the room descended abruptly while Marcus was forced to knelt.

"S-Sorry. D-didn't know that it was your father" he said with great effort.

"Good, now before telling you somethings you need to know that nobody is allowed to talk ill or insult my parent´s, specially my father"

"Ok, I apologize"

[You could have said that before] he said on his mind.

"Huh?!?! Do you have a death wish?"

[Crap, I forget she could hear what I said on my mind] "N-no"

"Then don´t try to ridicule me again"

[I must be careful with what I said on my mind] he thought.

Released from the pressure he felt, Marcus stood up and saw that Zia was still mad with him.

[Huh… She really is a child; how could I know that his father was the one that named her] he thought for himself this time.

"Follow me" she coldly said and started walking to a door at the back of one of the groups of the small thrones.

Going after her, Marcus couldn't help to return to see one last the entire throne room feeling that someone was observing. However, he didn´t pay much attention before running towards Zia, who had already disappeared.

Crossing the door, he walked behind Zia for almost 40 minutes through large corridors that had hundreds of doors.

"Does anyone live here besides you?"

"No"

[Must be terrible] he said to himself

"It is not. I have already got used to it" she replied knowing what he had said.

"We are here" she said, and they crossed a door.

Once, they passed the door, Marcus lost again his mind for what he was seeing.