Despite the tumultuous emotions pressing down on Ashton's chest, he did not vent.
His face only looked twisted in rage for about a few seconds before regaining its calm. After taking a few deep breaths, neutrality resumed on his visage.
Those emotions aren't gone, oh no. They're not being suppressed either. They're controlled. Secured within the depths of Ashton's heart.
Now is not the time for him to release them. Neither, this is a place to rampage. The time for that will come in the future. Not now...
"...I never thought that our race was supposed to be the Lords of this lands. Certainly doesn't feel like it." Ashton lied as naturally as breathed.
Well, it isn't exactly a lie per se...though he might sound sarcastic, there's a certain truth in his words. After all, if humans truly have such a destiny, then why are they corraled in a measly bubble?
He's already aware that the invaders had deeper plots, yet this is the first time he heard what exactly their plans were.
Hilda's existence as well as her job and story...now that came as a surprise to him.
"Humanity is the children of this World." Hilda sighed, "In a sense, you all have the entitlement for the things this world has."
"The two races discovering this world is something that we never knew possible. Their methods transcend our understanding as well and because of that disparity, the current status quo was formed."
"You said 'we'..." Ashton pointed out, "I assume you're referring to other Spirits?"
"Yes." Hilda nodded, "We were once a Tribe of Spirits. Birthed by this world with a purpose in mind. Each of us was created to perform a task. We came around the same time as Spiritual Energy Awakened in this world."
"Most of us fulfilled our duty and passed away. It's been so long that I can't recall some of them anymore. My long imprisonment here also affected my memories. I can only recall of my sister — Gaia, she's called. She's the Spirit, the consciousness of this world."
Ashton was shocked to hear that but he hid it on the surface. His thoughts ran for a bit and he asked:
"You said something about your Sister making some sort of gamble earlier...how does that relate to me?"
When Hilda asked him if he was the bearer of the Mysterious Rainbow Providence earlier, Hilda whispered something along those lines. Ashton took notice of that since he felt that he had a connection to that.
After all, why else would Hilda refer to him as the 'Mysterious Rainbow' the moment she laid eyes on him? Why would she ask her if he's a human and the bearer of said providence if he does not have any connection with it? Seems counter-intuitive for her to ask that when it has nothing to do with him, no?
"...as much as I would love to tell you everything I know. I'm afraid I can't." Hilda shook her head weakly, "I am not the right person to tell you all about that."
"It is my sister, Gaia, who should inform you about those things. Not me."
Ashton sighed. Of course, he's not gonna get answers when he needed them the most.
"Your Sister's alive? I thought you said that you're the last of your kind?"
"She's still here, I'm sure of it." Hilda replied, "But her situation on the other hand...it's dire. Due to her identity, being the Spiritual Consciousness of this world, what the Celestials and Hypogeans do to this world, harms her too."
"I reckon that she's in a much more dire state than I do. I don't even think that she could wake up with how weak she is currently so in a sense, she's no different than dead. Hence, I said that I 'might' be the last of my kind. One that's still conscious and can still talk at least."
"...you're not gonna ask me to save her?" Ashton raised a brow.
"I don't know, can you?" Hilda refuted, "Saving her means slaughtering masses of Celestials and Hypogeans. It also requires an astronomical amount of resources to stabilize her. Even then, since she's experienced so much abuse, I don't know if she'll last."
"Would there be consequences if we let her die just like that?" He couldn't help but ask.
"There is." Hilda nodded, "The production of Spiritual Energy will slow down to a crawl. That means that it'll get harder and harder for Humanity to produce people strong enough to oppose the invaders. A race without an army to defend itself is done for."
"...she's not truly going to die though." Hilda added, "If somehow, your kind can last until the day she's reborn, Spiritual Energy will spring forth again and who knows? Maybe Humanity's destiny will resume that time."
'...it seems that Spirits are the kind of race who just 'vibes' along.' Ashton mused to himself.
Hilda's out here like; 'Oh, I'm dying and I can't perform the one job I was supposed to do. Oh well. That's sucks I guess, better luck next time! And oh, my sister's dying too. Lol. Anyways...'
It's like she's not treating anything seriously. She just spits out what she knows and does what she could.
Hilda also never asked Ashton to free her. She just answers his questions as best as she can. It's like she doesn't care what happens to her or this world.
She gives off this sense of; 'If I could do it, I would. If I can't, then oh well.'
And honestly, Ashton doesn't know what to feel about that.
"Say, can I take you and the Dragon Vein away from this place?"
Hilda looked bewildered when he asked that to say the least. She looked at Ashton directly in the eyes, her gaze seemingly piercing through his soul, wondering if she should answer his question or not.
"...I suppose there is a way." She replied.
"I'm listening." Ashton nodded at her.
"I must be out of my mind to make you do this but...well, I guess you won't be the bearer of the Mysterious Rainbow for nothing..." Hilda whispered, yet it was heard by Ashton.
He didn't say anything and pretended he didn't hear anything. He just waited until she tells him the method she had in mind.
"Looking at you...mn, you're Physique is suitable enough. If you want to take the Dragon Vein away from this place, one you must cleanse it first, and two, you can absorb it into your body."
"...what?"
"You heard me," Hilda stressed. "Absorb it to your body and nurture it with your Mana and the Mysterious Cloud to keep it alive. The Dragon Vein will immediately wither when it's cut off from the Spiritual Network of this world."
"No treasures can seal it away to keep it from dying. Plus, cutting the Dragon Vein off, even when you're just relocating it, will hurt this world a bit. If you let it die, then it will spell disaster for this world and, in extension, my sister as well."
"So, you need to take it inside your body. You have to personally nurture it if you want to take it away." Hilda stated.
Ashton went silent for a bit. His thoughts ran a mile per second as he considered the pros and cons of this. Yet in the end, he didn't say a word. Instead, he asked:
"And, you? How do I free you?"
"Oh, that's easy." She stated, "The moment you absorb the Dragon Vein in your body, I'll instantly be transported next to you. I will then reside tp your consciousness until you find a proper place to relocate the Dragon Vein."
Ashton went silent again. Just like before, his thoughts ran wild and he began considering all factors and implications of this proposal.
"...I don't know if you notice it yet but, I am a bearer of a Curse. The Curse of Mediocrity, to be specific." He stated, "Will that affect you and the Dragon Vein should we proceed with this plan?"
"...a curse huh?" Hilda pondered for a bit. Then she said: "That may indeed become a problem. But that's strange...why would you have a Curse? As far as I know, the Mysterious Rainbow would've never appeared in you if you were born with a curse."
'Now that sounds complicated.' Ashton inwardly smiled wryly, 'I can't tell her the existence of the system now, can I?'
He can't tell her that he received the Mysterious Rainbow using a Providence Re-roll Stub from the System. Like, who would believe that? Plus, the System was Ashton's ultimate trump card. He can't just recklessly expose its existence to others.
"...okay, how about this? You see, I happen to be accumulating enough strength to break free from this curse. It just so happens that I'm close to doing that. I reckon within the next five years, I'll be free of it. By then, maybe we can safely move on with this plan. Can you wait for that?"
"I should be able to." Hilda replied, "The pigeons outside don't come here anymore anyway. They all think I'm dead and they don't have plans on stepping inside the formation to confirm that. They're kind of just waiting for me to return to dust."
"So long as I can keep up with the play and not alarm them, I should live until you're free of your curse," Hilda confirmed,
"Alright, that settles it then." Ashton got up, "Don't worry, I'm confident enough to get rid of this curse. I'll also visit you from time to time to keep you company. But for now, though, gotta dip. Someone's waiting for me."
Hilda nodded at that and lowered her head to play dead again.
Ashton then disappeared and left the room she was imprisoned in.
