CHAPTER 806: WEAK SOUL

"As a fighter, you are surprisingly weak when it comes to soul attacks." Griselda concluded.

Her words rang like a thunderclap on a silent day.

Weak? How?

Alice didn’t understand.

She had countless souls attached to her, souls of the others linked through her spiritual heart.

She could take their abilities and use it as her own.

Hell, she could even manifest her own soul to help her fight.

So how was any of it weak?

Alice was about to retort when Griselda raised her hand.

"Before you say anything, yes, I understand you have a strong soul. Your strange usage of a beast’s bloodline release proves it." She narrowed her eyes as Alice immediately held her breath.

Busted.

"However, having a strong soul doesn’t mean you have a strong defence. Your soul is... flexible. It’s adaptive, it can accept a wide variety of changes. Perhaps that’s why you can use a beast’s technique despite being a human.

"To put it in layman’s terms, you are an extreme example of a glass cannon when it comes to souls. All attack, no defence. Even the weakest soul attack could become extremely debilitating for you." She sighed.

She had never seen a condition like Alice’s before.

Because it wasn’t a simple case of being weak.

Rather...

In a strange way.

Her soul was... receptive?

It was highly receptive to outside influence.

She could still see the confusion in Alice’s eyes.

Scratching her hair in frustration, Griselda turned to Syrion and beckoned him over.

"Translate for me."

Whispering into his ear, Griselda told Syrion Alice’s condition with her own words while the man folded his arms and nodded his head.

"Oh I see. Hmm, yeah that’s not good. Wait, really? Damn..." Syrion looked at Alice with pity in his eyes.

He wondered how he should explain this, then had a great idea.

"Okay, picture this.

"Usually, for normal people, the soul is your house. People can see it but the doors and windows are locked. When a soul attack happens, they try and demolish the walls protecting it. Difficult right? And different souls have different defences.

"However, and this is a big however. Your soul doesn’t work like that." Syrion pointed at Alice.

"While your soul is a house, you don’t keep the doors or windows locked. In fact, there’s no doors or windows to begin with. And when a soul attack happens, rather than letting them struggle against the wall, you motion them over at the empty door frame and windows, letting them in."

Alice face palmed.

With this phrasing, she understood exactly what Griselda meant by a weak to soul attacks.

Defences? What did that mean? Could she eat it?

Hell, even a child probably has a better defence than her!

And all of it most likely stemmed from the fact that she could steal the soul of others. To take their power and make it her own.

Cayla sat behind her desk in silence. Her eyes were blank and she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

[Ah... I just realised something.] Cayla’s smile twitched.

’What is it?’

[You know how you only started to form your soul a while ago? As in it slowly took shape over the course of your journey?]

’Yeah... what about it?’ Alice felt a little nervous.

[Do you think... You’re still in the stage of solidifying your soul?]

Alice drew a blank.

[You keep adding more abilities to your arsenal so your soul is growing. Even now. Do you think... that perhaps solidifying your soul and forming a defence means that no more changes can be made?] Cayla’s smile twitched.

’!!!’ Alyss froze up.

She realised the implications.

’Ah f*ck.’ Alice also came to the same conclusion.

In terms of soul growth, she could be considered to be stuck in limbo right now.

So if she were to solidify her defences... She couldn’t deny the possibility that her resistance and ability stealing powers would disappear.

And if that happened, one of her greatest weapons would be gone.

The ability that she was born with was now both her greatest strength and biggest weakness.

Alice turned to Griselda.

"Is there a way... to artificially create a defence? I kind of need my soul to maintain this state." Alice asked, clutching at straws.

Griselda raised her eyebrow.

"Do you realise what you’re asking for?"

"Yes, I know. But I really, and I mean really need my soul to stay like this." Alice nodded her head.

She couldn’t give up her powers. Not now.

Griselda frowned.

To keep the soul in such a vulnerable state but artificially create a barrier?

"I mean... It’s not impossible. But a natural barrier is always better." Griselda sighed.

Maybe the reason why Alice needed her soul in this state was because of the soul large souls stuck inside her.

Ignoring the... countless attached to her Spiritual Heart, these two could actually take over the main body when needed.

Alice didn’t need to say anything and Griselda could already tell the girl was begging her to come up with a solution.

"I don’t know. It’s not something I specialise in." Griselda sighed.

Alice looked down with disappointment.

Syrion saw this and felt bad for Alice.

Reaching over, he patted her on the head, surprising her.

"Are you sure there’s nothing you can do? If anyone can do it, it’s you. I believe in your expertise." Syrion pleaded earnestly.

Hearing this, Griselda choked on her breath.

Receiving this kind of plea from someone, especially Syrion...

Griselda coughed awkwardly and Alice noticed.

Her eyes darted between Syrion and Griselda. Griselda then Syrion.

She had seen this before.

Somewhere...

’Ah... young Kaden.’ Alice realised.

A smug smile appeared on her face.

Could it be?

That the mighty Apostle of the Moon was actually... in love?

Griselda noticed a shift in Alice’s stare. Her eyes shot towards the girl and saw her smug smile.

Alice mouthed some words. A message for Griselda.

"!!!"

Grislda’s smile twitched. She snuck a glance at Syrion who didn’t notice anything was wrong and sighed in relief.

"Look, just give me a moment with the girl okay?" Griselda motioned to Alice.

Thinking that this might be Griselda offering a solution, Syrion handed over Alice.

Immediately, Griselda snapped her fingers and created a barrier just between the two of them.

"Don’t you f*cking dare say a damn word." She warned immediately while Alice shrugged her shoulders.

"Not quite sure what you mean." She stuck out her tongue.

"Oh real f*cking funny. How about we strike a deal. You don’t say a word to him and I’ll keep quiet about your use of Duality. Need I remind you that Esse was already searching for you because of the stunt you pulled at the port." Griselda warned.

Alice choked on her breath.

"Aren’t you going to keep quiet about what’s happening here in the first place? Why is Duality any different?" Alice’s smile twitched.

"Because unlike me knowing your presence, you’re a wanted person in the order. There will probably be a moment when Esse asks me for some help in tracking you down. Just because I don’t say a word about you being here doesn’t mean the same applies to knowing you have her authority for some reason." Griselda poked Alice in the middle of her chest.

Perhaps Alice’s use of duality is what caused the weakness in her soul. Griselda didn’t know.

But what she did know, was that this situation was abnormally strange.

And keeping quiet about it goes above and beyond what Syrion asked of her. In fact, it’s only because it’s Syrion that Griselda was even considering keeping quiet. Had it been literally anything else, a crusade would be marching towards them.

"Tch, fine. I don’t say sh*t and you keep your silence. We’re even after that right? You’re not gonna suddenly tell Lumiria or Nanna are you?" Alice creased her brows.

"It’s a little unfair on my end but it’s a deal."

To hide her... affection towards Syrion in exchange for keeping Alice’s secret.

Griselda knew she might regret it but at this point, she didn’t care.

The Church of the Moon is but a shadow of its former self. It has changed and so has she.

Griselda offered her hand and Alice shook it.

A contract has been formed.

A one sided one but still a contract.

Dismissing the barrier, Griselda pushed Alice back towards Syrion and Gwen.

"Again, it’s not my expertise. But I’ll look into it. And to be honest, the fact that you remained this long without any major issues has been a surprise in itself." Griselda scratched her hair.

"Argh, anyways, just leave it to me. I’ll probably figure something out." She sighed.

It wasn’t a direct confirmation. However, the fact that she said she’ll look into it was enough for Syrion.

At least it meant that Griselda was willing to give it a shot rather than ignore the problem all together.

"Thank you, I knew I could count on you." Syrion gritted wrapping his arms around Griselda’s shoulder.

"!!!"

Griselda widened her eyes.

Her heart slammed against her chest.

Despite not having blood, she felt it rushing to her head.

Without hesitation, perhaps out of self preservation, Griselda grabbed Syrion’s arm and pivoted on her ankle. Breaking Syrion’s stance with her other foot, she swung him over her shoulders!

By the time Syrion realised what was happening, he was already upside down in the air!

*BANG!!!

Crashing against the ground, Syrion was confused and saw the panicked Griselda.

"Ah sorry! You surprised me!" She quickly apologised as Syrion let out a laugh.

Meanwhile, Alice had to applaud in respect. That form, that posture, perfect on all levels. To break down Syrion’s balance so easily and flip him over her shoulder.

A technique she should probably find a chance to learn.

However, the main task at hand was to deal with her weak soul. While Griselda said she’ll look into things, Alice wasn’t going to stay idle.

With Cayla, she’ll tackle this problem head on.

[What’s to say we can’t use Duality to create a barrier right? Is that what you’re going to suggest?] Cayla smirked.

’You caught me.’ Alice laughed.

Picking up duality had truly been her best reward from the inverted world. Enough where she was even considering taking it as her seventh Sigil if Esse proved to be an enemy.

[I already have some ideas. That should give us a foundation to work with.] Cayla chuckled.

’I’m counting on you.’

High fiving each other, they got to work.