While I'm lying on the ground, I keep staring at the ball of light.
-The result of your trial is unacceptable. (???)
-Eh? (Farah)
-Those emotions are unnecessary to become a goddess. The upcoming trial will handle that useless emotion. (???)
Light comes out from the ball of light and wraps around me.
-Experience the despair and drop those useless emotions, successor. (???)
Before I lost my consciousness, I could hear a faint voice.
-Emotions are what leads "her" to destruction. Get rid of those useless emotions, successor. (???)
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???'s POV
-Tia! (Elana)
A girl with short chestnut hair calls out to me.
-I'm here, sister. (Tia)
I stop washing clothes and turn to my sister.
-What do you need, sister Elana? (Tia)
Even though I call her my sister, she is unrelated to me by blood at all. Sister Elana forms a smile on her face and takes out a small bag.
-Did you get some treats when you came back from town, sister? (Tia)
Sister Elena jumps to my side and hugs me.
-Right, I want to give it to you, my cutie. (Elana)
-Moh, my hand is dirty now, sister. (Tia)
-Who cares about that, Tia? (Elana)
I pout and rebuke the sister.
-You are so unreasonable, sister. (Tia)
-Thank you for your compliment, Mia. (Elana)
-Where are brother Duke and brother Lucas, sister Elana? (Tia)
-They went out and bought some stuff, Tia. They would be back soon. (Elana)
The four of us are orphanages who live in the church on a small hill. Aside from us, one sister has taken care of us since we were young. The sister isn't here now. She told us she would come back by the evening.
I open the wraps of the bag and find out there is a small piece of chocolate inside it.
-Eh! (Tia)
-You always want to eat one, right? (Elana)
-But isn't it expensive, sister? You should save up your money and use it to buy new clothes instead. (Tia)
Sister Elana reaches out to stroke my head.
-Don't worry about that. It was my early treat for your seventh birthday, Tia. (Elana)
-Is that so? (Tia)
I take out the small chocolate piece and bite half of it.
-Whoa, it's so delicious. (Tia)
I give the remaining chocolate piece to my sister and say.
-You should have some too, sister Elana. (Tia)
Sister Elana hugs me more tightly and rubs her cheeks against mine.
-You are such a cutie, Tia. (Elana)
A masculine voice comes from behind when we are hugging each other.
-You two are close, as always. (Lucas)
-You are back, Lucas. (Elana)
-Yes, I'm back. (Lucas)
-Where is Duke? Hasn't he gone back yet? (Elana)
-He was out to get some firewood. He will be back soon, Elana. (Lucas)
Sister Elana smirks.
-Lucas looks pretty lonely. (Elana)
Sister shows me to Lucas and asks him.
-Do you want to hug Tia to relieve your loneliness? (Elana)
Lucas starts coughing and turns around.
-Who wants to hug her? (Lucas)
Sister Elana laughs and says.
-Look who is shy over there. (Elana)
-Huh. (Lucas)
Brother Lucas becomes angry and goes inside the church. Sister Elana and Lucas have the same age, which is 12. On the other hand, brother Duke is 15 this year. That's why sister Elana and brother Lucas often tease each other.
-Don't mind him, Tia. He's just too shy to hug you. (Elana)
I smile at my sister and answer.
-Ehehe, I don't hate him. I know my sister and brother really love me. (Tia)
Sister Elana hugs me even tighter.
-I can't breathe, sister Elana. (Tia)
At that time, another voice called out to us.
-Did Elana bully you again, Tia? (Duke)
The voice's owner is a muscle man who places a bunch of logs on his back. It's our brother, Duke.
-How could this look like a bully to you, brother? (Elana)
-Ahahah! Tia comes here. (Duke)
I was released from my sister Elana's hug and ran to my big brother's side. He reaches his hand out and tries to stroke my head.
-Ehehe! (Tia)
-Tia's smile is the best healing dose. (Duke)
When I'm being patted by the brother, I start to feel dizzy.
-Tia! (Elana)
-She has a high fever again! (Duke)
-Bring her to the bed, Duke. (Elana)
-Okay. (Duke)
I can feel the big brother hold me on his arm and place me on the bed.
-I'm sorry, big brother and sister Elana. (Tia)
Sister Elana, who sits beside holds my hand to reassure me.
-It's not your fault that you were born with a weak body, Tia. (Elana)
I can hear the sound of the door being opened. It's the sister who takes care of us walks inside with a man.
-You are back! (Elana)
The sister replies to sister Elana in a hurried voice.
-I have called the best doctor in the capital to check up on Tia. I never thought her fever would come back this soon. (Sister)
Is it my fault that the sister must travel to the capital to find a person to check up on me? I feel I have bothered them a lot because I let them worried about me.
Sister Elana stands up and gives her seat to the man. The man checks up on my body with a pale light.
-You will be all right, Tia. (Elana)
Sister Elana, who stands right next to the doctor, reaches out and pats my head.
-Everything will be all right. You will become healthy in a few days, Tia. At that time, we will have a birthday party together. (Elana)
I smile at the sister before I lose my consciousness again. When I'm in a coma, I can hear some faint sounds.
-What do you mean by she can only live for one more week? (Elana)
-This girl has possessed an abnormal amount of mana since she was born. However, her body can't stand it, which leads to her constitution become weak. She can survive until now is a miracle. (Doctor)
I can hear sister Elana crying.
-It can't be. How could God be so cruel to this child? Do you know she will have her seventh birthday in 5 days? But now you tell me she would die in one week. (Elana)
-Elana, please calm down. (Duke)
-How the hell can I calm down with this news, Duke? Are you telling me to accept Tia's death? (Elana)
-I... (Duke)
-I have to go. (Lucas)
-Lucas, where are you going at this time? (Duke)
-I'm going to the mountain. (Lucas)
-Why are you leaving for the mountain at this hour? (Duke)
-I have to find something. (Lucas)
Not only sister Elana cries, but brother Lucas also starts crying.
-I must find something. Something on the mountain can help Tia. (Lucas)
-Lucas... (Duke)
I'm sorry, sister Elana, brother Duke and brother Lucas. I'm a bad girl that makes you guys sad.
>Reopen locked memory of the individual: Farah.
>Start phase 2 of despair trial.
-Experience the despair and drop those useless emotions, successor. (???)
...this is contradictory, right? Doesn't "Will" know that despair is something that tends to lead to emotional instability and madness rather than the abandonment of emotions?
Was phase 1 of despair trial made with "Her"'s memories?
Am I the only one who expects this faulty will to collapse into despair with the result of reopening Farah's blocked memory?
Thanks for the chapter
That can be both since experience extreme despair can make her become emotionless. Therefore it's a 50/50 method. If this one fails, it will repeat this trial again until Farah no longer can feel any emotion.
That's why it's called the Despair trial.
Phase 1 is to let Farah enjoy her happiness, phase 2 is to crush it.
No, Farah can't use a single power in this trial. No magic or any kind of power. It's all set up for her to experience the despair.
Thanks for reading OwO
@Madeus
So, "will" would repeat this for centuries until it had the desired result or destroyed Farah's soul in the process, right?
How would "Will" react to the following results?:
1- Farah's soul becomes sinister and negative due to trauma;
2- Farah's soul enters a vegetative state due to excessive despair;
@Gin0001
I think the so called "Will" lacks thinking capabilities aside from minimal, like some simple AI that run according to instructions. Basically "Her" really f*cked up with setting it. Which is why i don't like "Her". You don't some super simplistic AI run such important things.
@Indream
I agree, it would have been better if "Her" had put some trusted servant or friend as judge instead of this "Will".
And if the problem is the chance of betrayal due to the temptation of power for millennia, a magical contract that not only prevents the judge from inheriting her power, but also puts the judge in hibernation until necessary and frees him after the successor is chosen would be enough, right?
Am I the only one who thinks even the current Mashiro would be a better judge than this "Will"?
@Gin0001 @Indream
He will back up and reverts Farah's to the moment she broke up by the trauma. Keep repeating until he gets his desirable result. All can be achieved using "Her" fragments.
The "Will" only activates once her successor has a high potential to carry her fragment in danger. It's like a very backup method.
She doesn't leave over just one "Will" but several as keepers to take care of her fragments.
And each of them is really different from each others. For this "Will", it will always turn to the most extremist method, which makes it a fine villain for the current chapters.
Betrayal is one of the problems. Since many Order side has been corrupted and turned into chaos. So it is also not the wisest method.
Well, mostly because Mashiro is created by the tree because its purpose is to make people happy to achieve positive energy. Which is totally from the cold and indifferent will.
I have also spoiled some info at the answer at Indream's cmt below. I can't repeat it since it will become too long
@Madeus @Gin0001
So she really f*cked up with setting at least one "Will", oh silly "Her". Can we roast her for her "Will" hurting "White"?
Also yes, Mashiro would be perfect judge even as how she is now.
@Indream
We can't even roast her now even if we want