Host And The Soul System

4. A secret and a threat

I can't let anyone find out that I'm a host. I don't know how to control my powers nor do i know how to level up or fight. If everyone out there is so desperate to kill all the hosts and get reborn in another life then a weak host would be the easiest target.

I wanted to know but i don't ask Kara how many host there are and how many have been killed because I was afraid of her answers and just how much the thought of a host dying seemed to excite her. I know they are powerful so it must not have been an easy task to take down one.

As i lay on my back looking up at the bare ceiling of my cell, i can't help the small smile that creeps on my face. I never would have imagined anything like this existed yet here i was in a bizarre world, walking and talking. Still death lingered over me like a dark cloud closer than ever but never reaching, it seems like that was the only feeling that lingered even after my death. Only, this time there would be no magical world system and no reincarnation. I would simply cease to exist.

I think back on my last moments on earth as the beautiful woman caressed my hair and when she asked me wanted. I want to live a better life, i had replied. Her words finally clicked back to me.

“Go in my place. You'll be strong but you'll have to be stronger. You will have to be selfish. Do not waste the opportunity that i have given you”

Does this mean she was supposed to be in my place? The original host? Why did she tell me to be selfish?

It was at that moment i decided, i am going to live. I'm going to heed her advice and beat the system so i can be reborn in a new life. I will become stronger both in heart and mind and then i will live the life i have always wanted.

The door opens and my head snaps in its direction. Kara is now asleep, tired from her earlier fight. Axel walks in with a masked man whom I'm guessing is another soul player. He looks at Kara and frowns at her exposed wounds, maybe he felt guilty for giving them to her. The masked guard opens the door to my cell and lifts me off the ground.

“Hey! What the hell?“ I say as the large man bundles my arms behind my back.

“Shut up or you'll wake her” Axel scowls but Kara is in too deep of sleep to even stir in our direction. I'm guessing Axel and Kara must have history.

“Where are you taking me?“ I ask, trying to wiggle my way out of his grip.

“Lady Ravena wishes to see you” I calm down at the mention of Ravena. Good, i can finally tell her to not speak of my status. Axel huffs out a breath of air as the guard leads me out the door.

“Careful not to make too much noise so Dante doesn't start asking too many questions” Axel says as I'm led out up the stairs. He doesn't come up with us, the door closes and through the small window in the door, i see him opening Kara's cell.

I hear a beep as Spix's voice comes in. “Host, i would recommend paying attention to your surroundings to aid your escape.“

She's right. I didn't plan on staring at the ceiling in Dante's cell for the rest of eternity. I keep my eyes on the door at the top of the stairs. The door opens and I'm no longer in the basement dungeon but a very lavish living room. The furniture and dining is finer than anything I've ever seen. I don't get the chance to admire the rest of it when I'm suddenly yanked up more stairs. I take note of the large door which is probably the exit. We wander for a few more minutes and i wonder how big this house is until we get to a tall brown door. The guard knocks and it opens up from the inside.

He pushes me in and bows to Ravena. With a wave of her hand, the room is instantly cleared and we are left alone. She's wearing a silky night dress and her hair is tied up with a band.

She sits at the edge of the bed while watching me keenly. Kara's words come back to me. Was she really going to use me for my body? She did say I'm going to be of use to her. A cold sweat slides down my spine when she rises to her feet and walks towards me.

“No. Wait. I don't want to do this. How could you exploit a person's weakness like this? Don't you think using my body for your satisfaction is a little absurd?“

She steps back in surprise with a confused look on her face. “What the hell are you talking about? Using you for your body?“ She asks, her face contorts in disgust when she realises what I'm talking about and the thought that she was going to turn me into her boy toy as Kara said starts to disappear.

“Isn't… isn't that what you brought me here for?“

Her face reddens with a deep blush and i see purple sparks tingling from her fingertips. She's going to blast me again. Her hands curls into a fist and she sucks in a deep breath.

“Shut up” she hisses.

And i do because i have no idea what so say in these situations. I didn't exactly do a lot of socialising when i was alive.

I clear my throat. “So… why did you call me here?“

“To brief you.“

“Brief me?“ I ask, looking around her room. I pick up on the fact that Ravena is quite dainty despite her snobbish attitude. There's a lot of purple and black but she manages to make it all look pretty.

“Yes, brief you. On your job as my new subordinate”

“Subordinate? I'm a host and you're a soul player. How can i be your subordinate when I'm much stronger than you? You saw what i did to you back there. How's your arm?“ I ask, moving closer to take a look at it. She steps away from me and put her uninjured arm up as a barrier between the both of us.

“You might have more power than me but what use is power if you have no skill. You are weaker than a mouse. I could kill you now if i wanted to. Goodness knows how you ended up with that rank. You know nothing about this world and you lack basic survival skills. You are vulnerable and since I'm the only one who knows what you are, you have no choice but to listen to me. I could alert everyone in this place and you'd be dead in a heartbeat. You got lucky one time, don't act so smug”

“Hmm… i guess you're right. I know nothing about this world. I am weak but I've decided to live”

“Good then you'll need my help.”

“What if I decide to escape? I can learn to level up on my own. I can learn everything i need to know from someone else. If you tell anyone, i could just come back and kill you“ i try to threaten her but she doesn't seem the slightest bit moved. I walk to her dressing table and i pick up the mirror, it's the first time I've seen my reflection.

“That would be madness. I don't think you understand what a host is to Eden Bizarre. They are the co-ordinators. The system is their playground. Hosts don't need to level up because they are already at maximum level. Their main objective and the only reason they exist is to lessen the population. Subdue and destroy. Keep as many souls as possible from making it to the next life. It's a rigged system that only favours them. Players like us only get to live under their beck and call or die trying to fight them. Hosts don't just go around looking for a master to teach them how to gain skills. You're not like us and you're not like the hosts either. You're the weakest link. If you go out there on your own without any control, the system will eat you up. The players will kill you and more souls will rebel against the hosts. You'll never find anyone out there willing to teach you because the players will kill you if they find out what you are and so will the hosts because you are weak. This is not the place for you.“

Her words drive through my heart sharp as Axel's blade through Darach's heart. I know she's manipulating me for an ulterior motive but she's not exactly wrong.

“So what do you suggest i do?“

“Stay by my side. We will all be going to the capital for the next tournament. If you choose to escape and see for yourself what I'm talking about then be my guest but you must meet me at The Elvil house at the capital before the tournament… otherwise, I'll send the whole of Eden Bizarre after you” she threatens, this time I'm the one who is moved by her threats.

“And you? What do you stand to gain from this?“

“if a goes well, a second chance” her eyes drops to the floor and i see a hint of regret though I'm not sure what it is she regrets. “Return to your cell. You can leave if you want but remember, The Elvil house. Before the tournament” she pushes me out the door and closes it but her mirror is still in my hand. The masked guard leads me back to my cell and i pass by a very angry Axel who grunts as i walk past him. I'm thrown into my cell, i open the compact mirror and i stare down at my own reflection, my head crowded with a million thoughts.

I'm really in an impossible situation. Why did i have to come here? I consider sleeping it off but sleep doesn't come. I hear keys dangling in the background but i pay no attention to until Kara peeks her head through my now-opened cell door.

“Hey, you wanna escape?“