Power of Runes Chapter 412: Evangeline

In the quiet solitude of the Soul Space, another five centuries drifted by unnoticed.

These particular five hundred years were vastly different from those that had come before. In the past, Ash had merely experimented with structures, observing how various Runic glyphs interacted under controlled settings and testing whether they could maintain stability without collapsing under their own inherent meanings.

Now, however, a genuine soul rested at the core of the entire apparatus. Every layer of the Runic formation had to be meticulously tailored to the nature of that soul—specifically how it reacted to outside influences and the long-term impact of being shackled within the Spirit Devouring Crystal.

The crystal itself presented the primary hurdle. By its very design, the Spirit Devouring Crystal acted as a soul suppressor.

Its purpose was to strip away soul essence and facilitate the transfer of properties from one individual to another. It functioned much like a specialized container, consuming the core of a soul and preserving it so that its distinct traits could eventually be inherited by a successor. Consequently, the trapped soul remained in a state of profound dormancy, utterly unresponsive to external stimuli. The longer a soul was confined within such a relic, the more absolute that dormancy became, as the crystal actively quashed any flicker of sentience.

This made meaningful communication an impossibility.

Ash understood he had to awaken the soul, and the only way to achieve this was by removing it from the container. Yet, he knew the risk: once released from the crystal without a body to serve as a tether, the soul would inevitably drift away and be swept into the cycle of reincarnation, as he lacked the capability to bind or govern souls directly.

He recognized this natural law perfectly. A soul lacking a physical anchor could not linger in the mortal realm for long; the forces governing existence would pull it back into the endless loop of rebirth.

Essentially, the Spirit Devouring Crystal remained the most viable container, so Ash sought to awaken the soul while keeping it safely inside. This proved to be an immense challenge, requiring him to engineer a Runic framework capable of shielding the soul from the crystal’s predatory nature.

Utilizing diverse combinations of runes, Ash constructed a tiered framework that served as a buffer, isolating the soul from the crystal’s devouring hunger while still permitting a regulated flow of essence.

The second major obstacle was synchronization.

The soul possessed its own internal rhythm, while the Runic framework operated on another. If these two patterns deviated even slightly, the integrity of the entire structure would shatter.

A soul is far more than mere energy; it holds memories, deep-seated instincts, and a natural flow of essence that obeys its own unique frequency. In contrast, Ash’s Runic formation was artificial, built upon rigid logic and precise meanings. Any misalignment between these two systems resulted in immediate conflict.

During their inaugural attempt at synchronization, the Runic formation shattered almost instantly. The meanings inherent in the glyphs clashed violently with the soul’s natural essence, creating distorted shockwaves as the layers fought to imprint their rhythm onto the soul.

Ash dismantled the formation without hesitation, fearing that even a moment of continued instability could cause irreversible harm to his delicate creation.

Following this setback, he spent nearly seventy years refining the synchronization layer, exhaustively adjusting the sequence of Runic symbols until the soul began to harmonize with the framework rather than rejecting it.

Throughout those tireless decades, he tested countless variations, watching how the soul responded to each minute change and discarding anything that triggered even the slightest resistance.

The third dilemma emerged much later.

Despite achieving stabilization and synchronization, the soul remained steadfastly dormant. Eric was the one to identify the cause.

"If the crystal naturally devours soul essence," Eric remarked thoughtfully, peering through his monocle at the slowly rotating Runic layers, "then the soul has likely adapted by conserving its own energy to survive. It will not wake up unless it is offered nourishment. A soul so long suppressed would instinctively remain in a dormant state unless it feels secure enough to emerge."

Ash stood silent, processing the insight. His gaze fixed upon the crystal, he turned Eric’s logic over in his mind, reconstructing the formation’s flow.

He then carefully modified the structure once again. Instead of sealing off the crystal’s function, Ash used rune combinations to regulate its hunger. The crystal would continue to devour essence, but instead of feeding on the imprisoned soul, the system would consume external energy and redirect it to nourish the slumbering consciousness.

The crystal’s devouring attribute remained, redirected to serve as a conduit for refinement and sustenance rather than destruction. This single adjustment required nearly another century to perfect.

Gradually, the soul began absorbing Ash’s own Soul essence. Given the vast reserves within the Soul Space, Ash remained unaffected, and the constant regeneration of his Soul Power ensured that this process incurred no loss to him.

To ensure perfect safety, he implemented several locks to regulate exactly how much essence the soul could passively consume. These acted as silent dampers, ensuring the influx remained gentle so as not to overwhelm or destabilize the soul.

With this, the Runic structure achieved true balance. The synchronization layer continued to adapt to the soul’s natural cadence. Everything was finally proceeding as intended. And then, following additional years of patient refinement, the system locked firmly into place.

For the first time, the entire Runic configuration operated as a singular, cohesive model. The outer layer provided the anchor, the middle layers managed energy flow and synchronization, and the inner layers acted as a bridge to Ash’s Soul Library, allowing consciousness to engage with the structure in an organized fashion.

It remained incredibly primitive by Ash’s grand standards, but it functioned.

Ash watched the crystal float quietly before him. The Runic symbols revolved slowly, their meanings fluid and perfectly balanced, as if every component had found its proper place at last.

Then, a tremor occurred.

A faint ripple coursed through the interior of the crystal. Ash’s eyes narrowed, his attention sharpening.

Eric straightened up instantly.

"Did you see that? Did it move?" he asked, his voice a blend of shock and anxious anticipation as he leaned forward, intensifying his focus through his monocle.

The soul within the crystal trembled again. For thousands of years, it had remained a void of non-existence, trapped in the darkness. But now, the Runic arrangement had forged something unprecedented: a path, a vital connection.

The dormant soul reached out. A pulse of consciousness flickered into existence—fragile, yet undeniable. The Runic framework reacted instantly, cushioning the awakening energy and channeling it through the synchronization layers to ensure the developing consciousness did not burn itself away.

Then, a faint, ethereal voice drifted through the Soul Space.

"...Hello?"

The voice was soft, melodic, and confused, sounding as if it were relearning speech after an age of silence. Eric froze, rendered motionless by the sound. Ash remained composed, though his focus remained locked on the crystal’s core.

The crystal emanated a soft glow. Within, the faint image of a small unicorn materialized. She was graceful and delicate, possessing an aura of dual authority and warmth, as if two powerful souls had melded into one rare, dignified presence. Her three small, vibrant horns shimmered as she looked around in bewilderment at the vast, alien expanse of the Soul Space.

Her gaze finally settled on Eric, and a bright smile transformed her expression. Her voice held the clear, airy quality of a young child.

"Hello... little brother!!!"

Eric rose slowly from his chair, staring at the apparition in disbelief, his eyes glistening with tears. "...S-Sister... Evangeline."

Ash, however, narrowed his eyes. The suspicion on his face didn't go unnoticed, and the little unicorn giggled at his intense expression.

"Hehe... you are so silly, Brother Ash. I was aware of everything happening around me... even if my range was quite limited..."

Eric blinked, the realization dawning on him. In his fervor, he had forgotten that she had been trapped there all along. Eva laughed again, clearly delighted to finally speak, as she gestured at her surroundings with curiosity.

"So this is the place you both occupied all this time... even if it's inside Brother Ash's soul, it still feels cozy somehow..." she murmured, her wonder evident before she turned her attention back to them, clarifying with a gentle smile: "I could feel things sometimes... voices, movements... but it was always misty, like hearing whispers from worlds away."

Eric stepped toward the crystal, as if fearing she might vanish if he shifted his gaze. "You... really heard us?" he asked, his voice trembling with hope.

Eva nodded slowly. "Not everything. Sometimes only fragments or feelings. But I remember your voice. You talked to Brother Ash so much in the old days. And even now, you still argue with him all the time."

Eric scratched his head sheepishly. "I... suppose I do."

Eva tilted her head, a comforting smile dancing on her lips. "You sounded quite lonely sometimes. But you kept talking regardless."

Eric’s face tightened, a flicker of vulnerability passing through his eyes before he forced a smile. He clearly hadn't expected her to recall such personal details. Ash remained silent, monitoring the Runic layers; though he seemed detached, his mind worked tirelessly to ensure the formation held steady.

Eva eventually turned to face Ash.

"And you... Brother Ash." Her voice carried a soft undertone of gratitude. "Thank you for protecting my brother and me. You are truly the best!!!"

She lifted a tiny front hoof, attempting an awkward thumbs-up that appeared endearingly clumsy. Eric chuckled in relief, but Ash felt a cold ache in his chest.

Memories he usually suppressed briefly surfaced. He wondered if this was innocent gratitude or a subtle, haunting reminder that despite his efforts, he had ultimately failed her mother. The uncertainty was a heavy weight, yet Ash betrayed no emotion.

"You were conscious the entire time?" he asked in a steady, controlled voice, shielding his inner turmoil.

Eva shook her head. "Not fully. It was more like drifting through a long dream. I could sense things, but I lacked the power to interact. When you began weaving those glowing patterns around the crystal, the world became clearer." She marveled at the rotating Runic structures. "They feel... warm."

Eric attempted to speak, but the Runic layers began to fluctuate. The sheer effort of sustaining this awakening was pushing the system to its breaking point. Ash sensed the decline immediately.

"The structure cannot maintain this equilibrium for long."

Eva turned to Ash, her glowing form beginning to fade. "I feel... sleepy again..."

Her eyes drifted shut as the energy sustaining her consciousness flickered. Eric rushed forward, desperate to hold onto the moment. "Wait—"

However, the system had reached its limit. The unicorn’s form dissolved into light as she returned to her state of dormancy within the crystal. Silence reclaimed the Soul Space.

The Runic formation slowly steadied itself, the fluctuations vanishing. Eric stared at the crystal for a long, heavy moment before looking up at the sky of the Soul Space.

"...She woke up."

Ash gave a curt nod. "Yes. For the first time." He kept his eyes on the crystal. "And she provided us with vital information. We had best start behaving ourselves; otherwise, she might pick up some of your bad habits."

Eric scoffed. "Me? Please! You possess far more regrettable traits than I ever could."

Ash shot him a lethal look. "Do you require a lesson in manners?"

Eric sighed dramatically. "See? You go straight to threats before I can even finish a sentence. I have constructive thoughts, you know."

Ash narrowed his eyes. "You truly enjoy dancing on the precipice of my patience."

Eric shrugged, unfazed. "Oh, please. If you were truly going to strike, you wouldn't bother warning me first."

Ash glanced back at the crystal, exhaling a quiet, weary breath. "Just remember one thing."

Eric frowned. "What?"

"This system worked once," Ash stated, his gaze intent on the rotating runes. "Which means it can be perfected."