Prologue Part 14
A complex bundle of emotions began to flood through Matteo as he stood face to face with the ghost for the second time. He got a good look at its face, and while this time he could see the features, he just couldn't make out what the face was. He clenched his fists but knew better than to try and touch it in fear of the events from their last meeting repeating themselves. So Instead he decided to fight with his words and ask the most important question on his mind,
"What are you?" The ghost smirked before answering him, "I'm afraid I can't tell you." Matteo felt his blood start to boil. He took a deep breath and tried to maintain his composure before asking, "What did you do to my mother?" The ghost simply replied, "I did not do anything to your mother. She simply went mad." Matteo nearly lost it. He almost tried to grab the ghost but remembered that doing so could make him pass out again. "Calm down human child," The ghost said calmly, "Your mother saw something she was not supposed to see…. And she lost her mind because of it."
"So ghosts do exist?" Matteo inquired. "Mmm, no. Not really." The ghost replied with a finger on its chin. "Well then how do you exist?" Matteo asked back. "I don't" it answered simply. "What? H-how is that possible? You're real! I know you are!"
"You know, you ask a lot of questions, child", it said before continuing, "Don't you think there are more important questions you should be asking? Like maybe where we are or how we can get past this gate?"
Matteo replied, "No. I want you to answer all my questions before you disappear again." The ghost cocked its head to the side, "Why are you so obsessed with trying to know who or what I am? You should know all of this already." "What does that mean?" Matteo asked, genuinely confused. The ghost grinned once more, "Nothing~". "Just answer my questions!" Matteo demanded as he lost his patience. "Hmmm," The ghost pondered before replying, "No~"
Matteo could only stand there frustrated. Seeing how quiet Matteo was, the ghost decided it was a good idea to poke the bear even further, "Aww, don't worry. You'll vindicate your poor mother soon enough." Matteo's frustration turned into surprise. He was about to ask something when the ghost beat him to it. "You want to know how I know? Well that's simple. I've been watching you for a long time, Matteo Dumont."
Matteo was once again frustrated. He felt like he was being toyed with. In order to regain his sense of control, he demanded, "Tell me what you are right now!" The ghost shrugged, "You already know what I am, I am a ghost." "Well, what kind of ghost are you?!" The ghost simply replied, "Ah, I'm afraid you've reached your question limit. From this moment forward, I will no longer be answering any of your questions."
Matteo was about to say something when the entire place began to rumble. "What was that?" Matteo asked as he looked around the place. The ghost answered calmly, "It seems our time together is nearing its end." "What?!" Matteo began to panic. He still had so many unanswered questions, but it was clear that the ghost was not willing to answer many of them right now, so instead he asked the next best question,
"How can I come and see you again?" The ghost paused for a moment before answering, "Simple, all you have to do is come here again and hope that we are both here at the same time." "What is this place?" Matteo finally got to the question. "Ah, Finally! You're asking the important questions," The ghost rejoiced before giving his answer, "This is….."
Suddenly the place began to rumble again, this time more violently. Matteo dropped to his knees as a sharp pain traveled across his body. "Well, it looks like it's time to say goodbye for now. Bye bye!" Matteo grimaced before dragging himself back up, but before he could say anything, his body went numb and he fell back down to the floor, and just a few seconds later, he passed out.
***
Back at the cathedral, everybody in the room wore expressions of shock and awe at what they were witnessing. "What is going on?" "What's happening?" The body of turquoise green spiritual water…. Had turned gold. This has never happened before, in the thousands of years in which humanity has used the soul inheritance to empower themselves. But that wouldn't be the only shocker of the night.
A few moments later, the water started rippling and Matteo emerged. Once he had fully stood up, the entire cathedral was sent into an even bigger frenzy as Matteo's body now had strange gold markings on it, as well as a small round symbol on his back that glowed gold. It was unlike anything anybody had ever seen before. Matteo wiped his face then opened his eyes, which now also shined gold in front of everybody in the cathedral. That entire combination sent shockwaves across the entire place, as murmurs quickly began across the entire room,
"I have never seen such a symbol before."
"How has he already planted his first seed?"
"That symbol…. That is not one of the seed types"
"Could this be? A new seed type?"
"A new type?! No way! That's impossible!"
"But just look at his back…. And his eyes. That is not part of the Seed types. Surely that's the only remaining answer!"
"No way! If what you say is true, then that means that this child…. just made history."
"I knew the boy was a genius but this…. This defies thousands of years of logic and research. Ha….ha ha. How special can one person be?!"
"To label him as special would be an insult! This boy…. Is an anomaly! For the past seven years he has shown us all that his talents and abilities defy all our established logic! And tonight he has done it once again! He has defied thousands of years of logic and research like it was the most natural thing in the world!"
"Where in goodness name did the Duchess find this boy?!"
"All hail the Golden Boy! All hail the Golden Boy!"
"All hail the Golden Boy!"
"All hail The Golden Boy!"
Soon, the entire cathedral was chanting in unison. Thomas couldn't help but smirk, Looks like you've done it again, Matteo…. You've impressed me once again