Before her bloody reflection response, Rose faced her with her unreadable expression before sighing. Skylar thought she would finally answer, but instead, her expression turned into disgust. Rose unmasked herself by removing her top, showing her bloody skin in front of Skylar. She was like a snake removing old skin and showing the truth beneath her skin.
"Why skinning yourself?" Skylar wondered, watching as Rose removed the rest of the skin on her face and hands, but Rose smirked.
'Would you believe if I told you that I feel like it?'
Skylar was taken aback but amused, and Rose giggled softly before dusting the rest of her body, shaking the old self away from the new ones. Magically, Rose shifted. As for Skylar, she was stunned seeing a different side of Rose. Rose was still Skylar's reflection, but instead of being bloody dangerous, she was more like a goddess of blood, based on how deep her red hair was, and had a devious smile of a succubus with red, alluring lips. But what caught Skylar's interest were her eyes; they were the same bloody mauve, but somehow it was clearer and imperious if challenged.
Skylar felt a tug on her chest and made a step closer to Rose, reaching out to touch and feel her sudden change. Rose didn't move or flinch away; instead, she let her human feel her truth, and once Skylar's hand felt her new skin against her palm, she softened, and tears began pooling in her eyes.
"You're…extraordinary," Skylar muttered softly, like she was finally accepting the side of her she had no idea how to handle.
'Don't fall in love with yourself.'
"I loved myself, but you…you're the other side of the coin that once I didn't know what to do. You showed not only my rage and my pain, but you also showed how strong I could be without being furious with everything, anyone who took my life away, and be contented, happy with what lies in front of me." She chuckled but sincerely shared Rose's effect in her life before continuing, "You made me realize to be thankful for the life I had, instead of burning in rage, revenge, and hate. You let me be the flame of life or death, but also filled with love and protection. And if given a chance for another life, I would love to have you with me again."
'That's a heartwarming confession, Sky, but I agreed with you. You're a better human vessel I've ever known.'
"Ever known? You had been in another vessel before?" She wondered, slightly jealous because she was not Rose's first vessel. Rose sensed it and snickered amusingly.
'Decades or a century was the last time I had a vessel before. They were all not capable of handling the Blood Curse I had until you happened. That's why I'm showing you my truth.'
"And I'm grateful that you do." She smiled, genuinely accepting Rose even more before returning to the real subject of their conversation, demanding, "So, care to tell me now about our fate as a mediator?"
'Demanding as always.'
"I don't, but I insist." She corrected sternly.
'Is there any difference?'
"Spelling." She chuckled before turning serious on the subject, saying, "Kidding aside, the reason why I asked you is because of the Immortal Bloods' sudden visit with Vincencio. They mentioned it, and I'm curious what type of mediator we will become." She asked curiously about the changes that were taking place inside her body.
'I see. Everyone knew that the Immortal Bloods were triggers of changes in a person or that place, and they were good at it, changing lives for the better. However, that's not the only thing they do. Their truth is mostly changing the Fallen Rogues' fates, trying to prevent them from falling deeper into madness. But you know, they could only do limited things because the answer always lies in the person's hands.'
"And us?" She wondered, intrigued by their power that will become.
'We're on the same boat of giving chances of a better self, but like I've mentioned, everything lies in the person's hands, which we cannot change. However, the difference in the line of the mediator's works, we're more in the bridge of life and death.'
"But I heard that there's someone who is capable of doing the same thing." She said, remembering there was someone who could bring life and death to anyone.
'Perhaps, but at the same time it isn't. What I'm trying to say is that we might have had the same gift when it comes to life and death, but our jobs are different. We're mediators of life and death, meaning we spare and end life, but at the same time we take souls to either send to eternal suffering, instant death, or give another life in a different form and time.'
"Wow. That's a heavy task." She sighed heavily, noticing how heavy the responsibility of being a mediator was.
'I know, but it will be fun.'
"And you're enjoying it already, even though we're not completely awakened." She chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief.
'Well, it won't be long. I felt it as you felt it too. It's nearing, that's why you're here. Your body decided to change and hibernate.'
"If we do have that ability, can we give life now?" She wondered innocently, making Rose chuckle like it was a joke.
'Silly, we're nothing like the highest heaven, and our gift is not for creating a taboo. We're given what Immortal Bloods have, a gift and prophecy to meet.'
"Prophecy? I thought it was just about our awakening?" She wondered curiously since she had no idea that their awakening holds a prophecy too.
'Well, in our case, we need to meet Sophia's request, which you agreed to do, and Rudolf's wish for their soul to have a chance for another life. Once it's met, then it will be the start of our new life as Soul Mutualist.'
"That's what we will become?" With a surprised expression, she wondered for assurance, making Rose nod before following up a question, asking, "What does it do?"
'Soul Mutualist is about taking and giving in balance. We take souls to either put them in a punishment or give a chance for another life, where nourishing souls must take place.'
"So, we're not just going to take and give, we're going to nourish them until it's time for them to be reborn, did I get that right?" She guessed, sharing how she understood their power, and Rose nodded while smiling at her human's clever mind.
'Yes, you understand how it works.'
"So basically our blood curse is our inborn ability, but our gifted power is called Soul Mutualist." She muttered, guessing the difference between their abilities and power.
'Pretty much like it.'
"Then how can we obtain that power?" She wondered, making Rose sigh, but amused.
'As I have said before, we must meet Sophia's request and Rudolf's wish; once we do, and we get the power.'
"Okay, I got that part. But, are we even prepared for it? I mean, can we wield it accordingly without any backfires on us?" She wondered about the possibility that they could fail once they obtained it.
'That's why you're here in the first place and talking with me.'
"Rose. Be clear." She frowned, demanding sternly with a brief explanation on how her mind works well, saying, "Sometimes I need concrete and clear information before I share my conclusion running in my head."
'Your body is already starting the pace of the awakening of the Soul Mutualist. The second part is for you to learn about the gift, which I had already briefed you about. The third part is practicing taking and giving, which is very natural for you. But the nourishing part happens inside a void.'
"Can I even create a void like Mom did when she shared with me their untold story?" She wondered, but was curious as well.
'It's given already since it runs in your family. You can even create your own world inside the empty void. However, it will depend on how creative you are. And for the years of watching and being with you, you're not even close to it.'
"HEY! I DO PAINT!" With a pout, Skylar defended quickly, correcting Rose's teasing comment about her lack of creativity, saying, "So basically, I'm creative enough. I just rarely do it."
'Defensive remarks.'
"ROSE." She whined, making Rose chuckle before she flicked Skylar's temple, sending a shiver down her spine, questioning, "What did you just do?"
Skylar's eyes blinked a couple of times, adjusting to the sudden dust that had fallen over her eyes, but Rose just smiled at her. Skylar gently rubbed her eyes, frowning at Rose, but in a few more seconds, her sight finally adjusted, and Skylar began seeing different lights flowing around the peaceful galactic realm where sun and moon existed in one sky. She gasped at the colorful sight, speechless, but frowned as she looked at Rose, filled with wonder.
'I just opened the Blood Eye of the soul. Through that Blood Eye, you will gain the ability to see souls who were needed to meet the Soul Mutualist. It will help you easily distinguish what type of souls the person had. And maybe perhaps, you can enhance it and make it great or work with your style.'
"Okay, what else should I gain from here?" Skylar nodded and wondered, making Rose shrug her shoulders.
'Nothing much aside from learning about the power that is about to wake up. You just need to be ready before it does.'
"So, anything else I would need in the process?" She asked more, making Rose think for a second, and smiled.
'Aside from the Blood Eye, you can open the other Blood Curse ability or enhance all of the type's abilities you already have, or perhaps, you can create a new type of Blood Curse. Don't worry; nothing backfires as long as you're here with me.'
"Right, you're the Blood Curse itself." She scoffed but understood what it meant anyway before adding what interested her, saying, "Anyway, creating a new type of Blood Curse, that's interesting, and I want to try it."
'Then please do. I'm not going to stop you and wake you since your body is preparing you for the upcoming changes. So, in short, you've got a lot of time you need on perfecting them.'
"I see, but can you tell how long I would hibernate here?" she asked as Skylar took the initiative to sit down on the grassy ground comfortably.
'It depends on your body and how it responds to the changes coming its way.'
"Hm, okay. I'd better train here." She nodded, closing her eyes while feeling the serene atmosphere of the dreamy realm.
'Then start cultivation. I'll put time here because the clock hits differently in here.'
"No need. It'll only make me wonder about the outside." She said, declining Rose's offer.
'Okay if you say so.'
"But please keep me posted about Vincencio." She said, opening her eyes again. Rose took a deep breath before sighing and replying to her human.
'About him, he's facing the same thing with his wolf. He's getting ready too to keep up with our pace in time.'
"Oh, okay. Then I'd better start." She understood, settling herself again on the ground before closing her eyes to start meditating.
'You should. I'll spread some warning malice around the village to make the creepers go away.'
"Have fun." She said, waving her hand before continuing her meditation.
'Oh, I will.'
***
Being left on her own, Skylar drifted into her deep meditation. She had no problem doing that since it helped her relax her racing mind and made it clear. However, doing meditation during your sleep was something she had done a few times, but never this deeply. Skylar began not just feeling the energies that surround her but also seeing them despite her closed eyes.
"This is new but interesting," Skylar muttered amusingly to the senses she opened, and later, tried something.