Chapter 4 – The Price of the Deadbloom
Inside the silent space of his mind—
Kurora stared at Ignes, his small blue body trembling slightly.
Kurora said, "Then, Your Highness… why is your soul so weak? What happened?"
Ignes only now noticed it.
"…Oh."
He was weak.
But that was only compared to his own power. If someone saw him now, they would never think he was weak. They would think no one could rival him.
Ignes said, "It's weird."
Kurora frowned. "Weird? What happened? You don't know what made you this weak?"
Ignes replied, "No. I just used my power after a long time, that's all."
He paused.
"I was attacked by Deadbloom. It should have made me weaker… like souls born in the lowest worlds."
(But it didn't happen like that.)
(That's what felt strange to Ignes.)
(He should have become that weak… or something should have been destroyed.)
(But nothing happened.)
---
(Kurora's thoughts)
Why is His Highness saying that…?
A being like him… comparing himself to a low-realm soul…
The difference between realms is not small.
The higher realms are filled with pure, rich energy… calm, comfortable, perfect.
The lower you go, the worse it becomes.
The energy becomes rough… thin… uncomfortable.
For beings from higher realms, even staying there feels unpleasant.
Most of them don't even want to remain for a moment.
It's like forcing someone who lived in comfort… to suddenly live in a broken place.
Of course they would reject it.
Of course they would feel it's unbearable.
I thought they were exaggerating at first…
But when I went there myself, because one of the souls I was taking care of couldn't endure it…
I understood.
That place is not something they can accept easily.
But His Highness…
He never cared.
Whether it was a higher realm or a lower realm…
He stayed the same.
Calm. Unbothered.
Like both were no different to him.
So why… is he talking like this now?
---
Kurora spoke out loud, confused,
"How can you say such things, Your Highness?"
Ignes looked at him and said,
"Kurora… don't you know what a Deadbloom flower attack means?"
Kurora hesitated.
"…Is it worse than being a low-realm soul?"