Serena stared at the insane list of skills and information. There had been about three million humanoids in the capital of the Celestial Empire, or as she knew it as the pocket dimension known as the Hidden City, so perhaps this Heart of Darkness thing was tied to that massacre. It didn't seem to take in the lives of the flora and fauna into the equation but she put that to Ravana's taste.

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  Speaking of the mad man in her mind, he seemed to be in the middle of his mental breakdown. He'd been ranting and raving for the last few minutes and she felt the beginnings of a headache from his rampaging.

  "I knew it. Someone set me up." The words spilled out of him without a thought about how they sounded. "It was too good to be true. All those people in a confined space that was hard to leave or enter should have been an easy way for me to start to regain my energy."

  Serena merely listened to him rant. She had the feeling she wouldn't like to be caught in the middle of wherever this was leading.

  "Running into you however ruined that. You ruined my chance to live again after so long on the verge of fading away," he continued to ramble while Serena watched the screen with growing dread. "You were supposed to die there along with all those others. I had plans in the making for longer than your pitiful empire has been around brat. It was all starting to come to fruition. I could finally begin anew and rebuild what I lost! I would no longer fear being forgotten and disappearing."

  His tone turned accusatory as he continued. "But no, you had to have the same gift like me. You even managed to reverse what I was doing to you and nearly consumed me in the process!."

  Ravana's voice grew angrier and angrier as it got closer and closer to an actual shout.

  "I never thought it'd be possible but now this cursed message system said as much so it must be true. You have the souls that were sacrificed to me and I am left with nothing."

  "Do you want the souls or energy or whatever this is? I feel we can talk this out and come to an agreement." She asked in a calm manner that belied her growing horror at his words. He seemed like someone who might be able to be reasoned with. If not she could always try to escape from him somehow if need be. At least for the time being anyway.

  He laughed harshly before answering. "That isn't necessary," he replied with a snarl. "You will give them up willingly without question because they are mine by right!" Ravana shouted again, then began to laugh hysterically for several minutes. "You see, my dear, I don't care about your silly little life. All of those people, all their lives, all gone, all gone just like that."

  She felt sick to her stomach as she watched Ravana descend into a breakdown.

  "We will discuss this tonight."

  "Yes, we will."

  Ravana's voice had taken on an almost pleading tone as well now. Serena couldn't understand what was happening here but she knew it wasn't good.

  "Lady Serena? Are you doing alright?"

  Serena snapped out of the daze she was in from witnessing someone so cold and ruthless crack even for a moment at hearing Lucian's voice call out to her. "My apologies. I was...lost in thought over my class." She nodded briefly and returned to the conversation with him. "I was wondering if you could tell me something. What is Apotheosis?"

  Lucian sighed heavily at the question before responding. "Apotheosis refers to the act of becoming godlike," he explained with some reluctance, "but there are many different ways to achieve this power, and most acquiring essence or energy from those with access to the Divine Messages in some form. While mortals gain classes and other boons from access to the Messages, those who gain power from mortals have it take the form of energy or essence collectively called Apotheosis. Some others call it Faith as well. By accumulating this energy, it can be used to alter themselves or affect the world and others. In the latter, these are considered miracles. This is why they're known as such as well. It has been said that only those worthy enough may become gods as well. There is much debate about what exactly it takes though." He shrugged slightly and smiled sadly as well as his eyes took on a more thoughtful look.

  "It seems like you have access to Apotheosis in some form, Lady Serena"

  Serena looked up sharply at hearing Lucian's words. She had no idea how he knew anything was wrong but she was appreciative of his concern. "Yes," Serena replied after a momentary pause. "I do." She frowned deeply at her thoughts for several moments before continuing in a quieter tone, "I'm not sure if I should say any more than that..."

  Lucian nodded slowly in understanding before replying, "No matter your reasons, my lady, please know that I will support you through this." He paused briefly then continued with an earnest expression. "I do not know if my lowly self could be of assistance."

  "I'm currently gaining some daily points toward Apotheosis. My current guess is that it is based on individual and the bond between me and each person in question." Serena paused before continuing in a way that she hoped wouldn't alarm him. "I believe since you seem devout in general, and we are currently traveling together, I am gaining some benefit from that."

  He gave another nod as he listened to Serena speak. "That makes sense...but it also means there is something else to it too?" The oracle asked curiously.

  Serena laughed softly at his words. She shook her head lightly to clear away her thoughts for several moments first before answering his question honestly for once. "I don't know. It could increase or decrease in the production of these elements based on our relationship or other factors."

  "What is your initial class?"

  She frowned and debated on ignoring Lucian's direct question but it wouldn't help her understand things in the long run. "I'm an internal energy expert," Serena answered, hesitating before giving in. "It says Muscle Wizard."

  Lucian's voice was bright and chipper as if he was restraining himself from laughing. "I never heard of internal energy but it fits you."

  I don't know whether to take that as an insult or a compliment, and this bastard doesn't seem like he is going to elaborate.

  All she could think of doing was pout at the treatment, and that seemed to cause him to laugh. It was a pleasant sound, though she couldn't quite tell what about that made him so happy. But she supposed he needed something to brighten up his dreary life.