Angel Monarch

Chapter 157: The Pains of the Past, Present and Future

"Good Day, Lady Seraphine! Did you miss me?" Said Harold sarcastically, at which Sera just rolled her eyes and stared ahead.

"You know the answer to that question... I don't care." Her voice was much different than the warm, kind, almost motherly tone she had spoken just moments ago. It was soulless, empty, like a living corpse was talking.

Slowly Harold's wrinkly old hand touched Sera's. She looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "What is it?" She asked.

He just laughed and while still not letting go of her hand, he spoke... "As you know the next session will soon begin, but I heard a few rumors and just wanted to know more about their validity... Could you enlighten this old man about your current situation?"

Sera sighed while pretending to be exhausted, it clearly hid her surprise about Harold finding out about her resurrections not even a full day ago.

"There was another assassination attempt. I died and revived all the same, so whatever session you have planned, the revival phase has to be about twelve hours from now." Her voice unconsciously trembled a bit as she talked. It wasn't exactly fear, just the memory of the excruciating pain she would feel soon.

Every week or so, Harold would come and take her away to his lab. There she would be tested and measured in every way possible, then eventually killed in a different way every time.

Her resurrection would be held in a specific tube-like instrument, which absorbed all the energy she made. Sera had no idea where all that power went, but she knew Harold... He wouldn't use it to anything like the good of humanity.

"Oh, no you misunderstood me! I know all about the attempt, what I was more curious about is this place. Why are you sitting in a playground watching children, like a creep?" The irony of what he said didn't escape Sera, since Harold was much creepier than she could ever be.

She didn't look at him, just watched as the children laughed and played. Eventually she answered in a small and a bit confused tone... "I don't know. I was just walking around the city, while waiting for you and ended up here. Then I sat down and watched them play for a while. I feel strange when I look at them, like the hollowness is even more prominent."

Sera really wanted to lie, but she learnt the hard way that Harold knew exactly when she told a lie. A phantom pain appeared on her left arm, as the memory came to her mind.

With a slow movement she glanced at Harold, who seemed a bit troubled and was constantly muttering things. Sera only managed to catch a few words like 'Returning again', 'Make her forget', and 'Extremely strong emotion'.

She just pretended not to hear anything, but on the side of her face, which was hidden from view, an ever so slight smirk appeared. It was there for only a moment before her face reset to its usual boredom.

Eventually Harold seemed to calm down and they both stayed silent, just watching the kids play around. The girl whom Sera had previously healed seemed to be back to her vigor, she was currently having a rematch with the kid who hit her on the head by accident.

It was strange, neither child really understood what pain was. Even after getting hurt only a few minutes ago, the little girl went back to play.

This was actually a pretty good lesson about human nature. There is a saying from a famous scientist – 'Insanity is when you do the same thing over and over expecting a different result.'

Sadly this very smart scientist didn't truly understand human's. They were creatures with the ability to adapt, using their brains they created things to make their survival easier. But was the first weapon they created for hunting a success? Or the first clothing they ever sew to keep the cold out?

Or maybe they had done it over and over, while expecting a different result. Then through many failed attempts, they eventually became successful. So, is that really insanity, or just the indomitable human spirit.

Of course some people were really insane, like the man sitting right next to Sera. She still didn't fully understand why he's trying to find a way for her to die permanently the first time... or maybe he just wants to make sure that's not a possibility?

For about half an hour neither spoke, they were too absorbed in their thoughts. After a while Harold sighed next to her and said, "You are a strange individual Seraphine..."

Sera tilted her head a bit seemingly confused by this remark, then she laughed a bit without emotion.

"If that was a compliment, it was shit. Maybe try saying something nice about my hair or eyes next time." She said with a stupid grin. Just because she felt hollow doesn't mean she couldn't be sarcastic.

Next to her Harold chuckled a bit, then pointed out the obvious. "I could compliment them, but both seem to be in a different state than they usually are. By the way that little item you have fools no one. Your facial structure is still quite prominent and skin is uniquely magnificent."

He smiled a bit at Sera's eyebrow raise. "Did this compliment suit the Lady's requirements?"

In answer Sera just shrugged and said, "Good enough... Didn't have high expectations anyway..." Harold laughed again, but soon his demeanor grew more serious.

"As I said, you are strange. Too unique. Too emotional. I never saw anything like you at all. It is so hard to... Never mind that." Whatever he was going to say made Sera very interested, but she showed nothing on the outside.

This was the biggest question she still needed an answer to before her plan could begin. What is Harold's research? Why does he tests her constantly? Where does all that energy go?

She needed answers to these questions, sooner rather than later. They could change everything.

By her current knowledge Harold has been testing not just Sera, but other humans both regular and evolved, monsters and even goblins! Whatever he was planning or researching could effect every living being on Earth!

"Anyway, we should be going. I still have a busy schedule to follow. Some people doing actual work and don't just sit around watching children. Maybe you should consider it too, you know you could become a transcended anytime Seraphine. The only thing in your way is those pesky life essences you should be collecting!"

He was a bit angry, but Sera just smiled at him and asked, "How many did you have to collect to become transcended?"

Because of her remark, his face turned furious and with a lightning quick move he punched Sera in the face so hard she flew through the air for a few meters. Throughout all that she just laughed mockingly.

The civilians around them didn't even look in their direction, it was like they were fully invisible to them. Sera tried to get up, but suddenly a boot pushed her head into the grassy ground. Harold bent down from his waist and whispered into her ear.

"Just because you are my favorite PET, doesn't give you the right to mock me! I tell you what, I give you a month for you to fully saturate your soul..." He bent down even further and his voice turned menacing.

"All those things I do to you is purely for research. Don't for a second believe that your reality couldn't get any worse... We barely even scratched the top of the kilometer long iceberg of suffering..."

Even though Sera couldn't feel fear, a shiver ran down her spine.

"Do we understand each other?" He said with a mad smile on his face. Sera's whole body was trembling from Harold's presence, this was a passive ability of every transcended. Their emotions alone could bend reality to an extent.

"Yes..." She said in a barely audible whisper. Suddenly she found herself back on the bench, with Harold grinning at her. Seeing her confused expression he laughed out loud.

"What? Did you truly think I would destroy this nice bench or get physical to prove a point? Why would I need to do that, when I can easily control your perception..." His smile disappeared faster than Sera thought possible and he spoke in the previous mad tone.

"But don't forget about it. I gave you freedom to do what you like, but don't believe for a second that I can't change my mind anytime I want!... It would be much easier for me to have you locked up in my facility... You have a month!"

His expression slowly turned from angry to neutral, then eventually happy. Harold breathed in the warm air and gradually stood up. With a smile on his face, he held out his hand to help Sera on her feet like a gentleman would.

She had no real choice other than taking his hand. When they both were standing Sera took one last glance at the playground with the happy children, then with a small sigh she closed her eyes.

The two of them stood there for only a moment, before suddenly both disappeared into nothingness.

Gingerly Sera opened her eyes, they focused on the white surroundings and the bright lights above her...

It was time for another day of suffering... Enjoy exclusive content from ???