The Ancient Imperial Calendar, Year 1819
When the white light disappeared, Ricardo found himself in Runanheim, the realm of spirits.
Before him sat a man in his thirties, handsome, with hair and a beard whiter than snow, sitting on a plain, unremarkable throne.
"Are you Runanheimr, the King of Spirits?"
In response to Ricardo's question, the Spirit sitting on the Throne spoke.
"Yes," he said in a calm voice.
"Sit. Let me offer you something. You have passed through very difficult trials; you need to rest."
A throne appeared opposite Runanheimr—plain, ordinary, and simple.
Ricardo walked forward with slow steps and sat on the throne.
After a brief silence, Ricardo asked his first question.
"What did I experience? All those things... what were they?"
Runanheimr answered.
"They were your regrets."
"But the first two... I never regretted feeding that child to my lion, Khusrau, or killing my nephew, Oscar II Pleyciys."
"I know. Those were just a few of your greatest sins. I gave you a chance to cleanse yourself of these sins, but you disregarded it."
Ricardo spoke angrily.
"I didn't know what I was in for.I couldn't use most of my powers. What did you expect me to do there? Even if I did my best, nothing would change. Those two children had to die."
Runanheimr maintained his same cold and calm demeanor as he responded.
"And why did they have to die?"
Ricardo calmed down and answered.
"I had to eradicate the root of the rebellion.In history, not a single person followed a path different from what I did."
"This does not justify your actions. You killed millions of innocent people, and you don't even show regret," said Runanheimr.
Ricardo jumped to his feet in anger.
"Regret?Do you have any idea of the burden on my shoulders? Do you know the hardships, the pains I endured in my previous life and in this one?"
"I know. That's why I wanted to give you a chance to be free from your sins."
"Forget it. What difference will being free from one or two sins make? I am the murderer of millions and will probably continue to be so. There is no end or salvation from this."
"There was a way, Ricardo. You could have avoided fighting for the throne and lived a life free from sin."
"That is not my path, King of Spirits. This is who I am. I cannot change."
"And do you know what will happen to your soul as a result?"
"I don't know. What will happen?"
"In the deepest, darkest depths of the sea, for as many years as every person you killed could not live, you will likely be chained and suffer—for hundreds of millions of years. Your deeds will not go unpunished."
"But what about my good deeds? I am not purely evil. I touched the lives of millions of people for the better. Most don't know this, but you probably do."
For the first time during the conversation, Runanheimr smiled.
"Of course I know.You made the lives of millions of people, whether long or short, happier. Because of this, there will be a reduction in the punishment you will suffer, Ricardo."
The conversation seemed to have reached its end. Ricardo took a deep breath and looked around.
"You are the King of Spirits, yet you have no palace. I was expecting a more magnificent place, beyond human comprehension."
Runanheimr assumed a mocking tone.
"You humans,when you use terms like King, Emperor, or in modern terms, House Lord before your names, you always imagine massive, glorious palaces, powerful figures. Is all that truly necessary? Can't a King exist within simplicity and ordinariness?"
Ricardo had no answer to this. In both his lives, he had faced hardships but had never experienced a life outside of wealth and comfort.
"I don't know. So, all these tests were to free me from my sins and regrets and to find inner peace?"
Runanheimr asked with surprise.
"Yes.Were you expecting something else?"
Ricardo didn't hide his disappointment.
"Well,maybe a reward... I embarked on this journey with dreams of becoming stronger."
"Ricardo, didn't you notice something?"
Ricardo shook his head.
"No."
"Examine your soul."
Ricardo closed his eyes and looked deep into his soul. He discovered something shocking.
"My Light Power... it has increased by an incredible amount. How is this possible?"
Runanheimr smiled and began to explain.
"Light Power is connected to the soul.The more spiritually peaceful and balanced you are, the greater your Light Power grows."
Ricardo was in awe.
"Thank you,King of Spirits. I will be eternally grateful to you."
"It's a bit early for gratitude, Ricardo. There is something I must tell you."
Ricardo asked curiously.
"What is it?"
Runanheimr adopted a serious expression.
"You are not the reincarnation of Harloumen."