The Ancient Imperial Calendar, Year 1819
Ricardo was frozen in shock. Thousands of thoughts flashed through his mind simultaneously. He was at a loss for words.
"What do you mean, Spirit King? What do you mean I'm not a reincarnation?"
"Let me explain. The Shadow Spirit Giskar told you he had served three people who were reincarnated before you. Do you remember?"
"Yes, I remember."
"I have been watching humans from my throne for over ten thousand years. I judge their souls. But in all this time, I have never witnessed the reincarnation of a single soul. Neither the sinful souls I exiled to the dark depths of the sea, nor the good souls I welcomed into my kingdom—none of them have ever reincarnated into another body."
Ricardo's mind was even more confused; his questions multiplied.
"I don't understand. If no soul ever reincarnated, how do I have the memories of Harloumen VIII?"
Runanheimr continued to explain.
"There are several reasons for this. The first reason is your bloodline."
"My bloodline?"
"Yes, Ricardo. The ancestors you descend from are the primary cause. All your ancestors in the last fifty generations possessed high-level, high-layered potential. The second reason is that each of them was related to the others, even if by more than ten generations apart."
Ricardo tried to process all this information. He scratched his head as if trying to tear it out, reviewing his life.
"What?! So, all this time, for a whole twenty-four years of my life, I've been destroying myself for MEMORIES THAT AREN'T EVEN MINE?!"
Ricardo took deep breaths, trying to calm down.
"And the Spirits I made contracts with... each of them kept saying I was a reincarnation."
Runanheimr began to explain.
"No matter how high a Spirit's rank is, there are things they cannot comprehend. Because you met all the conditions, you inherited your ancestor's memories while still in your mother's womb. Before your own consciousness could fully form, being exposed to so many memories made you believe you were the reincarnation of Harloumen, and your Soul Essence took shape accordingly. Spirits can see the essence of the souls of the humans they contract with. That's why they all thought you were Harloumen's reincarnation."
"And if the souls of the dead come to the Spirit Kingdom, to Runanheim... have they never seen the soul of my ancestor, Harloumen VIII?"
"They haven't seen him. Because your ancestor Harloumen committed too many sins. I chained him to the dark depths of the sea to serve his punishment, and his soul is still there. The other spirits never saw him outside the era he lived in. When they saw your soul essence, they thought his punishment had ended and he had reincarnated."
Ricardo asked in an interrogative tone.
"Then why didn't you tell me all this from the beginning?"
Runanheimr answered with the same cold and calm demeanor.
"I do not interfere with the living. I only judge their souls after they die."
Ricardo jumped to his feet in anger.
"ARE YOU MOCKING ME? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I'VE DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THESE MEMORIES THAT DON'T BELONG TO ME? I TURNED OBSESSIVE ABOUT BECOMING POWERFUL BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WAS KILLED DUE TO MY WEAKNESS. I COULDN'T LIVE THE CHILDHOOD I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE JUST ONCE. I COULDN'T FORM TRUE FRIENDSHIPS. AND THE WORST PART IS, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY TIMES I BROKE THE HEART OF MARILINE, WHO LOVED ME UNCONDITIONALLY, BECAUSE I THOUGHT SHE WAS MY ANCESTOR?!"
Runanheimr calmly replied.
"Yes, I know. I am aware of everything that happens in the world of humans—every event. But if you expect an apology because of this, don't wait. It is thanks to these memories that you achieved your current power. You emerged victorious from the wars of succession and became the heir of the Kislavein House. But putting all that aside, think of the millions of lives you've destroyed, the loves you've left unfinished, the people who died in the genocides you caused, the lovers who could not unite, the women who were raped, the children too young to understand what was happening, and even the infants in their cradles. After causing all this savagery, where do you find the audacity to demand an account from me?"
Ricardo sat on the ground, overwhelmed by shame.
"You're right. Whatever you say is right. When my actions are weighed, I have no right to demand an account. Even if you killed me right here, I wouldn't make a sound."
Runanheimr disregarded Ricardo's words.
"I'm not going to kill you, Ricardo. As I said, I don't interfere with the living. Now stand up and take your seat."
Ricardo stood up and sat on his throne.
"Is there anything else you wish to ask, Ricardo?" said Runanheimr.
Ricardo shook his head.
"Yes. Could you tell me about yourself? I'm genuinely very curious about who and what you are, Runanheimr, King of Spirits."
"Is that all? Do you only want to hear my story? Very well, I will tell you."