Free Web NovelChapter 16: Still Soul Sutra
"Ahhhhh!"
Veins swelled on Vincent’s body as he writhed and squirmed.
Vivienne placed her arms on Vincent’s chest and pinned him down, holding his face in her palms.
Vincent’s legs swayed in struggle as he felt the pain of a lifetime. His body turned red as his fever shot up.
For the first time, Vivienne felt the situation spiraling out of control and knitted her brows.
"Hold his legs." She instructed Anastasia and stared at her son’s face.
Anastasia immediately knelt on the carriage floor and held both of Vincent’s legs.
"Look at me, Vin." Vivienne patted his face and said.
Vincent’s eyes were closed as he kept trying to flail his head around.
Vivienne’s words fell on deaf ears. She realized he wasn’t conscious enough to respond.
She did not bother speaking further and held his chin with one hand, ensuring he did not move his head.
With her other hand, she placed two fingers on his forehead and closed her eyes, muttering something incomprehensible under her breath.
It rained outside. It was dark.
But inside the carriage, Anastasia felt a different kind of chill suddenly permeate the air.
It was as if she had just entered a graveyard in the darkest hour of the night.
Anastasia looked at Vivienne and found her calmly chanting something.
She turned to Vincent and found his struggling face easing into a relaxed expression.
Her palms were sweating while holding his legs due to how hot it was, but the fever was visibly going down.
Vincent stopped squirming.
Soon, his eyes fluttered and his fingers twitched.
Vincent opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was his mother’s beautiful face. It exuded a sense of warmth, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.
’This is not my mother.’
Vincent thought and felt a tightness in his chest.
’My real parents died when I was thirteen. This is Vincent D’Arc’s mother...’
Vincent’s eyes possessed a blank expression as he slowly lost himself.
After waking up from extreme physical pain, the visions turned his emotional state chaotic. It still hadn’t stabilized.
Vivienne, who still had her fingers on her son’s forehead, slowly felt him slip again.
She frowned and began chanting again.
A thin veil of mist swirled around Vincent and entered his glabella.
Watching this, Anastasia’s eyes slightly widened.
’The Still Soul Sutra!?’
Anastasia almost dropped Vincent’s legs.
’Shit. I almost disturbed her.’ Anastasia held his legs firmly. ’I don’t wanna enter the next iteration so early.’
Vivienne’s attention was entirely on Vincent, unaware of the maid’s actions.
Beneath her fingers that were on Vincent’s forehead, she could feel a sharp stinging sensation, making her frown deepen.
’What is causing such chaos in your heart, my dear...’ She wondered internally and continued to perform the Still Soul Sutra.
Vincent’s eyes stared at the empty space in front while he internally thought, ’Vincent D’Arc is dead, and in his place it’s me. I am a modern person, my name is...’
A visible frown suddenly appeared on Vincent’s face, not going unnoticed by Vivienne.
’What is my name? No... what was my name?’
The stinging sensation beneath Vivienne’s fingers intensified. It felt like she was willingly pressing her fingers against thorns.
"Vin..." Vivienne called out.
Vincent did not respond.
’Shit. Shit. Shit. Who am I? Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?’
Vivienne’s chants got louder.
The mist thickened and went inside his glabella faster.
Once it was all gone, Vivienne gently tapped Vincent’s forehead.
Clarity immediately returned to his eyes.
"Vincent." Vivienne said and stared straight into his eyes.
"Yes?" Vincent unknowingly responded.
"Who am I to you, Vincent?" Vivienne suddenly asked in an utmost serious tone.
Vincent did not actively think about what was happening or the question. However, from deep within his soul, something flared up as his mouth opened on his own.
"Mom..."
The moment he uttered this word, thousands of connections formed in his mind as he recalled one event after another.
The instance when he woke up in this world. Meeting the regressor maid. Having breakfast with his family. Practicing for the ball and...
Vincent remembered everything up until this moment.
A thought crept up in his mind.
’I am Vincent D’Arc.’
His eyes focused on Vivienne who was staring at him without saying a word.
’This is my life now. It’s irrelevant to the existence of the previous Vincent. He died due to his own actions and I got the opportunity to reincarnate.’
’This is my new life.’
’This is my new body.’
’Its bonds are mine.’
’Its responsibilities are mine.’
’Its sins are also mine.’
Vincent closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
His chest heaved up despite Vivienne’s arms pressing against them.
He opened his eyes again and could see Vivienne still stare at him. He locked his gaze with her.
’I am Vincent D’Arc.’
Vivienne felt a soothing cool beneath her fingers.
She could see clarity completely return to Vincent.
"Can you stand up?" She asked.
Vincent felt heavy. He looked ahead and saw his mother’s arms pressed against his chest before glancing downward.
Anastasia was still kneeling between his legs, firmly holding his ankles in place.
"..."
Vincent slowly turned toward Vivienne.
"I might be able to," he muttered. "Assuming she stops holding my legs like I am about to be exorcised."
Vivienne: "..."
Anastasia: "..."
’Ah. Right...’
The look on the two ladies’ faces made Vincent realize he was a noble, and nobles don’t say such things.
The corner of Vivienne’s lips curled upward for the briefest moment before flattening again.
"Help yourself." She said while supporting Vincent’s back as he got up.
Anastasia released his legs and quietly returned to her seat across from them.
Rain continued to pour outside the carriage. Beyond the windows, servants stood waiting with umbrellas in hand, not daring to open the doors without permission.
Anastasia lowered her gaze.
’The Still Soul Sutra...’
Her fingers unconsciously tightened.
In the previous four iterations, she had only heard of its name in legends.
A soul-calming art said to have disappeared centuries ago.
And yet—
Vivienne had used it so casually.
There was no hesitation or preparation or backlash. It was as if such an ancient art was merely another tool at her disposal.
Anastasia slowly looked toward the Countess.
A chill crept up her spine.
’Just how strong is M’lady...?’
But almost immediately, another far more terrifying thought surfaced in her mind.
Even with strength like this, and even with a terrifying art like this...
Vincent D’Arc still died in every previous timeline.
Anastasia’s breathing slowed.
What this meant was Vincent’s death was never something simple.
It was not an accident. Not carelessness or weakness.
It was something that had slipped past a monster capable of wielding lost arts from legends.
Anastasia’s eyes flickered. Her gaze fell on Vincent.
This time, he was still alive.
The fifth iteration had already diverged beyond recognition. And she had absolutely no idea why.
"I think I can walk now." Vincent said, pulling Anastasia out of her thoughts.
Vivienne gave a light nod and finally spoke.
"Open the doors."
Anastasia stood up and pushed the carriage doors open. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Cold rain and night air poured inside.
The waiting servants quickly stepped forward with umbrellas in hand.
Vivienne helped Vincent out first.
His legs still felt somewhat heavy, but he managed to stand steadily this time.
Rain drummed against the black umbrellas as the group walked toward the mansion beneath the storm.
The iron gates of the mansion creaked open.
Gas lamps lined the entrance hall in warm, flickering rows. Their glow bled into the deep crimson walls and the dark polished wood.
From the storm outside to stillness inside, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Servants stood silently in a disciplined manner around the main hall.
At the center, a man was waiting. His clothes were torn, his face was covered in soot while his boots were still wet with mud.
Each step he had taken inside had left stains on the expensive carpet.
He did not speak. He waited patiently for the lady of the house to appear.
Vincent walked inside the mansion and the first thing he noticed was the stained carpet and the man in a rough appearance.
Vivienne followed right after and noticed the same.
However, before they could question anything, they heard footsteps approach them.
"Mom."
A voice cut through the hall and made Vincent and Vivienne turn their heads toward it.
A red-haired young lady was approaching them from the inner corridor.
Her dress clung perfectly to her body while flowing at the bottom, hiding her heels.
She had a serious look on her face and was about to move faster upon noticing Vivienne, but eventually chose not to and calmly walked towards her.
Vincent looked at her and thought, ’Definitely Vanessa.’
Vincent hadn’t looked at his mother or sister’s profiles. He wasn’t sure what their names were so he decided to assign it based on his instincts.
Vanessa glanced in Vincent’s direction as she neared them.
Her furrowed brows slightly eased.
’Is that relief on her face or am I imagining things?’ Vincent thought.
Vanessa shifted her gaze to her mother.
She stopped before Vivienne and said lightly, "There is a situation."
"It cannot wait?" Vivienne asked despite knowing the answer to.
Vanessa shook her head.
She turned to the side and glanced at the man with the rough appearance and turned her attention back to Vivienne.
"The mines have collapsed."
