Chapter 4 William, Under Light's dominion

In the tranquil morning within the modest confines of Hage village's chapel, Asta awoke, his spirits high as he sprung to his feet. Beside him, Yuno stirred awake as well. Together, they stepped out of the church, ready to tackle their daily tasks.

"Good morning, everyone!!!" Asta's boisterous greeting resonated through the village, surpassing even the crowing of a rooster. Asta's voice, an unofficial alarm clock, roused everyone in Hage Village from their slumber.

"Where's Light?" Asta inquired suddenly, noticing the absence of their fellow villager.

"Light? He woke up much earlier than the two of you," Father Orsi replied matter-of-factly.

"Woke up? That's unusual," Yuno remarked, puzzled. In his memory, Light typically rose much later than they did.

"Well, it's because the two of you were quite injured, especially you, Asta. That's why you both tend to sleep longer than Light," Sister Lily chimed in, sensing their confusion.

Asta and Yuno nodded in understanding, finding clarity in Sister Lily's explanation.

They nodded in agreement with Sister Lily's words as they caught sight of Light in the distance. However, something caught their attention - Light wasn't alone; he had an unfamiliar figure trailing behind him.

"Light? Hey, good morning—" Asta began, but his greeting trailed off when he noticed the stranger accompanying Light.

Yuno, too, noticed the unknown man, and his expression shifted, revealing his unease.

"Light! Quick, get away from that man!" Asta's heroic instincts kicked in, and he rushed toward Light as if he intended to shield him from the stranger.

Everyone, except Yuno, was taken aback by Asta's sudden actions. Light hadn't even had a chance to explain, and Asta was already on the move.

"What are you doing here!? Why are you with Light!?" Asta questioned the blonde man, but his surprise deepened when he saw that the man's expression remained unchanging.

"Hey! Can you hear me—" Asta's words were cut short as Light interjected, "Asta, calm down. I'm the one who brought him here."

Asta was taken aback, quickly blurting out, "You brought him here? Don't you know he's —"

"The one who beat you and Yuno? I'm aware," Light said, a knowing smile on his face.

The conversation left everyone surprised, especially Sister Lily and Father Orsi. It seemed these young men hadn't been entirely honest.

Simultaneously, everyone except Light grew cautious of the blonde man.

"You knew!?" Asta was once again shocked, then questioned, "Then why did you bring him here?"

All eyes were now fixed on Light, waiting for an explanation.

"I brought him here to make him apologize to you two," Light replied with a smile.

Asta and Yuno, who had been anticipating an answer, were left dumbfounded. After all, who would expect such a scoundrel to personally apologize to them?

This sentiment wasn't lost on Sister Lily and Father Orsi. They couldn't fathom how Light, a young child, had convinced this individual to make a personal apology. Father Orsi even suspected the blonde man might have ulterior motives.

"Light, you ought to understand that while we believe Kami-sama has taught us the values of forgiveness and trust, these principles primarily apply to those whom we truly know and have formed bonds with. We must exercise caution when extending our trust to individuals we haven't had the opportunity to truly know, as such trust can potentially lead to harm," Father Orsi expounded in a measured tone, offering a lecture not only to Light but perhaps also to Asta and Yuno. His words carried particular weight considering the individual in question was currently present.

Light's mouth twitched at the corners as he hastened to explain, "Father, don't worry. This person's intentions are genuine. Look, his name is William, and he's here to apologize."

As everyone remained perplexed, William spoke up. "That's right. Master—Young Light is correct. I'm here to genuinely apologize for what I did." With a trembling voice, William suddenly knelt before Asta and Yuno. "Please forgive me!!!"

"Good," Light nodded in approval, and everyone stared wide-eyed at the blonde man's actions, particularly Asta, who helped him to his feet. "No worries. Father Orsi always taught me to forgive others, so I'll forgive you."

"Thank you!!!" William said with a tone that seemed genuinely touched.

Father Orsi, witnessing this, felt a sense of pride in Asta's capacity for forgiveness

Having spoken, Asta and Yuno turned their attention to Light. Even though they were unaware of the details, they could tell that Light had done something to compel the blonde man to offer a personal apology. Their gazes carried a hint of admiration as they regarded him.

However, what transpired next left not only Asta and Yuno but everyone, except Light, in a state of shock.

The blonde man, named William, humbly beseeched Father Orsi to allow him to assist with their chores as a gesture of repentance. This unexpected turn of events piqued the curiosity of everyone present, as they wondered just what method Light had employed to reform this seemingly reprehensible individual.

Father Orsi hesitated, contemplating the sincerity of this unexpected plea. William, however, continued to kneel, his determination unwavering.

"Well... If you truly wish to help, you can assist us with cutting timber, cleaning the church, and laundering our clothes. But remember, you can't reside or sleep in the church premises, given that you're a grown man..." Father Orsi stated with reluctance, a trace of suspicion lingering in his thoughts. "Perhaps he's pursuing Sister Lily," he pondered silently.

"Understood," William replied without hesitation, expressing gratitude for Father Orsi's acceptance.

"Uh... Alright, you can start later. However, keep in mind that we cannot provide you with monetary compensation. We can offer you some sweet potatoes..." Father Orsi added, now uncertain whether William's intentions lay with Sister Lily or the prospect of money. Seeing William's agreement once more, Father Orsi felt a touch of embarrassment. William continued to express his thanks, taking on the unpaid tasks willingly as a gesture of gratitude.

For a brief moment, everyone in the vicinity, except Light, found themselves at a loss for words.

However, unbeknownst to them, the blonde man had already fallen under Light's subtle dominion.

Remarkably, the blonde man had managed to preserve a fraction of his emotions and intelligence, even though his body was now devoid of a soul, replaced by the consuming essence of the Death Flame. This unique aspect of the Death Flame, possessing the qualities of a soul it had devoured, granted the blonde man a semblance of consciousness, intellect, and emotions. This arcane magic was a result of Light's years of meticulous development since his arrival in this world.

Light's experimentation had commenced with humble subjects such as rats and various other species before culminating in his ability to apply this skill to humans. What's more, given that the man's original soul had been supplanted by the Death Flame and retained the essence of the consumed soul, he could genuinely be considered reborn, albeit in a spiritual sense.

As Light contemplated the significance of the Grimoire Acceptance Ceremony, drawn from the knowledge he had gleaned from a dusty tome, he began to entertain intriguing notions. The conventional belief surrounding this ritual tied it to age, but Light's thoughts ventured deeper. What if, he wondered, the ceremony wasn't contingent on age but on the essence of one's soul? Perhaps it was the vibrant and youthful spirit within individuals that attracted grimoires, implying a selection process based on the intrinsic nature of their souls or spirits.

Such a revelation opened up a tantalizing possibility—one that involved William, a man who had once possessed a grimoire but had chosen to sell it due to his alcohol addiction. Could it be that William, now devoid of his original soul and inhabited by the Death Flame, might be eligible to receive a grimoire once more, considering that it was still his body, albeit with a soul vastly different to it's original one's?