Souls Online: Mythic Ascension
Chapter 188: The Circus of Us

Chapter 188: The Circus of Us

Leo’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. None of what he was seeing made any sense whatsoever. A disembodied voice now had a body! On top of that it was a loveable little girl so people would definitely give him questionable looks if they walked around town together!

"This is going to be a problem," he muttered.

Astra blinked up at him with wide gold eyes. "Why would it be a problem?"

Leo rubbed his temple.

"Because you look like you should be playing with dolls or chasing butterflies, I am too young to pass for your dad and people would give me weird looks if you follow me around!

Astra tilted her head. "But I am going to follow you around. I’m yours."

"That’s not the part I’m arguing with," Leo said, groaning. "It’s the optics, Astra. The optics."

"I don’t get it."

"You wouldn’t," he sighed. "You look like you were just dropped from heaven’s kindergarten."

Astra puffed her cheeks.

"I’m not a child. I’m just... compact."

"You’re gonna cause a scene. People are going to think I kidnapped you or something."

"I could just float instead of walking,"

she offered helpfully.

"Oh yes, that’ll make it better," Leo muttered. "A glowing child trailing me through the streets. That’ll really clear things up."

Astra looked down at her hands and gave her sleeves a little tug.

"I don’t feel small. I feel... upgraded."

"You probably are," Leo admitted. "But your face is gonna get me arrested."

"I’ll protect you,"

she said confidently as she raised her adorable little hands with determination

"If anyone tries to take you away, I’ll smash them."

"Please don’t."

"Just a little?"

"No. Besides, what would you hit them with?"

Astra didn’t say anything but instead raised her fist above her head as if to say she would use her hands to beat up people that angered Leo.

Seeing this sight, Leo could only avert his gaze to try and hide the smile that was involuntarily beginning to form on his face.

He shook his head quickly, trying to smother the grin before it fully took over.

"This is not funny," he said to no one in particular, even though the corners of his lips betrayed him.

Astra beamed, catching the slip.

"You smiled! That means you like me."

"I didn’t smile,"

Leo denied, still refusing to meet her eyes.

"You totally did. I saw it. Mors saw it too."

Leo glanced at Mors, who was still floating silently behind them like an ominous balloon. The violet energy pulsed faintly but offered no opinion.

"Of course you’re quiet now," Leo muttered.

Astra rocked back on her heels, her grin never fading. "You smiled. That means you like me."

"I didn’t smile," Leo said flatly, turning his face away.

"You definitely did. I saw it. Mors saw it too."

Leo exhaled slowly and resumed walking. "This is ridiculous."

"I don’t mind if people stare," Astra said, cheerfully catching up beside him. "Let them wonder. I think we look good together."

"That’s exactly the problem," Leo replied. "It looks like I’m a teenage runaway dragging around a lost magical toddler."

Astra tilted her head, golden eyes bright. "Then we’ll just tell them the truth. That I’m your weapon."

"That is somehow worse," he muttered. "Do you even hear yourself?"

"I do," she said with a proud little nod. "And I sound awesome."

Leo groaned, covering his face with both hands for a moment.

"I’m going to get so many questions. From everyone. All the time."

"If anyone gives you trouble, I’ll just stand in front of you and look extra cute,"

Astra offered innocently.

"More reason for people to think I kidnapped you."

"Or maybe they’ll think I adopted you."

Unable to understand her logic, He turned to her with a long, tired stare.

"You really don’t get it."

Astra smiled, soft and warm.

"No. But I get you."

Leo opened his mouth, but no words came out. He looked away instead, jaw tightening just slightly.

Mors floated a little closer behind him, silent but steady.

Astra raised her fist again with a determined expression.

"Still. If anyone gives you trouble, I’ll punch them for real this time."

"Please don’t," Leo said, but the quiet laugh that slipped out ruined his attempt at sounding serious.

Astra’s expression lit up like a sunrise.

"See? You like me."

Leo didn’t respond.

But he also didn’t deny it.

Mors hovered behind them in silence for a beat longer, then finally spoke in his low, echoing voice.

"At this point I vote we all pretend Leo is your single magical dad and we’re just a very confused family of wandering circus performers."

Leo stopped dead in his tracks.

"What?"

"You do have that tragic, overworked look," Mors added matter-of-factly. "The kind that says, ’I didn’t ask for this glowing child, but now she’s mine and I’m late for my sword juggling act.’"

Astra clapped her hands. "Ooh! Can I be the fire-breathing bunny handler?"

"We don’t even have a bunny,"

Leo muttered.

"But we have Luna no?"

Leo’s side immediately began to cramp as he struggled to resist his urge to laugh

Leo rubbed his side, trying to keep a straight face.

"No more comments, Mors. Seriously."

Mors gave a faint hum, like a quiet chuckle, then shifted slightly in the air.

Astra giggled and bounced on her toes.

"See? Even Mors thinks we’d be great circus performers."

Leo shook his head, the smile slipping away. "Great. Now you’ve got the spirit of a magical toddler and a sarcastic phantom on your side. What could possibly go wrong?"

"Everything,"

Astra said cheerfully,

"and that’s what makes it fun."

Just as Astra bounced with cheerful energy, Leo’s side still aching from laughter, a gentle voice cut through the air.

"Leo," said Discordia, her tone soft and motherly, "it’s time to wake up."

Leo blinked and turned toward her, noting her eyes were closed as always. The calm in her voice felt like a steady hand on his shoulder.

"Wake up?" he echoed, furrowing his brow. "But I’m not dreaming."

Discordia’s voice was patient, warm. "I call it dreaming because it is easier to understand. Your soul was pulled here, but now it’s time to return."

A strange sensation rippled through him, as if the world around him was starting to dissolve. His chest tightened and his thoughts slowed.

He looked down at Astra, at Mors silently floating behind them, then back to Discordia. "Am I really... waking up?"

Her voice was gentle, almost a whisper. "Yes. It is time."

The air shimmered softly. Leo’s vision blurred like mist fading in morning light. The glow of Astra, the quiet presence of Mors, and the serene figure of Discordia all began to dissolve into shadows.

He felt himself being pulled back, as if his soul was slipping free.

"We will see each other again soon Leo"

The voice of the Goddess echoed softly in his ears before his vision faded to black.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.