Chapter 109: Chapter 108 Moving Dolls
The booklet described the doll’s use, along with some basic research findings.
This doll might be what Lucilia had long desired, or perhaps what every soul desires.
Alka turned his head to look at Lucilia behind him and asked, "How is it? Want to give it a try?"
Lucilia nodded without hesitation. "Of course, of course, I want to try it." Her voice carried a hint of excitement.
Standing behind Alka, she too had seen the booklet’s contents.
This doll was a container for a soul, somewhat similar to a Magic Mirror, yet completely different. It allowed Lucilia’s soul to enter it and control the doll, acting as if it were her own body.
This also explained why Jasmine, whose soul strength hadn’t been particularly high—definitely not surpassing One Spiral in life—could persist longer than the Archbishop. This soul container had allowed Jasmine’s soul to hide inside, much like the Magic Mirror. While hidden inside, the container would defend against external harm and work to repair and stabilize the soul. This was primarily because the surrounding dark environment, where these Dark Elements were pervasive yet not highly harmful, inflicted damage incrementally. This doll could effectively resist such continuous yet low-intensity damage.
Moreover, having what was equivalent to a physical body meant the soul’s spirit was less prone to issues. Otherwise, hundreds of years would undoubtedly cause unimaginable distortion and mental problems for a normal person’s soul.
Lucilia’s solution had been to enter Deep Sleep within the Magic Mirror, as the Mirror possessed this function. This allowed Lucilia to avoid internal loneliness and darkness for a long time. The only regret, perhaps, was that Deep Sleep made it difficult to perceive the passage of time.
However, this particular doll was already tattered and dirty; it had clearly been used for a very long time. Using it much more would likely cause it to break. This was why Jasmine had set it aside—she had wanted to save it for the very end. Perhaps dying within the doll might prevent her from transforming into an Evil Spirit. Thus, this doll’s remaining period of use was the coffin she had reserved for herself.
Besides an introduction to the doll, the booklet detailed its manufacturing process, the materials required, and the conceptual ideas behind its creation. In short, it was a detailed manufacturing manual combined with research notes. With this, anyone willing to invest the time could craft such a doll themselves.
It was a pity; if Jasmine’s soul had been even slightly stronger, she might have been able to inhabit the doll and walk out. She could have then found materials to continue making dolls for herself, ensuring her safe survival. After all, even as a soul, one could still use some of the powers they possessed in life.
Thinking of this, Alka started contemplating. Does this mean the circuit of Magic Power isn’t just a bodily phenomenon but is perhaps shared between body and soul? I don’t quite understand. I’ll have to study this more later.
Alka took the two palm-sized dolls in his hands, looking at Lucilia before him.
Lucilia’s soul took a deep breath, as if this could calm her down—if she could actually breathe, that is.
Then, without hesitation, she entered one of the dolls.
As her soul entered the doll, Alka extracted Magic Power from within himself, infusing it into the doll. Lucilia had not been a Toucher in life; her Magic Power had never been active. So, unlike Jasmine, she couldn’t simply enter the doll and control its movements. At best, she could only use the doll as a temporary container, much like the Magic Mirror, though perhaps it wouldn’t be as comfortable or safe. After all, this was a magical creation.
But now, with Alka infusing his Magic Power, the doll’s surface began to change. Its previously bare head sprouted strands of green hair that cascaded down to its waist. Then, a pair of pointed ears grew on the doll, indicating Lucilia’s racial trait. Alka had always assumed Lucilia belonged to some non-human Race, but she consistently claimed to be human. Pointed ears, she had explained, were merely a characteristic of her particular branch of humanity.
A finely crafted, elegant dress materialized on its body. Shrunk to the doll’s proportions, it resembled Gothic attire. A pair of Gemstone-like green eyes appeared on its face, along with features resembling a nose and mouth. Its eyes glimmered faintly.
As its limbs twitched and its large head turned, the doll sprang to life. The doll had transformed into a classic two-head figure.
The animated doll rolled twice in Alka’s hand, then its limbs began to flail as if it were still adapting to its new body. It tumbled about like this for a while before finally seeming to get the hang of it. Using all four limbs, it struggled to push itself upright, wobbling precariously like a newborn.
"GOO GOO GA GA!" she babbled, seemingly thrilled to have finally stood up.
Alka fell silent, observing the sounds the doll was making. This doll surprisingly doesn’t allow the soul to speak. It can only make these baby-like noises.
Lucilia, now in doll form, also seemed to realize the problem, her round hands flying up to cover her mouth.
"EEP!"
Watching Lucilia’s antics, Alka gazed at the doll before him and couldn’t resist reaching out to poke its cheek.
"AAAAH!"
The gentle poke was enough to make Lucilia, who had only just managed to stand, immediately plop onto her bottom. Her little voice grew agitated.
"WAH WAH WAH!" she cried, waving her tiny hands at Alka’s finger and swatting at it repeatedly. He felt a series of soft, squishy impacts on his hand.
Then, using both hands to grip Alka’s finger for support, she pulled herself up. She managed two steps before pitching forward and landing face-first on the tabletop with a THUD.
Watching the Lucilia-doll’s antics, Alka looked upward and took a deep breath, trying to calm the strange amusement bubbling within him. He extended two fingers, gently pinched the doll by the back of its dress, and slowly lifted it, placing it steadily on the tabletop. Supporting its back gently with one hand, he helped it walk around on the table.
With Alka’s help, the doll’s movements finally steadied. Before long, it could walk stably on its own even when he let go. And so, under Alka’s watchful eyes, the Lucilia-doll toddled back and forth on the table, occasionally bumping into things or tapping on objects, seemingly curious about everything.
However, after playing for only a short while, it plopped down as if exhausted. A wisp of white mist seeped out, followed by more, coalescing into Lucilia’s soul-form, which then settled onto a nearby chair. The doll, too, lost its distinct features, reverting to its original plain appearance as it collapsed onto the table.
Seeing Lucilia’s cheerful smile, Alka couldn’t help but ask with a smile, "How do you feel?"
Lucilia turned her head to look at Alka, her smile growing ever more radiant, her excitement palpable. "Wonderful! That was my first experience of walking. Although using the doll’s body felt strange and very sluggish, I really liked it."
"My only regret is that my soul isn’t strong enough to control the doll’s body for very long, and also that the doll can’t speak." As she said this, a look of regret crossed Lucilia’s face.
She had only been able to control the doll’s body for less than an hour, and that hour had felt far too short for her. It was over before she felt she’d even begun. It was the first time she had ever felt time pass so quickly. Moreover, the doll was already quite old. Lucilia knew she wouldn’t be able to use it for much longer before it broke.
"It’s okay, don’t worry," Alka reassured her, looking at the booklet in his hand. "This contains the method for making these dolls, along with some research notes. I’ll study it, and maybe I can make an even better one for you in the future."
"Really?" Lucilia’s emerald eyes seemed to shine.
Alka nodded affirmatively. "Of course, no problem. The materials aren’t extinct; they can still be bought. So, don’t worry."
Lucilia nodded emphatically. "I’ll help you too! If there’s anything you need assistance with, you must tell me."
"Of course, there are quite a few things I need your help with."
Lucilia’s breadth of knowledge was, frankly, astounding. Alka had never specifically asked Lucilia her age before her death. But judging by her current appearance, she probably hadn’t been very old when she died. However, she had been absorbing knowledge in the library from a young age. According to Lucilia, in the Demon Realm, aside from Deep Sleep, whenever she was bored, she would pass the time by constantly recalling the books she had read, thereby solidifying that knowledge. This practice had firmly imprinted that vast knowledge onto her very soul.
Much of it was knowledge unknown to Alka, and indeed, to most people. After all, these were Ancient Times, and Lucilia’s family had been extraordinary. The knowledge preserved by such a family was certainly not trivial. Alka didn’t fully know the extent or specific areas her knowledge covered. But many of Alka’s current Meditation Methods, training techniques, identification skills, and linguistic knowledge had come from Lucilia’s tutelage. This even included some long-lost Spells and others that had never been recorded.
After a while, Lucilia’s excitement faded, and a noticeable fatigue appeared on her face. "I’m a bit tired. I’ll go rest in the Magic Mirror for a while." With that, she dove directly into the Magic Mirror.
Watching Lucilia disappear, Alka looked at the booklet in his hand.
Looking through the booklet, he saw that the method for making such dolls involved fusing several peculiar materials and inscribing them with two Spells to achieve the desired effect: [Demon Awakening] and [Soul Link].
Alka had seen the Rune for [Demon Awakening] in books before and had also learned about it from Bobby. Gami currently knew this Spell. Its main effect was to stimulate certain Magic Materials, drawing out their unique properties and allowing their effects to be better utilized. It was a Spell that Blacksmiths and Engravers had to master.
As for the [Soul Link] Spell, this was the first time Alka had encountered it; he hadn’t seen it in any books before. It likely belonged to the unique repertoire of Spells of a particular family or faction. The booklet contained the methods for learning both these Spells.
The method involved using various soul-aspected materials, which were then fashioned into dolls. These were subsequently inscribed with [Soul Link] to allow a soul to control them.
From the tone of the writing in the booklet, it was clear that the creator had actually been dissatisfied with this finished product. Further on, the creator had written about their hopes for future research and improvements, and where to begin the next phase of development. However, the notes abruptly ended there.
It’s hard to say if the researcher died or if this booklet is simply incomplete. Well, it doesn’t really matter. This is all from hundreds of years ago. Even if the researcher didn’t die back then, they’d surely be dust by now.
Looks like I have a new task. I’ll need to find Gami and learn some Blacksmithing techniques. Not too much, just enough to properly craft a finished doll. That should be enough.
These dolls are called Soul-Host Puppets. That’s quite fitting.
He stored the booklet and the doll in his Pocket Ring.
Alka lay on the bed, and before long, he fell into a deep sleep.