UT: Unbound Souls

The soft patter of their footsteps echoed through the ancient stone corridors as Toriel led Vance deeper into the Ruins. Her gentle grip on his small hand was warm and reassuring, a stark contrast to the chilling atmosphere that clung to the underground. The flickering light of the glowing purple stones on the walls cast long, wavering shadows, giving the entire scene a quiet, almost mystical quality.

Toriel glanced down at the child walking beside her, her heart heavy with a mixture of emotions. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he took in the surroundings, his silver-tinged hair catching the faint light like threads of moonlight. Another human child, she thought with a pang of sorrow. The seventh to fall into the Underground.

She felt a knot tighten in her chest. Each child that had come before had met a tragic fate. She could still see their faces in her mind—young, innocent, full of life. And now, here was another. Vance. A sweet name for a sweet-looking child. But would his fate be any different? Could she truly protect him?

She shook the dark thoughts away, focusing instead on the present. No. I will not let him share their fate. Not this time. Not this child.

"Here we are, my child," Toriel said softly, her voice breaking the silence. She gestured toward a wooden door embedded in the stone wall ahead. It was quaint and inviting, adorned with carvings of a small tree. She pushed it open, revealing a cozy, warmly lit interior.

The scent of butterscotch and cinnamon wafted out, enveloping Vance in a comforting embrace. Inside, the room was modest but welcoming. A plush rug lay in the center of the living room, a crackling fireplace casting flickering shadows across the walls. Shelves lined with books and small trinkets filled the space, and a table in the corner was set with a steaming pot of tea and a plate of what looked like freshly baked cookies.

"Welcome to your new home," Toriel said, smiling warmly as she guided Vance inside. "I have prepared this place for you. I hope you will find it to your liking."

Vance stepped forward hesitantly, his eyes wide as he took in the room. He had never seen anything so… homey. It was a stark contrast to the cold and sterile environments he had known before in this life at least. The warmth of the fire and the scent of the baked goods made his stomach rumble quietly, though he was too polite to mention it.

Toriel chuckled softly, her keen ears catching the sound. "Ah, my child, you must be hungry after your journey. Come, sit down. I've made some butterscotch cinnamon pie. It is a favorite of mine, and I hope it will be yours too."

She guided him to the table and gently eased him into one of the chairs. As she moved to slice a piece of the pie, she stole another glance at him. There was something different about this child, something she couldn't quite place. His eyes held a depth of understanding far beyond his years as if he carried the weight of more than just his own life.

"Is something wrong, ma'am?" Vance's soft voice broke through her thoughts. He looked up at her with a slight tilt of his head, his expression curious but kind.

"Oh, no, my child," Toriel said quickly, her cheeks coloring slightly. "I was merely… lost in thought. Now, here you are." She placed a slice of pie in front of him, the warm aroma filling the air. "Go on, try it. I made it especially for you."

Vance picked up the fork and took a tentative bite. His eyes widened, and a small smile spread across his face. "It's delicious," he said earnestly, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

Toriel's heart swelled at his reaction, a soft smile gracing her lips. She sat down across from him, folding her hands neatly in her lap. For a moment, the weight of her worries lifted, replaced by the simple joy of seeing a child happy and safe.

As Vance ate, she found her mind drifting again. Why did you fall, my child? What brought you here? Was it fate? Or something else entirely?

But her thoughts deepened, taking her to darker places. I wish you could stay here with me, safe and sound. If only you would not leave, not venture into the Underground and face the same tragic fate as the others.

Her chest tightened as memories of her own children surfaced—Chara, the human child she had taken in, who had died from poison, and Asriel, her sweet and gentle son. Asriel, in his grief, had absorbed Chara's soul and transformed into a powerful being to fulfill Chara's wish to see the surface once more. But the humans, fearing his strength and assuming he had come to harm them, attacked him relentlessly. Mortally wounded, Asriel had barely managed to return to the Underground before collapsing in front of the golden flowers where Chara lay buried.

The golden flowers at the entrance of the Ruins had become a bittersweet reminder of Chara, where she had buried them after their death. Their loss had torn her heart apart, but it was Asgore's reaction that had truly broken her spirit. Instead of mourning together, he had chosen vengeance. He proclaimed that no human who fell into the Underground would be spared. His plan to gather seven human souls and wage war against the surface world disgusted her. It was a twisted cycle of hatred that she wanted no part of.

She had left the capital, unable to stand by Asgore's side as he sought to destroy humanity. The barrier, created by seven ancient mage humans over a thousand years ago during a war of fear and misunderstanding, had locked the monsters underground. The humans' fear of the power monsters gained from absorbing even one human soul had driven them to commit atrocities. But Toriel could not condone becoming the very thing they feared. So she fled to the Ruins, seeking peace in isolation, hoping to keep any fallen children safe from the dangers that awaited them.

Now, as she looked at Vance, a fragile hope flickered in her heart. Please, stay with me, my child. Do not walk the same path as the others. I cannot bear to lose another.

"When you are finished, my child," Toriel said gently, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions within her, "I will show you to your room. You must rest after such an arduous journey. There is much to explore here in the Ruins, but it can wait until tomorrow."

Vance nodded, his eyes shining with a quiet determination. "Thank you, ma'am. For everything."

"You are most welcome, my dear," Toriel replied, her voice as soft as a lullaby. As she watched him finish his pie, her heart clung to the fragile hope that perhaps, just perhaps, this child would be different. Perhaps this time, she could truly protect what mattered most.

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The soft hum of the fireplace filled the room as Vance finished the last bite of the butterscotch-cinnamon pie. He set the fork down gently, a satisfied smile gracing his lips. Toriel, seated across the table, watched him with a warm, maternal expression, her hands folded neatly on her lap.

"It was amazing," Vance said, breaking the comfortable silence. "Thank you, ma'am. I don't think I've ever had anything this good before."

Toriel chuckled softly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "You are too kind, my child. I am simply glad you enjoyed it. Cooking for someone is always a joy."

They continued chatting as the evening wore on, their conversation meandering through lighthearted topics. Vance introduced himself formally, recounting small details about his life without revealing too much about the complexities of his situation. Despite already knowing who she was from his memories of Undertale, he found himself drawn to Toriel's genuine kindness and gentle demeanor. She reminded him of his mother from his previous life—a loving, nurturing person who had always made him feel safe.

At one point, the conversation took a more serious turn. Vance hesitated but eventually spoke, his voice quiet. "My life… before coming here… it wasn't great. I lived in a place where I wasn't treated well. My parents… they didn't care about me. It was… rough."

Toriel's expression softened further, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Oh, my child…" she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I am so sorry to hear of the hardships you have endured. No one, least of all a child, should have to suffer such pain."

Vance looked down, feeling a lump in his throat as he remembered the cold, harsh reality of his life before. "It wasn't easy," he admitted, "but I survived. And now… I'm here."

Toriel reached across the table, placing a gentle hand over his. "You are safe here, Vance. I will do everything in my power to ensure you are cared for and protected. You deserve kindness and love, my child."

Moved by her words, Vance nodded, a small smile returning to his face. But as he spoke, recounting his struggles, something unusual happened. His soul, which had been faintly visible as a radiant gold, shifted to a silver hue, pulsing gently with a warm glow. Toriel's eyes widened slightly, her years of experience allowing her to notice the change instantly.

"Your soul," she said softly, her gaze fixated on the silver light. "It… it is unique. Unlike any I have ever seen."

Vance blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Toriel studied him thoughtfully. "Human souls are often tied to a singular trait—determination, kindness, bravery, and so forth. Sometimes, a soul may exhibit a mix of traits, but one always dominates, defining its essence. Yours, however… your soul is not mixed, but… shifting. It changes between two distinct states."

Her words made Vance's breath catch. He stared at the glowing soul, its golden hue reflecting the deep emotions he had just felt. "I don't know why," he said slowly, his voice quiet, "but my soul… it shifts. Between silver and gold. I don't really understand it myself."

Toriel nodded her expression a mixture of wonder and concern. "That would explain much, my child. Your soul reflects a duality both compassion and Apathy. It is a rare and precious thing."

Her gaze softened further, a protective resolve forming in her heart. This child has suffered much already has endured so much already. I cannot bear the thought of you suffering more.

Time seemed to slip away unnoticed until Vance's gaze fell on a small clock perched on a nearby shelf. The hands pointed firmly toward a late hour, indicating that it was well into the night. His eyes widened slightly in surprise as he pieced things together.

"Is something wrong, my child?" Toriel asked, noticing his sudden shift in focus.

Vance shook his head quickly, offering her a reassuring smile. "Oh, no, nothing's wrong. It's just… I didn't realize how late it was."

Toriel followed his gaze to the clock and gave a soft chuckle. "Ah, yes. Time has a way of sneaking up on us when we are enjoying ourselves, does it not?"

Vance nodded, though inwardly, he was still processing the discrepancy. When I first fell down here, he thought, it was morning. The sunlight from the hole I woke up in was clear as day. How did it get so late so quickly?

He frowned slightly, considering the possibilities. Unless the Underground operated on a completely different time adjustment, the clock should be accurate. The realization that nearly an entire day had passed since he arrived left him unsettled. Compared to the game, he mused, where you could zip through this part of the Ruins in minutes if you knew the path, it's taken me hours just to get here, even with my detours.

The thought made him reflect on how different this reality was from the game he had once played. The weight of time, the depth of his interactions, and the physicality of his journey—it all felt so much more significant. Despite the unease, Vance found it oddly comforting that this world wasn't bound by the simplistic constraints of the game. It felt alive, real, and tangible in a way he hadn't expected.

Toriel's voice brought him back to the present. "You must be tired after such a long day. Come, my child. I will show you to your room."

Vance smiled gratefully and stood up from the table. "Thank you, ma'am."

Toriel led him down a cozy hallway illuminated by faintly glowing stones embedded in the walls. She opened a door to reveal a small but inviting bedroom. A plush bed with a patchwork quilt sat against one wall, and a small table with a lamp stood nearby. The room exuded warmth and comfort, much like the rest of her home.

"This will be your room," Toriel said with a gentle smile. "I hope you find it to your liking. If you need anything during the night, do not hesitate to call for me."

Vance nodded, stepping inside and taking in the cozy atmosphere. "It's perfect. Thank you, ma'am."

Toriel reached out and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Sleep well, my child. Tomorrow, I will show you more of the Ruins. But for now, you must rest."

As she left, closing the door softly behind her, Vance sat on the edge of the bed, his thoughts racing. The warmth of Toriel's home and her kindness had eased some of his initial anxieties about being in this world, but the reality of his situation still loomed large in his mind. He lay down, pulling the quilt over himself, and stared at the ceiling, the faint glow of the stones casting soft patterns on the walls.

This world may not be exactly like the game, he thought, but maybe that's not a bad thing. Maybe it's a chance to make things better.

With that thought, his eyes grew heavy, and he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, the warmth of Toriel's care wrapping around him like a protective shield.

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As Vance drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, the warmth of the quilt settled over him like a cocoon. The soft glow from the stones embedded in the walls of the room flickered ever so slightly, casting delicate shadows across the small space. The world outside seemed peaceful, and Toriel's gentle presence lingered even in her absence.

But in the quiet darkness of the room, something unusual was beginning to unfold. On the nightstand beside the bed, the faded ribbon Vance had found in the Ruins and the small toy knife he had picked up glowed faintly, their dull colors suddenly shimmering with an ethereal light. The faintest pulse of golden energy radiated from Vance's soul, its warm hue flickering as if drawn to the glowing objects.

For a moment, everything seemed to hold its breath, as though the room itself was waiting. Then, like a whisper carried on the wind, the golden light from Vance's soul reached out toward the glowing items, an invisible force pulling them together. A connection formed—a bond stronger than Vance's conscious mind could understand.

Above him, the air began to shimmer, the space growing ever so slightly heavier. Slowly, the faintest silhouette began to take shape, a small specter manifesting in the air. The figure was barely distinguishable, with soft, ethereal outlines, like a dream half-remembered. A delicate ponytail swayed as the figure shifted, a light blue dress rippling gently as if touched by an unseen breeze. In her hair, a red ribbon glowed faintly, the same shade as the one Vance had found. Her face, blurred and barely perceptible, seemed to be filled with confusion, her small form floating just above Vance's slumbering figure.

The specter blinked, her gaze unfocused, as though she was trying to make sense of where she was. She glanced around, the room unfamiliar to her, before her eyes slowly locked onto the glowing ribbon and toy knife that had started this strange event.

"What… where am I?" the figure whispered, her voice soft and unsure, as if she wasn't entirely aware of her own existence.

Before she could process any more, a sudden flicker of movement caught her attention. A figure appeared before her, rising from the floor with the strength of something ancient. This new specter had far more presence, her outline sharper, more solid than the one that had just formed. Her eyes glowed a menacing red, her features cruel and familiar. The specter's small smile was unsettling, revealing a dangerous sense of power as she gazed at the newly manifested figure.

The smaller specter looked up, startled by the presence before her, her faint, ethereal form trembling slightly as the stronger specter stepped closer.

The stronger specter tilted her head, her expression darkening with malice. Her eyes glowed red, as though they could see into the very soul of the other.

"Who… are you?" The words came out with a chilling undertone, the threat lingering in the air.

The smaller specter froze, eyes wide, unsure of how to respond. She couldn't speak, the fear in her mind silencing any words she might have found.

The tension in the air thickened, the glowing items on the nightstand pulsing in time with Vance's shifting golden soul, as if their connection had awakened something far more dangerous than anyone could have expected.

And as the specter with red eyes narrowed her gaze, the world outside seemed to hold its breath once more.