The Soul Keeper

My heart raced. I could barely contain my excitement – I had done it! A spell that wasn't written in the interface! I had successfully cast it!

I tried to contain my excitement as the rift began to grow to a size I could fit through. I didn't know if the spell was successful yet – I'd only know that for sure once I passed through the rift. It took a few seconds to grow to a size I could pass through.

Once it did, I took a deep breath. My heart raced with anticipation, and the fear of the unknown threatened to overcome me. Was I going to end up where I wanted to? Or was I going to end up somewhere else, in an unknown place in the middle of nowhere?

There was only one way to find out, wasn't there?

Still holding my breath, I took a step forward. My fingers touched the rift – it was pleasantly cool – and I felt my body getting pulled in moments later. 

For a moment, I lost all sense of direction. Nothingness, filled with everything, enveloped me. My mind was about to burst when I saw my goal – a rift, approaching fast. 

I stepped out of the rift and fell on my knees. It took me a moment to adjust to my surroundings, and I was pleasantly surprised. I was quite literally right where the creature had opened its own rift. 

I got back up on my feet and glanced around. Neither Asher nor Lucius were around. Where had they gone? I ended Soul's Aspect and let my body return to normal as I walked around, searching for them.

It didn't take me long to find their tracks. With furrowed brows, I followed the barely visible tracks. It was clear that at least one of them was having trouble walking, while the other had to lend him his support.

I forced myself to picture the moment the battle had been decided. Lucius was thrown aside by the corrupted demon's tail and Asher had used up most of his mana. Was the young swordsman hurt? If Asher had no mana left to heal the young man, it was possible.

I clenched my fists – where were they?

I followed the tracks as fear began form a lump in my throat. I could help them – I still had a way of healing others, albeit slowly.

The tracks led towards the shallow creek passing through this sea of tall grass, then disappeared for a little bit. I searched frantically, once again wishing I still had the telepathic link with Asher. I had taken it for granted all this time, not realising how useful and practical it was. Knowing his location, even though vaguely, was more important than I had realised.

Now though, I had to rely on whatever physical traces they'd left behind. I was about to cry out in worry when I finally found the trail again on the other side of the shallow creek.

"For god's sake…" I mumbled as I quickly returned to following the trail. As the sun began to set, my worries resurfaced. How was I supposed to follow a trail at night? It was difficult enough when it was light out.

Thankfully, I didn't have to follow the tracks for much longer as I noticed the light of a fire in the distance. Wings appeared on my back as I leapt into the air. I allowed them to carry me towards the distant light source. 

Mere moments later, I had arrived at a small campsite, only to see a heart wrenching sight. 

Asher was laying on a blanket, his complexion pale and clearly in pain. Lucius was nowhere to be seen. I landed on the grassy ground and rushed to the blonde sorcerer as my wings disappeared in a puff of black mist.

"Asher!" I shouted as I placed my palm on his forehead. His shallow, irregular breathing and clearly high fever reminded me of unpleasant memories.

"Kai?" Lucius' voice sounded. He nearly dropped the bucket of water he was carrying.

"What happened?" I asked as my panic was audible in my voice. "He was fine before the creature dragged me into the rift!" What could have happened in such a short timeframe? 

It took Lucius a moment to snap out of it. He rushed to Asher's side and dipped a piece of cloth into the water. As he cleaned the blonde sorcerer's face, he quickly explained.

"He tried to stop the rift from closing. He became all white and lightning-y again, like when he was killing the horde of animals just before." I could see from his trembling hands that he was just as worried as I was, if not more.

"I think the spell backfired, or something like that, because the next moment he was on the ground screaming with pain. I helped him up and carried him here." He tilted his head to the side, where a large, white flower lay on the ground. "He said these things have healing properties." Lucius sighed and shook his head. "I don't know how to use them though…"

I nodded. I had no idea either – how could I? I had never dealt with plants too much. I carefully touched the plant – was I supposed to boil it in water? Turn it into something edible? Just make him smell it? Use it in a spell?

"What happened to you?" The young swordsman finally asked. I shrugged. "I killed the creature, then came back." I bit my lower lip. How could I save Asher? "Do you know where Mona is?" I asked as an idea flashed across my mind.

She had healed him before, albeit with Laura and Theresa's help, as well as my own. But that was months ago – maybe she was strong enough to heal him on her own now. All I needed to be able to open a rift to her was knowing her location. I think.

"No clue. She and the other two were hanging around Erik and the others." As he spoke, his eyes shot open. "Wait – does that mean she's in danger?" He asked, almost screaming. I chuckled and shook my head. 

"No, she's not. No one knows she works for the Thirteenth Divine." Fetheion had made sure she only knew enough to be useful and nothing more. While I didn't agree with his actions, I did understand his reasoning – somewhat appreciated it even.

"If only we knew…" I mumbled. I couldn't create a rift to a person, could I? I rose to my feet and walked to the edge of camp. 

"What are you doing?" Lucius asked as he soaked the cloth in the water filled bucket. 

"Trying something," I mumbled as I focused. How had I done it before? I extended my hand and imagined the rift forming at the tip of my fingers. Moments passed as nothing happened.

Why wasn't it working? Was it because I didn't know where Mona is, or was it because I hadn't used Soul's Aspect? 

There was really only one way to find out. I took deep breaths as pain jolted through my body. I took on the corrupted demon's appearance as Lucius looked on in terror. 

Now, once again, I extended my claw like hand and at the tip of my fingers, I imagined the rift forming. 

Nothing happened. So, I did need to know her location after all. Just wanting to go to her wasn't enough. I bit my lower lip, then immediately regretted it as my fangs – which I didn't know I had in this form – almost wounded me.

A quick glance at Asher reminded me that I didn't have the luxury of time. "Sorry, Fetheion." I whispered as a rift appeared on the tip of fingers.

"What the hell!" Lucius shrieked. "Kai, what's going on with you?" 

I ignored him – opening the rift itself was already taxing enough. I couldn't afford to divert my attention to anything else. The rift began to slowly grow as I felt my power drain quickly. This was a taxing spell, both mentally and physically. 

It took a few moments for the rift to grow tall enough to allow us to pass through. Once it did, I hissed through my gritted teeth. "Take Asher and pass through!" 

Lucius hesitated. I shot him a deadly glare as the rift fluctuated. I couldn't hold it open for much longer. "Hurry!" I shouted. The young swordsman finally flinched and scrambled to do as he was told. He lifted Asher up and approached the rift. As soon as his fingers touched it, I felt the rift pull him in.

He disappeared with a surprised shout. I followed right after, moments before the rift collapsed. I didn't even want to think about what would happen if I was still inside as it collapsed. Would I be lost in between realms? Would it spit me out somewhere randomly?

Once again, I lost all sense of direction, then found myself in the opening right before Fetheion's hideout, with a sword against my throat.