The Soul Keeper

"No," Mona firmly spoke. "You're right, this is clearly very important. Too important for us to just turn our backs and leave." She glanced at me. "We can't turn back – we need to learn what's going on."

Laura sighed while Theresa gritted her teeth. "It's too dangerous." The black-haired archer spoke. "What if something happens? Remember, Kai isn't at full power and he's the only one who can actually see the flow of magic." She glanced at Laura. "You don't sense a thing, do you?"

Laura shook her head. "Nope. I can tell there's magic around but that's it." She glanced at me. "You don't have a way of letting us see this… flow of magic you were talking about, do you?"

"No, sorry." I didn't even think something like that was possible. "And Theresa is right. I'm not at full power – I'm still strong, but just barely enough to go head to head against one powerful demon." I hesitated. "Maybe."

Laura's expression showed nothing but worry and uncertainty. I know I wasn't exactly a source of confidence either, but then again, I never claimed to be one. "I think I can guide you through the weaves of magic." I glanced at the purple lined of magic everywhere. "Probably." There wasn't a clear path through, we needed to be careful if we were to do this.

"What would happen if we passed through the magic?" Mona asked. "So far, it has never been an issue and I did walk ahead, and nothing happened." Theresa seemed hesitant as Mona continued. "Besides, even if a demon were to come, you said you are probably strong enough to take it on. Add our power to that equation and we come out on top." She smiled with newfound confidence.

"No." Her smile shattered as I harshly spoke. "If the Demon Lord comes, then we're dead. Nothing – not even the entirety of our combined power would be enough to so much as slow him down." 

Mona's expression changed to shock while Laura and Theresa stepped back instinctively. 

"Is he that powerful?" Laura asked. I looked the blonde woman straight in the eye as I replied. "When he arrived, a Divine who was powerful enough to toy with me tried to run away with fear. She lived no more." I touched my throat, right where the Demon Lord had slashed her throat. "Happened faster than I could see."

Was I exaggerating? Not really, no. I had met the Demon Lord twice, and both time I had tasted a fraction of his power. I knew we stook no chance. None at all. I couldn't let Mona, Laura and Theresa to misjudge our power for that was sure to get us killed.

"What do we do then?" Mona asked. Her previous smile was nowhere to be seen.

"We move carefully and deliberately. One step at a time. We approach the building, see what's up and then back off." I took a deep breath. "Then, once we know what's going on, we can return with a proper plan and with some additional help if need be."

Laura nodded. "I like it. Let's do that." She hesitated. "But if all four of us go, we won't be very… discreet." She glanced at Mona. "Wait – we're idiots. Mona, turn into something small and hold on to Kai. We'll wait here ready to charge the moment something goes wrong."

Mona hesitated. "Does that work for you?" She asked. I nodded. "Something with flight would be the best. There are almost no weaves in the air. You can alert Laura and Theresa if need be."

Mona didn't seem entirely happy with my suggestion but did as I asked anyways. She moved further into the cavern to cast the spell. I felt her magic for a split second as Laura stepped closer and grabbed my arm. "You're not planning something stupid, are you?" She asked with a deadly glare.

"No. I can fly or rift away if something happens. Mona needs to have as much mobility as she can too, or she'll be in danger of falling behind or getting caught." I quickly explained myself. I was glad that there were no lie-detecting spells at her disposal though, because 'rifting away' wasn't something I was capable of. Not in the middle of battle anyways.

Laura, however, seemed to have believed my words as she let go of me just before an eagle flew out of the cave. It was Mona, of course. She landed on my shoulder, then beat her wings almost as if she were urging me to get going.

"Be careful." Theresa said. "Mona, make the loudest possible voice if you need our help. We'll be there." The eagle nodded as I took a deep breath end stepped forward.

With careful, yet rhythmic steps, I made my way over to the building at the bottom of the valley. Avoiding the purple lines where demonic magic flowed was a challenge – whatever this massive magical circle – or array – was, it was the most complex one I had seen so far. Using an entire valley to form it was no small feat either. I could only hope it wasn't the Demon Lord who was doing this.

But no, it if were him, I would know. I was sure he wasn't here because time flowed normally.

Mona remained silent on my shoulder, though I could sense how impatient she was. She clearly just wanted to fly up and take a look inside the building over the wall. The only thing stopping her were my previous words – I was sure of it.

It took me a short time to reach the building. 

Now that we were closer to it, we could see just how old it was. What used to be – probably – a tall tower, was now just a few meter tall wall around a circular platform. The wall itself was also cracked and partially destroyed and looking towards out left, I could see some other ruins. Were those the fallen remainders of the tower?

The flow of magic was also stronger here. I carefully steppe closer to, making sure to remain out of sight, behind the fallen ruins of the tower.

"The flow of magic is really complex here." I whispered. "Don't fly off, ok?" 

The eagle on my shoulder didn't make a sound, but I felt her claws dig into my clothes and skin as Mona clearly became more anxious. I didn't blame her – though I would be happier if she didn't ruin my clothes. I was also nervous, afraid even.

I stepped closer, making sure to avoid the flow of magic and finally arrived before the building. I could see the entrance – a set of stairs with grand sculptures on both sides, to the left of me. Naturally, I didn't take that path. It would be nothing but suicide, probably. Instead, I moved to the right, where I spotted a gap in the wall.

The rustle of the tall, blue grass as I took each step sounded too loud to me. With every step I felt like I was announcing my location. I moved slowly, trying to make the least noise and eventually arrived before the gap.

My whole body tensed up as I saw two familiar figures.

At the centre of the round platform was sarcophagus. Before it stood a woman, clearly a demon. She was old. Her face was full of wrinkles and her hands and arms were so thin and frail that I feared a sneeze would be enough to kill her. 

Yet despite her frailness, she was the one controlling all of the magic here. I could feel it – see it even, as with each of her barely visible motions, the flow of magic in the entire valley would shift and change ever so slightly.

Behind her stood Vixia. She wore a dark coloured leather armour – a stark difference from her previous, rather revealing outfits. A sword on her hip and the helmet next to her on the ground was proof enough that she was ready for battle. I gulped – she suddenly seemed so much more threatening. In more ways than one.

To the left, right where the stairs I avoided lead, stood Delthur. He also looked quite a bit different from when I last saw him. He wasn't wearing armour and hand instead opted for more comfortable clothes and a cloak. From his expression alone, I could see he wasn't at peak condition. He looked like he was in quite a bit of pain. 

As Mona and I watched, the frail old woman rested her hands on the sarcophagus. "It's of no use." Her dry voice was barely audible. "My power can't reach his soul and I can not find his body either."

Vixia clenched her fists. "I need you to make this happen!" Her voice was everything but calm. 

"I'm sorry, my girl." The old woman shook her head. "There is nothing I can do."

"But-" 

"Lady Vixia," Delthur chimed in with a cracked voice. "Please-" His words were cut short when he started coughing. He quickly wiped his mouth with a piece of red cloth, and put it back in his pocket, but not before I saw a darker red stain on it.