The Soul Keeper

I immediately let go of Soul's Aspect. I had completely forgotten to undo the transformation after I stepped through the rift.

To my surprise, despite the spell ending, my body didn't change back.

"What did you do?" I hissed as I glared at the legendary demon of old.

He chuckled. "I now know why your predecessor never used that spell. He would always let the souls within rest. He claimed it was his duty to give them piece – not force them to empower him." He turned his back on me and looked at the marked cliff.

"What the hell did you do?" I shouted. I hid my trembling hands underneath my cloak. Just one more day! I needed to be in control for just one more day! Yet, here I was, lowing control of my power, of my body, of my mind, even.

"Whenever you used that spell to take on my form, I noticed that I became just a little bit more aware." Dorith's form was no longer see through – his eyes sparkled with life as he stepped closer to me. "I showed you some of my memories even, to test whether I could drag you to where I was stronger." He smiled, showing his sharp fangs. "To my surprise, you still kept taking on my form." 

He was now standing right before me. "Why is that?" He hissed as I felt power drain from me.

"I needed the power." I spoke slowly. I tried to wrestle back the control of my magic and succeeded somewhat. It ended in a stalemate.

"You're not a weakling," Dorith stepped back and shrugged, letting go of my power. I almost breathed a sigh of relief. "But it annoys me to see you wearing that face."

I clenched my fists. I felt my long claws dig into my palms, but I didn't care. "It's not like I wanted this. If you're so god damn aware of your surroundings, you should know that I'm trying everything in my power to bring back my predecessor." I made a vague gesture and pointed south, where Baile Chailce lay in the distance. 

"Don't you want the same thing?" I asked. "Tomorrow we march on the Ereth capital and get the soul of my predecessor back."

Dorith paused. He seemed somewhat taken aback. "You will?" He asked, turning towards me once more. "You do realise what that means for you, don't you?" He tilted his head as his gaze stayed focused on me.

"Of course I know." I said dismissively. "Everyone keeps reminding me of that, how could I not know?" I took a deep breath to calm myself down. "It doesn't change anything. This needs to be done – for everyone's sake."

Dorith remained silent. Despite that, I felt like I was talking to a ticking time bomb. He was still absorbing power from his surroundings. How much more did he need to be able to push my own soul aside and to take control of this body? How much time did I have left?

"Admirable." He finally spoke. "Stupid and naïve, but admirable." He chuckled. "You'd never get past the Golden Witch."

A smile appeared on my lips. "I don't need to. In a few hours, she and her servants will have their hands full with the Demon Lord and his armies."

Dorith's eyes widened. "What?" His posture changed. "The war begins?" He asked with disbelief in his voice. "I must be there!" He shouted as soon as I nodded. "I must help them!" 

His voice, filled with raw magical strength, threatened to overtake my body. I gritted my teeth and summoned my own power to defend myself.

"I don't care what you think you must do!" I shouted as the clash of our powers brought forth winds. "You're dead and I'm still alive, get off my soul!" 

Flames burst out and I heard Dorith's scream as they burnt him. The ethereal flames danced on the starsnatchers without harming them, though the valley still seemed tainted. Dorith's screams echoed for a while before I felt his soul lose form and re-enter my chest.

Out of breath, I collapsed on the ground. 

"Damn it!" I shouted after a while as I punched the ground. "I just needed one more day, you idiot!" 

My voice was bust a whisper as I spoke those words. The unnatural wind tugged at my cloak and blew my hair aside as I sat among the flowers. I looked at my palms as the transformation slowly ended. All I was left with now was broken hopes and bleeding palms.

I desperately needed this power to be able fight off any Ereth more powerful than a regular soldier. I couldn't defeat any inquisitors with my own power alone – even with Fetheion's help, I felt like I'd just be a burden.

"This is what happens when you rely on one thing for so long." I hissed through my gritted teeth. I relied on Soul's Aspect and Dorith's soul for everything. Travel, battle, destroying the Divine Pillars… What would I do now? 

I shot a glance at the marked cliff, then decided to move away from it. Maybe, just maybe I could use Soul's Aspect once more – just to get me back to our base.

I let my slow, unsteady steps to carry me far away from the barrier and the marked cliff. Only once I was at the other end of the valley did I dare summon my magic.

"That's bold." Dorith's voice echoed. I quickly turned to face him – he seemed much more ethereal than before. "I was surprised you were able to burn me though," He chuckled. "I'm impressed. You're such an interesting specimen."

I tried to calm my racing heart. "I'm not some experiment," I told him off, then shook my head. "And it's not boldness, it's desperation."

He raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"

"I told you – the war begins at dusk, and tomorrow, we set off to Baile Chailce. I don't have time to change the way I fight. We're past that point."  Glared at him.

He met my gaze without hesitation as his lips formed a wicked smile. "Desperation, huh?" He whispered. "Why don't we make a deal then?"