Hearing Tristan's firm declaration, Thorian allowed a smile to grace his features. "I appreciate that," he acknowledged. Noticing Tristan's hands still betrayed his nervousness, Thorian deemed it best to conclude their conversation. "Given we've covered all necessary ground, I propose we bring this meeting to a close. Tonight, you will be my guest."

Tristan released a sigh of relief at Thorian's words. "Thank you," he expressed, his gratitude palpable.

With that, Thorian rose, signaling the end of their assembly. The remaining council members dispersed, leaving the village behind as they headed towards Thorian's residence. Along the way, Tristan's curiosity surfaced. "I've been meaning to ask—were these houses constructed by your people?"

Thorian shook his head in response. "No, they were not," he clarified, casting a glance back at Tristan. "Do you recall the reconstruction of Locksley's buildings after you activated the fortress system? Our domain operates under a similar principle."

Tristan's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "You're familiar with the fortress system as well?" He quickly dismissed his own astonishment. "I suppose I should have anticipated that."

Thorian's smile widened at Tristan's realization, and he continued to lead the way to his abode, which was unmistakably marked by Harald's imposing presence near the entrance.

Upon arriving, Tristan eyed Harald warily, an understandable reaction given the creature's daunting size compared to his own.

"Do not fear," Thorian reassured him gently. "This is Harald, my companion. He means you no harm."

Tristan acknowledged Thorian's assurance with a nod, yet as soon as Thorian opened the door and stepped inside, Tristan hastened to follow, eager to put some distance between himself and the formidable beast.

Thorian chuckled softly at Tristan's apprehensive demeanor as he led him into the house. "This is the living room, where you'll be spending the night," he explained.

Tristan nodded in acknowledgment and settled onto one of the couches. Across from him, Thorian expressed regret. "I apologize for our sparse provisions. Our lifestyle is such that we consume only what we hunt."

"That's perfectly fine," Tristan replied, shaking his head. "I'm not particularly hungry at the moment, anyway."

An uncomfortable silence fell between them, lingering until Thorian made a move to rise. Just then, Tristan broke the silence. "So, what's the plan from here? Any idea when I can return home?"

"You're currently presumed dead within Locksley," Thorian revealed with a heavy sigh. "While I have no desire to detain you against your wishes, returning now would leave you defenseless against Nalia."

Tristan's brow furrowed in concern. "Is she truly that formidable? I would have thought that with my forces alert, she couldn't freely exert her will."

"You gravely underestimate her capabilities," Thorian warned gently. "Her strength is such that even I must exercise caution around her."

"How is that conceivable?" Tristan expressed his disbelief, his eyebrow arching. "I've witnessed your magic firsthand; its power is unmatched. Had you desired, Locksley could have been reduced to ashes."

"Nalia's magic is deceptively complex," Thorian sighed deeply. "Recall the assault on my village a week ago, carried out by thousands? After their demise, she seized their souls, bending them to her will."

Upon hearing Thorian's revelation, Tristan's eyes widened in disbelief. "She can claim the souls of the dead? How is such dark magic even possible?"

Thorian shook his head, the weight of uncertainty in his voice. "I'm not privy to the full mechanics of it, but it's connected to a quest she completed and the ring she possesses. That ring is her vault for those ensnared souls."

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Tristan exhaled deeply, his dismay evident. "To imagine quests of such nature exist...the gods must indeed harbor a cruel streak." Pausing, he then asked, "By claiming and utilizing these souls, does that mean she can resurrect them as an army?"

"That's one of her possible uses, but it's not my primary concern. If it were merely about raising an undead army, I could handle it; I've vanquished those souls once before," Thorian said, his face hardening with gravity. "The real issue lies in her ability to consume those souls, absorbing a portion of their power temporarily."

Tristan's skepticism was clear. "That sounds relatively insignificant. How much stronger could she possibly become by consuming those souls?"

After a brief pause, Thorian replied, "Should she exploit all the souls she's collected, her attributes could temporarily exceed a staggering 400."

Tristan laughed nervously, hoping for a hint of jest. "That must be an exaggeration, right?" His laughter faded under Thorian's silent, solemn gaze, and the gravity of the situation sank in.

"But that's unfathomable," Tristan whispered, struggling to accept the truth. "No human could attain such levels; that's the realm of deities."

"Exactly," Thorian affirmed with a grave nod. "Which is why I exercise extreme caution in my dealings with her. Facing such a force leaves no margin for error."

"How can she be defeated, then?" Tristan asked, his confusion morphing into concern. "I can't conceive of a strategy that would suffice."

"There is a strategy," Thorian disclosed, a glimmer of hope in his voice. "If I can achieve my second advancement before she further amplifies her power, we stand a chance of overcoming her. It will, however, require the concerted efforts of my elite troops to hold her at bay for the duration of her skill's effect."

Tristan regarded Thorian with a blend of admiration and skepticism. "Are your forces truly capable of such a feat?" he questioned. "Forgive my doubt, but the notion of contending with such overwhelming power is difficult to grasp."

"By sheer strength, we would indeed be at a disadvantage," Thorian conceded. "Yet, there's an aspect you're unaware of. Advancing to the second class level bestows an ultimate skill. Despite its lengthy cooldown, this skill can significantly enhance your power beyond usual limits."

Tristan's interest piqued at this revelation. "Such abilities exist?" he queried, his skepticism giving way to curiosity. "And you believe that with this ultimate skill, you can challenge Nalia, even in her divine state?"

"I hold onto that belief," Thorian affirmed, his confidence unwavering until a sudden realization caused him to pause, a chill running through him. This can't be right. If I've deduced the limitations of Nalia's skill, she, too, must be acutely aware. Given her meticulous nature, it's improbable she'd depend solely on that ability. She must know the vulnerability it exposes her to afterward.

"Is something amiss?" Tristan's voice pulled Thorian from his contemplation, his expression a mixture of concern and apprehension.

Thorian, momentarily lost in thought, acknowledged the possibility of an unforeseen variable. "I was contemplating the likelihood that she has another ace up her sleeve," he confessed, the concern evident in his tone. Redirecting his attention to Tristan, he inquired, "Have you noticed anything unusual lately?"

Tristan raised an eyebrow, reflecting on the question. "Indeed, everything lately has been peculiar. From the emergence of monsters to everything else, 'strange' hardly begins to cover the recent turn of events."

Hearing Tristan's clarification, Thorian exhaled a thoughtful sigh. "I'm not inquiring about phenomena linked to the gods, the system, or the monsters. I'm simply curious if there's anything else, however minor it might seem, that caught your attention but didn't seem significant at the time."

After a moment of reflection, Tristan responded with a hesitant tone, "Well, there is one thing, though I wouldn't necessarily label it as strange. Reports of people going missing have been circulating. Given the chaos wrought by the monster invasions and the many who perished or disappeared, it's been a challenge to address these disappearances."

Thorian mulled over Tristan's mention of missing persons. William too was categorized as missing rather than deceased. Could Nalia be orchestrating these disappearances to accumulate more souls?

He deliberated on the implications of Tristan's observation. Why resort to abducting individuals? If it's merely souls she's after, defeating monsters would suffice. Is there a specific requirement for human souls? Or is this part of a new ritual?

Thorian's thoughts then drifted to the Strongheart Mansion. Alacritas mentioned her forces were unusually focused around that estate. What necessitates such heavy protection? Granted, he's a valuable ally, but the allocation of so many resources for his safeguarding suggests a deeper secret concealed within those walls.

Amidst his contemplation, a knock at the door jolted Thorian back to the present. Recalling the impending meeting with Alacritas, he offered Tristan a knowing smile. "It appears your brother has at last made his arrival."