We made the long walk back to our village the next day, exchanging a few words between us. When we got there we went to the elder priests and explained what had happened. They were shocked, he had been their most promising apprentice, and was beloved by many of them, but they forgave me, and understood I would never have done such a thing intentionally.
His father was most traumatised of all. He couldn't handle the situation at all, since that day he stopped his priestly duties and instead would go on long hikes, he'd disappear for almost entire days multiple times a week. The guilt I felt was immense, but there was nothing I could do about it anymore.
After a few days I decided it would be best to continue his legacy. He had planned to go on several adventures with us to collect rare items, so we went to the library and searched through his book stash.
"This one book is about ancient magic spells, he even included a map" I said to Symania.
We removed the map. The place was much further away than the previous one. But we had nothing better to do, or so we thought. Then Symania showed me another scroll of his.
"Look at this, it's about the staff. we found."
Glued to the scroll was a small note containing a short poem, which she read aloud.
"Choose me, use me
Don't lose and abuse me,
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Take me, make me,
Don't break me or trade me
Hold me, aid me,
Don't stray and evade me
Hate me, see me, feel me,
Don't seal and then leave me
Lead me, love me, live me, like me,
Feed me, obey me
Now hold me and give me your soul"
"I don't know Aymar, I-I'm scared." She said, stuttering slightly as she often did when nervous. She didn't tell me why, she never really wanted to convince people of her opinion, at most she'd share it and even that was rare.
"Read the scroll next" I said to her.
Unique to this staff is its ability to cast spells that modify lifeforce directly, an ability that is usually reserved for dark magics. It even allows it to cast life-force transfer, switching between two targets. Because of this, the weapon is one of the strongest offensive light staves, it can do great and horrible things, and it is said to corrupt. Its abilities include the ability to absorb lifeforce, temporarily enhancing the staff's power, and the ability to transfer lifeforce between targets, exchanging the life of one for that of another. Additionally it can release part of the stored lifeforce for massive healing abilities, through a special spell. It's also said to contain the soul of priestess Soliana himself, who was corrupted and overthrown by conspirators in the third age. Several later mentions and sightings of the staff report on their wielder's cruelty and seemingly corrupted personality, its power too much to handle.
We didn't know what to do with the information. We read more scrolls in his stash and found another one about a temple that allowed you to restore lifeforce. We assumed, or rather I did, that by releasing the lifeforce contained in the staff, we could bring back Hakaze, or at least, his spirit.
Symania wasn't in favour of my plan, she thought it was too dangerous because we didn't know what else was trapped in there. But she followed me along anyway. Her will had never been very strong. I also took the scroll containing the life force transfer spell when she didn't look.