Chapter 23

4 Days Remaining… Evening…

“… Teacher…” Frizzy asked as she stood in the workshop. Her mind desperately trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Yet she no matter how she broached it, she just couldn’t make sense of it. “I… I think… I know WHAT I am seeing. But I am having a hard time believing it…”

“What so hard to understand?” Jack asked, all cheery cherry. Humming a tune while he continued to make mithril into powder. “It’s exactly what it looks like.”

“Teacher… Do I even want to know how you did it?” Frizzy asked, her eye twitching out of frustration, confusion, and in no small amount impressed since she didn’t even think what he did was, or even should be, possible.

“Eeeeeeh…. Mayyyyyybeeee? Let’s go with maybe.” Jack said sounding unsure at first but then settled for an answer. “But it is really dumb for anyone else to try. Except me, because I am awesome.”

Frizzy looked at the demon who sat in the cage once more. Well outside the safety marker around the cage to be out of reach of her attacks. The demon was hugging her knees, rocking back and forth. Her stare was vacant and locked firmly on the floor. Staying right in the center of the cage away from all the bars so as not to touch them. Terror etched all over her face without her making even so much as a sound.

“Teacher… what exactly did you do to the demon?” Frizzy asked, her fingers interlocked with her pointer fingers extended and pressed to her lips. “Also, can you please tell me HOW you managed to catch AND imprisoned the demon?”

“Long story or short story.” Jack asked, swirling a vial of quick silver and some mithril powder together.

“Short please.” Frizzy said while pointing with her extended index fingers to point at him.

“That my dear, and favorite, apprentice-“

“Would mean more if I wasn’t your only apprentice…” Frizzy muttered under her breath.

“-can be summarized like this. With imagination, understanding of multiple subjects, spite, and no small amount of ‘fuck you, I’m amazing’, anything is possible.” Jack said as he took a gallon sized container from a nearby table.

Frizzy took a DEEP breath at his answer, taking some time to really breath to resist every urge to lecture her Teacher. For all his brilliance, talent, and skill, he was also insufferable sometimes. Especially when he thought he was being funny.

“A serious answer, please Teacher.” Frizzy requested, praying for patients.

“I am being serious.” Jack said with the same cheery cherry tone as before. “If you understand enough things, you can see use that knowledge to do all kinds of stuff. With imagination, you are only limited by what you can think of which is where understanding helps. Spite can be a powerful motivator, gives you fuel and push you towards a goal. As far as the ‘fuck you, I’m amazing’, that is confidence. You need to be confident in what you do, because sometimes when you have to take a risk, to can’t let yourself hesitate.”

“That… that… that actually makes a fair amount of sense.” Frizzy said as she stared after Jack as he carried the quick silver, mithril container, and summoned a bottle filled with liquid. “Can I ask about the long story?”

“The long story.” Jack said, pausing at the table, summoning various crafting materials.

He summoned some couple Lightstone gems, Tourmaline, and a pair of Mystic Lens. He then used his spell Form and Function to turn the raw stones into multiple smaller multi-faceted gems. Using his tools to cut runes into a slate to for his project. Flipping open the book with the notes he took.

“At first, I only wanted to play a game with her. Get her annoyed, make her owe favor, then send her off dry and unsatisfied.” Jack said, summoning a stone block to act as his chair while he worked. “Then she said something that… well. Gave me false hope. By the time I realized she didn’t know anything, I decided that I was going to get my time’s worth out of her. I distracted, redirected, then when she was vulnerable I struck. Thanks to some time with her, I have an idea that seems promising.”

“Teacher…” Frizzy said, recognizing his tone and how he answered the question, so he approached him slowly. Coming to climb up to stand next to him and placed an arm, making him pause. “Jack… are you ok?”

Jack genuinely thought about that question. he didn’t want to answer it. It was anything but pleasant for him, revisiting his feelings about what memories that succubus revived with his old master’s name. Then there was the storm of emotions that came with thinking about that name. Profound loss, aching happiness, respect, admiration, then back to the sense of profound loss. It made him want to scream in frustration then smile fondly at the thought to the man. More than anything… he just wanted to fully remember the man who felt like he meant so much for him.

“I was reminded that I’m what’s left of who I was…” Jack said in a soft voice. “When she said the name of my Master… I got bombarded with broken fragments of him. I feel that there as so much more that I am missing. Like he was a friend, a confidant, a mentor…” Jack sighed, staring at the table with all the items now left untouched. “I want them back… I want them back so bad that it aches. I wish I could just make a solution but it’s just not something you can just solve with a cando attitude…”

“Jack…” Frizzy said softly, keep her hand on his arm. Making sure that he stayed in the moment. “It’s ok… It will be ok.”

Jack sat still for a long time at this, forcing his mind to still. Composing himself to remain strong for what he needed to do. There were people dungeon residents needed him to make this work. He didn’t have the answers though. He had a plan, he was making weapons and constructs for battle. But he didn’t know anything about armies, battle strategies or anything of that nature. It was one thing to trick and idiot and get them to stab themselves in the foot. Everything else?

“I know Frizzy. I have no choice but to believe that. Now I have to do something much harder and that’s put my faith in others instead of doing it myself.” Jack confessed, still staring at the table since he found it really difficult to look Frizzy in the eye.

“Mmm~” Came a sultry moan from a certain cage.

Jack whorled to face the succubus for her VERY inappropriate interruption as did Frizzy who had a murderous glare in her eye.

“Yo wrinkled small tits!” Jack barked at the Succubus who glared back hatefully at him. “What’d I tell you? No horny in my workshop! That is the second time you interrupted me having a moment.”

The succubus shrank back as she eyed the spray bottle with fear.

“That’s what I thought! You don’t have permission to feed off my feelings.” Jack harumphed. “Fucking demon ruining something that’s none of their business. Just when it felt like I was going to realize something about myself.” He mumbled to himself, turning back the table to get back to work.

Frizzy was unsure what to for a moment what to do. Now that he had his guard up once more, there was little to be done to get him to open up again. She would have to bide her time. And just try to be ready to help where she could. Then again that brought her back to the main focus of her why she had been questioning him in the first place.

“Back to the point, and no non-answers Teacher. What did you exactly did you do to the demon to have it acting like that?” she said, gesturing to the demon who was back in the fetal position staring out into nothing.

“Honestly, not much really. Sprayed her with some improvised purity water, trapped her in a cage, took some blood samples once I found out she was semi-immaterial.” Jack said as if it was not most natural thing in the world. “Once it sank in that she literally has no power over me she kind of just went catatonic.”

Frizzy stood there, looking back and forth between Jack and the demon being held as a hostage.

“I… have a question.” Frizzy said as she stared hard at Jack.

“Just one?” Jack said in a voice the suggested that he would have a grin.

“I have A LOT of questions… but I am going to start with this one for now.” Frizzy said, pulling out the enchanted quill for it to take notes of their conversation while they talked. “How did you find out she was semi-immaterial then take blood samples.”

“Oh, that? I tried to stab her and failed. Then I successfully cut her.” Jack said off handedly, causing Frizzy raise her hands making a grasping motion to express her urge to strangle him. “That is how I found out that demons aren’t all that much affected by normal weapons. They need to be either, coated in purifying liquids, made of sanctified metals, enchanted or just overwhelmed by magic. It’s all in the book over here.”

“Teacher… anyone ever tell you that sometimes you’re a mad menace?” Frizzy asked, giving up on understanding her teacher’s antics.

“Awe, thanks for the flattery.” Jack gushed as he set each tiny cut gem into various positions on the table. “Aren’t you full of compliments today.”

Frizzy chose not to peruse that line of conversation. Instead, she only asked where and how she could help. Deciding she would have far less of a headache if she just bit her tongue and rolled with the landslide. He already proved that he could trick and abuse a demon on a whim. She really didn’t want to know what other impossible ideas he was capable of today. One revelation was enough. She heard enough stories about how ancients made the impossible possible and now that she had seen it first-hand, she was good for a while.

After she managed to forget that her perception on reality had been seriously challenged, she joined in helping him organize the gem stones into the pattern he had diagramed within the before she knew it, there as an outline of a person made of the tiny gems with some marking key joint points for limbs and spine. Two bright green gems near the center of the face to make the eyes then he marked the table with arcane runes and circles. These ones far more intricate than any other she had learned before. These were made of dozens of simpler runes and circles to make new more complex ones that made almost a written script that formed and interwoven with the circles. By the time it was done, Frizzy’s watch, the first one she successfully took apart and put back together, said it was well past midnight.

The moon was full and shining bright into the workshop. The air was cool and crisp as she overlooked the silhouette of gems that formed the outer body and a simple skeleton. There was something different about all this. Something that was profoundly different that spoke of a different nature compared the others. She could smell it in the air that this one was something new. Something that was… soothing. Something comforting and welcoming. With Aegisthal, she had felt and smelled the power, the resolve, a force of nature that does not relent or slow like some land slide that didn’t care about stood in its path. With Omnus, she felt and smelled that his power was more playful, curious, wanting to explore and to understand all that surrounded it then share what it had learned. With Eorlas it had been hunger, subtle, and deadly like a predatory that lurked in the dark watching and waiting for a sign of weakness before delivering a deadly strike. This one though was calm and peaceful, like a balm the soothed burns and relieved aches.

Then he pulled out the purifying water, and the quick silver, first pouring the quick silver over the gems that marks the joints of the bones along with the ethereal whips of energy from the gallon sized container. Bother inter weaving and blending to cover the gems and make bones that seems just barely hovering in preservable reality. All of it lifting off the table as it was suspended in the air by the power of his runes and arcane circles in the pale moon light. Then he pulled out the purifying water.

The water trickled and glimmered in the light. Coating the outer layer numerous tiny gems of the outer layer to bring them floating in the air over and around the shining ghostly bones. Creating a blank body, one without refined form or features. A blank empty shell that was similar to a manikin, devoid of uniqueness or individuality.

Then it went wrong.

A fluctuation happened, a rippled shimmered across the still floating form. Violently the surface undulated and ripped, barely able to hold itself together yet held it did. Without thinking and while wearing the mystic lenses, Jack plunged his hand into the floating form. Immediately his arm hissed and burned thanks to the purifying waters. Smoke rose around his metal coated bones, bubbles formed inside the form around his hand as the metal hissed and burned. Slowly dissolving as pain floored him while his arm slowly dissolved. Yet with his connection he was able to better control the flow of mana. With the mystic lenses he was able to see the tiny nuanced faults that was destabilizing it.

Since the scrips and circles weren’t adhering or imbedding into solid matter, they were left to shift and change. It needed direction, it needed a guide to stay in place. Even still with Jack now directly connected to the shifting energies they still resisted. Refusing to remain still as they were free of the rigidity of metal, stone, wood, or flesh. A feet made all the harder ad Jack felt his arm slowly dissolving layer by layer.

At seeing his arm slowly dissolving, Frizzy frantically tried to pull his arm away form it. To get him away from boiling water that slowly creeped up his arm to try and consume more of his arm.

“Stop!” Jack barked, his voice hitched in pain while fighting on. “Trust me! Believe in me, I can do this!” he all but yelled through gritted teeth with the materials of the from fighting him.

Reluctantly and despite her deep desire to try and protect her teacher, let him go. Release her grip on his arm and stepped back, putting her trust in him to be ok and to have faith that this was something he had in control. Yet staying close to be of help for whatever he might need.

Jack continued his battle to keep the form stable, unaware that the succubus was watching with rampant attention. Hoping for his demise as she took pleasure from his suffering.

Once he had the form stabled enough, he called for the large container containing the life essence along with the rest of the mithril dust and flakes. Frizzy handed them both over with all the speed she could muster. Using his arm that was in the form as a guide, he poured the life essence into the form. Filling it with all that remained of the essence then taking the mithril to dump it over the form. Causing the dust and flakes to float and linger in the air around it. Like an aura of silver and shimmering star light that surround the still silhouette.

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Jack for his part was not only swimming in a sea of pain that could best be described as being on fire. He was currently doing back strokes in it. Yet despite the pain, despite that his arm was dissolving, he kept going. He knew what he was doing was unconventional, he knew that in all likelihood it was going to fail. He understood that the odds of this working were the same as every dungeon resident simultaneously shitting a gold brick at the same time.

Yet he pushed on.

With all his being, he pushed through the pain, he put his faith into this mad gamble working. He put his trust into this working and that Frizzy would help him should the worst happen. More than that… he wanted… no. He chose to believe that this would work and that his people will survive, that they would make it through this invasion. That everything…

“Hey Jack…” a soft feminine voice said, faintly tickling his non-existent ear. “I’m right here, everything will be ok. You can do it.”

Jack found he was no longer in pain, the world around him was gone. In its place he found himself standing in a vast gray void. Before him a portal showing images and sounds moving before it like the view of a scrying mirror. Jack approached it, slowly, carefully, until he stood facing it in truth. Within that portal he saw ghost and fragments of his past. Instead of an overwhelming rush of like a waterfall of broken glass raining down on him as were his previous rush of memories. This one was slow, deliberate and clear with an echo of emotion that came with them. In that portal, he saw a woman. A woman with sand colored skin, vibrant life filled blue hazel eyes, a ponytail of golden-brown hair and a smile that was nothing but warmth. Her face that of soft delicate features yet polished by a life well lived.

Scenes of her played in the portal, her hand were callused pulling him by his own to lead him to a field. Her voice lovely yet confident, urging him to join her and escape his workshop for the day. The next was of her at a tavern, singing a jaunty tune while she played her lute. Setting a merry ambiance for all who came for a drink at the end of a hard day’s work. Jumping from the stage as the rest of the band played to bring him to the floor to dance. The image then cut to show she was with him in the workshop, helping him to create a lute. With her strumming and play with a vigor of one who truly loved to play music for its own sake. Once she gave her approval and said it played as well as it looked, she screamed in delight once he confessed it was for her. Tackling him with a hug before she kissed him.

The next that played show him in his master’s workshop, Quincy all smiles as usual while he walking to him with a lacquered wooden box. Telling him that it was time he made an honest woman of her. The next was him looking at her, his nerves affray while he presented her the box. Opening it to reveal a pair of rings, both made of braided silver and gold wires to form a band that held a mana stone cut like a gem in the center of both. The moment she saw the rings, she crowed the words that sent his heart soring for the heavens before she smothering him with a kiss.

“As if I’d ever say no!”

The scene that followed was with her in his arms as they laid in bed, him awake as she slept. Tucking herself against him, her head laying on his shoulder, her arm draped over his chest. Her breath tickling his skin while his fingers idling played with her unbraided soft brown hair. Sharing one another’s warmth against the slight chill of the night air. The sensation of a heartbeat, her heartbeat, on his finger through his ring. Then it cut to her comforting him in a time of stress, reaffirming she believed in him. Reassuring that she was with him and that he can do it.

Then came the last scene…

She was pregnant with his child, struggling against the grip of the elf that was trying to drag her away while he had four dwarves and two elves trying to hold him down. She used the lute he gave her to strike her captor and broke free. Coming to try and fight their attackers off him. All while two dwarves laid dead, their helmets caved in from Jack’s hammer, and elf with a shattered leg laid around from his earlier fight with them. She batted the nearest attacker with her lute, breaking it over their head and knocking them to the ground. Freeing his arm so he could try and fight once more. Then she stilled, her eyes growing wide and distant. Looking down to see the end of a saber sticking out of her chest from being stabbed in the back. Her murder shoving off the blade violently as the elf sneered down at her dying form. Jack could feel the faint sensation of the memory as she stared at his eyes, tears streaming down her face as she reached for him. Smiling for him as he raged and roared, desperate to get to her as he felt her heart beat growing weaker by the second. Yet she still smiled for him, still reaching for him while muttering her last words.

“I love you…”

Then just before the world went dark, he saw that same elf who stabbed her march forwards. Looked at Jack with a sickening smile, spit on her still dying form before his boot stomped on his head.

As the scene ended, Jack watched as all the images scenes restarted once more.

“I…” Jack stammered, clutching his chest as it ached where his true heart used to be. “I love you too…” was all he could say. His words hitched in his non-existent throat.

That was when he felt it, something wet. Something wet that was near his eye socket.

Reaching up with a boney metal coated finger, he touched the source of the sensation. Pulling it away to find a small miniscule tear.

“It’s ok Jack…” he heard from behind in a voice that was now all too familiar with and longed to hear for just a little longer.

Jack turned to see that it was the woman from the rift. While her form faint and transparent, it was undoubtable her. His wife… his Sylara. And she still had that smile that was just so infectious.

“… Don’t cry for me love.” She said, her tone playful yet sad. Coming closer to wipe what remaining tears he had. “Please, don’t remember me for how we parted. Only how we lived.”

“I’m so sorry…” he muttered, only to feel a sudden smack on the back of his head. “Owe!”

“Don’t be!” She declared sternly, her nose now inches from his face a disapproving eyebrow raised while her hands rested as fists on her hips. “I lived a good life! A happy life that was all the better with you. So don’t you start that silliness of blaming yourself, Jack. If you do, I’ll haunt you and nag you into eternity.” She threatened with a scowl said she meant business.

Unable to help himself, Jack burst into laughter as the sheer absurdity of her threat. A full laugh at the audacity of the threat that somehow mad the sorrow he felt melt away. Then he heard Sylara join him with her own whimsical laugh.

“Hey, don’t threaten me with a good time!” Jack answered back, making her laugh all the harder. “If it’s a promise, maybe I’ll start writing sad poetry like some blow heart bard.”

“Oh, don’t you dare!” Sylara exclaimed, in mock horror. “You couldn’t write a poem to save your life! Love that you tried but I swear your word scheme made my ears bleed once!”

“Oh? I couldn’t have been that bad!” Jack whined in fake protest.

“Not that bad? Swear you could only carry tune in a bucket.” She teased, still struggling with a fit of the giggles.

“Is that a bet? If you give me some time, I’m sure I can make a bucket that can do just that.” he said proudly, crossing his arms over his chest.

Then, ending their game of teasing each other, Sylara swooped in and hugged him tight. A smile on her ghostly visage as he slowly encircled her in his boney arms. Holding her close and tight.

“I’m so relieved…” Sylara said, her face buried in his shoulder bones. “Even without your memories, you’re still the Jack I know.”

Jack didn’t know what to say to that. What could he say to that? Here was a woman that actually knew him before he became a dungeon and dungeon master. Someone that knew him very well, yet he couldn’t say the same. The only memories he had available to him was what he just saw. Yet the feelings that came with them… they ached. They were bone deep and resonated with his soul. No, he couldn’t say anything back. Anything he said would probably sound disingenuous to her…. All he could do, was hug her close and tight.

“Hehe, it’s good to know I can still leave you speechless.” She chuckled, patting his back to let him know it was alright. “Jack, I’m sorry to say this but I can’t stay. No matter how much I want to, I can’t. I just wanted to see you one more time. To let you know I’m ok and that I don’t blame you.” She said pulling back from the hug but held his shoulders to make sure he was listening and her words were sinking in. “Most importantly, I want you to move on. I want you to move on and live your life.” She said with a sad smile. “You have lot of people who need you now Jack… the past is done. Live in the now, live it with them. Alright?”

Jack took her hand and brought it where his lips once her, trying to give her knuckles a kiss then contented himself to hold her hand.

“Yeah… yeah I can do that.” Jack said hesitantly.

“Good. I never known you to break a promise and I don’t expect you’ll start doing it now.” Sylara said with a fuller smile, then it faltered and her expression became reluctant. “…I have to go now. My time is up but Jack… I have to warn you. If you meet someone… someone strange. Be careful around them…”

“Who is it?” Jack said feeling a twinge of anger at the idea that someone might make Sylara fearful. “How will I know them?”

“I… I can’t say their name… they are might hear. But you’ll know them by their smile.” She shuddered. “it is a mocking thing, something that says they know something you don’t. Take care now Jack… and don’t be afraid to meet someone new.”

Jack wanted to say more, to hold her one last time. But then he was ripped out of that gray void. Thrown back to the reality that he knew with a new notification popping into his vision.

Attention!

You have found a prime Dungeon Sentinel candidate!

Dungeon Sentinel

Dungeon Sentinels, unlike other dungeon mobs, are the wardens and keepers of dungeons. A Dungeon Sentinel is a more powerful version of a dungeon mob. Unlike a regular dungeon mob who will simply do as instructed by the Dungeon and or Dungeon Master in the most direct way possible. A Dungeon Sentinel not only does as instruct but can also think on its own to accomplish its task in the most efficient way possible. While still being a dungeon mob, these mobs are unique in that they can think for themselves and even have their own personalities.

Dungeon Sentinel Candidate option:

Silvireth

Create a Dungeon Sentinel?

Yes/No

Wasting no time, Jack selected yes. Waiting and baring the pain until the cocoon formed. Only then did he yank his arm free while the white, blue and green cocoon finished forming. Magic being siphoned from the air rapidly while the succubus shrieked in horror. Meanwhile Frizzy was busy fussing over Jack to make sure he was ok. Looking over his arm while he had eyes for the cocoon.

The succubus shrieked and shriveled in pain, her body withering as mana was siphoned from her body. Causing her to lash out at the bars of the cage, desperate to break free while growing weaker by the second. Yet she did not die, merely made the same demand over and over again as her voice went from shrill screams to whimpers.

“How is this possible! It’s not possible! No mortal soul should be able to do this! WHAT ARE YOU?!”

Yet neither Jack nor frizzy turned to address her. They only had eyes for the pulsating cocoon while it radiated warm and peace. The shell bubbled and swirled with those tranquil colors. Almost like watching a gentle stream with colorful leave riding the currents downstream. Slowly it fluxed and churned steadily swelling in size while shined beautifully with the pale light of the moon.

Then it popped.

Like the shimmer of thousands of tiny stars that floated lazily in the air, the cocoon became an aura of countless notes of silvery dust. All of it surrounding a woman who stood suspended in the air before them with her eyes closed. She had pale white skin, her hair great cascade of thick platinum hair that was covered by a shall with and embroidered brim. The parts of her hair not covered moved and floated as if she was suspended in water. Her face was of soft and delicate features, her eye lashes eye brows a pale black, a button nose centering her face, her lips full and light pink, around her neck was choker of ivory silver and shaped like vines. And from the chocker hung two large bright green tourmaline stones one over the other on top of her simple white dress. Covering her was a was an ivory robe embroidered with platinum pale thread that reflected the moon light, concealing her arms and most of her body. As the eye explore her, they would see that the ends of her limb were partially transparent. Further enhancing her otherworldly beauty, suggesting that even if she was within sight, she was beyond reach.

Then she eyes opened.

As her eyes slowly opened, revealing them as emerald green pools that held the wisdom and depth of countless centuries. And kindness. A warm and welcoming kindness that promised comfort and understanding that matched the humble smile that shaped her lips.

She floated down, her arm spread with the hem of her robes fluttering until her transparent bare feet touched the floor. Her head lowering before Jack and Frizzy.

"My Lord, and to the esteemed first apprentice of my Lord, I offer my humble greetings. It is a joy beyond measure to have been brought into existence by your will and purpose." The ethereal beauty said, her voice sweet melodic note that reverberated and echoed.

Jack was stunned by what he saw… she looked so pure and clean. A far greater contrast to what he had tried to make by studying the succubus. His words died in his non-existent throat. She was the closest thing he saw that could pass for a human since waking up. But she wasn’t, not in truth. While she might look like one, she was a dungeon mob. Still, it was nice… the let himself be fooled. At least for a little bit.

“Teacher…” Frizzy said as she stepped closer to the aethereal woman. “She’s… She’s beautiful. Is this how the ancients looked?” she asked forcing her eyes away from the women who tittered at Frizzy’s question yet kept her head bowed.

“Please, raise your head.” He said as he stepped closer to the ethereal women, who did so while favoring him with a gracious smile. Clasping her hands before her in the each other. “Some of us. Not all. Many humans came in all kinds of colors, shapes, and sizes. Our friend though is exceptionally beautiful.”

At his words, the woman bowed her head in gratitude while Frizzy’s eyes sparkled in wonder and delight. Finally able to see but one version of an ancient in person in a more complete state beyond walking talking bones.

Then the phantom woman noticed his arm, her kind smiled turning into a small concerned frown. Jack raised the arm in question to see what her concern was about. when he saw it, he quickly realized why she seemed unhappy to see its current state. On his arm were tiny patches of corroded pock marked metal to reveal the bone underneath. The bone it itself looked melted and withered, some parts of his fingers now missing from his hand.

"My Lord, if I may?” The aethereal woman asked, gesturing a hand towards his badly damaged arm.

Jack stretched out his arm while frizzy watched in pure fascination. Her face spoke of dozens of unspoken questions. Yet she held her tongue, knowing this was the time to sit quietly and watch patiently. Eager to see what might happen next while the succubus remained silent, not daring to make a sound so to avoid notice.

The otherworldly woman carefully took Jack’s out stretched arm into her hands, inspecting the damage with a scrupulous eye. Turning his hand this way and that, inspecting the damage with great care. Once done, she held his hand up one of her own then rested the other on the back of what remained of his.

“It grieves me deeply to know you nearly sacrificed your arm to bring me into being. Please, allow me to tend to this wound, that you may be whole once more." Said, looking to him for permission to heal him.

With a nod, he gave her permission.

Once she got consent, she closed her eyes while holding his damaged arm and hand. A soft low hymn bubbling from her lips with the aura of dust now turning and swirling around them both. Her hands giving emitting a light glow of that enveloped his hand and arm. The swirling dust twisted and danced to her melody, heeding her call eagerly to form a shimmering cast over Jack’s arm. With the final notes of her song, the dust floated away to reveal his arm was unblemished and whole. All missing finger bones returned, all dissolved bone repaired and the metal that coated the bones were back once more.

Frizzy marveled at the feat, practically yanking on Jack’s arm to inspect it once the otherworldly woman let go. Jack for his part, also admired what could best be described as a miracle. Healing magic shouldn’t be possible on an undead creature or construct and Jack was technically both. For constructs healing magic shouldn’t do anything but waste mana. Whereas undead would actually be damaged by healing magics.

“How…?” Frizzy asked in awe, staring up at the woman with eyes wide in wonder. “That shouldn’t be possible.”

The woman tittered playfully as she leaned down to be at the same level as her.

"Beloved First Disciple, you above all should know, having stood at the side of My Lord. There is no 'impossible,' only puzzles awaiting the clarity of understanding." She said with a kind smile. "Come, First Disciple. The hour grows late, and I sense that My Lord’s burdens are far from lifted. Moreover, you yourself are in need of rest. Allow me to walk you home?" The woman asked, holding out her hand to Frizzy to take.

As Frizzy took the woman’s hand, who stood up once more to cause Frizzy to float in the air suspended in the air, Jack stepped forwards. Gaining the attention of Frizzy and the woman alike.

“Halyndra…” Jack said, his voice calm and low. “Halyndra, The Seraph of Sacred Faith. I trust you understand the meaning of your name.” Jack said, forcing calmness into his voice.

Halyndra, bowed her head. A graceful smile spreading across her face with her eyes closed. Seeming to savor the name she had been gifted. Then she opened her emerald eyes once more to show they were full of joy.

"Of course, My Lord. I shall live to be worthy of the name you have bestowed upon me. But I am not overly concerned. After all,” she said as her smile became a grin, a grin that was all too similar to Sylara’s “I have faith... and faith has a way of making things work out.” she said with a wink of her eye then guided Frizzy from the workshop.

In another time… they could have been sisters… Jack sighed then turned to look at the succubus who now shuddering in terror.

“Welp! Time to deal with you.” Jack declared making the succubus grow pale since both of them were now alone.