“I think I know why you knew about us; you know Alvor didn’t you?”, Donnor exclaimed, finally realizing what Anton meant last night.

“Yes, as a former knight of Gregoria. Every one of us looks up to him, though we did not know he’s still alive until he helped us with the recent incident. I’m pretty sure he’ll be here by now.”

“Talking about me? Am I that popular?”, a tall man intruded standing behind them, muscular but not buff, firm from head to toe, has a dignified stance befitting a knight.

He has a kind face, though a scar on his left eye and the sprouting white hair show he had years of experience. Messing with him would be a bad idea and no one in their right might would even dare. The other knights, especially Hunter, was left in awe as they saw the Legendary Hero that Gregoria had looked up to.

“Uncle Donnor”, Alisa came rushing in, tired and worried while catching her breath. If there’s something that calmed her, it’s the reassuring sight of his father. “Father, you’re back, I really want to hug you right now but we have a problem”, she said, putting down Nicolas from her back.

“What happened?”, Anton quickly went for their rescue.

“He was fine last night, when we...”, she paused as she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and calmed herself down. “But this morning I can’t wake him up. I checked if he had any injury or trauma to the head or fever but he has none except scratches that’s already healed.”

“Step aside for a bit”, Alvor joined them, “Did something happen during the fight?”, he asked while feeling the boy’s forehead just to make sure.

“None that I know of; we got late responding because Alisa needed help”, Anton explained as Hunter also joined the group.

Donnor, on the other hand, being the one close to the boys when the fight happened, was quick to remember some details: “I think there must be something; he fought a boy who looks a lot like him.”

“Don’t tell me, was it the boy with a sharp look and blonde hair?”, Alisa pictured the boy she met before.

"Yes, they’re like a spitting image. Anyway, this boy was surely the winner, but when he tried to end the boy’s life, he flung a few meters away after an explosion occurred. Then ‘that’ man showed up”, Donnor added while seriously looking at Alvor.

“This could be bad”, Alvor took a deep breath before a bright light began to manifest around him. It had no definite shape, but as he began to hover his hand above the other, luminous light compressed into a ball. Without wasting a second, he pushed it closer to the boy’s chest until it was fully submerged. “If there are no problems with the body, then...”

Nicolas started to glow brightly as the warm light from Alvor’s soul shone brightly above him like a warm blanket. Moments later, his soul too started to emit its rays, bringing the bright light into a dim blue hue, coloring all their faces with amazement.

“As I thought”, Alvor said, stopping his appraisal. “His soul is somewhat in distress, and if that man was involved, then we might be in big trouble.”

“Will he wake up? Can’t we do anything to help him?”, Alisa blurted.

“Calm down, Alisa; I’ve never seen you being this concerned for someone before”, Alvor cheekily teased, “Did something happen last night perhaps?”

“Father, he’s the prince of Gregoria, remember. He’s an important figure, plus he’s my only friend around my age. Of course I’ll be concerned”, Alisa’s face was flushed.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“No need for such explanations, bear cub; I’m just trying to lift your mood since you look worried more than anyone here, but did something.”

“JUST TELL US IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING”, Alisa exclaimed, covering her face with both her hands.

“Fine fine...”, Alvor laughed before kneeling back down to check Nicolas once again.

“Unfortunately, we can’t do anything. All I can do is check the state of his soul but resolving this problem, it’s up to him. We can’t do anything but wait and guard his body until he wakes up.”

“But...”, Alisa wanted to plead again but Hunter took the words first.

“Can’t we use our souls to help him too?”, Hunter asked.

“No, all we can usually do is reflect what our souls are shaped liked. I was just fortunate enough to do the appraisal but this boy’s soul is on another level. Only a stronger soul or the same as him would be able to act. Though I guess we don’t have anyone like that.”

Alisa watched Hunter as he tried thinking what he could also do but he too had no idea left as he sat down in a corner.

“Be sure to wake up, Nicolas. There are still so many things I would like to tell you and you’re much needed here. Please wake up”, Alisa could only pray as she held his hands.

Meanwhile, somewhere at the western shoreline of Yggdryas.

“What’s his deal?”, Meriane poked the unconscious Matthew in the cheek.

“Let him be; he’s dealing with something very important right now”, the man ordered as he sat on the other side of the room.

“I’m just curious, you know”, Meriane said, lifting the boy’s eyelids and revealing his blank stare.

“He made contact with the other half so of course his soul will undergo shock.”

“Half? Half of what? Half of banana? Half of apple? I don’t really get what you’re saying, Duncuel old man”, Meriane sighed as she lay beside the unconscious Matthew.

“Not like you’re going to understand. One more thing, I don’t know what kind of lies they spread but my name is Liam, not Duncuel, not old man, not nothing, just Liam. I’m 22 when I died and this new body I picked is not that old either”, Liam angrily slammed his hands on the table.

“Eh? Fine, changing questions then, Liam. What is your connection with this boy and why does he look almost identical to Nicolas?”, Meriane again asked.

“You don’t know when to stop talking, do you? I’m starting to regret having you as an underling”, Liam breathed, pulling something from his pocket.

“You don’t even answer any of my questions; how would I shut up? Plus, he also looks like you? Why is that?”

Liam just stared at her with a sharp gaze. “Talk again and I’ll cut your tongue”, he threatened, calling his sword.

“Answer me then”, Meriane replied, standing high and full of pride as she pursued her curiosity.

The man lowered his sword upon giving up. “Fine”, he sighed. “You’re lucky I still have a use for you”.

“Yeah, that’s what I figured”, Meriane cheekily smiled. “So? Do we really need Nicolas for this resurrection thing?”.

Liam again took a deep breath and sat facing Matthew. “That entity is something more important than anything or anyone here.”

“Not even Matthew?”

His sharp gaze had already become almost permanent while containing himself not to burst in anger. “He’s soul is one of a kind. A fragment of my soul is what makes him who he is and by regaining it back, looking for the third shard will be much easier.”

“Heh? I’m getting confused”, Meriane lied on her stomach, then fondled with Mathew’s hair.

“He really looks just like him”, she whispered before asking something again. “What about Matthew here? If I heard you right, you said he’s also half of what Nicolas has. Isn’t he the third half?”

“You have a sharp ear. I thought you’re just pure talk and comprehension is not your strong suit.”

“That’s mean”

“I embedded a small part of the soul I currently have into his. I forced it to taint his soul little by little until it’s sufficient enough to be a substitute, but...”, he sighed and stared at the sparkling sea water through the window.

“But?”

“This boy’s soul is above the normal; that’s why I took him in. I tried corrupting his soul with mine down to its roots but it had been years and I am just now reaching half. But none of that matters now once I get Nicolas. Plus, thanks to this sacrificial lamb, the fodders are almost reaching their full and we can wake up my disconnected pieces”, he said, revealing a tiny crystal ball brimming with brilliance.

“Just a third of Yggdryas’s population and all I would need is Nicolas, then I can take the first step on regaining what’s mine”, he laughed.

“About that, can’t we harvest the rest of the souls now?”

“No”

“Why is that?”

“Are you dumb? Only Matthew here can use my abilities to collect souls. All we can do is wait for his return”, Liam took a deep breath, moving closer to Meriane, whose face is painted with boredom.

“I wonder what was going on inside his head”, Meriane thought as both of them watched the boy sleep.