Lone, Swind and Master Lefrasburn had all left the room shortly after they and the three other masters had finished hashing out the terms of their inclusion in Mystopolis' Soul Hall.

Master Millisa shared a look with Master Dilroy as they both shifted their attention to Master Rangah who was listlessly lying on the table once again. She had returned to doing that the very second Lone had left the room.

"Master Rangah, would you mind telling me why you acted... like that with Master Lone?" Master Millisa asked, not very hopeful to get an answer, let alone a response.

The eleven-year-old rolled her head around and stared at Master Millisa for a few seconds before her mouth opened. "I've met him before."

Master Dilroy shared Master Millisa's shocked expression. "How is that possible? You lived with your clan up until two years ago when you came here. I can't see any possible time for the two of you to have met prior to today."

Master Rangah shrugged as she slowly stood up and headed for the door. "I've met him before," she repeated herself as she left the chamber.

Master Millisa frowned. "Master Dilroy, please assign one of the journeymen to watch Master Rangah. I fear she may be confused somehow. I need to make a report to the head guider."

Master Dilroy nodded. "Consider it done."

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"So, Master Lesher, what's your vice?" Lone asked as he, Swind and Master Lefrasburn walked through a well-decorated courtyard.

Any soul oracles that they passed cupped their hands and bowed their heads respectfully towards the three of them, but mostly just to Lone and Master Lefrasburn.

Stroking his leafy beard, Master Lefrasburn replied, "Interesting question, Master Lone. I have a particular taste for four-thousand-year-old Cunningbrew twice-distilled rum. Cunningbrew is the name of the dwarven clan that manufactures that rum... Ah, just thinking about it now is wetting my tongue." He shook his head sadly. "Such a shame that they only make a single bottle once every fifty-years."

Lone held his chin and grinned. "I see."

"And yourselves? What deeply interests you, Master Lone, Apprentice Swind?" Master Lefrasburn asked as one of his bark-encrusted eyebrows rose in curiosity.

Lone gave a casual shrug. "Magic and steamforging, particularly the latter."

"Oho, that makes sense. I was wondering why I'd never seen such intrinsic work before when I first spied Apprentice Swind's tail and arm. They aren't quite steamforged, but I can see the resemblance. It's almost uncanny," Master Lefrasburn noted as he eyed the mechanical masterpieces once again.

Lone nodded. "Good eye. It's fairy-forged, though I based the design off of my imagination for what it would look like if it was steamforged."

"Ohohoho, not only a talented soul oracle but a genius artisan to boot! Quite the man you are," Master Lefraburn said as he chuckled lightly. "And you, Apprentice Swind? What moves the impatient unknown? I really am rather curious as to what, exactly, you are."

Lone frowned lightly, but Swind answered regardless. "I like to cook and to sew. My time has been consumed recently, however, at the bedside of my... romantic partner."

Master Lefrasburn's smile faded. "The person on death's doorstep that Master Lone mentioned earlier?"

Swind sighed very softly as his arms trembled. "Yes."

"A shame, a shame indeed. Soul injuries are so unpredictable, even at the best of times," Master Lefrasburn claimed as he gently patted Swind on his fleshy shoulder. "Trust that we at the Mystopolis Soul Hall shall do our utmost to help save your friend."

Lone cut into the conversation again at this point. "She's delicate. Quite honestly, I don't want anyone fucking her up even more than she already is."

Lefrasburn wore a confused expression. "Then how, Master Lone, do you intend to save her life? On your own?"

"Yeah, exactly. On that topic, if I was to promise you fifty litres of the rum you like, would you be willing to teach me every soul skill that you know? Hell, you don't even have to teach them to me, just use them on me," Lone asked as his devilish grin returned in full force.

"Ohoho, quite the jest, Master Lone." Not thinking anything of Lone's offer, he replied in kind with, "Perhaps were you to double it, then of course, I'd be more than willing to assist you. As few skills as I know, I'd happily trade them all for so much Cunningbrew rum. Alas, no such amount exists at the proper distillation nor the correct age."

"I wonder about that," Lone muttered knowingly.

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Passive Soul Skill: Soul Oracle Detection

A very basic skill only performable by soul oracles with an ability to feel souls fifty-meters outwards from their own soul.

Allows the host to detect if another soul oracle is within range of their soul sensing capabilities. Current soul sensing range of the host: 2,713-meters.

Cost: N/A Mastery: Beginner Level 1

'So this is what Master Millisa was going on about when we first met. Definitely seems useful. If nothing else, it shows me exactly how far I can sense souls. Since Master Millisa knew I was also a master immediately, I guess that means this skill lets you tell how powerful other soul oracles are at a higher rank? Advanced or expert rank is what my money's on for that effect,' Lone thought as he was returning to the Palace of Rest alone.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Swind had gone back to The Glade and Rachel's side immediately upon them leaving the Soul Hall, while Lone didn't feel like going back to his store just for now.

Soph had been busy testing some of her powers and their limits, and Lone was hoping to give her a few new ideas that he'd gotten today regarding that.

Anyway, Lone pulled up the information of the second skill he had received after having Master Lefrasburn use it on him.

Active Soul Skill: Soul Tugging

A skill unique to soul oracles.

A soul skill that lets the host loosely grab a soul and move it a minute amount.

When used on a sentient being, there is a 5% chance that the target will move in the direction that their soul is tugged in.

Cost: 15,000 MP or SP Mastery: Beginner Level 1

Objectively useless, but again, Lone would grind the skill in hopes of a useful effect appearing in the later ranks. The more skills that he could get in regards to souls, the better. Heck, for all he knew, this could be the very skill that would go on to heal Rachel.

That was unlikely, but Lone wasn't going to overlook it just because it seemed like a waste of effort right now.

Soul Skill: Soul Rooting

A skill unique to soul oracles.

It allows the host to root souls in place. While physically unbound, when near the designated area, a rooted soul shall become stronger and more stable.

Strengthens and stabilises rooted souls by 5% when in the designated area (limited range of 1-meter-squared).

Cost: 20,000 MP or SP (30,000 MP or SP to reroot a previously rooted soul) Mastery: Beginner Level 1

Lone liked this skill a lot more than he did the other two.

It didn't heal souls, but it was very similar to Soul Binding in that it essentially anchored the soul in place. Where it differed was that Soul Binding physically bound the soul, whereas, Soul Rooting spiritually bound it.

Lone chuckled a little bit as he recalled the look on Master Lefrasburn bark-covered face when he had created so many barrels full of rum, that the room he, Swind, and the Lesher were stood in, turned out to be too small to hold them all.

'He only knew three skills, but he's still an SS-ranker as well as a respected soul oracle. I have a feeling that Soul Rooting will be amazing after a few rank-ups... I guess only time will tell at this point,' Lone concluded as he waltzed on back into Madam Cortelle's Palace of Rest.

He waved in a friendly manner to the man sat behind the reception desk before he quickly retreated to his diamond suite.

Once inside, Lone slumped down onto a couch, ordered the room's spirit to go get him some snacks and some drinks, then he contacted Sophie.

'Busy?' he asked telepathically.

'Ripping a man's molars loose from his jaw with our bare hands? Yes, we are. In general? No, not at all. Why?' Sophie replied casually.

Lone could practically imagine her yanking a tooth out of the triple-X-ranked prisoner's mouth as she wiped her blood and saliva covered hand dry with a smile on her face.

'Tag out with Eolande or Breena. I wanna experiment with Soph a bit. I got a new idea for how she could use Armour Creation,' Lone explained.

A pause reigned between the two for a few seconds before Sophie answered, 'Okay, but remember to compensate us properly tonight. As much as you may think we adore torture, we do not. Being good at something and liking it are not synonymous.'

'I know that, but I'm allowed to imagine you as this ice-queen bitch who cares for nothing or no one, aren't I? It makes me feel special since I know you're all gooey and sweet at the core,' Lone teased.

'We shall show you who is the gooey one out of the two of us tonight, that, we promise you,' Sophie said.

The next moment, a somewhat dreary-eyed Soph stumbled out of The Glade and right into a lovely bed of fluffy tails. "I missed you, my floofy kingdom..."

Lone smiled wryly as he hugged the girl that was practically salivating all over his majestic foxy limbs. "I and my tails missed you too. Although, it's only been about seven hours since this morning. What's got you all tail-sick like this?"

Soph rubbed her face against a tail as she mumbled, "No reason. I just missed you."

'How sweet,' Lone thought as he carefully moved the girl onto his lap by guiding her with his tails. "I missed you too."

"Mmm." Soph moved away from her fluffy kingdom for a moment to gently kiss Lone. "You wanted me to test my Armour Creation again?"

He nodded. "Yup. Last time, using it on the air didn't work, but my idea's a bit different this time. I want you to try to use your Armour Creation on my soul."

Soph cocked her head to one side and gave Lone a funny look. "No? Won't that really hurt you if it goes wrong? It'd be better to test on myself since I'm immortal now, or maybe a monster or animal?"

Lone clicked his tongue and wagged a finger in front of the girl's face. "No. You see, you can't use it on yourself. You may be immortal and immune to all negative effects, but your soul is splitting, so I don't want to take any unnecessary risks."

He then pressed his forehead against hers and smiled. "And if you use it on me, not some random creature, you'll be more inclined to do it right, won't you? I'm sure I'll live. I have a powerful soul. I'm confident you won't actually manifest any physical armour, so my body should be fine. Push comes to shove, I'm sure Sky will do something to keep me alive. I also always have that one chance for the god who summoned me to Altros to help me too, though I highly doubt I'll ever use that, let alone here."

"Um... Can't we just forget about Armour Creation? It's a useless skill..." Soph asked in a somewhat pleading tone.

Lone kissed her forehead in response. "None of your skills are useless. Not a single one. Even Body Manipulation that we only use for sex or to make Sophie more comfortable, I'm confident even that skill has some hidden uses that we're just not thinking of. Trust me and try to armour my soul, 'kay?"

Soph smiled. Even if she didn't believe what Lone was saying, him having so much faith in her and her skills... it warmed her heart. "O-Okay. I'll try. B-But only once! And if it works or doesn't, I get to play with your tails until at least sundown!"

"Demanding, aren't we?" Lone said with a smirk. "Sure."

"Only with you," the girl replied. Soph then closed her eyes and leaned further into Lone's welcoming embrace. Minutes passed before she finally invoked her unique skill.

"Armour Creation." It came out like a whisper, and less than a second later, Lone felt something... peculiar.

The host has received 'Soul Protection Stage 1' from the host, Soph Vladimirovich.

Effects: The host's soul will be immune to soul-based attacks for 12-hours.

"I... I got a subskill! Soul Protection!" Soph was practically bouncing on his lap in joy. "Lone! I finally got a subskill!"

Lone grinned from ear-to-ear and then cuddled her even closer. "I knew you could do it," he replied softly with pride overflowing from his tone.