“What do I do?”

“It’s simple. Allow Gaia to enter your soul world.” Terra explained. “Then, when you summon your soul back to your body, it will bring Gaia into Twilight. She’ll be able to temporarily weaken Twilight, and allow you to be pulled out of her lore. What happens next is on Master. I believe Master will be able to call my soul and Garnet’s souls back to our bodies though.”

I was able to reason out the risk of what she was asking me. Anything that entered my soul world had the potential to damage or even destroy my soul. There was a certain level of trust before I allowed anyone in there. If I let someone in there that wished me harm, they could cause it. Especially if they were Gaia. By letting her into my soul world, she could destroy me completely. If she saw me as a threat, which as a dungeon master, she absolutely could, this was a problem. There was just one thing…

“The king is planning on attacking Twilight by igniting my soul. Isn’t this in Gaia’s best interest? Why would she help me escape?”

Terra thought about it for a moment. “I cannot say that I understand everything that Gaia wants. She’s not a person. She is more an amalgamation of life. She’s a billion thoughts collected into a stream of knowledge. However, I believe that she believes in you. It was no accident we found each other, and I became your slave. Gaia had wanted such a meeting.”

“Is… she the one who brought me here?” I asked.

After recovering Shao, I had asked about that disk, My Dungeon Life. That’s when she revealed it had been some kind of magical transport that was developed to activate upon use. She said that the disk had turned to dust as soon as she picked it up, so there was no getting more information. I did wonder just who had planted that disk in my room, or was it even intended for me. It might make sense if I was brought there by Gaia.

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“I’m not sure.”

“Will she accept the Soul Forging skill? What about the demons?” I demanded.

Terra smiled gently, lifting her hands. “I’m sorry. I was only able to connect like that briefly. I might be able to do it again when I grow stronger. I just don’t know, Master. All I know is what Gaia chooses to share with me. I won’t ask you to trust her completely, but she has kept me from being absorbed by Twilight for these months, and I believe she does want to help Master now.”

I frowned for a moment, but I knew that in the end, I would have to make a decision. As for my decision, I would never turn my back on Terra, so there wasn’t one. I didn’t trust Gaia, but I did trust Terra. She would never allow something to happen that would hurt me.

“Fine… I will accept her entry into my soul, and then summon it.” I declared, and then coughed awkwardly. “Um, how do I do that?”

“That part is simple.” Terra giggled. “As her avatar, I will act as a conduit. When you restore our slave bond, it will give her a pathway to your soul.”

“Hmph… as if I was planning to leave here without bonding you.” I took several steps forward and grabbed Terra in my arms.

She looked up at me and smiled. “I’ll see Master shortly. I’ve missed you so much.”

“Terra, I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Our lips met, and I began to Enslave her, taking her bond and reforging our connection once again. There was a bright light, and when it all faded, my eyes opened to find myself standing in the strange Library with Twilight once again.

{The soul lore is now a part of you. You have gained the Soul Forging Blessing.}

{For earning lore, you have gained 10 dungeon points.}

{You have an increased affinity with souls. You can more easily bind and shape souls.}

{Dark Priest has increased by ten levels.}

{Dungeon Builder has increased by ten levels.}

{Necromancer has increased by ten levels.}

{For mastering the soul, you have unlocked the job, Soulsmith.}

The seventh gong had begun to ring.