The journey back to the capital was long, marked by heavy silence and the weight of Seikan’s trauma hanging over the group like a cloud. Kalsei led the way, his usual lightness tempered by the seriousness of their situation. He kept close to Seikan, offering support whenever his friend faltered, but there was a distance in Seikan’s eyes that made Kalsei uneasy. It was as though Seikan had retreated somewhere deep inside himself, where no one could reach him.

Steph walked alongside them, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. The Emberfall Highlands were treacherous, and with Seikan in his current state, they couldn’t afford any surprises. Darius took up the rear, his sword ready at his side, though the group’s focus wasn’t on fighting at the moment.

As they descended the mountain, the air grew cooler, and the harsh winds began to die down. The molten rivers were soon replaced by rolling hills and dense forests. Still, the tension between them lingered, the unspoken worry for Seikan gnawing at their minds.

"How much further to the city?" Kalsei asked, his voice breaking the silence.

Darius glanced at the horizon, where the faint silhouette of the capital could be seen. "Not far now. We’ll reach Aurelia before nightfall if we keep this pace."

Kalsei nodded, his golden eyes flicking back to Seikan, who hadn’t said a word since they left the Highlands. He was walking, but it was as if his body was moving on autopilot, his mind elsewhere. Kalsei’s heart ached to see his friend like this, so broken and vulnerable. It wasn’t like Seikan at all.

As the trees thickened, the sounds of the city began to reach them—the clatter of carts on cobblestone, the hum of voices in the distance. It was a comforting sound, a reminder that they were close to safety, but it didn’t lift the weight that had settled in Kalsei’s chest.

Finally, the walls of Aurelia loomed before them, the familiar sight of the Adventurer’s Guild just beyond. The city bustled with life, but Kalsei’s focus was entirely on Seikan.

"We’ll get you help," Kalsei said softly as they approached the gates. "The Guild has a counselor—someone who can help you process whatever happened. You don’t have to do this alone, okay?"

Seikan didn’t respond, but his eyes flickered toward Kalsei for the briefest of moments. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for Kalsei to take as a sign that his friend was still in there somewhere.

As they entered the city, the familiar sounds of merchants hawking their wares and adventurers swapping tales of their quests filled the air. It was a stark contrast to the silence that had accompanied them for so long. Kalsei led the way through the streets, his mind racing with thoughts of how to help Seikan.

When they reached the Adventurer’s Guild, Kalsei wasted no time. He approached the counter, where the receptionist greeted them with a warm smile. "Welcome back! I see you’ve returned from the Highlands. Do you need to report a mission?"

"Not right now," Kalsei replied, his tone more serious than usual. "We need to speak to the Guild’s counselor. It’s urgent."

The receptionist’s smile faltered as she glanced over at Seikan, who stood silently behind Kalsei. "Of course. I’ll notify the counselor right away. Please, take a seat."

The group moved to one of the waiting areas, but Kalsei remained standing, too anxious to sit. Steph sat beside Seikan, her dark eyes watching him closely. Darius leaned against a nearby wall, his arms crossed as he observed the scene in silence.

Moments later, a tall, soft-spoken man with graying hair and a calm demeanor entered the room. His eyes were kind, but there was an unsettling air about him—something Kalsei couldn’t quite put his finger on. The man wore simple robes, the Guild’s emblem stitched onto the sleeve. He smiled as he approached.

"You must be Seikan," the man said, his voice gentle, almost soothing. "I’m Counselor Morlin. The Guild informed me that you might need some help. I’m here to listen, whenever you’re ready."

Seikan’s eyes remained downcast, but Kalsei stepped forward. "He’s been through something terrible," Kalsei explained. "We don’t know all the details, but he needs someone to talk to. Someone who can help him process everything."

Counselor Morlin nodded, his expression understanding. "Of course. Seikan, would you like to come with me to a quieter room? We can talk privately."

Seikan hesitated, glancing at Kalsei. There was uncertainty in his eyes, but Kalsei gave him a reassuring nod. "It’s okay," Kalsei said softly. "You don’t have to go through this alone."

After a long pause, Seikan finally nodded, though his movements were slow, almost robotic. Morlin smiled gently. "Follow me, then. We’ll find a quiet place where we can talk."

As Seikan stood, Morlin led him through a side door, leaving Kalsei, Steph, and Darius behind in the waiting area. Kalsei felt a pang of anxiety as he watched them go, but he forced himself to stay calm. Seikan was in good hands now. At least, that’s what Kalsei hoped.

The room Counselor Morlin led Seikan to was quiet, with soft, ambient lighting and comfortable chairs arranged in a circle. It was the kind of room designed to make people feel at ease, but Seikan couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that clung to him like a second skin.

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Morlin gestured for Seikan to sit, and he did so, his hands resting in his lap, his gaze distant. Morlin took a seat across from him, his movements calm and measured.

"Seikan," Morlin began, his voice smooth as silk. "I know you’ve been through something difficult, but you’re safe here. No one can hurt you now."

Seikan’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t speak. His mind was still trapped in the horrors he had endured, the shadows that whispered in his ears, the chains that had bound him in darkness.

"You’re carrying a heavy burden," Morlin continued, his tone soft but steady. "I can help you, but only if you let me. Tell me what happened."

For a long moment, Seikan remained silent, his mind torn between the present and the nightmare he had lived. But something about Morlin’s voice was… compelling. It tugged at the edges of his consciousness, drawing him in, making him want to speak, to trust.

"I… don’t remember all of it," Seikan finally whispered, his voice fragile. "They… they took me. Used magic to break me. I couldn’t… I couldn’t fight back."

Morlin nodded, his expression sympathetic. "You must have been very strong to survive. Not many could have endured what you did."

Seikan swallowed hard, his throat dry. "It felt like I was… losing myself. They wanted to control me. To use my magic. But I fought. I fought as hard as I could."

"You did fight," Morlin agreed, his voice soothing. "But it’s okay to let go now. You don’t have to fight anymore."

Seikan blinked, confusion flickering across his face. "Let go?"

Morlin leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto Seikan’s. "Yes. You’ve been carrying this burden for so long. It’s exhausting, isn’t it? The constant struggle. The fear. But you don’t have to bear it alone. Let me help you. Trust me, Seikan."

There was something in Morlin’s voice, something subtle and insistent. It slipped into Seikan’s mind like a whisper, curling around his thoughts, soothing the raw edges of his fear and pain.

"You don’t need to fight anymore," Morlin repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "Let me take the weight from you. Let me guide you."

Seikan’s breathing slowed, his mind clouded by Morlin’s words. He felt a strange calm settle over him, dulling the edges of his trauma. The fear was still there, but it felt distant, like a fading memory.

"Yes…" Seikan whispered, his voice hollow. "I… I don’t want to fight anymore."

Morlin smiled, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Good. Very good, Seikan. You’re doing the right thing. Trust in me, and I will guide you to peace."

Back in the waiting room, Kalsei paced nervously, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a deep sense of worry. He hated waiting, especially when it came to his friends. Seikan had been through so much, and Kalsei felt helpless not knowing how to fix it.

"He’s in there with a professional," Darius said, trying to offer some reassurance. "Seikan’s tough. He’ll get through this."

"I know," Kalsei muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I just wish I could do more. He’s like a brother to me, you know?"

Steph, sitting nearby with her staff resting against her shoulder, nodded. "Seikan’s always been the strong one, the one who’s in control. Seeing him like this…" She trailed off, her brow furrowing. "It’s hard to watch."

Kalsei sighed, his eyes drifting to the door where Seikan had been led away. "Yeah, it’s hard. I just want him back, you know? The real him. Not this... broken version of Seikan."

Steph nodded, her dark eyes filled with concern. "He’s still in there, Kalsei. It’ll take time, but he’ll come back to us. We just have to be patient."

Darius leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "We’ve all been through tough times, but Seikan’s made of stronger stuff than most. Whatever happened, we’ll get through it as a team."

Kalsei stopped pacing and looked at his friends, their quiet confidence giving him some reassurance. He let out a long breath and sat down beside them. "Yeah, you’re right. We’ll help him however we can."

The minutes stretched into what felt like hours as they waited, the silence in the room growing heavier with each passing moment. Kalsei’s knee bounced anxiously, and he found himself staring at the door again, willing Seikan to walk through it.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open, and Counselor Morlin stepped out. His expression was calm, his posture relaxed. "Seikan is resting for now," he said, his voice gentle. "We had a good conversation, but he’s still processing a lot of what happened. It’s going to take some time, but he’s starting to open up."

Kalsei immediately stood up, his concern etched into every line of his face. "Can we see him?"

Morlin smiled reassuringly. "He’s in no immediate danger, but he’s exhausted—physically and mentally. I’ve advised him to rest for a while, and I’ll continue our sessions over the coming days. Right now, he needs time to recover."

Kalsei clenched his fists at his sides, fighting the urge to push for more. He wanted to know what Seikan had said, what exactly had happened to him, but he knew this wasn’t the time. "Okay. Thanks for helping him," he said, though his tone was tight with worry.

Morlin gave him a sympathetic nod. "It’s my job to help, Kalsei. And I assure you, we’ll do everything we can to support Seikan during his recovery."

As Morlin turned to leave, Steph stood, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched the counselor walk away. "Something feels... off about him," she muttered under her breath.

Kalsei glanced at her, frowning. "What do you mean? He’s just doing his job."

Steph shrugged, her gaze still lingering on the doorway. "Maybe I’m just being paranoid. It’s probably nothing."

Darius raised an eyebrow. "With everything we’ve been through lately, a little paranoia might not be a bad thing."

Kalsei didn’t respond, his thoughts already returning to Seikan. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to all of this—something they weren’t seeing yet. But for now, they had to trust the Guild’s process. Seikan was safe, at least for the moment, and that was the most important thing.

In the following days, Seikan remained under Morlin’s care, attending counseling sessions at the Guild. Kalsei and the others kept busy with minor quests, but the weight of Seikan’s absence hung over them. Kalsei, ever the optimist, tried to keep his spirits up, but it was clear to Steph and Darius that the situation was wearing on him.

One afternoon, after returning from a particularly uneventful quest, Kalsei found Seikan sitting alone in one of the Guild’s gardens. The usual sharpness in Seikan’s eyes was still missing, replaced by a quiet resignation. He looked smaller somehow, as if the weight of his trauma had shrunk him.

Kalsei sat down beside him, his voice gentle. "How are you holding up?"

Seikan didn’t answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the flowers swaying gently in the breeze. "I don’t know," he said finally, his voice quiet and distant. "It’s hard to explain. I feel like... I’m not myself anymore."

Kalsei’s heart ached at the words. "You’re still you, Seikan. You’re just... going through something really tough. But you’ll get through it. We’re here for you, no matter what."

Seikan’s lips twitched into a faint, humorless smile. "I wish I could believe that."

Before Kalsei could respond, Counselor Morlin appeared, his calm presence slipping into the conversation as easily as if he’d been there the whole time. "Seikan, it’s time for our session," he said, his voice warm but insistent.

Seikan stood without hesitation, his movements mechanical. Kalsei watched as his friend walked away with Morlin, a deep sense of unease gnawing at him. Something was wrong. He could feel it in his bones.

The counseling sessions continued, each one leaving Seikan a little quieter, a little more withdrawn. Kalsei noticed the change, though it was subtle. Seikan was becoming more obedient, following Morlin’s suggestions without question. At first, Kalsei chalked it up to the healing process, but soon it became clear that something darker was at play.

One evening, after Seikan returned from another session, Kalsei finally confronted him. "Seikan, what’s going on? You’re... different."

Seikan’s expression was unreadable, his voice flat. "I’m just trying to do what’s right. Morlin says I need to let go of the past, to stop fighting so hard."

Kalsei’s eyes narrowed. "Let go? Seikan, you’re the strongest person I know. This isn’t like you."

Seikan’s gaze flickered with something Kalsei couldn’t quite place—an almost haunted look. "Maybe I don’t want to be strong anymore. Maybe I just want peace."

Kalsei’s heart raced as a chill settled over him. He could see it now—the subtle manipulation, the way Morlin’s words had crept into Seikan’s mind like poison. This wasn’t healing. This was something else entirely.

"Seikan, listen to me," Kalsei said, his voice urgent. "Morlin’s not what he seems. He’s—"

Seikan cut him off, his voice cold. "No, Kalsei. You don’t understand. Morlin is helping me. He’s the only one who understands what I’ve been through."

Kalsei’s blood ran cold as he realized just how deep Morlin’s influence had taken root. His friend was slipping away from him, and if they didn’t act soon, they might lose him for good.

Determined to save Seikan from whatever darkness was manipulating him, Kalsei made a silent vow: he would find a way to break Morlin’s hold on his friend, no matter what it took.

But for now, all he could do was watch and wait—hoping that Seikan’s true self would break free before it was too late.