Safi walked dazedly towards the structure, atop sat a small crystal ball with a smoky substance floating aimlessly around.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Give it a guess,” I replied.

“I feel attached to it, so maybe something to do with creatures,” she said, maintaining her captivated gaze.

“Rather than having to do with a creature, it would be more accurate to say it is a creature.”

“You really have expensive tastes,” laughed Teteli. “Having said that, our sect is not exactly equipped to utilise that. So I’d be more than happy to let it go.”

“Can either of you stop being so darn cryptic and tell me what it is,” said Safi angrily.

“It’s the trapped soul of a powerful creature,” I said, relieving her of her frustrations.

“Trapped?” she asked, suddenly feeling sorry for the floating soul.

“More like dormant,” I corrected myself.

“For what purpose?” asked Safi, this time Teteli replied.

“Power, of course,” she answered. Safi’s eyes gleamed as she grasped the orb.

“I think I’d like to take this,” she said with certainty.

“And I would love to give it to you,” said Teteli. “Only, I would recommend keeping it very secret, perhaps hiding it in Sen’o’s ring would be prudent for the time being. At least until you find a master that you trust that can help you to integrate with it.”

Safi handed the orb to me whilst shooting me a meaningful look, she was telling me to hurry up and teach her how to use it. I smiled awkwardly and turned to Teteli.

“In that case, I believe us to be even,” I said.

“I’m afraid not, I will be indefinitely indebted to the both of you, your life is worth far more than a couple of treasures but, it is all I can do for now.”

“Well, we appreciate it nonetheless,” said Safi to which I nodded in agreement.

“Alright, enough of this accursed place, I need to notify the sect of our discovery, and you should continue with your journey…” said Teteli as she strolled towards the exit.

We found ourselves quickly back at her cabin and ready to part ways. After sharing the location of her sect and inviting us to visit, we shared farewells before departing. She helpfully provided some food for the journey that I kept stored in my dimensional treasure.

The grass was almost revealed under our footprints as we crunched through the light snow. The cabin soon lost from view, hidden behind the dense foliage of the forest. I was eager to leave the habitat but I was worried whether Safi could maintain pace.

For some reason, she had a fire in her belly and throughout the two days it took to clear the forest, she walked ahead of me for the majority and pushed herself in our daily exercise sessions with a vigour I’d never seen her display.

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I could only assume our dramatic meeting with Teteli’s sect matriarch had done more of a number on her than I had thought. I did not ask her about it though, her ambition and renewed determination were plain as day and I was not about to stand in the way of healthy motivation.

“You there!” someone shouted. We were walking along a relatively well-used path now. We had passed a village already and the traffic increase hinted that there was a larger settlement ahead of us.

The man was sitting on a blanket alongside trinkets and figurines. “Genuine features from the kingdom of the seven betrayers, you won’t regret your purchase.”

I studied his wares, they appeared to be standard carvings at first glance, upon closer examination I noticed something intriguing.

“Can you tell me again where you found these?” I asked the man who was surprised to have gained my interest.

“The kingdom of the seven betrayers, West of Runne. It is a mystical place, despite the common chatter,” he said scathingly.

“Not many people believe in such a tale,” said Safi.

“It’s not a popular tale to believe in, considering the sects in charge of Runne were those that were betrayed.”

“And yet, here you are peddling trinkets, boldly bellowing their origins,” I said skeptically.

“Look,” he said exasperatedly, “are you going to buy anything or not?”

“I’m not,” I said.

“Then be off with you,” he said with a wave of his hand.

Safi and I walked away from him, continuing down the road towards Runne. The final stop before Gutura.

“What was he blathering on about?” I asked Safi.

“It’s an old tale based in Runne, it’s quite obscure which is probably why he hasn’t sold much. Why? Would you like to give it a visit?” she asked.

“Not at the moment.”

“Why not?”

“I’d like to get a little more powerful before we start exploring any ominous-sounding places,” I said. She nodded her head in understanding and agreement.

“So, next stop is Gutura?” she asked.

“Well, we don’t need to stop in Runne thanks to Teteli’s supplies.”

“Then let’s not. The sooner we join a sect, the better,” she said. I rubbed my chin awkwardly, finally convinced that we might have to talk about her hastiness before it turns into recklessness.

“Hey, Safi.” I began, she turned her head to look at me expectantly. “In the tomb…” I tried to say something but she hushed me.

“I’m alright, I’m just anxious,” she admitted. “And maybe a little angry.”

“Where is that anger directed?”

“Myself, for underestimating this journey, for my helplessness, for my inaction.”

“It’s because you’re lacking something.”

“Power.” she answered with confidence.

“Control,” I corrected. “While you work on gaining control, you can rely on me.”

“You must know that saying I have to rely on you only makes me angrier.”

“I do, but this arrangement is out of your control,” I said. She looked at me with a frown. “For the time being at least, It doesn’t take a genius to understand you don’t like relying on people.”

“I can make exceptions if you help me integrate with the creature’s soul.”

“That’s not something you have the power to negotiate with, considering it’s in my ring.”

“It was my present,” she harrumphed. “What exactly is stopping me?”

“Without a soul base, the creature's soul would take over your body, your soul kicked to the side and relegated to a powerless observer in your own body.

“So when I get my soul base?”

“I’ll help you integrate it.”

“Then I will reluctantly rely on you for the time being.”

“And you won’t push yourself too hard, rest is just as important as work,” I lectured. She looked hesitant but eventually nodded her confirmation. “Then we’ll skip Runne,” I said to her delight.

“Onwards, to Gutura then!” she exclaimed.