Alexander, standing at the feet of the trio, watched the process of transfer of souls that took place between Ivan and Sofia. Andrei, meanwhile, stood nearby and waited. The very process of transferring the energy of the soul was similar to the play of silver threads, framed by flames, emanating from Ivan’s chest and woven into Sofia’s chest. When the action was over, it was Andrey's turn. This process seemed almost mystical and sacred.

Alexander, in his hare form, felt a little left out.

- Yes, I did it all! They didn’t even share... What kind of people are they, they don’t value animals at all... - he muttered to himself.

His disappointment was understandable, because it was he who played the key role in defeating the Man Without Skin and he could have done it without Ivan’s help.

As soon as the procedure for transferring souls was completed, Sofia, sensing the little hero’s dissatisfaction, gently took him in her arms.

- Don’t be sad, Businka, you are our hero. - she whispered tenderly, stroking his soft fur. Despite the loss of her arm, which had already recovered, and the torment she had experienced, a smile appeared on her face, full of gratitude and affection for the little hare.

Alexander, in his animal form, sat comfortably in Sofia’s palms, sadly lowering his head on her thumb. Sofia thought for a moment, and then said quietly:

- You probably want to eat... So, what can I give you... There is no grass here anymore, only bushes... - the trio was just crossing a mountain pass on which not a single blade of grass was visible. - Although, wait. You're not a simple bunny, and grass won't suit you. You love souls too, right? Do the people of the Edge love souls?

Alexander could not help but react to these words and raised his head. Sofia laughed seeing his reaction.

- You should have talked to us there like you did to this big-eared one! - Ivan grumbled, but his tone was more friendly than serious. The girl just stuck her tongue out at him, returning all her attention to the bunny.

- Okay, my little one. Let's try as he taught... - Sofia concentrated, then directed part of her soul to her thumb. The flash of silver smoke made Alexander tense, because he knew how powerful this energy could be. He himself cut trees and stones in this way, not to mention living beings.

- What are you doing, Businka? Eat... - Sofia expected the animal’s reaction with bated breath.

Alexander, although cautious, still decided to take a risk. Having said goodbye to everyone he knew and prepared for possible pain, he carefully opened his mouth and began to suck in silver smoke, which easily obeyed and entered his body. He felt a full soul move into his vault, bringing relief and satisfaction that his labors had finally been rewarded.

Absorbing the energy, Alexander became so carried away that he began to suck Sophia's finger, trying to extract as much power from it as possible. Sofia, feeling tickled by his efforts, could not help but laugh.

- It’s ticklish, Businka. Okay, that's enough for now, we're watching our diet, right? - she said, stopping the flow of energy. Alexander was still trying to draw out the last drops of strength, but, realizing that there was nothing left, he pulled away.

Sitting in Sofia's palm, Alexander realized the strangeness of the situation.

- How low have I fallen that I suck my finger to gain strength... Someone else's finger... - he thought with sarcasm. But then he reminded himself of his goal: - Okay, it doesn't matter. This is a girl and is that shameful? The main thing is that I have two whole souls in the bins, and I can already work with this.

He decided to begin the process of restoring his soul. Taking half of his current resource - one soul - he sent it to the very center of his weakened, barely alive soul. Feeding his soul to a stranger, he quickly discovered that his soul had consumed everything he offered it, leaving nothing behind.

- Too gluttonous! - he was indignant, noticing the absence of any changes. - I will never feed you!

He continued to grumble within himself. However, despite his dissatisfaction, deep down he knew that every step, every action brought him closer to his goal of regaining his true form and strength.

Alexander, still thinking about the injustice of life, suddenly felt Andrei approach Sofia and pat him on the head.

- He's hungry with you. Can I feed him? - asked Andrey.

Alexander the Hare, listening warily, raised his head to Andrey, happily thinking:

- Well, basically, if I control myself, then I definitely won’t suck anything from him! I’ll just absorb the souls and that’s it! - he nodded confidently to himself, preparing to take souls, but instead Andrei took out a clover and placed it in front of the hare.

- I picked it for him there in the valley. How he knew that it would be difficult to find food for him in other places.

Disappointed and a little offended by his mistake, Alexander tossed the greens from Sofia’s palm and turned away from the guy. Sofia couldn't help but laugh:

- He’s a resident of the Border, what grass, souls, everything here is measured in souls.

- Hm, well, I wanted the best, sorry. - Andrei said awkwardly, stepping aside. Sofia affectionately patted the furry animal on the head, comforting him:

- Don't be offended by him, he's caring.

Meanwhile, the trio, together with Alexander, crossed the mountain pass and reached the sand dunes. There the guys discovered the remains of ancient temples and buildings of antiquity buried in the sand. The sands of time had noticeably affected these structures, leaving only dilapidated ruins that still contained echoes of past greatness.

Stone columns, dilapidated frescoes and fragments of marble spoke about the former power and beauty of these places. The wind, rushing between sand dunes and the remains of architectural masterpieces, created sounds reminiscent of the whispers of the past.

In this area one could sometimes meet other people, mostly the Dead, lost in appearance. There were also calls from portals leading to the real world.

- I don't feel anything anymore. The flashes clearly came from here, but now there is silence... - Andrei stated, examining the surroundings.

Alexander, watching him, thought:

- It's strange, apparently he has a scanning skill that he uses constantly. And he doesn't seem to know that the gifts don't work all the time and require recharging over time. He mistakenly thinks that the trail is disappearing... What a fool!

- We still have a couple of hours, we can explore the ruins, maybe we’ll find something useful there. - Ivan suggested. Sophia and Andrey agreed with his thoughts and went to the nearest ruins.

Approaching the ruins of some unknown object, where near one of the sides there was a gap leading into deep darkness, Alexander discovered ashes around, which the guys, absorbed in curiosity, did not notice. The man trapped in the hare's body immediately remembered his meeting with the Hell Hound and realized that this was her lair.

- This is the lair of the Hellhound. Stop, you fools! Danger is there! - he tried to warn his companions, fidgeting in Sofia’s palms and emitting alarming squeaks. Sofia, looking at him, understood his excitement:

- You shouldn’t go there, otherwise you never know...

She tried to put the hare on the ground at the entrance, but Alexander, realizing the danger, persistently tried to attract her attention, clinging to her pant leg with his teeth.

- Well, I can’t hold you in my arms, I need them. Yes, and I can accidentally freeze you... - she explained. But Alexander was persistent. The girl took him in her arms and brought him to her face, looking into his muzzle. She wanted to say words of consolation, but unexpectedly, he jumped on Sofia’s shoulder, tightly grabbing her neck.

- What kind of stupid thing is that?! I'm trying to save her, and she... Okay, I've got your back! - he decided.

- Okay, Businka, but hold on tight! If you fall, I will only pick you up when we finish the inspection. - said Sofia, realizing that the bunny was worried about their safety. She already realized that the animal was very smart.

- Let's go down! - Ivan commanded, and they began a careful descent into the hole. During the descent, every step was filled with tension and anticipation of the unknown. Alexander, sitting on Sofia’s shoulder, felt her every movement and was ready to help at any moment, using his experience and skills for protection, although with only one soul he could use little.

Descending into the depths of the ruins of the mansion, the trio felt the atmosphere of a bygone grandeur. The layout of the building has been partially preserved, allowing them to imagine the appearance of the building during its prosperity. The dilapidated walls were covered with layers of ash, giving them a ghostly appearance. The fragments of stone and ceilings scattered everywhere created the feeling that time had stopped here.

They examined the available rooms, but found only emptiness and objects forgotten for centuries. Dust and ash covered everything around, hiding the stories of the past. In some rooms, remains of furniture have been preserved, hinting at the former luxury and wealth of the owners.

Finally, they came to a small corridor that led to chambers that apparently belonged to an influential person. This was confirmed by the remains of luxury items, paintings and a large amount of ash that crunched underfoot. It was dark in the chambers, and only the glow of Ivan’s hemisphere in front of him illuminated the way.

Stolen novel; please report.

The air was filled with silence and the invisible presence of history that once unfolded between these walls. Alexander, sitting on Sofia’s shoulder, carefully examined the surroundings, ready at any moment to warn of possible danger.

The group entered a spacious but abandoned room in the mansion, where every step caused an echo to bounce off the dilapidated walls. This room, once perhaps a magnificent hall, was now shrouded in the veil of time and oblivion. The high ceilings are hidden in darkness, and the walls are decorated with the remains of luxurious but dilapidated frescoes and tapestries that have lost their colors and shapes under a layer of ash and dust.

In the corner of the room, among the rubble and ruins, lay scattered household and cultural objects, recalling the past greatness of this place. The light from Ivan's hemisphere reflected off the polished stones of the floor, creating ominous shadows on the walls.

Ivan, leading the group, muttered to himself in irritation:

- Even if you poke out your eyes, you can’t see anything. - his eyes intensely scanned the space in front of him in an attempt to discover something valuable.

Andrei followed, remaining calm and listening carefully to the surrounding silence:

- While everything is quiet, I don’t feel anything. No bursts of energy. - he said softly, confirming the absence of immediate danger.

- Guys, this is a gift!

In this dim atmosphere, Sofia discovered the object of their search - a whitish skull pierced by rusty pins. This gloomy artifact, resting among the remains of forgotten luxury, immediately attracted the attention of the entire group. Ivan, hearing Sofia’s exclamation, approached her, illuminating the found object with his light.

- Finally! A worthwhile find! - his voice sounded excited. The three of them grouped around the skull, momentarily forgetting the necessary vigilance in this room. But Alexander, being on Sofia’s shoulder, noticed movement near the opposite wall. From there, slowly and menacingly, the figure of the Hellhound separated - a monstrous creature with a powerful body covered with black fur and bone growths on the neck. The hound's burning coal eyes and sharp fangs promised a mortal threat.

Alexander realized that the Hound was focused on him, and he became its main target. The monster clearly had the beginnings of intelligence and he understood who had now seen him and who should be eliminated first. And given Alexander’s difficult experience in the battle with the Hound, the young man was sure that he would be killed, and the group would not even notice it. Her sneak attack skills were too specific.

With one soul left, Alexander decided to be proactive. By manipulating this soul, he began to form a shield within his soul, inspired by Ivan's skill. He had to work quickly, because he had less than two seconds. The soul inside took the form of a hemisphere, compressed and ready to expand at any moment.

When the hound abruptly took off, Alexander released the hemisphere of his soul in front of him. The shield's bright light illuminated the room, meeting the monster's attack. The clash of skills made a loud sound and the room was filled with light and energy.

In that moment, when Alexander released his soul shield, he could not have imagined what the result of the clash with the Hell Hound would be. The Bunny, taking some of the damage from the collision with the shield, flew to the side, while the Hound was thrown in the other direction, destroying part of its bone collar as it fell.

- Bead! - Sofia exclaimed, not yet fully understanding the situation. She looked at the hare lying motionless with concern and fear. At the same time, Ivan, quickly understanding the situation, showed decisiveness, focusing on the Hell Hound, which had not yet recovered from the blow. He pushed his comrades away and, taking a few quick steps, hit the lying monster with the hemisphere.

At this time, both Sofia and Andrey came to their senses. Sofia ran up to the Hound and dealt a powerful blow to her with a wave of cold, freezing her in place, while Ivan was already preparing a new attack. He took a step back and with a sharp jerk created another small hemisphere and hit it, ultimately destroying the monster.

- How little energy this creature brought! - Ivan was indignant, examining the remains of the hound. Andrey, in turn, felt a wave of energy around him, thinking that this monster was blocking his abilities. And now that he was dead, he was able to feel the energy.

- Two more are in the corridor, running here! - he shouted. Ivan, realizing this, began to pick up speed, heading into the corridor. The greater his speed, the stronger his hemisphere became.

Meanwhile, Sofia ran up to the bunny, who was lying motionless. His barely noticeable breathing indicated that he was still alive. She carefully picked him up and quickly handed him over to Andrey.

- Take care of him! - She said before running after Ivan into the hallway.

Andrey, holding the fluffy animal, felt a wave of responsibility for the creature that had already helped him twice. He looked at the little hero, realizing that now his task was to save the life of this brave beast. He sheltered Alexander from the cold and danger, while a new battle was unfolding in the corridor, which Alexander would not know about.

Ivan burst into the corridor and came face to face with two Hell Hounds. Huge, evil creatures with shining red eyes and long sharp fangs were ready for battle. Ivan, full of determination, immediately entered the fray. His hemisphere of energy generated by his body emitted a powerful glow, illuminating the narrow corridor.

With each step Ivan increased the intensity of his shield, creating an almost impenetrable barrier around himself. He made sharp thrusts, each aimed at weakening the hounds while trying to avoid their deadly bites and scratches.

Ten tense seconds later, Sofia ran into the corridor. Immediately assessing the situation, she concentrated her energies on creating powerful waves of cold. Her ability to freeze opponents has proven extremely effective against hounds. One of the hounds fell under her ice attack and instantly froze in place, becoming an easy target for Ivan.

While one hound was killed, the other continued its ferocious attack. Ivan and Sofia worked well together using a combination of their skills. Ivan created protective barriers and attacked with powerful blows, while Sofia supported him, using her freezing abilities to slow down and weaken the second Hound.

Together, they were able to defeat the second Hound, which, under constant onslaught of attacks, finally fell lifeless to the floor of the corridor. Ivan and Sofia, catching their breath after the battle, looked around to make sure that there were no more enemies around.

There was a tense atmosphere in the corridor where the fight had just broken out. Ivan, peering into the ashes of the Hell Hounds, was perplexed:

- Very little energy from them! Strange... - his thoughts were focused on this strangeness.

At this time, Andrei approached them, tenderly pressing a white hare to his chest. Ivan glanced at him and thought. At that time, Sophia came up and stroked the animal.

“He saved us... And he used my skill for this...” Ivan said thoughtfully, beginning to realize what was there in the room. - How did he do it?

Sofia carefully took the hare from Andrei’s hands and affectionately stroked its soft fur. Tears appeared in her eyes.

- The bead saved us... My little one. I won't give it to anyone. He helps us, he saves us. He's part of our team, guys. And if you think that after all this, I’ll leave him, as you suggested, Vanya, then that’s not the case!

Ivan hesitated, looking away. Andrei, looking at Sofia, asked a question that was in the air:

- Yes, but what do you plan to do next, Sophia? I took the gift, and time is almost up. We must return to the real world, but he will remain here. And when we return, we will find ourselves in a completely unknown place. There is a chance that you will never see him again after this.

Sofia, holding the bunny in her hands, felt a deep connection with the small animal, which became more than just a companion for her in this mysterious world. She was determined in her intention to protect him at all costs.

- And I took it, just as you took the gift, so I will take it too. I’ll wrap it in my soul and consume it! - she said firmly, ready to make any sacrifice to save Alexander.

Andrey looked at her carefully:

- And you won’t release it in the real world? You’ll wait until you return to the Edge, right? Regardless of how long we are locked at the base. Yes? - his gaze was full of seriousness, and he looked for sincerity in her eyes.

Sofia answered with some regret:

- Yes, I’ll release him later in Grani. He won't appear in reality. - Her shoulders sagged, as if under the weight of this decision, but she knew that this was the only way to keep Alexander safe. And to be more precise, with her, next to her.

- Agreed. Come on, Sophia, hurry up, we still need to clear the portals of the Dead! - Ivan interrupted them, deciding that it was time to act.

Sophia looked at the peacefully breathing hare, and pain flashed in her eyes. She closed her eyes, concentrated, and summoned her spiritual strength. The energy slowly enveloped Alexander, creating a strong cocoon before absorbing him into her chest. It was an act of protection and affection, indicating a deep connection between them.

- Well, are you ready? - Andrei asked when the process was completed. Sofia nodded in response, and together they set off to exit the ruins.