Orin pondered whether Merlin's grimoire might hold any information about Souleaters and began flipping through its ancient pages. To his surprise, he discovered a spell for summoning one, revealing that Merlin had done so once before. The grimoire recounted how Merlin, alongside Viviane, had summoned a Souleater and struck a perilous deal with the demon. The pact had come at a terrible cost—Merlin's grief after Viviane's death had driven him to the brink of madness, a consequence of their dark bargain. As Orin and Lysandra read these harrowing words, they felt a deep sense of unease, yet they knew the risks were necessary. Orin shivered at the thought of what the Souleater would ask and do. He understood that the summoning of a Souleater was a risk, but it was a risk they had to take. Tio’s life depended on it. He closed the grimoire with a decisive thud and turned to Lysandra, who watched him with a mixture of apprehension and resolve. "We have to do this," Orin said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his insides. "We need to summon the Souleater."

The room was prepared with meticulous care. Orin and Lysandra had drawn the summoning circle with precision, marking the floor with ancient symbols and runes and arranging candles at each of the cardinal points. The air was thick with anticipation and the scent of burning sage, a protective measure against whatever might cross the boundary of their world. Orin stood in the center of the circle, his heart pounding in his chest as he recited the incantation from Merlin's grimoire. Lysandra chanted alongside him, their voices weaving together in a harmonic resonance that made the air hum with power.

As the final word left Orin’s lips, a chill swept through the room, extinguishing the candles in a sudden rush of cold air. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, from within the circle, a soft glow began to emanate, growing brighter until it was almost blinding. When the light faded, a figure stood before them—not the dark, shadowy demon they had expected, but a girl. She looked no older than sixteen, with pale skin, dark hair cascading over her shoulders, and red eyes that shimmered with an otherworldly light. "Cassy," she introduced herself with a nonchalant shrug as if her sudden appearance was the most natural thing in the world.

Orin and Lysandra exchanged a quick glance of surprise before Orin stepped forward. "We summoned you because we need your help," he began, his voice cautious but firm. "Our friend, Tio, his soul has been damaged, torn apart by a Soultwister. We need you to fix it." Cassy tilted her head, her expression unreadable as she considered the request. Without a word, she stepped out of the circle, her bare feet making no sound on the cold floor as she approached Tio's unconscious form. Huter, who had been standing guard over Tio, moved to block her path, his stance defensive. "I need to see what I’m dealing with," Cassy said, her voice carrying a note of impatience. "Let me touch him, or there’s nothing I can do."

The three friends hesitated, their uncertainty palpable. But they knew they had no other choice. Orin nodded, and Huter reluctantly stepped aside. Cassy knelt beside Tio, her delicate hand hovering over his forehead before she pressed her fingers gently against his skin. The moment she made contact, her body jerked back as if she had been struck, a look of horror flashing across her face. "Who did this?" she demanded, her voice sharp with disbelief. "This is forbidden. Your friend’s soul has been torn apart, a piece of it ripped away. This… this is against all the magic laws."

The room fell silent, the weight of Cassy's words hanging heavily in the air. Huter’s face crumpled as tears welled up in his eyes, the reality of Tio’s condition hitting him with full force. Lysandra stood frozen in shock, unable to comprehend the extent of the damage inflicted on their friend. Orin, his desperation mounting, stepped forward, his voice trembling as he asked, "Can you fix it? Is there any way to make him whole again?" Cassy’s gaze softened slightly, but there was no comfort in her words. "There’s a chance," she admitted, her tone cautious. "But to do it, we need to recover the missing piece of his soul. Without it, I can't stitch him back together. The damage is too severe. If we can find it, then maybe... but it's not going to be easy." Orin's mind raced, trying to grasp what she was saying. "How do we recover it? Where do we even begin?" Cassy gave him a sidelong glance, her lips curving into a small, enigmatic smile. With a wave of her hand, a delicate necklace appeared, a small bluish pearl set in its center. "This is a Soulcatcher," she explained, holding it up for them to see. "It can absorb a person's soul, which is how we Souleaters usually do it. But here’s the catch: to retrieve the missing piece, all of Tio's soul must be inside the pearl. Only then will the other fragments guide you to the missing one."

The implications of her words hit Orin like a blow. "Wait," he said, suspicion creeping into his voice. "Are you saying we have to put all of Tio's soul into this thing first? How can we ensure we only retrieve the missing piece and not... lose everything?" Cassy’s smile widened, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "Smart boy," she acknowledged. "Yes, that’s the trick. The Soulcatcher will only work if the entire soul is within it. The other fragments will naturally seek out the missing one. But it’s risky. You could end up losing Tio entirely if something goes wrong.” Huter, still in shock, tried to process the enormity of what Cassy was suggesting. "Are you saying Tio has to... die? Just to bring his soul back together?" Cassy shook her head, her expression tired but calm. "Not die, exactly. But he’ll be empty, soulless. A dangerous creature without consciousness, driven by pure instinct and dark magic. If the Soulcatcher fails, you’ll lose him forever." Lysandra, who had been silently absorbing the conversation, suddenly spoke up, her voice trembling. "Isn't there another way? Something less dangerous?"

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Cassy's smile returned, this time with a touch of warmth. "Good girl," she said approvingly. "There is another way. It’s called the Soulmate bond. It’s an ancient spell, used long ago to bind two souls together so that they could always find each other. But it’s not without its risks. When one gets hurt, the other feels the pain. If one dies, the other dies too." The revelation hung in the air, its implications sending ripples of fear through the group. The idea of binding Tio to someone else, of sharing his pain and his potential death, was terrifying. Orin’s mind raced as he considered the options. The Soulcatcher was dangerous, but so was the Soulmate bond. Both carried the risk of losing Tio forever. But they were running out of time, and Tio's condition was worsening by the minute. As he looked at his friend, still lying unconscious on the bed, a decision began to form in his mind. "I’ll do it," Orin said suddenly, his voice firm with resolve. "I’ll be the one to take on the Soulmate bond. Tio is my best friend, and I’ll do whatever it takes to save him."

Cassy turned her gaze to Orin, her expression unreadable. "You’re not his soulmate," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. Orin’s resolve faltered, replaced by a surge of anger and frustration. "What do you mean? Tio is my best friend. I’ve known him forever. I’ll do whatever it takes!" Cassy’s eyes narrowed, her voice cold and sharp. "Being best friends doesn’t make you soulmates. The bond won’t work with you. If you try, it’ll fail, and you’ll lose Tio for good." Orin’s protests died on his lips as Cassy’s gaze shifted to Huter. "But you," she said, her voice softening. "You have a strong connection with Tio, a very powerful and pure link.” Huter’s eyes widened in surprise, his gaze darting from Cassy to Tio, then back to Orin and Lysandra. "Me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Cassy nodded, her expression gentle but firm. “Yes, my dear. Tio kissed you, and you forgot it. But it’s there, buried in your memories." She reached out and touched Huter's forehead, a soft glow emanating from her fingers. Instantly, memories flooded back to Huter—fragments of a moment he had forgotten. The day they had broken the curse when Orin and Tio had been trying to wake him up. Tio’s kiss, the warmth of his lips, the spark of magic that had brought Huter back to consciousness.

Orin and Lysandra watched in silence, the truth of Cassy’s words dawning on them. Orin’s face reflected a mix of guilt and resignation. "It was Tio’s choice not to say anything," he murmured, his voice heavy with regret. Huter’s gaze softened as he looked down at Tio, understanding now the depth of the connection they shared. He felt the pull of their bond, the love that resonated through it, and knew what he had to do. "I’ll do it," Huter said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his heart. "I’ll take on the Soulmate bond. Tio saved me once; now it’s my turn to save him."

Cassy nodded, a look of respect in her eyes. "It will be painful," she warned him, "more than you can imagine. You’ll feel his pain, every shred of it. Your souls will be bound until we find the missing piece. Are you ready for that?" Huter didn’t hesitate. "Yes," he said, his voice unwavering. "I’m ready." Lysandra and Orin exchanged a glance, their faces pale but determined. "We’ll be on your side," Lysandra said, her voice filled with quiet strength. "We’ll deal with the pain together, and we’ll find Tio’s missing soul." Orin nodded in agreement, his hand resting on Huter's shoulder, offering silent support. Cassy stepped forward, her hands already moving to cast the spell, the ancient words of the Soulmate bond echoing through the room as she prepared to bind Tio and Huter’s fates together.

As Cassy completed the spell, Huter’s body convulsed with agonizing pain, the same unbearable torment that Tio had endured. His screams echoed through the room, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as the sheer intensity of the suffering overwhelmed him. He couldn't move, the pain too immense, as if it was tearing him apart from the inside. Lysandra and Orin exchanged desperate glances before turning to Cassy for help. But the demoness remained unmoved, her expression almost indifferent. "This is the nature of the spell," she said calmly. "The bond is sealed through shared pain. There’s no escaping it.” Seeing Huter on the verge of collapse, Orin's heart pounded in his chest. He couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Drawing upon the deep well of his earth magic, Orin channeled as much power as he could muster, feeling the raw energy surge through him. He reached out and placed a firm hand on Huter’s shoulder, willing his magic to flow into him. As his healing energy intertwined with Huter’s tortured form, the agonizing pain began to ease, the crushing weight lifting just enough for Huter to catch his breath.

It was only a mild relief, a small reprieve from the relentless torment, but it was enough to keep Huter from the brink. Cassy watched in quiet awe, her eyes widening at the sight of Orin’s power. "I’ve never seen magic like this," she murmured, a hint of genuine respect in her voice. As Huter’s breathing steadied and the pain dulled to a more bearable level, he managed to speak, though his voice was strained. "What Tio went through… it’s unimaginable. But I won’t let it be for nothing. I’ll do whatever it takes to save him."

Lysandra, her eyes filled with determination, turned to Cassy. "What do we do next?" she asked, her tone firm. "How do we find the missing pieces of Tio’s soul?” Cassy regarded them all with a serious expression before answering. "Huter is the key now," she said, her voice steady. "He is connected to Tio through the bond. He must focus on that connection, and let it guide him. The bond will reveal the path to Tio’s missing soul pieces”. The room fell into a heavy silence, the gravity of their situation sinking in. Huter, despite the lingering pain, nodded resolutely. "I’ll find it," he said with quiet determination. "I’ll bring Tio back, no matter what it takes."