Orin and his friends gathered in the dimly lit apartment, the atmosphere heavy with tension. The memory of Eileen’s regained powers lingered like a storm cloud over them, but their immediate concern was more pressing—saving Tio. They had managed to retrieve the missing piece of his soul, but now came the most delicate and dangerous part of their mission. Orin’s thoughts were interrupted by Lysandra’s voice, sharp with anxiety. “We need to move quickly,” she urged, her eyes darting between the others. “We don’t know how much time Tio has left.” Orin nodded grimly. They couldn’t afford to hesitate. The last piece of Tio’s fractured soul pulsed within the Soulcatcher, waiting to be rejoined with its owner. Without another word, Orin summoned Cassy, the demon who had helped them so far. She appeared instantly, lounging on the sofa as if she had been waiting for them all along. Dressed in an elegant gown as if ready for a gala dinner, Cassy’s crimson eyes gleamed with mischief. “Took you long enough,” she said, her voice dripping with mock impatience. “I thought you’d forgotten about our little arrangement.”

Huter stepped forward, holding the Soulcatcher aloft. Its surface throbbed with ethereal light, the missing fragment of Tio’s soul barely contained within its enchanted confines. Cassy’s smile widened as she took in the sight, her fingers twitching eagerly. “Ah, there it is,” she purred. “I must say, you’ve done well. Now, let’s see if I can patch up your friend.” Her tone, though light, carried a note of warning. “But I must caution you,” she added, her gaze flicking to each of them. “The process will be excruciatingly painful for Tio, and there’s no telling what the outcome will be. He may never be the same again.” The words hung in the air like a dark prophecy. Orin exchanged a worried glance with Lysandra and Huter. They had come too far to back down now. “Do it,” Orin said firmly, his voice steady despite the unease gnawing at him. “We need him back, no matter the cost.”

With a nod, Cassy set to work. She delicately drew the missing piece of Tio’s soul from the Soulcatcher, her movements surprisingly gentle for a demon. The soul fragment shimmered, its bright orange glow contrasting with the dim surroundings. Cassy reached into Tio’s chest, pulling out the frayed ends of his soul—threads that trembled with the strain of their incompleteness. She began to sew the pieces together, each stitch a painstaking effort. As the needle of dark magic pierced the soul threads, Tio convulsed violently on the couch, his body reacting to the intense pain. Lysandra’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched, her hands clenching into fists. “Stop!” she cried out, unable to bear seeing Tio suffer so much. But before she could intervene, Huter caught her arm, his eyes filled with a resigned determination. “It’s the only way,” he whispered, though his own voice trembled with uncertainty. Orin, seeing the desperation in his friends’ faces, reached out and channeled his earth magic into Tio’s body, hoping to ease the torment. The soothing energy flowed into Tio, dulling the pain just enough to give Cassy the time she needed to continue her work.

At last, the final stitch was made. Tio’s soul, now whole, gleamed with an inner light as Cassy carefully guided it back into his body. The room fell silent as they watched Tio’s chest rise and fall with shallow breaths—then, nothing. Seconds stretched into eternity, and just as panic began to set in, Tio suddenly gasped, his eyes flying open. He blinked up at his friends, disoriented but alive. Pain rippled through his body from the trauma he had endured, but a faint smile tugged at his lips. “You’re here,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. Relief washed over them all like a wave. Cassy stood back, her work completed. “He’s back,” she declared, though her tone was tinged with uncertainty. “But I can’t say what the long-term effects will be. His soul has been through more than you can imagine.” Then, with a pointed look at Orin, she reminded him of their deal. “Now, it’s your turn. You promised to set me free.”

Orin knew that Cassy had upheld her end of the bargain, but the thought of killing her still didn’t sit right with him. Demons were dangerous, but she had been more of an ally than an enemy. “There has to be another way,” he murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. Before he could contemplate further, Orin’s gaze fell on the Soulcatcher, now an empty husk after relinquishing Tio’s soul. Without thinking, he took the artifact and smashed it against the floor. The shattered remnants scattered across the room, and a dark blue light burst forth, striking Cassy’s hands. To everyone’s shock, including Cassy’s, the light seemed to dissolve invisible chains that had bound her. She stared at her hands in disbelief, her crimson eyes wide with surprise. “You… you freed me,” she whispered, awe and gratitude mixing in her voice. None of them had realized that her life had been linked to the Soulcatcher, a dark artifact that had held more power than they knew. As the shock began to wear off, Cassy turned to Orin and the others, her expression now serious. “Thank you,” she said, sincerity in her voice. “But be warned—Eileen’s power is far from stable. The dark knots within her will regenerate, and when they do, they’ll be stronger and more dangerous than before. The healing you did for her has given her a temporary boost, but it’s only a matter of time before the darkness consumes her again.” The warning sent chills down their spines. Eileen was already more powerful than she had been, and now they knew it was only a brief respite before she became an even greater threat. Cassy gave them one last look, a mixture of respect and sadness in her gaze. “I wish you luck,” she said softly, and with that, she vanished.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Everyone’s eyes were on Tio as he sat up, seeming to have recovered from the ordeal. Relief was just beginning to settle in when his body suddenly stiffened, and he collapsed back onto the couch, convulsing violently. Panic surged through the room as Lysandra and Huter rushed to his side. Orin quickly knelt beside Tio, his hands already glowing with the soft, earthen light of his magic. He pressed his palms against Tio’s chest, channeling his energy into him. The convulsions eased slightly, but Orin could feel that something was off—Tio’s energy, the very essence of his being, was different. It was more intense, and more volatile than before. Orin gritted his teeth, focusing all his power on stabilizing Tio’s frayed and battered soul. Hours passed as he worked, the room growing darker as evening fell, but Orin didn’t stop. He could feel the lingering effects of the tortures Tio had endured—the brutal agony at the hands of the Frost Elves, and the insidious damage inflicted by the Souleater. Slowly, carefully, Orin began to mend the invisible wounds, stitching together the fragments of Tio’s soul with his earth magic. Lysandra and Huter stood by, their anxiety growing with each passing hour. Lysandra’s thoughts drifted to Eileen’s parting words in that cursed sanctuary, her cryptic warning about Orin’s mother, Edua. Eileen had hinted that Edua’s choices had set something terrible in motion, something that threatened her life. The fear of what that might mean gnawed at Lysandra, but she pushed it aside for now. Tio needed them.

When Tio finally opened his eyes, they were met with the worried faces of his friends. He blinked, disoriented but grateful. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice hoarse from the pain. He tried to sit up, but Orin gently pushed him back down, nodding for him to rest. Tio shook his head, though, and looked directly at Huter. “I need to talk to you,” he said, his tone more urgent. The two of them retreated to a quieter corner, and Orin exchanged a concerned glance with Lysandra. Whatever was coming next, it wouldn’t be easy. Tio turned to Huter, his expression hardening. “I told you I was ready to die,” he began, his voice low but firm. “You should have listened. You shouldn’t have risked everything for me.” Huter stared at him, shocked and hurt. “We’re soulmates, Tio,” he replied, his voice breaking with emotion. “If you die, I die. My heart wouldn’t survive losing you. How could you expect me to just let you go?” Tio looked at him, stunned by the revelation. The bond between them had always been strong, but to hear it put so plainly left him shaken. “Soulmates?” he repeated, doubt and confusion clouding his features. The implications of such a bond weighed heavily on him. Before he could process it further, Huter, his emotions raw, turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him. Orin entered soon after, finding Tio lying there, pale and shaken. “What happened?” Orin asked softly, but Tio didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked up at his friend, his voice trembling. “I feel different, Orin. What if I’m… damaged? What if there’s something dark inside me now?” Orin’s heart ached for his friend. He leaned down, pulling Tio into a comforting embrace. “You’re alive, Tio, and that’s what matters. We’re here for you, and we’ll face whatever comes next together. You’re not alone in this.” Just as Orin was about to continue reassuring his friend, his phone buzzed with a call. The hospital’s name flashed on the screen, and a cold dread settled in Orin’s stomach. He feared what this call might bring, knowing all too well that the worst was never far behind.