Leaving the ranch was much easier than Viktor expected. The few people they encountered weren’t bothered by their presence, and no one questioned what they were doing as they headed outside. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Father Lena didn’t say we couldn’t leave our room at night. But why isn’t anyone guarding the entrance?

Nadia stayed close to Viktor’s side, her arms wrapped around one of his as the cool night air greeted them. Viktor shivered as he looked around. Should we ride a kelpie to the nearest village? It would be faster, but Father Lena might figure out what we’re doing!

It wasn’t a situation Viktor was familiar with. He looked at Nadia, hoping to see a mischievous look on her face, but she only stared back at him. Waiting for him to decide their fate. He didn’t like it. Viktor leaned closer to her and whispered, “Can you ride a horse?”

“We don’t need a horse, Viktor. Just get me on the other side of the wall. I’ll take care of everything once we’ve put some distance between us and Father Lena.”

Viktor frowned, not liking the way Nadia said it, but he didn’t have a better idea as they approached the gate. “How are we going to open this?”

“The same way Father Lena does, of course. We’ll ask them to let us out, and we’ll ask them to let us in once we’re done.”

“And then what? I thought you needed to be in or close to a village before you can steal souls. How are you going to do that if we’re not near a village?”

Nadia chuckled, but it held none of the warmth Viktor had come to expect. “Don’t worry about that, Viktor. I’ll explain everything once we’re at a safe distance… Or I can do it right here, and we can play with the kelpies for a while.”

“Don’t even joke about that,” Viktor warned as they reached the gate. “We’re not sacrificing Father Lena and his helpers.” We’re sacrificing innocent people instead.

Nadia nodded, knocking on the gate as Viktor watched her, hoping to hear her say she was joking. But her next words confirmed his worst fears. “I told you it’s time to pick a side, Viktor. We’ll leave everyone here be for now.”

She didn’t say, just in case, but Viktor knew that’s what she meant. Is she acting like this because she’s scared, or is she being serious? Viktor said nothing as the gate opened, and Nadia tugged his arm to keep him close as they stepped through. The gate didn’t slam shut, but Viktor felt like he was back in the Fire Temple.

Did we just leave the only place we’re safe to carry out an evil god’s work? How am I supposed to justify this? He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. But he continued following Nadia away from the ranch as they walked into the woods. An owl greeted them, but try as he might, Viktor couldn’t sense anything.

The gems Father Gregor had given him had been returned, yet Viktor was loath to touch them. Nadia didn’t look at him as she pulled him along, and he was grateful for that. He didn’t want to know what kind of face Nadia was making, but he couldn’t stand the silence.

I can’t lose her on top of everything else. “Nadia?”

“Yes, Viktor?”

“Where are we going?”

“To one of the nearest villages. It’s not ideal. I’m certain Father Lena will want to investigate, but we don’t have time to find anything else!”

“Do you still want to be free?”

She paused but kept looking forward as she quietly replied. “I want to be with you forever.”

“I want that to.”

“But you don’t like this.”

“No.” Viktor squeezed Nadia’s arm and gently tilted her face to his. “But I’m not leaving you alone.”

Nadia smiled, brushing her lips against his before walking again. “I love you, Viktor. I want to help you because I love you. But I’m useless to you if Zum kills me.”

“I know.” I think I do. “That’s why I won’t give up.” We don’t have enough information. Something needs to change, and quickly!

Nadia nodded, still guiding them farther and farther away from the ranch. The forest didn’t disappear, but the trees did begin to thin, showing signs of several paths as Viktor looked around. “How many souls do you need?”

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“In all?”

“Yes.”

Nadia hesitated before shaking her head. “He never gave me an exact number. We’ll know he’s free when he gets here.”

“But we don’t want him to be free.” Or at least I don’t. Does Nadia want him to be free?

“We don’t want him to be free,” Nadia whispered as she kept walking.

“Do we want him to stay gone for the same reasons?” Viktor winced as soon as the words left his mouth, but he didn’t regret asking. We have to be on the same side from now on. I refuse to lose anyone else! Nadia turned to him, her hands still gripping his arm as she stared at him with empty eyes.

“You want me to be safe.”

“Of course I do. I love you, Nadia.”

“I love you too, Viktor. That’s why I’m going to carry out his wishes until you come up with a better solution… We can’t stay here. I need to send those souls to him right away.”

“And then?” Viktor tried to kiss her, but Nadia squirmed away until only her hands were touching him.

“And then, we hope that he’s satisfied. If he isn’t, we’ll find another village and keep going until he is.”

She said that so calmly! “What happens if he gains his freedom, Nadia? What happens if he goes after the ranch?” I don’t want to lose anyone! But Nadia continued staring at him.

“I won’t let him have you, Viktor. I can’t do anything about the rest of the world. But you are mine… Right?”

“Nadia”-

“Aren’t you?!”

Viktor winced and finally pulled her close enough to tuck her head under his chin. “Yes,” Viktor promised. “I’m yours. Only yours. I will protect you no matter what, Nadia!”

Nadia hugged him, moving her hands to hold the back of his head as she quietly stated. “Your life is the only one that matters to me. This world is lovely, but I don’t have a problem with only sharing it with you… Are you the same?”

Viktor inhaled sharply, squeezing her tighter as he tried to think of the right response. “I… I love you… I’d gladly trade my life for yours.”

“But why should you have to do that when you can trade others? No, you don’t even need to do anything, Viktor. I could do this part on my own, but…” She shifted so he could see her face and smiled sadly. “But I want you to see it this time. You need to know what it looks like… Because I’m not going to hide anything from you, Viktor. It’s you and me from now on. No one else matters. Do you understand?”

“Does that mean you’ll kill anyone? What happened to our agreement?”

Nadia looked away and sighed, but didn’t release him. “Our agreement still stands, my love. But I’m going to keep putting my survival above this planet… Can you forgive me?”

I shouldn’t. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to prolong one’s life, but… But Viktor couldn’t imagine a life without Nadia. “Yes… I forgive you. I don’t think anyone else will, though.”

“I already said that they don’t matter, Viktor! I’m going to believe this is the loop interfering again. Don’t worry. I’ll help you break it soon!”

“Before or after Zum is released?” Nadia shrugged, kissed his cheek, and resumed leading the way through the trees. Viktor could see fields in the gaps between branches, and his heart clenched as they reached their destination. Nadia didn’t leave the trees. She examined the village, which contained at least twenty buildings, though Viktor wasn’t certain how many were houses. Am I really going to stand here and watch her kill these people?

Viktor clenched his fists, burying them in his sleeves as Nadia stretched her arms wide as if she wanted to embrace the village. “Don’t worry, Viktor. They won’t feel anything. It’ll be over soon.”

“How do you know they won’t feel anything?” Why am I just standing here?

Nadia shrugged and repeated. “It’ll be over soon.” Then, she turned her full attention to the village, and Viktor didn’t know what to think anymore. A soft purple light gently wrapped around the village. It reminded Viktor of the barriers that protected Vern, but he knew that wasn’t the case here.

The light didn’t stop at any boundaries. It drifted into the buildings, and Viktor didn’t need to sense mana to understand what was happening. It’s almost the reverse of necromancy. She’s using her power to pull the souls free of their bodies… Viktor almost cried out when he saw the first of them appear.

He shouldn’t have been surprised to see they looked like spirit orbs. Yet knowing these were supposed to be living souls ruined any joy Viktor would have had at the sight of them. Nadia hummed, arms still outstretched, as the souls began floating toward her. She smiled, opening her mouth to receive the first and Viktor must have done something to disturb her because she looked at him when she swallowed the first soul.

She continued staring at him while she ate them. Viktor could only stare back as time passed. No one cried out, no one tried to escape. Nadia’s magic had rendered the village helpless, and Viktor wanted to believe that it was also affecting him… because the alternative was too much for him to handle.

Nadia swallowed the last soul with a sigh, lowered her arms, and smiled. “There. Did you see how easy that was? I even drained the graveyard while I was at it!”

Viktor tried to speak but had to cough before wheezing. “Was that… enough?”

The graveyard for the nobility and wealthy had thousands of spirit orbs. Would this village be enough of an offering? Nadia tilted her head as if listening to something before nodding.

“It’s… not as much as he’d like. But we’re done for now, Viktor. We can go home and come up with some plans!” Viktor forced himself to smile as she hugged him. When they finally reached the ranch, the sun was beginning to rise, and Viktor still didn’t know what to do.