Moisture filled Raven's eyes; she knew that voice! It was the little bleak girl from her past life - the little girl had taught this very song to her and they had often, in secret, crept away to sing it when no one paid attention.

Their two voices complemented each other beautifully; sometimes almost as one in the same melody, sometimes separately in their own melodies that nonetheless melded perfectly with each other. The people around her sat as if in a trance as they observed the story in the fire; by now, the poor bird had narrowly managed to escape her own brother that was hunting her, not knowing her true identity, only to be captured by a wile and gruesome knight that fancied her wings.

When the tale of the transformed girl was coming to an end, and the songbird was about to be slain by that very knight that had captured her, Raven felt how the foreign spirit essence grabbed hold of the killing intent Raven had been working on merging with her spirit essence and forcefully let it surge forward. It didn't take physical form this time but rather spread like a haze around her. As the haze reached the people around her they froze solid in fear.

Their vision in the flames seemed to leap out at them and they saw the death of the little bird, as if it caused by their own hands. In the distance came the grieving lover searching for bloody vengeance and they felt their heart beats slowing down slightly, as if it had already excepted the death that would inevitably come.

The song came to an end, and utter silence descended - even the crackling noise of the flames seemed to have been dimmed.

Raven, unaware of what had happened to the people around her, wore a look of wonder on her face. She quickly inspected her soul, only to find that a new Divine Skill had been etched into it. As she focused on it the words Ode of Woe were formed in her mind. This Divine Skill seemed to be the completed version of the merger of her spirit essence and her killing intent that Raven had been working on lately.

This Divine Skill, despite it's name, was not in form of a song, but rather a skill that allowed her to manipulate her killing intent into mentally attacking her opponents. Before, she had used the immense pressure of her killing intent to critically damage weaker souls, but that had been comparable smacking a fly with a rolled up newspaper - sure, it would kill a fly but it would do little damage in used on anything else.

This was different. With the Ode of Woe, her killing intent became like a blade. A frightening blade of death. If used on someone with a stronger soul it would mostly cause them immense fear, but if it was someone of similar soul strength they would suffer damages to their soul that would make it harder for them to use Divine skills. If her opponents had a weaker soul then herself it might even cause them to subconsciously shut down their bodies, killing themselves in fear.

However, if the opponent had a stronger cultivation than her, they might manage to defend themselves with their own spirit essence or killing intent, but it would be hard.

'What in heaven's name just happened?' 

Raven could explain why the voice of her dead friend had accompanied her or why she suddenly had a break through leading to a new Divine Skill.

*clap* *clap* *clap*

Yanked out of her pondering by the sudden noise, Raven instinctively drew a dagger  and tried to find the source of the sound.

'What the...?' As Raven looked around the campsite she noticed that everyone present had seemingly frozen in place, staring lifelessly at the fire in front of them. Raven followed their gazes and drew in a sharp breath.

Slowly walking out from behind the burning pier came a odd looking young man in light green robes. Over all, his appearance was quite average; he was neither particularly handsome nor was he ugly to look at, he was also of average height and build. What made his appearance odd was that sticking out from the long white hair that hung over the man's shoulders was a pair of snow white vulpine ears and stretching behind him was a white fluffy tail. He was looking at Raven with pleased eyes.

"A most curious creature, you are." He said pensively as he came to a halt only meters away from Raven. "A young human girl, pretending to be a boy, that sings with a soul touched voice. Most curious, indeed."

Raven stared at the man in shock. Not only did the man in front of her see through her charade with ease, Raven noticed that she couldn't sense him at all; her eyes could see him but no other of her senses picked him up. This was not like with the Void Tracker, where the sound and spirit essence was nullified, this was something much more profound. It was as if the young man in front of her didn't exist, or perhaps more as if he was one with the world, and therefore impossible to differentiate from his surroundings.

"I must say," the vulpine-eared man continued; "you surprise me. When I heard from my grandson that he had been rescued by a human child I thought that was curious act in itself, but when I find you I learn that you are a four-year-old Spirit Adept, whom has been soul touched. To think I'd find such a human on this continent..." He paused and looked down on her right hand, a look of surprise flashed across his face. "Curious indeed."

Raven's mind reeled. So many questions rushed through her mind that she didn't even know where to start. As if he'd read her mind the vulpine-eared man spoke yet again.

"How about you introduce yourself first?" he smiled knowingly as he spoke.

The question snapped Raven out of her confusion. One thing she was sure of - the man or creature before he was stronger than her. By a lot. She hurriedly bowed.

"Junior Raven Night greats Senior..." her respectful voice trailed of in a question.

"Raven is it? Fitting name..." a flash of mischief crossed the creature's eyes, before he continued; "I have many names she-human, but you may call me Fenris."

"Junior greats Senior Fenris." Raven repeated, together with another bow. She considered asking what type of creature this Fenris was but she quickly opted against it - what would she do if he took offense?

Fenris stared at Raven for a moment. "So tell me, young Raven, who's soul is it that touched you?"

Raven frowned. "Soul?"

"Earlier, when you sang, a remnant soul emerged and help you create a new Divine Skill. Who was it?" Fenris spoke as if his words were basic knowledge.

"If you are referring to the second voice that sang than it..." Raven paused and glanced down on the Life Link. For some reason she felt that it was important to tell the truth to the man but if she did her brother would know she had been lying about her memories.

Fenris noticed her quick glace. "Oh, I see..." He waved a hand and out of nowhere a gentle layer of spirit essence flowed around Raven's hand, encasing the Life Link within. "The boy inside can't hear you now."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Raven jumped back but the spirit essence followed her. "How did you know th.."

"That there is a boy inside the ring? Of course I can tell - I made it after all." Just like before Fenris spoke as if it was the most common thing in the world.

Raven expression went from extreme shock to sparkling hope. "The you know how to restore him?"

Fenris raised a white eyebrow and looked down on the ring "Curious..."

"Huh?" Raven didn't see what was Fenris had found so interesting.

"Well we shall discuss that in a minute," Fenris's focus returned to Raven; "first, tell me about the soul that touched you and sang with you."

Raven didn't hesitate at all this time. The creature in front of her might have a way to help her brother - she wold answer whatever questions he asked.

"The voice belonged to to a friend of mine... I killed her."

"And she chose to touch you? How curious."

Raven could help but ask; "Senior Fenris, you keep talking about being soul touched. What do you mean by that? I have never heard of such a thing."

Fenris snorted and his ears pulled back.

"I'm not surprised. This continent is so primitive." before Raven could respond. he continued; "Listen, she-human, being soul touched by someone is very rare. It only has a chance at happening when someone, who cares very dearly for you, dies while trying to protect you. When that person dies, if they feel strongly enough about wanting to protect you, their soul will touch yours and they will leave a very special kind of imprint. It is hard to say what the imprint will do - the one who has been touched cannot control it - but usually it is either activated during a moment of great peril or during a cultivation breakthrough. It would seem your friend wished for you to grow stronger and therefore helped you create your Divine Skill."

Raven stared blankly at Fenris. If she hadn't experienced it herself, she would have never believed his story, but now it was the only explanation that made sense.

'She wanted to protect me? Oh, Inga...' For the first time since that little, bleak, girl's death, Raven cried for her.

"You shouldn't mourn her now, young Raven, she has done what she wished to do."

Raven used her free hand to brush of the tears on her face.

"Will it happen again?" she asked.

Fenris smiled weakly. "No, by helping you her soul remnant has been released. She is gone."

"Oh."

The two stood in silence for a while - very odd sight with them surrounded by the entranced mercenaries and merchants - before Raven took a deep breath and then lifted her hand.

"Will Senior Fenris tell me about this ring now? Can my brother be restored."

"Why don't you ask him yourself." As he spoke Fenris waved his arm and the spirit essence around the Life Link disappeared.

"RAAAAVEN!" Hoatzin's voice suddenly boomed inside Raven's head.

"Not so loud, big Brother. I can her you just fine."

Hoatzin breathed a sigh of relief. "Not a moment ago you couldn't! Ever since that... that creature... waved his hand I have cut of from the outside world! I haven't seen or heard anything!" he sounded quite mad.

"No need to get angry little man, your sister and I had something to discuss."

"You can hear him?" Raven was shocked.

Fenris gave her a condescending look. "I made it, remember."

Within the ring Hoazin became as quiet as a grave.

"Didn't you have something to ask him?" Fenris continued.

"Huh? No, I asked you how to restore him and you..." Raven's eyes widened. "Big Brother, do you know what needs to be done to restore your body?"

"What!? Of... of course not!" He tried to hide his nervousness but how could he possibly fool Raven.

"Brother! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Sister, I... I don't.." Hoatzin stutterd.

"Perhaps he didn't approve of the method." Fenris offered. By the looks of it he seemed quite amused by the two sibling's argument.

"Tell me." Raven basically ordered her brother.

"Fine..." Hoatzin sounded deflated; "if a spiritualist dies while wearing this ring, then I can take over his body and soul prism. I can then live in that body instead of my own."

"Ah." Raven understood.

Her brother was too pure-hearted to willingly kill someone for their body alone - especially if he wanted a body that fit his age. Raven herself wouldn't hesitate to arrange it for her brother but he would hate her for it. It explained why Hoatzin had chosen to keep silent about it, until now, and had been so reluctant to talk about getting his body back.

"But, wait, how did you know of this method?" Raven asked her brother.

"I left instructions in the ring before I dropped it." Fenris answered before Hoatzin could answer.

"Why would you do such a thing?"

Fenris shrugged. "Amusement? If you reach my age you will also be easily bored. Since I will be staying on this continent for a while I figured I see what would happen if such treasures started circulating."

'Treasures? There's more of them?' Raven couldn't help but be a bit intrigued by the notion - the Life Link was after all a second chance at life.

"What do you men by "if she reach your age? You can't have reached thirty yet." While raven pondered this, Hoatzin shouted in an offended voice. "My Sister doesn't die that easily!"

'I died before I reached thirty in my previous life, though.' Raven mused to herself.

Raven knew very well that the martial road as a dangerous one and that reaching thirty might be harder than it sounds, but Fenris only smiled and changes the subject.

"I take it you're not interested in the method recorded in the ring. To give your brother a new body, that is."

"Certainly not!" Hoatzin exclaimed before Raven had a chance to reply.

"Well, there is another way, that doubt your brother would disapprove of." Fenris eyes grey eyes locked on to Raven's red ones. "But I won't tell you for free."

"Don't listen to him, Sister! This creature would take the lives of others for his own benefits! He.."

Hoatzin clearly had more to say but Fenris waved his hand and encased the ring in spirit essence once more.

"Such a loud talker..." Fenris eye's had never left Raven's. "Well, what do you say?"

"What is it you want?"

A small smile appeared on Fenris face. "A life debt, repaid."