I ran down the hall after I knew that Empusa was locked behind the bars. There was someone else here, I could sense it. How they managed to bypass every security trap I had set was beyond me. The extra guards and magical protection spells didn’t seem to phase them.

My feet hit the concrete path hard as I pushed off them at an accelerating speed. I knew my adrenaline was running high, my anger a bit flared, and my protectiveness in overdrive. I had to get there in time to stop whatever it was.

Thankfully for me, the path to her cell was a few hundred feet. Easy for me to quickly move through. However, by the time I got there, all I saw was a shadowed figure, roughly my height reaching for Crimson’s hand.

“STOP!” I shouted as I was quick to reach in my bag pull out the frown that I created a few weeks back and flung a gem at the shadowed hand. To my disbelief the gem fell right through it, the shadowed figure unphased.

Crimson turned to me and with a smile spoke, “You can’t stop what you can’t see.”

What she said made sense. A shadow more or less can’t be harmed by most spells. As most spells require sight. Basic spell lesson I taught Maria.

“Who?” I asked as I put the crown away and approached with caution.

Crimson once again spoke up, “An old friend filling a favor of the true king.”

The shadow figure turned in the moment and faced me. Upon the shadowed stair, I felt a void in my chest. My life felt as if it had no purpose. Like the whole point of my existence was meaningless. I felt drained.

Snap out of it! I heard Maria voice speak through the bond. Her voice carried concern as my body felt like it was shutting itself down. As my life force seemed to drain away.

“Soul eater?” I question as I try to pull myself together. A Soul Eater is a creature that consumes everything about a person. Memories, purpose of existence, life force, literally everything.

Once I made the distinction, once I was able to regain focus on myself, through Maria utilizing the bond to provide support and encouragement I placed my shield around myself. Preventing the attack from the monster.

“Smart.” A distant voice spoke. “Draconic shield. Protected.” The voice was harsh and bitter as it echoed through the hall.

Crimson shrugged, “Only because he’s the Dragon King that it protects him against your attack.”

“Shall. We. Be. Going?” The Soul Eater questioned. As it spoke it spoke one word at a time. As if it was a struggle for it to communicate.

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“We shall.” Crimson held out her hand and I watched as the Soul Eater touched her skin, causing her to become incorporeal.

Now, in this form I knew my magical spell attacks would not work. My weapon would do less damage.

I sighed as I watched this unfold before me. As I had not a clue what to do for once. As a Soul Eater was something I was not expecting.

“Failure.” The shadowed form laughed. It was a hideous laugh that sent a nauseous wave through me even.

Perhaps it was the split seconds of my life’s purpose slipping away. My abilities shifting in those split seconds. My mind not being able to comprehend. But I was at a loss. I knew what I needed to do. I knew I needed to stop them but how?

“Not stopping me?” Crimson smirked, “Even though that pull lasted for a second or two, that was all I needed.”

I felt a flow of magic through the bond as Maria tried a restoration spell in hopes to further snap me out of my funk.

I blinked, as her spell took effect. I no longer felt half empty. My mind was full and I felt normal. I drew my sword and swung twice at the two incorporeal figures. I knew the hits should have contacted, however they seemed unphased.

“Shame, I liked you dumb.” Crimson spoke. I watched as her eyes drifted up to the Soul Eater, “Time to go before he figures out how to stop us.”

And with that both attempted to vanish. I however utilized a dispel spell, and managed to hold them back a moment longer.

I cleared my throat and spoke, “I may have failed today. But I will stop you. I will stop Marcel, and that is a promise.” I spoke those words as firmly as I could.

Crimson laughed, “A promise that you will not keep Silver.”

And with that they both vanished once more. Leaving me in disbelief as she managed to do the impossible. Escape my fortified prison.

Theo? Maria spoke softly through the bond. It’s alright.

I felt a sense of calm wash over me as I hadn’t realized how angered I had gotten. How much my emotions had started to overcharge.

I took a few deep breaths before I spoke, thank you for saving myself.

Of course my love. She responded, her voice calm.

I mean it. That Soul Eater plays a deadly game. A few more seconds of that, I’d be mush. I told her as that is how I felt as he was using his innate abilities on me.

Are you alright? She questioned me.

I am now. I spoke as I utilized another restoration spell. One greater than what she had used to finish removing the effects of that monster.

Good. Theo?

Yes?

Never mind. I could sense her thoughts. She was worried with Crimson out of prison what may happen. Hell, so was I,

It’ll be alright. I told her. Nothing will happen to you. I promise.

I felt her warmth shift as I could sense her trying to refocus on her work. Tonight… I thought as I hoped to ease her mind tonight.