Seekers of the Stone Maker
Soul Trade

Leaf pushed with all his might. As the ice blasted into him, he held his hands out and tried to condense the energy. Seeing Zidingris rise back up, no longer exhaling its breath, he thrust his arms to the side and watched as the beads of light gathered around the cold energy and shot above him. It crashed against the ceiling, sending shards of ice down around him and Lyla. Zidingris picked up Ana’s body. He could see that she was unconscious, lying limp in its clawed hand. She turned, facing Rhokhishi, and threw Ana’s body against the wall.

“Rho! Get to Ana!” Lyla shouted.

“I’m trying, but I can’t get past!”

Lyla rushed forward, her spectral wings sending her into the air. Landing on the tail, she ran up the back of Zidingris and found her space against the shoulders of the dragon. Lyla attacked her from above while Rhokhishi parried and hit below. Leaf could see Trista still working on the ice, trying her best to attack it and open up enough space for the other two to get in and help. Mr. Muffins had his small cannon out and his weapon, blasting fire at it from the other side. Myla stood by, ready to assist in any way she could, her mind staying open for them to talk to each other when needed.

Leaf watched as Rhokhishi dipped around and dodged the dragon’s attacks but couldn’t escape. He pushed toward the back of his spellbook, trying to make sense of the sigils and equations placed there not long before. Helena had placed the spell there but left before being able to explain it. Leaf knew it was powerful and would work against the dragon, but knowing and understanding differed. As he thought of her, her voice rang out in his mind.

If you needed help, you could have just asked.

What do you want?

To help you, of course. Always to help you.

Leaf bit into his lip. He stared at the sigils, trying to figure them out.

That spell is quite powerful, but you’re going to need more than that.

I’m trying everything I have. What can you even offer me right now?

What do you want, Leaf?

Zidingris’ tail smacked against Lyla, knocking her off. Rhokhishi rushed forward and caught her as another claw came down towards them. Rhokhishi screamed out in pain, and she could see the blood dripping from Lyla’s head.

I need to save them. All of them.

Especially that one over there, lying dead as can be…

Yes.

That’s some incredible work, trading a soul for a soul. But, Leaf, I think you have a spare soul, don’t you?

Leaf reached down into his pouch and pulled out the soulbag. He knew what was inside, and he had promised to save Bruna if he could.

I’m just not strong enough!

Just say yes, Leaf. I will fix this for you.

…yes.

The soulbag faded from his vision, and after a second, its weight left his palm. He didn’t have time to deal with the guilt. His friends needed saving now. Hopefully, Gisela would forgive him…

Tell your friends to cooperate. It’s the only way.

Leaf stepped forward. He wasn’t sure what would happen next. He breathed in slowly, then shouted. His voice echoed through the lair and shook the ice like an earthquake.

“TRUST ME!”

There was a flash of blue light that appeared beside him. Too quickly to gain a description, he watched as a humanoid stepped forward and grabbed him by the shoulders. The light flashed again. His vision blurred, and he felt something pull him up and away.

When his vision cleared, he saw his friends standing in a circle. They were on a platform of some sort, surrounded by darkness. In the middle sat a human with white hair and blue robes. It seemed like he was meditating, a small blue fire glowing between his hands. He looked older than Leaf, but not by much more, but his body had an air of age that he couldn’t describe.

“Where are we?” Lyla asked.

“Wait… Where’s Ana?” Myla replied with another question.

“I know this is odd,” The man said quietly. “But you are in a demi-plane of my design. It’s a long story, but I need one thing first. I’m going to need my book back.”

The man stood and turned towards Lyla, pointing at the pouch on her side. She reached in and pulled the Book of Io out. The scale glowed dimly in his presence.

“Wait… Alyk?” Lyla asked.

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