Joshua ran while calling out to Iris in the darkness. But how fast he runs. Still Iris felt far away from him. When he finally managed to approach her. Iris disappeared.
"IRIS!"
Joshua woke up.
He looked around him. He then realized he was in a familiar place. Joshua walked slowly.
"This place…. What does that mean….?", Joshua muttered while watching his body.
Joshua's guess was right. He's in the lab. Which means he's in a dream. But something is different. This time he saw Morrigan and Raul. He is no longer in Raul's body.
Raul walked through Joshua's body toward Morrigan. It seems that Joshua's body is invisible to Raul and Morrigan
"What are you doing?"
"Just see."
Morrigan took Raul's hand. Then suddenly sliced Raul's palm. And pressed it until the blood flowed.
But Raul did not react anything. Like he was used to it and wasn't worried about what Morrigan was doing. Raul believed in whatever Morrigan did.
Then Morrigan collected it in a bowl. After that, it was Morrigan's turn to slice her own palm and collect her blood.
After it's enough. Morrigan began to cast a spell. The spell is quite long. They hold each other's hand.
With her other hand, Morrigan stirred the bowl of their blood. Then she made the same runes in the hands she and Raul had clasped earlier.
"Now follow my words. Hoc sanguine ligamus animas nostras. Hoc sanguine anima una."
"Hoc sanguine ligamus animas nostras. Hoc sanguine anima una."
The runes on both of their hands glowed and seeped into their hands then disappeared.
"It's done."
"What magic is this for?"
"Think of it as just in case something happens to you. This magic makes our souls connected to each other."
"You're worried about me? It feels like it's been a long time since you've worried about me."
"No need to tease me, Raul. This magic is like making you unable to die. I can find your soul and then bring you back to life if something bad happens to you."
"You mean that I became undead?"
Morrigan eyed Raul sarcastically.
"You underestimate me, huh. Of course not. In contrast to the undead that do not have a soul. This magic keeps your soul from disappearing."
Raul gave a small smile at Morrigan who looked annoyed. It looked like he was having fun with teasing her.
"What if I die in a miserable state? For example, my head was crushed or maybe a part of my body was missing."
"No problem. I have prepared everything."
Morrigan then opened a tube that was covered by a curtain.
Inside is a human body that has the same physical shape and face as Raul.
Raúl looked shocked.
"What are you doing, Morrigan?!"
"I managed to find a spell to create a new body. In case something happens to you, Raul…. I won't really lose you…."
Morrigan then leaned back against Raul and looked at him with a worried look.
"Morrigan…."
Raul gently stroked Morrigan's cheek.
Joshua watched everything that happened with a sad look. Finally, Joshua began to understand what was going on.
Seeing Raul's and Morrigan's expressions that Joshua had never seen before…. because right now he is not in Raul's body…. made Joshua realize something.
What he saw suddenly started turning into a whirlpool and pushed Joshua in a dazzling light.
Slowly Joshua opened his eyes. When he regained consciousness, Joshua could hear the faint sounds of owls and campfires.
"Ugh…."
"He's awake, Isabel."
Isabel, who was sitting looking at the campfire, immediately got up and approached Joshua. Joshua's body was wrapped in bandages. His body filled with blood.
"Joshua, can you hear me?"
"Isabel?"
Joshua tried to sit up. Isabel immediately helped him. Isabel was seen with two men whose faces were familiar. Leon looked at him with a cold expressions and Angus with his hands tied was looking at Joshua with a face full of hatred.
"Slowly. You are still in recovery. Do you still remember what happened?"
"I…. I lost her, Isabel. Because of me…. Iris was kidnapped by that witch."
Isabel sighed. Her guess was right.
When she and Leon tried to follow Joshua by following the blood trail. They only found Joshua lying unconscious.
For a second Isabel thought Joshua had died. But the truth is not. With so many injuries and severe Joshua should have died.
Instead, now Joshua survived. Even his wounds on his body began to heal rapidly. And it's all because of Seraphine Aile residing in Joshua's body.
"Wow! He's even now awake! Amazing! Good thing I don't have to bother carrying it myself."
Malcolm said as he glanced at Leon. Leon ignored Malcolm's words. Malcolm had just arrived with four horses. It seemed he had gone to look horses for them.
"Ssstt…Malcom." Isabel gave a silent gesture.
"Isabel, I have to find her…."
Joshua forced himself to stand up. But the wound in his chest hurt, so Joshua just walked a few steps then he fell to his knees.
"Don't act rashly. We don't even know where she is."
Isabel helped Joshua to lie back down.
"HA HA HA! Joshua you are TRULY amazing! Even though I was just aiming for your HEART. But now you're AWAKE and even want to take a walk!"
Leon got up and angrily punched Angus.
"SHUT UP! Tell me where that BITCH took Iris!"
Angus spat blood that came out of his mouth.
"Hehehe because now you are awake, Joshua. I'll give you the message from Lady Morrigan. She would return Iris. In exchange you must surrender yourself to Lady Morrigan without a fight."
"Okay. I do not mind."
Joshua immediately agreed without hesitation.
"Good! You're quick to understand. Lady Morrigan was absolutely right. That girl is your weakness."
"Enough of the pleasantries, Angus! Tell me where is she?!"
"Lady Morrigan and the girl are waiting for you at the place where it all started."
Isabel surprisedly looked at the pensive Joshua.
"Where it all began…? Don't you mean?!!"
Joshua nodded slowly.
"That's right, Isabel. At Nova Mesto."
There was silence for a moment.
"Isabel, our next destination is Nova Mesto. I must bring Iris home no matter what."
Leon's voice broke the silence.
"Sigh…. Alright then. We all have agreed. Joshua, you need rest and I am Iris' guardian. Don't even try to go alone. We will find Iris together. Now REST. It's getting late too."
Isabel tapped Joshua on the shoulder.
"Hoam. Then my task as messenger is done. I want to sleep. Don't disturb me."
Angus then lay down and turned his body.
"You BASTARD-!!"
Leon clenched his fists in anger. But he decided to restrain himself.
"Isabel, can we talk alone?
Malcolm whispered while gesturing for them both to move away from there.
The two of them walk away from the campfire. When Isabel was sure she was far enough, Isabel stopped and turned to look at Malcolm.
"So, what information did you get?"
"Before that, what about your legs? Is it okay?"
Malcolm glanced at the bandage on Isabel's thigh.
"It hurts a little but I think it's fine."
"I prefer to carry you all the way without stopping. Than supporting a man though…..."
"Though what?"
"That man has changed. What a strange man."
"What are you babbling about?"
"You remember when I said Joshua smell of death."
Isabel nodded.
"Now he is different. The smell of death on him seemed to disappear. I don't smell it anymore. Even though he was in critical condition when we found him."
"Hmm, I see... Back to our earlier coversation. What do you want to report to me?"
"About that…"
Malcolm scratched his head.
"I'm not sure where to start explaining this. The situation is quite complicated."
"We've got plenty of time. You can start with what is currently going through your head."
Malcolm looked in the direction where they were camping.
"Okay. I'll start with our Young Lord first."
"You mean Duke Greyson?"
Malcolm nodded then he started telling Isabel in a low voice.