"Malcolm, stay close to her," whispered Isabel while glancing at Iris who was lying down. Occasionally a small cough is heard.
Malcolm nodded.
"I will go find Joshua. You know where he is?"
"He went up to the top of the west wall. Looks like he's in a bad mood. Did something bad happen?"
"There's nothing to worry about. I just want to comfort him as a friend."
Isabel then went up the stairs.
Cold air greeted her. The crescent moon appears to shine in the distance. Isabel rubbed her hands to keep herself warm. The wind was blowing pretty strong above.
From a distance, she could see Joshua standing lost in thought. His gaze looked blank.
"Joshua, I was looking for you. Are you okay?"
Joshua only glanced at Isabel with a gloomy face.
"Is she sleeping already?"
"Right now, she's trying to rest. Still coughing. Hopefully tomorrow morning she will be better."
"..."
Isabel then sat near Joshua.
"Tell me what happened. From your reaction it seems you know something that I don't."
Joshua let out a long breath.
"It's a long story."
"Maybe I can help you. You don't need to keep everything to yourself."
Joshua then sat down next to Isabel and started telling her about what happened at the Abminster Monastery. Starting from their visit because the book of St. Varos, the history of Seraphine Aile including about The Chosen Vessel and finally the transfer process carried out by Archpriest Jerome.
Isabel listened to everything carefully. Joshua could see that Isabel was in shock hearing all of his stories. But Isabel tried to focus on understanding Joshua's story and not let her emotions get the better of her.
After hearing everything, Isabel folded her arms and tapped her fingers.
"So… now you think…. Iris went through the degenerations …. like her ancestors experienced when they became The Chosen Vessel?"
"Correct. She's experiencing similar symptoms to the one I had before the transfer…. Although I've never experienced black stains like that. I didn't think it would turn out like this…. because Seraphine Aile is still in my body…. It's as if… I have Seraphine Aile but she has to suffer all the curse."
Joshua said as he squeezed his head.
"Moreover, coupled with the curse from Morrigan. Why did she have to go through all of that?!"
Joshua angrily punched in a nearby wall until crushed.
Isabel was silent. Could not answer anything. She realized that no words could comfort Joshua at this time. But at least, she hopes can give Joshua a purpose.
"Joshua…. You love her, don't you?"
Isabel's question made Joshua flinch.
"I can see that. You don't have to deny it."
Not a word came out of Joshua's mouth.
"Then act normal with her. Take control of your emotions. I don't think there's anything Iris wants right now but to be with you."
Isabel rose to her feet. She could catch a glimpse of Joshua's tears falling before he hastily wiped them away.
"I'm going to rest. You accompany her tonight. Speak with her. Right now, she feels she has disappointed you."
Isabel then walked downstairs and left Joshua. Joshua watched Isabel leave with a blank stare. From above he could see Isabel checking on Iris's condition.
"I'm sorry, Isabel. I can't take your advice."
Joshua then went downstairs to meet Morrigan who was meditating at the time.
Morrigan opened her eyes when she heard Joshua's footsteps.
"What else could you want now? Like I said before, I have nothing to do with her sickness."
Joshua said in a resolute voice.
"I… have an offer for you."
======
Joshua stood in front of the door to Iris' resting room. Slowly he opened the door. Iris seemed to be sound asleep. On the other side, Isabel seemed to be sleeping soundly too.
Joshua walked over to Iris and stroked Iris' head gently.
Joshua slowly lowered his head and kissed Iris on the forehead and whispered, "I will take care of everything, Iris."
After that Joshua approached Isabel and put a letter in her clothes. Joshua looked back at Iris with a sad face before walking out of there.
Behind the bushes, Malcolm was lying motionless.
"Are you ready?"
Morrigan appeared from behind the wall.
Joshua looked around him. Morning has come.
"Are you sure they won't be awake long enough?"
"I've given them a spell to make them fall asleep. They won't wake up until noon. I guess we were pretty far from them by then."
"Okay. Let us go."
They walk inside the city.
Morrigan glanced at Joshua who was walking in calmly.
She remembered their conversation last night.
"I… have an offer for you."
"What offer? I don't think you have anything else to offer."
"You think I don't know anything about you…. Amara?"
Morrigan immediately turned around in anger.
"H-How did you know that name?!"
Morrigan quickly gripped Joshua's neck.
Joshua brushed Morrigan's hand off coolly.
"I know what you want. Cooperate with me."
Morrigan folded her arms.
"Tell me what you want."
"You intend to bring Raul to life, don't you? And you need his soul.", Joshua answered while pointing at himself.
"So?"
Morrigan glared at Joshua but Joshua ignored her and continued his words in a calm manner.
"You know I could just leave you here and disappear. And you will miss your chance to get your brother soul."
"And you also know that girl's life is in my hands. If you messed up, I could have activated the curse right now."
Joshua replied in an icy voice.
"I know. But that girl will die anyway. If not by you…. She will die by Seraphine Aile. Currently, Iris' life is on the line. Whatever you do will make no difference to her fate. On the contrary…. If I disappear, you will lose your only chance of getting your brother back."
Morrigan bit her finger.
"So, what is it you want?"
Joshua stared at Morrigan for a moment.
"First, I want you to remove your curse on Iris. Remember if anything happened to her…. I will go and disappear."
Morrigan looked away in anger. But she has no choice.
"Okay. Then what else?"
"Secondly, only the two of us will continue our journey. The others… can you make sure they're not following us. It would be better if they weren't in Nova Mesto for their own safety."
Morrigan seemed to ponder a moment.
"Hmmm…. I can make them not follow us. But it would be difficult sending them out of here. With so much magic in this city. You know how difficult it is for us to pass through the fog that covers this city."
"Fine. Do what you can. Tomorrow morning, we will both go alone. Where are you headed in Nova Mesto?"
"The northern part of this city."
"Good. I have one more request before- "
Morrigan snapped out of her reverie when Joshua suddenly said in a cold tone.
"What are you thinking about? Don't even think about breaking our deal, Amara."
For a moment Joshua's face looked like Raul's.
Morrigan gasped in surprise and slapped Joshua.
"SILENT! Only my brother can CALL ME that! And you are not HIM!"
After that Morrigan walked ahead of Joshua.
Joshua just kept quiet while stroking Morrigan's slap marks and continued on his way as if nothing had happened.
In several corners of the city of Nova Mesto, there are still undead hiding from the sun. That too in very small amounts.
They walked through the city without encountering any problems. Only occasional groans could be heard from the undead hiding within the building.
Finally, they arrived at the Temple of Varos. The Temple of Varos looks like ruins. Many parts of the building which is already ancient looks destroyed. Moss can be seen in some parts of the building.
Morrigan walked up the stairs and entered without hesitation.
Inside the building are several undead. As the atmosphere inside tended to be dark some of the undead started moving to attack.
Joshua prepares to attack but Morrigan's black magic easily wipes them all.
They continued their journey until they arrived at the main hall with a statue of St. Varos with its emblem.
Joshua recognized that hall. He had been here before when he was looking for High Priest Carlos.
After clearing out all the undead that were there, Morrigan approached the statue.
Then she cast a spell in a foreign language. The floor they were standing on suddenly moved and formed a staircase leading up. The staircase was tall and long.
"We're close," said Morrigan.
They walked up the stairs until they came to a long corridor. At the end is the only door that exists.
Morrigan opened it.
They were in a laboratory filled with shelves filled with books and strange items. The laboratory that Joshua always saw in his dreams.
In the deepest part of the room there is a large tube. Morrigan swiped at the dusty tube.
Inside is a human body that appears to be asleep. The body is in perfect condition and does not suffer any damage. Raul's body.
Morrigan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled pleasantly when she saw it.
"I'm grateful. You're still in good shape."
Then Morrigan turned to look at Joshua.
"I will prepare for the ceremony. Are you ready?"
Josh nodded.
"Just as I promised…. piece of Raul's soul in my body. Even you can take Seraphine Aile from me too. Isn't that what you two have wanted for a long time?"
Morrigan looked at Joshua curiously.
"Why do you want me to do that? What I need is a piece of Raul's soul to bring him back to life. But it doesn't matter if you don't mind losing your life because of that."
"I don't mind... in fact I insist you do it."
"You know what will happen if I take this Seraphine Aile out of your body right? You are basically a corpse and now you are alive because of the power of Seraphine Aile that resides in your body."
"I… don't care. If that could make Iris free from the degeneration. I am the source. If I didn't exist…. Maybe it can cancel the agreement she made with the dark shadow."
"I see. Everything for her. Fine if that's what you want. Don't regret it."
Then Morrigan started drawing a large magic circle on the floor while casting a spell. After she finished, she continued to create a small magic circle in the center.
"Stand within the small circle."
Joshua complied.
Morrigan raised one of her hands and cast a spell in a foreign language.
"Animas perditas accerso. anima mea sanguine meo alligata est. Praecipio tibi ut ad pristinum corpus redeas."
She repeated the sentence several times until a rune slowly appeared in her hand. Joshua recognized it as one of the runes he had seen in his dream.
"I summon lost souls. The soul that is bound to my blood. I command, return to your original body."
Joshua felt his body hurt and felt like something was coming out.
A spirit tried to force its way out.
When the spirit managed to get out…. Morrigan guided with her hands to enter Raul's body which was in the tube. Raul's body flashed a blinding light and the spirit disappeared.
Joshua fell to his knees while trying to regulate his panting breaths.
"Did it work?"
"I have no idea…. This is my first time trying it too. I have followed all the written instructions. There shouldn't be anything wrong…"
Morrigan drew closer to the tube and looked at Raul's face with dismay.
"S…. Sis…."
Suddenly there was a low sound from the tube. Raul slowly opened his eyes….
"I succeeded! Raul…. Can you hear me? It's me…."
Morrigan wept with joy.
Raul slowly pressed his hand to the side of the tube.
"S… sis…. I…..."
Morrigan put her hand where Raul's hand was. Only the glass tube separated their hands.
"Raul, what are you trying to say….?"
"I-I… lo… ve…. yo… u…."
Finished saying that Raul's body slumped limp and his eyes closed. His body parts slowly began to crumble into bits and pieces. Starting from the hands and feet.
"No! What is wrong?! Why is it like this?!"
Morrigan screamed as she pounded on the tube. Her whole face was full of tears.
"Quick! Move Seraphine Aile from my body to his!"
"I-I…"
"We don't have much time left. This is the only way to save your brother!"
Morrigan rushed to cast the incantation. The incantation she used to take Seraphine Aile from Iris and the same spell Archpriest Jerome used back in Abminster Monastery. An aura of darkness came out of Morrigan's hand and bound Joshua.
Joshua's body began to feel pain being torn apart. Seraphine Aile started to light up. Joshua's eyes whitened. An aura of darkness enveloped Joshua and Raul.
"This is going to be very painful!", Morrigan shouted.
Seraphine Aile slowly began to move from Joshua's body to Raul's body.
In a semi-conscious state…. Joshua remembered the times he had with Iris. Especially when they spend time together at his house. Such peaceful moments. A memory that is very dear and precious to him.
Within his heart, Joshua said a prayer, "Iris…. I wish you to live free and happy. I'm sorry I can't be with you…."