"You have spent a large part of your energy and mana this week. You should not be doing magic." The soft whisper in her ears did not make her change her mind.
Her whole body was covered in sweat when she picked the knife and made a small shallow cut in her index finger. The blood touched the small circle she had made on a scroll and was placed just below her hands.
The black ink turned golden when her blood touched the scroll as if it had come to life.
Blood started to come from her nose too showing how weak her body had turned but her lips continued to mutter the spell as if her body could not feel the pain coming from her soul.
It felt like it was burning in hell with a gut wrenching pain that her eyes controlled but the words continued to flow out of her mouth until the scroll continued to shine and flow into the air.
Once done, it caught fire and burnt leaving only ashes behind. She stared at the ashes that were flying and mixing in the air, leaving no proof behind with a smile on her face.
"If you continue to do this, you are going to die. Your soul has started to burn." the whispered muttered with displeasure, its voice brooding and condemning her but she just took a deep breath with a small smile on her face.
"It is ok, there is no one who loves or wants me anyway!" her voice was barely above a whisper as if she was talking to herself but the voice frowned.
"I love you and I need you to live. If you die, I will die too master. I have used all my energy in turning back the time but your soul has been broken in the process and I have turned so feeble that I can not form a body anymore.
I beg you to have mercy and give yourself time to heal. Or.. we both will die, master." this time its voice turned softer and full of pleading that Katherine closed her eyes.
She knew she had been too demanding and harsh to her. She was just a kid too and by asking to use her soul to change the time was no less than a blackmail but the cold body of her son had stirred all the emotions in her at once.
She could not bear to lose the only reason for existence. Would dying be better than living a soulless life in hell.
"You know even rest can not heal my soul, you are just trying to deceive yourself. But I will free you after giving all my powers if the day comes that I have to leave the world.
So, you should not be worried about your life." The voice seemed more angry after listening to her words. A small sparkling light took her circles as if it was trying to take out its anger but in the end it shouted again.
"You know that a spirit without a master is a waste. Even if I would survive, those wizards would catch me and use me for their greed. I would rather die with you!" it took a small sigh as it settled back on her shoulders again. "If only your spoiled son had listened to your reasons first and complained from the start when he did not like something.
What stunt he was trying to play by attempting suicide. And he did not have an affinity for spirits either. I have spent so much time protecting him yet he did not know about my existence.
He was never thankful for that! And yet you.." the voice stopped again and sighed as it felt that her voice was turning more feeble.
"You need rest, you can complain about my son once you feel better. Now, go and rest. I am done and I will rest too." the voice turned silent as if it was assessing her face to know if she was telling the truth.
She had always been conscious enough to take good care of her in the past, but since the time she had returned, she was trying to achieve so many things at once that the spirit was not sure anymore.
But it felt weak and was not able to stay conscious. She had used a large part of her magic in the spell and its body was at its limit.
Even now, blood was running from her nose and her face had turned ashen yet she was performing spells. Though it was able to convince her to not use deadly spells, every spell still needed magic to be done. Was she going to use magic till she turned into an ugly ghost?
Her eyes that had always shone like a rare gem and her face that looked rosy and full of radiance was withering slowly. But it was no better, not only had it lost its body but her power to stay awake and do tasks, a single spell and it could feel the slumber taking it in its arms.
"Then, I will see you once I gain enough energy and heal myself." it flew a bit as if it was waving hands when Katherine touched the small sparkle in the air as if it was feeling bad for it.
"I am sorry to hurt you so much for my greed. I promise that I will make up with you." but the light just sparkled a bit more and vanished.
"Silly master!" was all it said before leaving. Katherine stood up but her feet staggered and she sat again. Her body was burning way too much that she was not able to walk even when her bed was just a few steps away from her desk where she was sitting to perform magic.
"At least, I will have a carefree morning!"