AUTHOR'S POV
"You keep raising your standards. I like you", Iaso smiled. She admired Helena's wit that inherited from her mother.
"Please don't be fooled. I am narrow-minded at times. But then, I am my mother's daughter after all", Helena got to learn of people's ways during her wanderlusts that made her less gullible. Her parents always reminded her that not all things are beautiful as they seem to be. As what she have seen in her own eyes, she became fully aware that there are certain people who lure others through deception and lies, some will use you for their own benefit, and some will hurt you for sport even without confounding reasons. "They say that witches only do things that returns their favor. I believe it's only fair. But, I certainly think that your kind and mine aren't the best of friends there is. So I wonder, why am I in a Wiccan's body with a very powerful gem?", Helena thought Agalea didn't looked like she could afford a damask armcuff with a rare precious gem as a poor servant in an old tavern. The kindness Tobias and Freya gave her is out of bounds and too generous despite knowing that she's a soul traveler. They kept her in check when they invited her back in the inn, and tested her capabilities when the dark healers tracked Agalea's whereabouts. When those ghouls particularly aimed for the damask arm cuff, that's when she realized that it's of great importance to them. "I heard about a mission, but I didn't know I was a player in a game called war", she said.
"Survival is a basic instinct, Helena. As you know, Agalea, who perfected to magic of summoning and attraction, was appointed to be the keeper of the Iaso's stone. As decided by the coven, a Celestial Healer in her body would give more protection to an item that contains the powerful magic of turning back time. As soon as a sorcery rose with an intention of building an army and aiming for my stone, Wicce is no longer safe for my relic. We had to plan ahead", Iaso pointed out. Helena finally understood why she always ends up in the same body in the last few soul wanderlusts that she performed. Agalea's magic pulls in her soul. By and by, she became fully aware that the dark healers were after the rare gem on the arm cuff because of the great power it holds. However, she thinks Iaso is clueless that she only made it easier for Argus to get a hold of the Iaso's stone given that he's also after her. "We're at war, Helena. And this kingdom calls for Tris or her descendant for she have sworn with her life to protect us.", she said which only convinced Helena that she shouldn't be in this kingdom given that her mother refrains her from soul traveling. For whatever reason, perhaps it's because wars are tiring.
"My mother fled a long time ago in case you didn't know", Helena looked away. With all honesty, Helena had no confidence to be part of a war where she know she can't win. Iaso is barking on the wrong tree, Helena believed.
"Is that a no?", Iaso lifted her brows at Helena's defiance.
Helena stared back at Iaso's eyes. "I had an obsidian bracelet with me that I got from Brandenburg. Care to explain where it might be?", Helena blurted out.
"From Brandenburg? Hmm.. I'm guessing you aren't aware of the dark magic inside that bracelet", Iaso have confirmed that Brandenburg has been infiltrated by Celeste through Callaghan.
"Dark Magic?", Helena creased her brows at one of Iaso's possible lies.
"We destroy every item that possesses diabolic mysticism. We abhor sorcery because of the grave consequences that goes with it. It just so happen that we sensed it in your chanery. That bracelet contains dark magic that usurps abilities and traps it inside on each bead. It's like a collection of unique powers in one item. So whomever you got that piece from, he means danger", Iaso explained. Helena then had a sudden thought that Iaso might not mean harm at all. She is just a loyal imperialist who did what she could do to save her beloved kingdom.
"I used it a couple of times, and I was able to turn back time… I was wearing the arm cuff", Helena thought. Hence, she was told that the bracelet, when worn, supposedly enhances ones' power. She was deceived, clearly.
"That explains it then. The moment that you used the power of my stone, the bracelet usurped its magic to one of its beads. Do not fret my dear Helena, the power of my stone has been restored. You can still get to keep it", Iaso said. Then, she caught Helena staring down on her hands. "And no, it won't usurp your celestial powers. The beads only steals magic contained in divine items", she explained that relieved the celestial healer.
Helena took the damask arm cuff from her chanery and handed it over to Iaso. "I can't keep this. It's yours", For a soul traveler, Helena is very much concerned having such incredible power in her possession. She doesn't like watching her back all the time. Argus may be a soul traveler like her, whom she should choose to be on the same side without hesitations. Hence, she trusts her father, Gaius, to stay far away as much as possible.
Iaso took it but then, she placed it on Helena's wrist, leaving the celestial soul traveler dubious on Iaso's real motive. "It fits you perfectly. Consider it as a gift from the Wiccans.", she insisted. "Now going back. It feels like you haven't got the whole picture of our ordeal here. Allow me to help you decide", Iaso stepped closer as she dim the lights of the lanterns.
Helena pierced her eyes through the dimness as she step back. Breathing heavily while she sense a heavy presence enveloping Iaso, she called the winds that whirled the haze trying to blind the Wiccan. She stopped when a hand laid on her shoulder. "Forget about family. Forget about home. Forget about love", Iaso whispered that completely stopped the whirling winds. "You are bound to find the traveler's stone, protect the Iaso's stone, fight Celeste and Argus, and restore peace in this kingdom. Obedire Maga, Helena". Helena's gray eyes flickered after Iaso uttered those last words. She twisted Helena's fate with her compulsion spell to make sure her plans won't go astray. The lights from the lanterns came back at the same time that Helena jolted from a short daze. "So, what do you think?", the Wiccan casually asked.
"I'll… I'll find the… traveler's stone first", Helena stammered that made Iaso curve her lips up.
When Iaso turned away, she was surprised to see Stellan running towards them. She greeted the disheveled and breathless paladin who then sauntered at the sight of Helena. The celestial healer stood motionless by the lanterns. "The soul traveler have finally decided, just as what you hoped for", Iaso told Stellan who's been worried from searching all over for Helena.