Leon and Brandon lay sprawled across the earth slope, gasping for breath. Their chests heaved as they tried to quiet their ragged breathing, their bodies burning with exhaustion. The frantic escape through the woods had pushed them to their limits. Sweat dripped from their brows, mingling with the dirt on their faces, but at least Liam's crazed roars had faded into the distance. The forest around them was still, thick with shadows and the eerie disarray of time and space. Liam, it seemed, had been swallowed by the forest's chaotic magic.
"Thank the gods," Brandon muttered, his voice barely audible between labored breaths. "It sounds like he's lost in the forest."
Leon nodded, eyes darting warily around the twisted trees. "If it were only confusion, maybe we could have handled it," he said, his voice tinged with unease. "But Liam... he's not just confused. Did you see what he did back there?"
Leon grimaced, recalling the sight of Liam swinging his sword with terrifying strength, effortlessly splitting a thick tree trunk in two. Worse still was the grotesque image of his limbs regenerating, knitting back together as if time itself had bent to his will. No human should have such power.
"That strength... and the way his wounds healed," Brandon shuddered. "There's no way we can face him head-on."
Leon pressed his hands to his waist, still panting. "Huhu... huhu..." He forced a grim smile. "He's possessed, Brandon. There's no other explanation. A demon's got hold of him." He shook his head, trying to steady his breath. "I don't know why or how, but let's just hope you don't get possessed next. If you do, give me a quick death, alright? I'm too tired to run again."
Brandon gave a weak chuckle, though the fear in his eyes lingered. "I'll do my best," he replied, his mouth twitching at Leon's attempt at humor. But the image of Liam's face, bloodied and twisted with rage and pain, haunted him. The memory sent an icy chill racing down his spine, the kind that clung even when the danger was no longer visible.
With trembling hands, Brandon clasped them together and began to pray to the Holy Sun, his whispered words a desperate plea for protection. His faith had always been strong, but after facing such darkness, it felt like the only shield between him and the encroaching madness.
Leon, meanwhile, collapsed onto his back, staring up at the distorted sky between the trees. His chest and lungs burned like fire, each breath dry and painful. He was drained, the relentless fleeing from one horror after another leaving him with no strength to move.
"Be thankful," came a voice, soft but teasing. "That child is being controlled by a Demon of Wrath. If it were the Demon of Lust or Pride, you'd be in much worse trouble. You wouldn't have escaped."
Leon groaned, exasperated. "There are *different* types of demons?" he asked, staring up at the swirling canopy as if expecting an answer from the sky.
"Of course," the voice responded smoothly. "But now is not the time for demonology lessons. You don't have much time. The longer you stay here, the more likely it is that your spirit will be corrupted by the forest's influence. And Liam... he's just an ordinary boy. If this drags on, there'll be no saving him from the demon."
Leon sat up with a groan, casting a wary glance around. The forest remained unsettlingly quiet, but the twisted trees loomed ominously, casting long, unnatural shadows. "So, what can we do to snap Liam out of it? He's lost out there somewhere, and I'm not keen on running into him again unless we have a plan."
"You won't need to find him," the girl's voice chimed again, her tone as calm as ever. "The demon will come to you."
Leon frowned, wiping the sweat from his brow. "What do you mean? We're not exactly in a position to—"
"Remember the circle of runes I taught you earlier?"
Leon's mind raced back to the intricate design he had painstakingly carved into the earth near the stream, following the girl's detailed instructions. "Yeah, but that was just to gather wandering souls, right? I didn't know it could work on demons too."
"It can," the voice replied, almost amused. "With a slight modification, the same ritual for gathering souls can be used to lure beings that hunger for them. A demon is no different. Luckily for us, Liam's demon is fueled by wrath, so it shouldn't be too hard to trick him into your trap. But you'll need to make some changes to the original plan."
Leon stood, his legs wobbly but his resolve steeling. "Changes?"
"Yes," the voice continued, the teasing edge gone now, replaced by a seriousness that made Leon pay attention. "The original ritual was designed to mimic the earth's spiritual energy, but that won't be enough to lure the demon. You'll need something more… enticing to anger a creature of wrath."
Leon's mind worked furiously, considering the task ahead. Brandon, still deep in prayer, glanced up at his companion, his brow furrowed in concern. "Can we really do this?" Brandon asked, doubt creeping into his voice.
Leon managed a shaky grin. "We don't have a choice. Either we lure the demon and save Liam, or we get torn apart trying."
Brandon swallowed hard, pushing away the fear gnawing at his gut. "Then let's do it," he said, standing beside Leon, the weight of the task settling over them like the oppressive shadows of the forest.
The girl hesitated for a moment, her mind racing as she formulated a plan. After a brief pause, she spoke with clear determination. "Alright, I've got it. Listen carefully, Leon. I'm going to teach you how to carve the exorcism ritual and the exact spell you'll need to chant. Once the ritual starts, I won't be able to guide you step-by-step. Since you can't use magic or control elemental forces, I'll have to use my own spirit to channel the chaotic energy in this place. That energy will serve as the core and bait for the ritual."
Leon looked at her intently, his breathing still labored but his attention sharpened by her words.
"While I'm focused on containing the energy, I won't have the strength to help you recite the spell. You'll need to memorize every single word and pronunciation before we begin. Do you understand?" Her tone was serious, with an edge of urgency.
Leon nodded, his expression determined. "I understand," he said, though inwardly he felt a flicker of doubt. His memory was decent, but this seemed like no ordinary task.
"Don't underestimate this," she warned, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Haven't you noticed that I haven't been speaking in a language you're familiar with? Yet we've been communicating easily. Come to think of it, you're not even speaking in *Feru*, your native tongue. Isn't it strange?"
Leon blinked in surprise. He hadn't realized it, but now that she mentioned it, he had been speaking to her in English, his birth language. Yet somehow, they'd understood each other perfectly all along. "I, how is that possible?" he stammered.
The girl's voice softened as she muttered to herself, deep in thought. "I'm surprised, honestly. Languages don't just appear out of nowhere. It's fascinating... but not important right now."
Snapping back to the task at hand, she continued, "Back to the point. The spell you need to chant is in the ancient language of Lorelit. If you try to translate it into Feru or any other language, it won't work. You must repeat the original pronunciation exactly as I teach you. Even the slightest change in tone could cause the spell to fail."
Leon's throat tightened. This wasn't just memorizing a spell; it was reciting an ancient, delicate chant perfectly. One mistake, and the entire ritual would collapse. "Understood," he said, his voice quieter this time, the weight of the responsibility sinking in.
The girl sighed softly. "I wouldn't have to go through all this if I could do it alone. But we have no choice. I'll recite the spell to you a few times. Pay close attention. Rest and recover your strength while I do."
"Go ahead," Leon replied, straightening his posture. His expression was one of steely concentration, as though preparing for one of those grueling tests he used to dread. He focused intently, tuning out everything except her voice.
The girl began to chant, her voice rich and melodic, the ancient words flowing like music. The spell wasn't overly long, but the rhythm of the chant was intricate. The words, while deceptively simple at first, shifted subtly in tone, with five or six rapid changes in pitch that were easy to miss. To Leon, it was like trying to catch the delicate notes of a song while learning to sing it at the same time.
Her voice danced through the chant, each phrase precise and beautiful, but when Leon tried to repeat it, his tongue stumbled awkwardly over the unfamiliar syllables. His attempts felt clumsy, as if his mouth were bound by invisible cords. He gritted his teeth, frustrated by how difficult it was to get the flow right.
"Take your time," the girl encouraged, her tone patient. "It's okay if you're a bit slow. As long as the pause between words doesn't exceed three breaths, the spell will still form. But," she added with a serious note, "you must not make a mistake. If you do, you'll have to start over, and we won't have many chances for that. Time is short."
Leon took a deep breath, calming his mind. He listened closely to her recitation once more, focusing not on the meaning but the sounds themselves, the rise and fall of her voice, the way each syllable rolled from her tongue. It was like memorizing a complex melody.
As the minutes passed, and his strength gradually returned, Leon found himself slowly mastering the spell. He repeated the words, adjusting his tone with each repetition until they began to flow more naturally. Two spells in total, one to activate the summoning formation, and another to initiate the exorcism.
The girl's voice remained steady as she continued her instructions. "You're doing well, but we're not done yet. The ritual isn't just about chanting the words. You'll need to carve the runes with precision, and activate the magic circle at the right moment. I'll walk you through the process step-by-step. Once the summoning formation is in place, Liam's demon will be drawn to it. That's when the real danger begins."
Leon nodded, his heart pounding. "And how do I bring Liam back once the demon is trapped?"
The girl's eyes flickered with a trace of empathy. "Liam's consciousness is buried deep within the demon's rage. You'll need to call out to him, find something that can reach him beyond the demon's influence. I can guide you, but in the end, it will be up to you to bring him back."
Leon swallowed hard, the enormity of the task ahead weighing on him. But there was no turning back. He had to save Liam, no matter the cost.
"Alright," he said, steeling himself. "Let's do this."
Liam's soul was still clinging to its fragile connection with his body, not yet fully consumed by the demon. But time was running short. Before the devil devoured him completely and the situation became irreversible, there was one last chance to save him. They had to reconfigure the summoning formation, replacing the original core designed to attract the undead with a pseudo-soul, an artificial construct made from magic that mimicked the emotions and desires of a living being, but with mental energy magnified many times over.
Leon furrowed his brow, uncertainty evident in his voice. "If we do that, won't we attract something even worse? More powerful demons from the spiritual world?"
The young girl, her eyes sharp with confidence, shook her head. "No need to worry. The pseudo-soul is nothing more than an imitation, crafted from magic. It doesn't leave a trace in the spirit world like a real soul would. It'll only deceive the angry demon that's already taken hold of Liam. The others won't sense it."
Leon wasn't fully convinced, but time pressed. He continued, "So, all it takes is luring the demon inside the formation? Then what?"
"That's only the beginning," she replied, her voice firm but measured. "When the demon, controlling Liam, steps into the trap, you and I have to work together to finish it. This spiritual space bends the usual laws of life and death. I'll activate a soul-repelling rune to pull Liam's soul out of his body. Once his soul is removed, the demon will be exposed for what it truly is, and you'll have your chance."
Leon's eyes widened in shock. "Wait a minute. You're going to remove his soul? Isn't that... isn't that going to kill him?"
"In the normal world, yes," she replied, as if explaining something mundane. "But we're not in the normal world, Leon. This is a spiritual realm, separate from reality. Here, even if someone's body dies, their soul doesn't immediately fade into the Dead Sea. We can use this environment to our advantage."
Leon's mouth hung open. "But... are you sure we can put his soul back after all that?"
She smirked, a spark of reassurance flickering in her eyes. "Absolutely. When the demon is banished back to the spirit world, I'll guide Liam's soul back into his body. The rune I'll use only extracts the soul, it doesn't harm the body. The real challenge will be timing."
Leon's mind swam with the complexity of it all, trying to piece together the steps.
Under her instruction, he would need to set up two magical ritual: the "Spirit Summoning Ritual" and the "Exorcism Ritual," linking them together into one intricate ritual. Once that was in place, the girl would cast a spell to create the pseudo-soul, baiting the demon currently possessing Liam into the heart of the trap.
Once the demon entered, she would trigger the soul-repelling rune, pulling Liam's soul out of his body, leaving the demon exposed. And then, Leon; his heart racing just thinking about it, would have to chant the incantation that would activate the exorcism ritual, banishing the demon back to the spirit world.
The whole process seemed perilous. So much could go wrong, and yet... there was no other option. He looked at her, weighing the risk.
"So, what do you think?" she asked, her voice softer now but still carrying the weight of the situation. "You can still back out if you want. Once we start the soul-summoning ritual, it's not just the demon we'll have to worry about. The undead wandering this realm will be drawn to the disturbance as well. And until we lure the demon into the formation, we can't use the soul-repelling rune to hold back the undead. If they break through, everything we've done could fall apart."
Leon's hands clenched at his sides. It was a dangerous game they were playing, but Liam's life hung in the balance. His voice steadied as he met her gaze.
"Let's do it."
The girl nodded, her expression unreadable, but a silent understanding passed between them. There was no room for mistakes. This was a battle not just for Liam's life, but for his very soul.
"If what you attracted were just the undead of wild animals, you might be able to handle them," the girl explained, her voice calm but laced with an edge of warning. "But if something stronger comes... well, I'm telling you now, no one would blame you for walking away. Even if you give up on saving Liam, no one would speak against you. After all, if it wasn't for the spell we cast that day, the boy wouldn't even be alive right now. You don't owe him anything."
Her words lingered in the air like a cold breeze, reminding Leon of the harsh reality of their situation. She wasn't wrong. Everything had its risks. She continued, her tone practical, even urging him to take the safer route.
"The basic materials are prepared. We could make an escape guide and head back to reality right now, before things spiral further out of control. It might be the wisest choice."
Leon stood there, shoulders tense, scratching the back of his head in frustration. The weight of the decision sat heavily on him, clouding his thoughts. He didn't owe Liam anything, right? The boy's survival was, in part, thanks to the magic they'd used, magic Leon had been a part of. His mind swirled with conflicting emotions.
It wasn't that long ago when Liam and Brandon had risked their own lives for him, hauling his unconscious body through dangerous territory instead of leaving him behind. And yet, the girl's voice in his mind rang true: *You've already saved Liam once. You don't owe him anything more.*
So, why was it so hard to abandon him now? Was it just a sense of duty? Some innate desire to be the "good guy"?
Leon knew he wasn't a selfless hero. Sure, he had compassion, but not the kind that would drive him to throw his life away without hesitation. He wasn't some saint willing to die for the sake of others. So, why was he still considering this insane risk?
For a long moment, he pondered, the knot of confusion in his chest slowly unraveling as clarity emerged.
"It's not that simple," Leon muttered to himself, then louder, "Let me put it this way: it was my idea for us to flee north, but I don't feel responsible for Brandon's danger. He agreed after thinking it through. We're partners in this mess, equally responsible."
He paused, feeling some sense of peace in his words. But then his gaze hardened. "But Liam… Liam is different. He trusted my decision blindly. He didn't question me; he followed. I feel responsible for him being in this mess. You said that having your soul devoured by a demon is worse than death itself, worse than not finding rest after you die. And I can't let that happen to him because of *me*. If Liam's soul is doomed because of a choice I made, then even if I survive, I'll never sleep peacefully again. I need to fix this."
Leon straightened, resolution in his posture. He walked over to Brandon, who had been quietly resting, eyes closed in what seemed to be a prayer or meditation. Leon gave him a firm pat, rousing him from his quiet vigil.
"I'm going to save Liam," Leon declared, his voice steady but grave. "It's dangerous, and I might die trying."
Brandon blinked, the confusion clear in his eyes. He hadn't been privy to the conversation Leon had been having in his mind with the girl. All he had heard were Leon's sudden words of resolve. Slowly, comprehension dawned on him, and his expression darkened with concern.
"Since we started running, when has there ever *not* been a risk?" Brandon said with a raised brow, his tone dry but filled with the weight of their shared struggles. With a groan, he took Leon's hand and pulled himself to his feet, his legs weak and sore from exhaustion.
He locked eyes with Leon, standing tall despite his weariness. "I can't make it out of this place on my own, and the descendants of the Flarel family don't abandon their friends. Ever."
Leon felt a surge of warmth at Brandon's words. The decision was made, no more second-guessing, no more doubts. They would face the danger together, just as they had done since the beginning.