IAgnar's house was large and open but lacked warmth. The sparse furniture and bare walls left the space hollow and cold, save for the aroma of a freshly cooked meal that lingered in the air. In the center of the main room stood a weathered wooden table, three plates set neatly upon it. Across from the table, a cobblestone fireplace crackled softly, a worn couch nestled before its glowing warmth.Agnar's voice broke the silence. "Come, sit. I made dinner."Hagar and Tyr exchanged puzzled glances before approaching the table. Pulling out a chair, Hagar spoke, his tone skeptical. "Were you expecting us?"Agnar smiled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Of course. I have a knack for these things."Hagar rolled his eyes. "I'm pretty sure that's beyond your capabilities.""Shut it," Agnar retorted sharply. "I'll have you know I've gotten sharper in my old age."Hagar snorted. "Sure. I bet Rickard tipped you off. You haven't changed one bit."Agnar's laugh echoed through the room as he slammed a fist on the table. "Maybe if you had this level of intuition in battle, I wouldn't have kicked your ass so many times."Hagar scowled, muttering under his breath, "Old fart."Agnar's sharp gaze fixed on him. "What was that?"Tyr sat silently, watching the exchange. The bickering was oddly disarming. He'd never seen Hagar act so... normal. Nor had he expected someone as intimidating as Agnar to be so brash and childish. Yet, the thought of Agnar in battle sent an uneasy shiver down Tyr's spine."Hey, runt!" Agnar's voice snapped Tyr out of his thoughts. The boy jumped, startled."Yeah?" Tyr mumbled, avoiding Agnar's intense gaze."Where are you from?" Agnar asked, spearing a piece of meat with his fork.The question dragged Tyr back to memories he'd rather forget—the harsh streets, the starvation, the pain. "I…" He hesitated. "I'm from Pelias," he said, his voice heavy with sadness.Agnar grunted, chewing noisily. "Never heard of it."Tyr didn't respond, his mind still drowning in old wounds.Agnar pressed further. "What realm is it in?""Realm?" Tyr frowned. "I don't know what you're talking about."Agnar leaned back in his chair, studying him. "You know—Manheim, Elfgard, Dragonholm, or one of the others?"Tyr's confusion deepened. "I don't know any of those places."Silence fell as Agnar and Hagar exchanged uneasy glances. Agnar stroked his goatee while Hagar scratched his chin, murmuring speculations to each other."Is something wrong?" Tyr asked, breaking their hushed conversation.Agnar stood abruptly, his eyes locking onto Tyr with unsettling intent. "I'm going to peer into your soul. Don't worry—it won't hurt. If I'm right, this might explain a few things."Tyr's heart began to race. "Will it… hurt?""No," Agnar said firmly. "Just close your eyes and clear your mind."Reluctantly, Tyr obeyed. He felt Agnar's rough, calloused hand press against his chest. The old man closed his eyes, and a faint glow began to radiate from his body. Threads of light—each a different color—unfurled into the room, weaving between the furniture. Slowly, they converged, drawn into Tyr's chest.Agnar's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor. At the same moment, pain surged through Tyr's body, paralyzing him. His muffled screams echoed as his body trembled. Hagar watched silently, his expression grim, as though familiar with the process.IIAgnar's eyes opened to an expanse of rolling green fields. Vibrant flowers swayed gently in the breeze, their colors a stark contrast to the pristine blue sky. A sense of calm washed over him, the serenity of the place unmatched."So, this is the boy's soul scape," Agnar murmured. "It's… peaceful. But that…" His voice trailed off as his gaze shifted to the horizon.In the distance, a storm brewed. Blackened clouds rolled forward, their thunderous roars accompanied by an inferno of flames and choking smoke."Something's wrong," Agnar muttered, stepping toward the encroaching chaos.As he neared the storm, he saw two children sitting in its heart. Their forms glowed with soul energy, their features indistinct. One child radiated a bright blue aura, seated amidst the green grass, while the other was wreathed in a dark, writhing energy, flames licking at their feet. Despite their contrasting natures, the children giggled, laughing as they played together.Agnar's eyes narrowed. Every time the children reached for each other, a white barrier flared between them, preventing their touch."What in the world is this?" Agnar whispered. His mind raced. "A soulbound…? No, that doesn't make sense. They should be able to merge. Unless…" He paused, his gaze fixed on the flashes of white light. "Could there be… a third soul?"A sudden presence descended. A being of pure, blinding light appeared, its form shapeless yet commanding. The space around Agnar was swallowed in white.The being's voice echoed, neither loud nor soft, but omnipresent. "Tyr needs your help, Agnar."Agnar flinched at the weight of the words. "Who… what are you? How do you know my name?""I am you," the being replied. "And I am everyone else."Agnar scowled. "Cryptic nonsense. What do you mean, the boy needs my help?""The time has come," the voice said, fading in and out. "Darkness approaches. Fate has chosen Tyr.""What darkness? What fate?" Agnar demanded. "Are you the one stopping their souls from merging?""Yes," the voice answered simply. "Prepare him. Teach him."The void began to collapse, pulling at Agnar's very essence. "Wait!" he shouted. "Who is this boy? What is he?"A final word echoed before everything faded. "Look."Tyr's memories flooded Agnar's mind in an overwhelming cascade. In the next instant, Agnar was hurled from the soul scape, his body slamming into the far wall with a deafening crash.Agnar groaned as he slid down the wall, the impact leaving a crater in the stone behind him. Hagar stumbled to his feet, his face pale with shock. Ripples of soul energy still danced in the air, the aftermath of whatever force had expelled Agnar from Tyr's soul scape.Hagar rushed over to the old man, his voice filled with concern. "What happened? Are you alright?"Agnar laughed—a low, throaty chuckle that carried both pain and wonder. "So… that's who he is," he said, more to himself than to Hagar.Before Hagar could press him, a muffled sound drew his attention. Tyr let out a weak groan as his body slumped forward in the chair. Hagar darted across the room, catching the boy just before he hit the ground."Tyr!" Hagar called, gently shaking the boy.Tyr's eyes fluttered open, glassy and unfocused. His voice was barely above a whisper. "The geezer lied…"Hagar couldn't help but laugh, the tension in his chest easing for just a moment. "Yeah, he does that," he muttered, his voice soft with relief.Tyr's eyes closed again, his body sinking into unconsciousness. Hagar lifted him effortlessly and carried him to the couch by the fireplace. He laid the boy down carefully, pulling a worn blanket over him. The firelight flickered across Tyr's face, casting dancing shadows that made him seem almost serene despite the strain etched into his features.Hagar stood and turned back to Agnar, who had begun righting the furniture the soul energy had scattered. The old man grumbled as he set the table upright, his movements deliberate but slower than usual. Hagar joined him, helping him reposition the chairs.When they were done, the two men sat across from each other at the table. Agnar leaned forward, resting his elbows on the wood, his gaze locked on Tyr as the boy slept."What did you see?" Hagar finally asked, his voice low and cautious.Agnar sighed, running a hand through his graying beard. "The boy's a soulbound."Hagar's face went pale. He leaned back in his chair, his lips parting slightly in shock. "No… that's impossible. Soulbounds can only exist if…"Agnar cut him off. "If someone consumes the soul of the one they cherish most, binding two souls into one. I know."Hagar clenched his fists. "Then how—?""That's not the strangest part," Agnar interrupted again. "The kid has a third soul inside him."Hagar froze, his expression unreadable. "That's impossible."Agnar shook his head. "I saw it. That third soul… it's the only thing keeping him alive."The words hung heavily in the air. Hagar lowered his head, processing what he'd just heard. "I see," he finally said, his voice subdued. "So… what do we do now?"Agnar stood abruptly, crossing the room to a cupboard. He pulled out a bottle of ale and two mugs, setting them on the table. Pouring himself a generous drink, he took a long swig before filling Hagar's mug."I'm going to train him," Agnar said, his tone resigned but resolute.Hagar looked up, surprised. "You'll train him?""I don't have much of a choice," Agnar replied, swirling the liquid in his mug. "Something's coming. Something big. The boy has to be ready… and so do we."Hagar frowned, leaning forward. "What do you mean? What's coming?"Agnar stared into his drink for a moment before meeting Hagar's gaze. "I don't know," he admitted. "But whatever it is, it's tied to that boy. His soul… it's unlike anything I've ever seen. And that third soul…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "It's connected to something far beyond us."Hagar exhaled slowly, the weight of Agnar's words sinking in. "Right," he said quietly.Agnar drained the rest of his mug and set it down with a loud thud. He leaned back in his chair, fixing Hagar with a sharp look. "Now," he said, his tone shifting, "let's talk about your situation."