[Base of Three Gods Church.]

I returned back to my home along with Christina after we parted ways with Inës.

The young girl was going back to her kingdom and she also made me promise that I would visit her soon.

’So, they are trying to unify the continent....’

As I landed on the ground, putting Christina down, I couldn’t help but think about the information I got.

This wasn’t a good thing and I really didn’t like how the humans were trying to gain power.

’This will lead to a disaster.’

Christina noticed my thoughtful look as she said, "Don’t think too much." She said. "They can’t do anything about you now."

"They can." I replied, walking towards the house. "They can target my weakness."

She immediately understood whom I was referring to.

Christina’s steps slowed. "....Us, right?"

"Nymeria. Zenith. Everyone around me."

"Should have kept your love to just me then." She grumbled softly. "Maybe you wouldn’t have to think too much then."

I chuckled and shook my head in response. There was no point in continuing the topic.

When we reached the main door, the maids immediately walked forward to greet us.

And when I entered, I quickly noticed a girl sitting in the main hall along with multiple books.

Zenith looked up and froze for a second before she rushed towards us.

"Welcome back, Christy!" She beamed in joy as she gave Christina a big hug. "I was getting so bored without you."

Christina laughed as Zenith tightened her arms around her.

"You could have spent time with Nymeria." She said, taking a step back.

Zenith squinted her eyes before shaking her head. "I would rather die of boredom."

Christina glanced over Zenith’s shoulder toward the pile of books on the table.

"What were you doing?"

"Oh, Himmel showed me some ritual runes before." She replied, grabbing Christina’s hand and dragging her towards the books. "I was trying to make a barrier while referencing it."

’....And I was completely ignored.’

I thought, walking towards the sofa as well, while glancing at the diagram she made.

It was kind of similar to the one that had been given to me by the priest of the Saintess Cathedral Church of the Moon Goddess.

When I looked away, I found an elf walking towards me with a smile.

Nymeria blinked at both the girls before she stood by my side. "Welcome back."

"How was your day?" I asked, glancing at her. "You didn’t bully Zenith, did you?"

"I can hear you!"

Zenith snapped, but I pretended that I didn’t hear her.

"I was busy spending time with Lady Pony." She replied softly. "She is quite anxious after Elijah and Heather left."

I slowly nodded my head as I understood her concerns.

Her son was trying a stupid thing in the first place.

Nymeria kept staring at my face for a long while. "....You look troubled."

"Am I?"

She nodded her head. "Can I help you?"

I shook my head. "Not right now."

She wanted to speak more but before she could, Christina’s body shook mid-argument with Zenith.

A golden light leaked out of her body, taking the shape of a woman.

The woman had long golden hair falling down to her knees and crimson eyes brighter than a red moon.

Zenith was the most shocked of us all and it was understandable.

Inna blinked and smiled at me. "Hello there."

"What happened?" I asked, tilting my head.

She pointed at a room on the side of the main hall. "Mind if we talk alone?"

I shook my head. "Sure, let’s go."

We walked towards the room, leaving the stunned women behind.

"Bet Zenith will call you a ghost." I mumbled in her ear as we walked. "Golden ghost."

Inna however didn’t seem to be in the mood for jokes.

I shut the door behind us when we walked inside the room.

She let out a sigh and sat down on the bed, her eyes on me.

"How are you feeling?" She asked softly.

"Quite good." I replied, tilting my head. "Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, it’s just...." She mumbled. "....Your soul."

"....."

I didn’t speak as I kept looking at her in confusion.

"You need a complete soul to reach demigod rank." She replied, rubbing her temple. "You are already reaching the peak of Eternal rank. We need to find a way to fix your broken soul."

I nodded my head as I understood the gravity of the situation.

My soul had been torn apart from my decision to exchange El for a part of my soul.

El had also warned me back then that I would face the consequences of my actions.

"Is there a way to fix it?" I asked her. "....It’s not impossible, right?"

"No, fixing it is possible." She replied, shaking her head. "....But we need to do it as quickly as possible."

I frowned at her words. "Why?"

Inna didn’t respond as she stood up and walked towards the window. "Call Arawn."

I remained silent before I said, "Arawn."

The elf appeared by my side in an instant as he bowed towards me. "My lord."

After a second of silence he acknowledged Inna as well. "Lady Innana."

Inna smiled gently. "How have you been?"

"Waiting to serve my lord again." He replied without missing a beat. "And I am glad I got the chance once again."

Inna gave him a small nod before turning serious again.

"I believe you heard us talk, right?"

"It wasn’t my intention." He replied, lowering his head. "Forgive me if I have offended you."

"Its fine." She gave him a slight nod. "So, you understand how dire the situation is, right?"

"Yes, I do."

Inna then turned to look at me with a deep look in her eyes. "I have a plan in my mind that can help you fix your problem."

"I am listening." I replied, leaning against the wall.

"There is the Argonian family of the Zmeior race." She said, looking at me. "I believe you remember them, right?"

"Yeah." I replied. "The family of Nyxria, the businesswoman."

Inna nodded her head in response.

"The Argonian family is one of the oldest families on Lumina." She flicked her fingers and a light burst out, creating an image.

It was an image of the old race alongside a few spirits.

’....Are they singing.’

"Back in my time, that family was known as the spirit catchers." She said softly. "Their job was to catch the rogue spirits that ran away from hell and they used to do it with a technique known only to them."

I watched the glowing image quietly.

The spirits in the illusion moved like mist around the figures of the Zmeior race.

Chains of light wrapped around them, pulling them back toward a dark gate.

"...Spirit catchers." I muttered.

Inna nodded. "Yes."

She waved her hand and the image changed.

Now it showed a Zmeior elder standing before a glowing soul floating in the air.

"They didn’t only capture spirits," she continued.

"They could also bind those spirits to one’s soul as a way to replicate spirit binding."

The illusion slowly faded as the light dissolved into the air.

"As the number of spirits began to decrease, they stopped using this technique." She replied softly. "But if we can get our hands on their technique then we might be able to fix your soul."

Arawn raised his hand, making Inna nod her head.

"I believe that technique is stored in the vault." He said, his voice deep. "So, are we going to steal it?"

"They are not going to give it to us." She replied, nodding her head. "We can only steal it."

"But to use this technique we need a spirit." I said, looking at her. "Where will we find one?"

"That...I don’t know." She replied, shaking her head. "But if someone uses that technique they might be able to summon the spirit."

I nodded my head and asked, "So, who will use this technique?"

"You already know the answer." She replied with a smile. "Don’t you?"

I stared at her for a long second before a name clicked in my mind. "Echo....."

She nodded her head. "Bingo."

Well, it’s understandable. Epione is built for things like this; her voice already makes my heart at ease.

"...But stealing from the Argonian family won’t be easy," Arawn added.

"That’s why we need a plan." She replied, looking at both of us. "A plan to loot the heavily guarded vault."

"Can’t you just go in and take it?" I couldn’t help but ask.

She is a goddess after all.

She shook her head in response. "I can’t interfere too much, Qais." She said. "It’s up to you two to steal the item."

I let out a slow sigh and rubbed my forehead.

"...So the goddess gives advice but doesn’t actually help."

She ignored my jab and looked at Arawn. "You would be the one to distract the entire family." She said. "Can you do that?"

"Yes." He replied. "That’s easy."

Her gaze fell towards me. "And it’s your job to steal the technique."

I nodded my head. "Alright—."

Crip! Crip!

My words were cut short when I heard a familiar chirping sound.

I looked outside only to find a blue bird roaming outside the window.

"Liraz?"