The Spiritual Domain where Socrost and Will had just witnessed Henry's inner turmoil and sorrowful decision fell into silence once again. Henry had requested to create a vegetative clone of himself to stay with Sophia, a soulless but tangible shadow, while he truly had to leave her to pursue the path of the Sanctuary Enclave.

Socrost understood the selflessness and love hidden in Henry's decision. However, creating a living clone that was identical to Henry, even just a soulless body, was beyond the capabilities of Socrost and Will, the messenger of the Sanctuary Enclave.

"Henry," The thought that came from Socrost was clearly shaped by careful consideration, "I understand your wish. But creating a living body identical to yours, one that can be maintained in a vegetative state, is a complex and dangerous undertaking. It requires special knowledge and techniques that border on the forbidden, arts that even I avoid.".

Henry felt a glimmer of hope that had just ignited in his heart begin to fade. If even Socrost couldn't help him, he truly had no way out. He would have to choose between cruelly leaving Sophia to live in waiting and face danger, or staying in Aerion and becoming a powerful magnet, attracting Beleth and countless other disasters, endangering everyone he loved, everyone he had sworn to protect with his life.

Just then, as despair was about to consume Henry's mind, Will's warm, white aura gently trembled. "There might still be a possibility. Though it is difficult, and it requires help from someone you have only just had the chance to meet". "Who are you talking about, Will?" Henry looked up, a weak glimmer of hope once again shining in his eyes.

"Mythris," Will replied. "Over the years, while hunting down dark guilds and those who practice forbidden magic, the Celestial Accord has collected and studied countless pieces of ancient knowledge and strange experiments. It's possible that within that treasury of knowledge and secrets, there is something, a method, that can help you carry out your plan."

"Mythris is the leader of a powerful alliance, but also a member of the Sanctuary Enclave," Socrost added, his voice full of trust. "He understands better than anyone the immense costs and the difficult, even cruel, choices we sometimes have to make to protect what is greater. And most importantly, he has also seen your extraordinary potential and your unique qualities, Henry. Try to seek him out, and explain your plan and your reasons clearly. You might just find the help you need."

Henry returned to reality, back in his apartment where Sophia was sleeping soundly. The words of Will and Socrost still echoed in his mind, a new, fragile hope that was strong enough to relight his soul. Mythris, an Enclave member who had witnessed his power and potential, could be the key.

But would he be willing to help? And would it be safe? These questions swirled in his mind. Just then, Henry noticed Sophia's silent tears streaming down her cheeks, soaking her pillow. She was so heartbroken that she was crying unconsciously. The nightmare had haunted her too deeply, not letting her escape even in her sleep. Henry's heart ached. He gently woke her up.

Sophia started awake, her swollen eyes blurred with tears. Seeing him, she burst into sobs, wrapping her arms tightly around Henry, terrified he would vanish. Henry pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her messy hair with one hand and lightly patting her back with the other.

"I... had a sad dream," Sophia sobbed, her voice trembling. "A dream where you were no longer by my side". Henry held her tighter. He understood her pain and her insecurity, because that was also his greatest fear.

He said nothing, just let her cry, letting her release her pain after going through "four lives" of suffering, letting his warmth and presence make her feel safe.

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"I don't remember clearly," Sophia said, her voice muffled by tears, "The dream was so chaotic, I just remember losing you. I'm sorry, Henry, I didn't mean to make you worry."

"It's okay, it's okay," Henry said softly, gently kissing her forehead. "I'm here, I'm here. It was just a dream. Nothing will happen."

But an unspoken understanding passed between them; it was not a simple dream. For Sophia, it was her biggest fear of the one she loved most leaving her. For Henry, it was the future he had chosen to protect Sophia and a fragile hope that he would one day return to her.

At the end of the workday, Henry asked Will to relay a message to Mythris. The meeting between Henry and Mythris took place in a private office, protected by magical barriers, ensuring that no one could eavesdrop or disturb them.

Henry presented his plan frankly, not hiding his inner turmoil or his fear of losing Sophia. He talked about the final assumption in the dream that Socrost had created that Sophia would stay and take care of a vegetative "Henry," and that this was perhaps the only way for her to be safe, and for him to be able to leave without worry.

Mythris listened to Henry, his serious face revealing no emotion. When Henry finished, Mythris was silent for a long time, seemingly carefully considering the consequences and feasibility of the plan. Henry's heart pounded, waiting for the Demigod's verdict. Finally, after a suffocating silence, Mythris slowly nodded, and Henry felt a sense of relief, a new hope rising within him.

"It's a terrible plan, Henry," Mythris said with a hint of sympathy. "A cruel deception. But I understand your reasons, and perhaps, it truly is a logical choice, though extreme."

Mythris stood up and motioned for Henry to follow him. He led Henry to a secret, well-hidden area deep beneath the Celestial Accord's headquarters. "Are there really spells that can create a perfect human body like that, Grand Master?" Henry couldn't help but ask, even though Will and Socrost had hinted at it. It still seemed unbelievable to him.

Mythris turned and looked at Henry, a rare smile appearing on the Demigod's lips. "Henry, in a world where ancient entities can create new races and a being such as Beleth can forge undead monsters, copying a simple human body... is a much simpler task, isn't it?"

Mythris paused. "The Celestial Accord keeps and studies forbidden knowledge and failed experiments of dark guilds or madmen who wanted to defy the laws of nature. Among them, there is an interesting record of an experiment by an ancient king, a man with a morbid desire for immortality. He tried to find a way to create young, healthy bodies to replace his old, sick ones when they could no longer endure."

Mythris scoffed at the results. "That experiment ultimately failed miserably in transferring souls between bodies. The bodies that were created, though identical in appearance to the original, were completely unusable. To that greedy king, it was an unacceptable humiliation. But to you, this is the only key, the last hope for your current plan."

Mythris explained that with the technology and valuable knowledge from that failed experiment, combined with some special spells, they could create a body exactly like Henry's down to every detail.

However, the body needs to be stable. To give it the faint aura of life, enough to deceive those closest to you and prevent natural decay, you must nurture it. For a year, you will need to feed it your own blood, life force, and a large amount of pure aether every month.

This process would be painful, exhausting, and would weaken him both physically and mentally, but it was a necessary condition.

"Here," Mythris explained, his voice echoing in the quiet of the secret chamber, "I will help you set up a laboratory to create what you need..."

"That body will have no soul or consciousness. It will just lie there, a senseless vegetable, waiting for others to take care of it," Mythris emphasized again, his voice serious and slightly warning. "It will be a burden for that girl. Are you sure you want to do this? Once you start, there will be no turning back."

Henry looked at the old, yellowed parchment, at the detailed drawings of the process of creating an artificial body. The weight of his cruel deception against Sophia settled upon him. But the image of her hopelessly searching for him and facing danger came back to him, clearer than ever, like a reminder.

"I accept."

Mythris looked at Henry, a hint of concern in his eyes. It was perhaps the sympathy of someone who had also had to make such harsh and difficult choices in his life.

"Then, prepare yourself. The road ahead will be much more difficult." The plan was set. A hope for temporary peace for Sophia, built on a foundation of deception.

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