Felix watched as the sapphire dragon lowered his head and closed his eyes, his ragged breath the only indicator that he was still alive. Yet, the rest of the world was not so still…

"Is… Is he okay?"

Looking to his side, he found Eri next to him. "Yeah," Felix answered softly. "He just needs rest… Come on, let us not disturb him."

He began to step away, heading to the only other individual that stood out to him, Master Realgar. The Sage wasn't too far away, watching with a stoic look.

The dwarf looked up to him as he approached. "What did he say?"

"He and Ithea found the one who set up the attack. They escaped sadly, but Ithea is heading to the barrier– Apparently that is a target. That is all I know, he wanted to speak with you and the other Sages."

Master Realgar looked down at the ground, contemplating the news. "Hmm… I will notify Master Aluin and Master Josephel but…" he leaned over to look at the dragon. "Is he going to make it?"

"I think so, Lorenzen is stronger than he looks. He's been through worse." But Felix's words felt hollow, he knew what the dragon truly desired. "For now, let the other Sages know. And tell me if you all plan a meeting. I want to be there–"

"Me as well," Eri interjected, almost forgotten.

Felix reached for her hand and gripped it tight. He was getting a feeling, one similar to Eri's omen only his felt more abstract.

"Of course. I think it's about time we started including you two into our discussions and planning," Master Realgar said with a nod.

"Thank you–" Felix felt the presence of another appearing next to him. Turning his head, he found Yarnel. The small dragon was staring back at Lorenzen, a forlorn look upon his face.

"Yarnel?"

The dragon shook his head and brought his attention to Felix. "Ah, Felix… I've finished my tests and I believe we can begin again."

Felix didn't immediately answer and instead gazed into Yarnel's eyes, seeing the torn look the dragon had. "How much time do we have?"

"Not long, the souls are decaying quickly. We have a scant few hours to do this, else we will have to figure something else out."

"Are you sure?" Felix pushed, glancing back at Lorenzen.

"I… I am. Please, follow me. I shall accompany you back to my room so that I can save some time and fill you in."

"Okay." He faced Eri, "Looks like it's time."

"Please be careful," she begged. "I still–"

"I know, and I promise." He gave her one final smile before addressing Yarnel again. "Lead the way…"

A few moments later, Felix and Yarnel found themselves making their way to the manor. As they walked, the small dragon began explaining everything he had discovered.

"It appears you were correct, there are two souls. They are coexisting."

Felix perked up at that. "Coexisting?"

The dragon thought about it for a moment before suddenly getting an idea. He pointed directly at Felix's heart. "It is similar to how yours and Fea's souls are existing together. However, Shades usually consume their host's soul. For one to instead choose to keep it alive? That is rare, almost unheard of."

"Is there any reason why a Shade would?"

"The only time I've heard of it happening is because the host's soul was stronger. But, I don't think that's quite what happened here."

"How do you know that?"

Yarnel scoffed. "Because there is no dwarf alive that is stronger than that Flame Shade. Well, save for maybe Realgar… Whoever created that crystal, they knew what they were doing."

Felix fell into thought, pondering what all this meant. Perhaps my idea of speaking to the souls isn't such a bad idea… The only problem was getting into the crystal.

"Will they be able to cast another spell?" he asked, considering his options.

"Doubtful, but this time I set up a few more protections. Even if they do, I will be properly ready this time."

"Good, then I think I can do this."

Yarnel raised an eye ridge. "Oh? I'm rather curious about what you plan on doing."

Felix shrugged. "I plan on talking to them. I want to know why they did what they did."

The dragon came to a halt in the air. "Felix… That could be very dangerous, you'll be connecting your mind to whatever's left of theirs. I won't be able to do anything if they attack you."

He nodded. "I'm aware, but I have to know why. That, and I think it's crucial for creating this mana well."

He got a curious look from Yarnel as they continued, now in the manor and climbing up the stairs. "Oh?"

Nodding, Felix thought about the night he created the Tree of Providence. "It wasn't just me who created that miracle, that's what I keep telling everyone. This won't be any different."

"Fascinating…"

They came to a stop before Yarnel's door. Opening it, him and the dragon stepped in.

The crystal floated in the center of the room, its faint eerie glow bathing the room in low red light. Underneath it was a ritual circle, reminiscent of the one in Fea's workshop. Only, here the ritual was active and powered by several mana crystals that hovered just off the floor.

Felix took a deep breath and shoved any unnecessary thoughts aside, they would only get in his way. "Is it ready for me?"

"It is," Yarnel answered, coming to float next to him.

He gave a silent nod and took a step forward, and into a mass of swirling mana. He activated his mana sight.

The dimly lit room became bright with color. Mana poured out of the crystals and into the ritual, creating a vortex that dragged the ambient mana towards it.

He took another step, the pressure building…. And another… Finally, he came to the edge of the ritual. The mana here felt solid.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Raising a hand, Felix flexed it before guiding his own mana forward. It flowed up and through his arm, coming to a fine point in the center of his palm.

I need to be quick. "I'm going in."

Without waiting for a response, he stepped through the barrier. He passed through effortlessly and quickly found the calm eye of the storm. There, the crystal floated, giving off a warning of danger…

"Now it's just you and me," he whispered, his eyes narrowing. He was almost within arms length of the crystal. He took one final step and readied his hand, palm out and the needle of mana brimming with anticipation.

"Let's talk." Felix shoved his hand into the crystal.

Mana flared around him, the crystal doing everything in its power to resist him. Yet, the two souls trapped within were too weak and the runes below sucking their power away…

His mana pierced through and–

***

Felix found himself within a white void. The 'ground' below him was solid yet nonexistent. Slowly scanning the emptiness that encompassed him, he felt a presence.

Tick… Tick… Tick…

It was faint, but the sound of something ticking made it to his ears. Where though? he wondered as he began to cautiously move towards where he thought he heard the noise.

Tick… Tick… Tick…

The sound grew louder, telling him he was on the right track.

Tick… Tick– CLANG!

The crash of noise startled him, causing him to blink. What the…

Felix trailed off as the void was suddenly filled. Trees surrounded him, massive trees that looked both familiar yet off. However, he wasn't given much time to study them as a path appeared before him.

Tick… Tick… Tick…

It was calling him forward.

Taking a gulp of air, he saw no other choice but to take the path…

Tick… Tick… Tick…

He wasn't on the path for long when the trees began to thin out. Now standing before him, was a distant mountain. You want me to head there?

Tick… Tick– CLANG!

Wincing, Felix took that as a yes.

Following the path, he found the looming mountain grew larger with every passing moment. The ground and scenery around him became more rocky, replacing the strange trees entirely.

Tick… Tick… Tick…

Soon he came before an empty wall and gate that blocked the pass, beyond was an impressive entrance. Looks dwarven…

Strangely, here the details were far more clear than in the forest. Are these… Are these memories? he wondered.

Tick… Tick– CLANG!

Following the latest crash, the view around him disappeared only to be replaced with darkness– No, wait. This isn't darkness…

His eyes adjusted and he found himself in a small, dimly lit shop. Upon the stone walls hung clocks of all kinds, something he hadn't seen since being in the Holy Triumphant…

TICK… TICK… TICK…

The ticking was synchronized and loud, coming from every single clock all at once.

"Fascinating, aren't they?"

The voice came from somewhere towards the furthest wall, its tone lacking any emotion. Felix slowly peered over to its direction. He found a dwarf sitting behind a counter. Cogs, gears, and various other parts from a disassembled clock laid strewn across the workspace.

"They are…" He wasn't really interested in the display, but the comment seemed appropriate. Besides, he needed to buy time to get his nervous thoughts under control.

TICK… TICK– CLANG!

The dwarf let out an exaggerated sigh. "Why must people lie?"

"Huh–"

"Tell me, do your people lie too? Why?"

Felix steadied himself and cautiously approached the dwarf, all the while thinking of a response. "I think… I think everyone lies."

"Why?"

"Selfishness, mostly. Perhaps we were embarrassed or perhaps we wanted to get an edge on someone," he answered, doing his best to keep his voice steady. He felt like he was being watched and it wasn't coming from the dwarf…

"I hate it." The dwarf slammed a cog down onto his counter.

The walls were miles apart now…

Tick… Tick… Tick…

"Maybe we got off on the wrong foot… My name is Felix," he said, coming to a stop before the dwarf and extended a hand.

"Hanzel, but I know who you are." Hanzel ignored his handshake and went back to his clock.

Well, so much for that… "Hanzel? I'm pretty sure I remember someone mentioning your name… You were– are a mastercraft dwarf, right?"

Tick… Tick– CLANG!

"You don't need to hide it. I know that I am dead and that my soul is trapped. I know what I did before ending up here too. My friend made sure I got to watch."

That presence felt as if it was breathing down his neck, the air became stifling and hot…

I guess that will make this easier then… "Right. Well, that is why I'm here actually. I wanted to know why you did it."

Tick… Tick… Tick…

Silence pervaded the space as Hanzel stopped his work and looked up. "Because I wanted to feel."

Feel? "What do you mean?"

"Why do you smile?"

Felix was taken aback by the question. "Because I'm happy?"

"And what is happy?"

"I–"

"What about anger? Or sadness? Or even pain?" The dwarf was becoming animated, yet it felt forced. "I know nothing about these emotions! I've never felt them nor pain! I've always been curious though, I've always secretly wondered what it would feel like to…feel."

TICK… TICK… TICK…

Hanzel pointed at him. "No one understands! And no matter what I do, all I feel is emptiness– Numbness." He settled down in his seat, his expression dropping any pretense of emotion.

Tick… Tick… Tick…

"Unlike people, these clocks are soulless like me. I understand them but… I am still curious about these emotions. I still want to learn what makes people tick."

Tick… Tick… Tick…

"Why did I do it? Simple, I was offered the experience of a painful death."

The ticking ceased.

Felix didn't know how to respond, whatever he thought Hanzel would be, this wasn't it.

The dwarf began to giggle like a child. "I see it! I see it in your eyes! You think me a monster!"

"No–"

TICK… TICK… CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

"AGAIN! THERE IS NO REASON TO HIDE IT! NO REASON TO LIE! I SEE THROUGH IT! YOU HUMANS ARE JUST LIKE THE ELVES, JUST LIKE MY KIN!" Hanzel jumped from his seat and onto his counter, his face contorted in fake rage.

Felix backed away. He's unstable–

"THERE IT IS! THERE IS YOUR REAL THOUGHTS! FINE! I SHALL SHOW YOU A MONSTER!"

CLANG… CLANG… CLANG…

Fire erupted all around Felix, obscuring his vision in choking smoke.

"I… SHALL… SHOW–"

CLANG!

The smoke blew away, revealing him to be in a burning camp. The sounds of people screaming filled his ears as shadows danced among the flames…

Felix gasped, he was in the clearing…

"–YOU!"

A jet of flame shot towards him through the smoke.

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