Chapter 45 - The Research (2/2)
I also sat up, ”Why?”
”So you guys can also be like this, relaxing without fear. I will keep you safe!” Her face framed a huge smile. That was the Ophelia I knew, making sure everyone around her was happy. The same person who would fight a monster for us with her reckless bravery.
I nodded, ”Sure.” Oh, how I would regret those words.
Solskin
I was in the inn. I sat alone in the corner, my hand clutching my sword warily. I felt like the whole world was out to get me, ready to betray me. I sat in silence, scanning. The innkeeper shot me a few concerned glances, but I ignored him. I was looking for any black marks. I felt like every person in the inn was an enemy, an ȧssassin sent by the Three Kings Gang. Somewhere here, the Hunter hid, lost in the crowd of unfamiliar and hostile faces. This became a nightly ritual. I couldn't remember the last night I had a good night's sleep. From dusk to dawn, I sat in that corner, unmoving, gazing at the bar's patrons, trying to find the evil within the depths of their faces.
Once again, the sun rose into the sky. Persephone walked down from her room above and sat next to me. Looking at the bags under my eyes, she said nothing, only staring. She was in a worse state than me. ”So, the necromancer got you too, huh?” The joke came out forced and dry. It didn't matter. There was no way out of this slippery abyss that we had all fallen into. Getting up, the two of us left for Epoch's house, preparing for another mind-numbing day of research.
Like every other day, Epoch was out front, waiting for us. Behind him, every single book he had was stacked on tables and strewn about the room. He hadn't cleaned up from the other day. Raising his hand in greeting, he let us into the room, already babbling on about possible leads or new venues of information. He had already spent ten years researching the demons. He was the foremost expert now. But still, even he couldn't figure out a way to end the threat.
”It is my belief that demons, the beings themselves, behave in a similar manner as to souls. Being incorporeal and possessing the ability to inhabit and control so-called hosts, they must possess all of the defining characteristics that allows a soul to achieve the same functions. From this conclusion, I hypothesize that magic based in necromancy or targeting the soul will have an effect on the demons themselves. However, it is unclear what happens to the original soul. Therefore, exercise extreme caution in using these spells when recovery of the original soul is dėsɨrėd.”
”Well, that is a start.” For the first time in a while, I felt that there was some hope left.
”Well, I hesitate to trust this source. No one has confirmed this and I myself have used magic of a similar nature during the war to no avail. Maybe full blown forbidden necromancy is required?”
”At least it is a start.” Persephone looked like there was something on her mind.