Chapter 272: A New Dawn

I watched in awe as a soul both bright and dark at the same time emerged from the broken ring. I held by breath as it flew towards me nonchalantly. Was this it? Had I succeeded?

As soon as the soul touched my body, I felt something yank my consciousness away. I felt dizzy for a moment as my vision darkened. Once I could see again, I was staring at my own body. From the outside.

The body that once belonged to me moved without any input from me. He looked at his hands, then gently pushed a strand of loose hair aside. His gaze slowly turned on the destroyed Divine Pillar, then at Fetheion.

"Thank you, old friend." He spoke softly, a faint smile on his lips. "It's been such a long time, yet you persevered."

Fetheion's eyes glittered as he smiled. He placed his hand on his heard and bowed his head. "I'm humbled by your words."

The Keeper then turned to glance at Asher and the others. The players, who seemed frozen in shock and fear and confusion.

"Kai?" Whispered Erik, unsure of what was going on. The Keeper shook his head. "No, his soul is with us still, I he is no longer in control of this body." He glanced at me, and I couldn't help but feel fear.

Those purple eyes I had seen in the mirror so many times seemed so much more different now. They saw my soul – literally. 

"What does that mean?" Asher asked, gathering his courage. 

"It means it is time to go home." Fetheion chimed in. "Thank you – all of you for what you've done. I will not forget it, none of us will." He glanced at the Keeper. "Can you send them back?"

My predecessor nodded. "There are many foreign souls who do not belong in this world." He closed his eyes as he raised his head. "It is indeed time for them to return to where they belong." 

As soon as he finished his words, his magic spread through the plaza. 

"No, wait!" Asher shouted just before the wave of magic touched him. His body collapsed on the ground as his soul vanished just like that. Theresa and Alex were next. Then, Lucius collapsed. One by one, everyone fell, their souls disappearing and their bodies, lifeless.

I felt something tugging at me as his magic spread through me as well. Was that home? I tried to reach to it, but something stopped me. 

"I'm sorry," I heard his voice. Startled, I looked back at him, only to see him point at an ethereal tether. "There is little I can do about this," He spoke as he gently tugged the tether. One side was bound to him, and the other… Well, I could feel the tugging in my heart. 

"What is this?" I asked. My voice was silent, yet somehow, he seemed to understand.

"Your soul has fused with many others – it cannot be separated from them so simply." He touched his own heart. "No one should have been tasked with the inheritance I left behind." He glanced at Fetheion. "You shouldn't have done this, Fetheion."

The Exiled Divine looked away. "This world needed you to live once more,"

"I know." He sighed, then glanced at me again. "He is changed forever."

"They all are!" Fetheion shouted as he gestured towards the lifeless bodies my friends once inherited. "They won't forget the war, death, and misery they saw here. They won't forget the blood on their hands, nor the lives they failed to save!" 

I flinched as I heard Fetheion's words. He wasn't wrong, not by a long shot, but hearing those words still hurt. We were scarred forever, no matter how fake this world was.

"That is not what I meant." The Keeper's slightly raised tone of voice was enough to send Fetheion into silence. It was clear as day – he feared my predecessor.

"What is it?" I asked, gathering my courage. "How am I changed forever?"

The keeper shook his head. "No mortal should ever gaze beyond life," He spoke quietly. "And no mortal should have to bear the burden of the dead." He stepped closer and placed his hand on my forehead. "Farewell is what I'd like to tell you Kai Friseal," He showed a faint, bitter smile. "But I fear that is too optimistic. Take care and forget about us."

I noticed a hint of magic at the tip of his finger. My eyes widened just before my consciousness faded into nothing.

My eyelids felt heavy. I could feel something pressing down on my head. I wanted to open my eyes, but I didn't feel like I had the strength to do so.

What had happened? My memories were all jumbled up – I remembered the fight, the power I used to kill the Crimson Witch and the destruction of the Divine Pillar, but the rest was hidden beyond a thick layer of fog.

I faintly remembered a smile and words of parting.

What had happened? Where was I?

I tried to open my eyes once more, and this time, I succeeded.

I looked at the white ceiling with a blank expression. A faint noise sounded from outside, like something large was being moved. 

I took a deep breath, then immediately regretted it. My throat was dry, and something was pressing down on my neck. 

I heard some muffled voices and footsteps, but I couldn't quite make out the words. I lifted my hand, only to feel an unfamiliar weight around my wrist, and a sting on the back of my hand.

I ignored the slight pain and raised my hand before my face.

My eyes widened as soon as I saw the source of that weight.

On the back of my mind was an IV drip. A drop of blood ran down my hand as I clearly hurt the skin around the needle with all my movements. Around my wrist, however, was a metal band, about as thick as my index finger and as wide as my palm. While most of the band was made of a shiny metal, some darker shades were still present.

I glared at the device in disbelief as I whispered. 

"PORTAL…?"