Chapter 709: Operating on the Soul

Chapter 709: Operating on the Soul

It was in the early hours of the morning when Alexander Roth began experimenting on his soul.

The sun had crept over the horizon in Generasi, lighting up the rooftops, peaks and towers of its vast skyline. Yet, Alex was not outside under the waking sun, thoughmere hours beforehe, Theresa, and Claygon were burning bodies behind a giant s cottage thousands of miles to the north.

Theyd returned home that evening, unwound with Selina, filling her in on what had happened in the ice-encrusted forests of Kymiland, then turned in for some rest.

He was up a couple of hours later to creep down to his laboratory in the basement, bringing three things with him, one borrowed from Professor ValRok.

A knife.

One made of bane.

A knife made to cut not flesh, but the soul.

And it was that knife that was beside Alex.

And as the hours passed, hed tried to meditatewith Claygon standing silently near himhelping to calm his mind, body and spirit. It was no simple task tonight; he kept thinking about Keldas fate, not wanting to share it.

Yet, here he was, walking the same path as hers, wanting desperately not to take it to the same conclusion she had.

He had been trying to get himself ready to literally use a sharp blade to cut away slivers of his soul, following the advice of a half-mad lizardman wizard whod promised it would grow back.

Alex had faced many challenges so far; he could have lost anything from some coin, to something as precious as his life.

Yet, hed never been in any situation where he risked losing his soul; even if hed died, there would have been an after-world waiting for him. But, if his soul was obliterated? From what he understoodthere would be nothing.

With those thoughts rolling around in his head, he tried to meditate.

Though, the Intrusive thoughts kept plaguing him.

What if I cant calm myself? he wondered. What if the idea that Ill be experimenting with my own soul stops me from finding peace. What if I mess up? Oh, by the Traveller, what if the Mark thinks Im trying to fight myself and starts interfering? What if Uldar hid some kind of protection on the Mark that makes my head explode if I try to get rid of it? What if

He shook his head, taking a deep breath, trying to let those swirling thoughts pass.

As he had done for years.

Yet, this time, nothing was working.

His heart pounded in his chest.

He could hear it in his ears.

He fought his breathing, needing to keep it slow and steady.Cheêck out latest novels at novelhall.com down, Alex, he thought, knowing well that those words wouldnt help. You have to do this. Theres no question about it; you have to. People are relying on you to change the Mark. Youre relying on yourself to change the Mark, but you cant stretch your mana pool unless you calm down, so just calm the hells

Father?

Gah! Alex yelped.

From beside him, Claygons iron form loomed in the dimly lit room. Are youokay? Your breathing isvery heavy

Yeah, Im nervous, buddy. I wont lie, The young wizard was on his back on a long table he used for harvesting monster parts for alchemical ingredientslying stark naked with only the symbol of the Traveller hanging from his neck.

On a table beside him were three items; the first was a mana-ectoplasm solution-coated flask for capturing his soul particles, the second, a mana-ectoplasm solution-coated set of copper tweezers, and lastly, the soul blade.

The bane knife gleamed in the low light, filling him with dread.

Do you need a breakfather?

Not yet, Alex said. But he looked at Claygon. Could umwell, this is a little embarrassing

Anythingfather Claygon said, taking a step forward. IfI can help youthen let me help!

Then, um, could you sing? Alex asked. I find it calming.

There was a long pause.

Yesfather Claygon said warmly, his voice changing to a mature womans gentle, clear tones. I willsing for you.

And Claygon began to sing.

It was lessbut deeper. It was the only description he could find for it. A shock tore through both his body and spirit when something that should never have been severed, was.

Alex wanted to cry out, he wanted to fling the bane knife against a wall; but he held on, keeping his breathing even and his grip on the blade steady, slowly drawing it from his body.

The soul blades tip was coated in a tiny mass of blinding radiance; like the sun had suddenly appeared in the windowless room.

Claygons song abruptly stopped.

That isbeautiful the golem said. Is thata soul?

A little piece of one, Alex said, using the tweezers to grip the substance; it was strange and uniqueboth liquid and solid at onceclinging together as Alex gently placed it in the bottle.

Metal clinking on glass startled him; the tweezers rattled against the bottles mouth, as his hand began shaking, the tweezers clattering against the lip.

He shook his head, slowly plucking the soul-substance from the rim, letting it slip from the tweezers to the bottom of the bottle and capping it, his eyes fixed on the radiance sparkling through the glass.

Quietlyor as quietly as an iron golem could manageClaygon stepped closer, peering at the bottle. A pieceof fathers soulhow incredible

It is, isnt it, Alex whispered, mesmerised. Its so brightbut I suppose I should have expected that. Careys soul was bright too, remember?

I remember Claygon sounded in awe. Are you going to cutmore tonight

Alex shook his head. I should give myself some time to heal firstbut even if I wanted to keep going, I couldnt; my soul is anything but calm right now.

Its a startrightfather?

Yep, and its a process thatll take time, Alex looked at the bottle critically. Ill need to fill this bottle if Im going to make an artificial mana pool, and theres only so much soul substance I can harvest in a single night.

Hmmmwill you be able to study your soulso you canchange the Markwhen you find Keldassanctum? Claygon asked.

Yes, Alex said. I should have plenty of time to study it in the time it takes for me to harvest enough for my mana pool. He tapped the glass, marvelling at the radiance within it.

It held a beauty that was humbling to look upon.

###

Mr. Roth, youre doing what with your what? Professor Jules gripped her temples as though battling a pressure headache that threatened to burst her skull. She leaned over her desk, her expression looking as though she was heartbeats away from popping a blood vessel, or strangling someone. Did I just hear you say that youre harvesting your soulto create an artificial mana pool? Or have I slipped into complete madness?

Thats right, Alex said, sitting in front of her desk. I meant the part about my mana pool is right, not the part about you slipping into madness.

Ah, of course. Of course, you would be doing something like that! Why did I ever try to teach you anything about safety? Or sense? And I take it you were introduced to this insanity by that wretched ValRok?

Yeah, howd you know? the young wizard asked.

Because only he or that old goat would be insane enough to advise a student to start cutting up their soul like a common butcher, Professor Jules rolled her eyes. How?

How what? Alex asked.

How do you attract the very worst influences as mentors? she asked mournfully. Baelin, ValRok

You.

Pardon?

Youre one of my mentors too, professor, he pointed out.

She laughed, throwing her head back and laughing like she would never stop. Then why does my common sense never rub off on you? Why is it that you absorb madness like a sponge, yet sense and restraint flee from you?

Uh. His eyes darted back and forth. I

Dont answer that. Even if the question werent rhetorical, I probably still wouldnt like the answer. A simple what have you been up today, Mr. Roth was met with, I was shearing my soul like a common sheep, so I dread the answer to why you seem to enjoy madness so much. In any case, Im prattling on. What is it, Alex? Do you need something sane from me?

Do you know how to make a ward, professor? he asked. I need to help a pair of giants, before they take me to a thieves guild in the middle of the Irtyshenan Empire.

Her eyes narrowed. That was on purpose.

Wait, what now?

You phrased it that way on purpose.

...yes.

Mr. Roth, I swear if I dont kill you first, you are going to be the death of me.