Kael's mind swirled in darkness, the weight of exhaustion pulling him deeper into the void. The taste of blood was still fresh in his mouth, a reminder of the battle he barely survived. His body was a wreck, every inch of him screaming in protest. But the one thing that hadn't betrayed him was his sarcastic wit—thankfully.
He tried to move, but his body refused, every muscle aching in ways he hadn't known were possible. So, he stayed still, drifting in and out of awareness, letting his mind wander. It felt like hours—or maybe days. Time didn't make sense when your head felt like it was splitting open, and your thoughts were as scrambled as his were.
"Kael…"
Saria's voice cut through the haze, soft but firm. A weird feeling fluttered in his chest—maybe it was gratitude, maybe it was the aftershocks of whatever strange magic had been thrown his way, but either way, it was disorienting.
"Kael, wake up."
He forced his eyes open, squinting against the light. It felt like his eyelids weighed a ton, but eventually, they obeyed. The first thing he saw was Saria's concerned face hovering above him. Of course, she was there. Where else would she be? Off getting some fancy healer or running errands? Not likely.
"Really? I thought I'd have at least a few more hours to lie in peace," Kael muttered, his voice raspy and hoarse, but the sarcasm was still there. If he couldn't fight off whatever the hell was going on, at least he could keep his pride intact. "Is this what it feels like to be a punching bag?"
Saria rolled her eyes, though there was the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You're lucky you're alive, Kael."
"Alive?" He tried to sit up, wincing as pain flared in his ribs. "I was hoping for something a little more dramatic than just 'alive.' Like, you know, a standing ovation or a parade. That sort of thing."
Saria's eyes narrowed. "Don't make me heal you again, Kael. You'll be lucky to be able to stand if I have to."
"Do you have to keep reminding me?" Kael groaned, then cracked a grin. "Look, I'm fine. I've survived worse."
Saria raised an eyebrow at him, unconvinced. "Right. Just remember, you're still recovering."
"Recovering? Ha. I'm pretty sure I've been asleep for like a week," he snorted. "It's not even dramatic. I've been out cold, and you're here, probably just waiting to poke me with more needles, right?"
She shot him a pointed look. "You're lucky I'm being nice. You don't want to know what would've happened if I wasn't."
Kael chuckled weakly, but the pain from the imprint's lingering presence cut through his laughter. The strange power, still deep within him, throbbed like a second heartbeat. It was insistent, alive, like a living entity pushing against his thoughts.
He looked up at Saria. "I don't suppose you have any ideas about what the hell just happened to me, do you? Because, frankly, I'm starting to feel like a walking horror show."
Her expression softened, but only a little. "It's the imprint. The soul imprint you've connected with. I don't think you fully grasp the scope of what you've just done, Kael."
He groaned, pushing himself upright despite the protest from his body. "Fantastic. So, I've done something horribly stupid again. Does that sound about right?"
Saria didn't answer right away, and Kael took it as a sign that maybe it was worse than even he'd thought.
"Tell me, Saria," Kael continued, his tone sharp but still laced with his usual sarcasm, "How do I get this lovely little lady out of my head? I mean, I'd really appreciate it. I've had just about enough of her whispering in my ear."
Saria didn't flinch at the bitterness in his voice. "You can't. The imprint is now part of you. She's inside you, Kael."
"That's just great," Kael muttered. "I get attacked by some ethereal, vengeful woman, and I'm supposed to just live with it? Awesome. I've always wanted a ghost roommate. Maybe she can help with the rent."
Saria's gaze softened, and for a split second, there was a flicker of emotion in her eyes that Kael wasn't used to seeing. "It's not a joke, Kael. The power she possesses is vast. You're connected to something far more dangerous than you realize."
"Dangerous? I thought I was dangerous," he shot back, his voice full of biting humor. "What's she going to do, haunt me? I already have enough voices in my head to last a lifetime. One more won't make a difference."
Saria exhaled sharply. "You're not taking this seriously. She's not just a 'voice,' Kael. She's power. Her soul, her very being is linked to your energy now. She's not going to let you go. She's not going to stop until she gets what she wants."
Kael's grin faded slightly as the weight of her words sank in. "I'm starting to feel like I'm in over my head here," he admitted, the sarcasm dimming for just a moment.
Before Saria could respond, a cold gust of wind whipped through the air, causing the leaves around them to rustle ominously. Kael's senses flared, every nerve in his body on high alert. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, but his body was still too weak to act fast.
Saria's gaze flickered around, her grip tightening on her weapon. "Something's wrong."
Kael's eyes narrowed, his mind sharpening despite the haze of exhaustion. "I've got a bad feeling about this."
Then, it happened.
The air shimmered, and a figure stepped out from the shadows. It wasn't entirely solid—it flickered, like a shadow that hadn't fully manifested into the world. The figure's presence filled the air with an almost tangible pressure, like the calm before a storm. Kael felt the imprint react inside him—pulsing, alive, responding to the figure.
"Great," Kael muttered, barely holding himself upright. "First, I get a soul imprint that won't leave me alone, and now I get the spooky 'mysterious figure' treatment. Just my luck."
The figure moved forward, its outline gradually becoming clearer. It was cloaked, and its face was hidden in shadow, but Kael could feel the power radiating from it like a tidal wave. This wasn't just some ordinary enemy. This was something different.
Saria's hand tightened on her blade, her eyes scanning the figure with caution. "Stay back, Kael."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Oh, sure. I'll just sit back and watch, as usual. Let you handle all the 'scary stuff.' You're so generous."
Saria didn't look at him. Her attention was fixed on the figure. "This is no ordinary enemy. We need to be careful."
Kael's lips curled into a wry grin. "I've never been careful. Why start now?"
The figure stepped forward again, and Kael could feel the pressure in the air intensifying. The imprint pulsed once more, louder now, almost as if it was reacting to the figure's presence.
"I'm beginning to think someone really wants me to lose my mind," Kael muttered, tightening his grip on his sword.
Saria glanced at him briefly. "You're not alone in this, Kael. We'll figure it out. Together."
Kael's grin returned, though it was faint. "Good. Because if I'm going to lose my mind, I'd like to have company. Wouldn't want to do it alone."