Souls

Once his link with Selia faded into the background, Ryun focused inward, maneuvering through his screens until he found what he was looking for. Getting to Eratemus would take time, and he couldn't stand doing what felt nothing.

That there were only a few things that he could do was frustrating. But he was going to try everything that was in his power to try.

With a small mental effort, he pressed the option, taking himself to the Dealmaker's realm.

Ryun found himself in a world of endless shadow, a darkness that messed with one's perception and all sense of space. His body felt strange in this realm and his emotions shifted. His worry and fears withered, his anger calmed. He was standing in front of a table occupied by a being shrouded in a black ever flowing cloak, with the hood raised up to obscure the endless darkness that hid within. There was no real way to tell what gender the Dealmaker was, nor did Ryun really attribute such things to the being. The Dealmaker had always felt alien, yet somehow familiar.

"Ryun Nacht," the Dealmaker said. "Be welcome before me, once again."

Ryun took the seat across from the being, then nodded as a greeting.

"I've come to ask for an answer to a question," Ryun said, not wasting any time.

"Yours is to ask," the Dealmaker said, then gestured with a hand for Ryun to go ahead.

"Is Anatalien Far Solla alive?" Ryun asked the question he had come to ask. The most important thing to him in this moment. He knew that the price would be high. The more specific the question, the more personal it was, the higher the price, not even accounting for the circumstances that he wasn't aware of.

"The price for that answer is two hundred million Immortal Essence," the Dealmaker said.

Ryun grimaced, that was within his means, especially with what he had gained for his Sage Titles. Yet, it also seemed too high for such a simple question. He knew that there were many factors that impacted the weight of what the Dealmaker offered, which made the price worry him. Something big was happening, something important. That was bad. He had to find her as fast as possible.

"What would be the price for you telling me where she is?" Ryun asked.

"It would cost more than you and everyone in your Sect combined have in your possession," the Dealmaker responded.

Ryun closed his eyes. He had assumed as that it would be as such. He extended his hand across the table, offering his Essence. "Tell me if she is alive."

He had to know.

The Dealmaker's cold glove covered hand touched his, and the Essence was taken. Then the being spoke.

"She lives."

Ryun fought against the memory and habit of sighing in relief. Instead, he just felt his body relax slightly.

"Thank you."

The Dealmaker didn't respond. Ryun tried to think if there was anything else that he could possibly get, but he already knew that the price for knowledge about things directly involved with his future would be too high for him to pay. Nor did he feel the need to do it. He knew intellectually that part of that was the effect that this place had on him.

"The Mantle of the Reaper fits you more with every passing day," the Dealmaker said.

Ryun raised his head in an attempt to meet a gaze that he couldn't see. The Dealmaker was one of the few beings that Ryun knew was older than the memories that were part of him. It was strange, sitting there and speaking with it, when through fog he remembered much different conversations.

"You didn't interfere with what I did, I assume that I am not breaking any rules," he said.

The Dealmaker's head leaned to the side. "The Twin Aspects of True Death did not accept the deal, but they had endured through their own actions. You and Selia have inherited what they were, and adjustments have been made. You are within the rules now. We do not control as much as you believe. This reality, and in fact existence itself, are not governed by a guiding force imposing its will. You are not pawns on a board. The Three have created everything with pieces of themselves, as such, we all have some degree of free will. We play on their board, but we move ourselves. To live lives governed by unchangeable fate would've been... unsuitable."

Ryun tilted his head, then nodded in thanks for the information freely given. He hesitated before leaving, then decided to try and ask a question that had been on his mind. The Dealmaker had given him answers before with no price, when the topic didn't impact the grand design of the Infinite Realm.

"When I killed and dealt True Death before, when I didn't feel that it was the Soul's time, was I wrong? Did I interfere?"

"You sent them back to the Origin before they had a chance to do more. But such is the risk with free will, not all will walk the steps of ascension to the heavens."

Ryun blinked, then dipped his head when he was certain that the Dealmaker wouldn't say anything more.

With a thought, he pulled himself out of the Dealmaker's realm.

Nayra stood next to him, and he gestured, heading toward the town, they didn't have a single second to spare.

Ryun and Nayra made good time, considering that they had to constantly stop and ask for directions. It turned out that traveling without any real ways of navigation was harder than it looked. Ryun had purchased a map from the Framework, but looking at a map and running through the air based on it were two different things.

Regardless, both Ryun and Nayra were capable of achieving incredible speeds, especially as Ryun used his Aura to diminish the forces that slowed them down, like Gravity.

They traveled at speeds that rivaled the fastest airships, or at least the fastest that Ryun himself had seen.

They reached Eratemus's lands in record time.

Ryun's sense found a giant hole in in his field of perception long before they saw their destination. Eratemus' wards were incredibly powerful, enough that they could even prevent his skill from seeing through them.

They closed the distance then dropped down on the road for the last stretch. Ryun was in a hurry, but Eratemus had earned respect, and Ryun would not barge into his home. They made no attempt to hide their approach as they walked up to the giant fortress nestled into the mountain.

When they arrived, the gate was open, and a skeleton wearing bone armor stood at attention, waiting for them.

Ryun took a step forward, and inclined his head. "I greet you, Antaro, I have come to speak with your Master."

The skeleton's eyes flashed, and he inclined his head in return.

"I greet you, Ryun Nacht, Sect Head of the Twilight Melody Sect. You are always welcome. My Master has entered into seclusion to work on a great project," the skeleton said, sound coming out of an unmoving jaw.

Ryun tilted his head. "May we speak with him? It is an urgent matter."

The skeleton tilted his head. "My Master has given instructions that he is not to be disturbed under any circumstances," Antaro said and Ryun grimaced. Just as he was about to try and insist, the skeleton continued speaking.

"Fortunately, your name is on the very short list of people for whom I am allowed to disturb the peace of his sanctum."

Ryun inclined his head again, this time deeper. "Thank you."

Antaro turned around. "Follow me."

Wasting no time, Ryun and Nayra followed the skeleton deeper into the fortress.