[I also saw your parents in the dream-like vision thing that you saw. I was beside you as you saw your parents fight to protect you.] [I have a Photographic Memory ability, maybe it was from my past self. With it, I have replayed the last second multiple times until I saw something strange in that dream.] [Well, if you want to know more, make me your retainer and save Ester with the correct choice.] The mysterious voice explained. It said how it might be Kazumi's soul, the fifth Hero, who might have been real instead of a made-up person Kevin wrote in the story. The soul even mentioned a subject that caught Vincent's attention. But it felt like a cliffhanger to purchase the info. If the voice told the truth, then tricking Vincent would be easier to accomplish as it thoroughly knew him. "Saving Ester with Minor Heal comes first. Even if you have important information, I will choose to save her." Vincent said while entering the cave. Vincent wanted to inspect Ester. If the two classes could appear in the status window, then a harmful condition could appear in mysteriously improved inspection ability. However, Vincent had a bothering thought stuck in his mind. With a curious frown, he asked, "What do you mean by... you saw everything?" Vincent arrived beside the two girls. His cheeks had a hint of red with the nervousness from the upcoming reply. Lupa noticed something strange. She faintly heard Vincent say something as he entered the cave. The color of his cheeks made her wonder what was going on. [Ahem... you mean your computer folder number sixty-nine and the books under the fifth cabinet? The ones filled with your dreams? Hehe. I know everything about you.] Vincent kept quiet while trying to steady his heart; he felt like he got caught, but the thought of Trisha or Tessy finding his collection after he left Earth made him worry. Vincent had to go back to his world as soon as possible. His reputation was at stake. [In a way, I am the only person who completely understands you without a hint of doubt. I understand how you are skeptical of me since I know everything about you, but please understand that I have no ill intent and want to save Ester.] Vincent couldn't believe this situation. To know everything about a person felt creepy and wrong to him, but at the same time, it would make the most trusted person in the world for completely understanding him. [Sadly, I only remember four powers. Photographic Memory, Mana Sense, Soul Visit, and Soul Export. However, with Mana Sense and Soul Visit, I can teach Ester to turn off the mana like a switch and stop the spell that is killing her.] [Let's stop here for now. I don't have much time in your powerful Soul Domain. It's exhausting my mana body out of existence. I have a few hours left alive, while Ester doesn't have much time either. Maybe a day if lucky.] "Vincent is something wrong? Why are you talking to yourself and making those faces?" Lupa asked, brimming with curiosity. Vincent acted angry, embarrassed, and worried at random after he arrived beside them. It made her worry. "The Soul Egg hatched, and its talking to me. It knows everything about me and wants to become my retainer to live. It also told me that Ester is in a critical condition, and it can save Ester." Vincent explained, then he used inspection on Ester to see if he was being lied to. [Name] Ester [Condition] Heavily Injured, Sick (Fever), Cold, Critical Mana Fatigue [Soul Synch] 21% [Class] Sigil Mage [See, I told you so. With Mana Sense, I found the problem, but it uses mana to sense mana. My body is a ball-like wisp of condensed mana holding my soul. If it extinguishes, I die.] [Furthermore, using Minor Heal will cure Ester and relive her condition for a few hours. With the magic active, the conditions will return until she learns to control her mana. Hence my offer to become your retainer and save her.] Vincent didn't know what to say. It wasn't a magical fever as he thought. Instead, Ester gained a class like Lupa, and her magic stayed active. The idea of practicing her spell in the guard shift made Vincent understand why this all happened. 'Should I accept this proposal? I feel like I'm making a deal with the devil. But if the soul is right, then Ester will suffer for a long time until she gets the hang of it.' Vincent pondered for a while until he decided to consider the gamble. The retainer test would check the personalty of the retainer. So the possibility of betrail would lessen if accepted. However, the precious Soul Power would still get used even if the test fails. He had to place all his trust inside the soul inside his body. Another gamble he had to consider. "Can you promise me that you will save and help Ester control her magic if you become my retainer? If I have to choose, I will choose Ester's life first." Vincent asked with determination and the hope of hearing yes. If Ester's magic worked like an on and off switch, she needed help to control it. [I promise to do my best to help Ester. In a way, she has also grown on me from your memoirs. Her shy actions are too hilarious not to replay a few times. And that slap... pfff...] [Ok, I calmed down. Feed Ester, all the four remaining Sage Apples to have mana regen and lessen the raging mana inside her body. It will allow the mana to become easier to trace and help her control it inside her soul domain.] [As you are thinking, if a person is asleep or fainted, their soul is always awake. Probably a negative effect such as charm or hypnotize that can affect the soul could prove a problem, but thats my hypothesis.] [Soul Visit should be like the Retainer Bond. It would awaken the consciousness of a person inside their soul. Time should slow down when the ability is active, unlike now. I'm in your Soul Domain, but time flows normally in here.] "Can the soul help Ester get better?" Lupa asked with a concerned frown. Lupa was at wit's end after hearing about Ester's grave condition, and Vincent talking in a conversation that she couldn't hear made her worry more. "It promised, but I have to choose. Save Ester for now or save the soul and hope it will save Ester in return." Vincent soon made his decision. But asked to confirm if this was the best choice, "Lupa, what do you think?" Lupa pondered for a while. Thinking wasn't her forte, but this situation required deep reasoning. A life they knew about and a soul they didn't know depended on their choice. "I want Ester to be safe and sound. If the soul isn't tricking you, then choose to save Ester in the least painful way. I don't wish to see her in pain anymore." Lupa had a few tears welling in her eyes while uttering these words. [Don't worry Lupa... Ohh, she can't hear me.] [Vincent, I promise that if I can't save Ester... then kill me. I don't want to lose your trust as to me; you are like family. Like a best friend, a brother, or a lover. I will never betray you, but it's hard to believe my words in such a delicate situation.] Vincent made up his mind. To take a gamble, he must not lose. With the final decision resounding in his mind, Vincent went for the apples while saying, "Lupa, help Ester lean against the wall. I will make an apple puree with all the Sage Apples. Then we will leave it to the soul inside me to save Ester." [Name] Sage Apple [Condition] Healthy [Effect] *Mana Regen (5:00) *Mana Increase +1 Vincent inspected the Sage Apples while crushing them. He also saved the seeds as usual. When finished, he went to feed the Sage Apple puree to Ester carefully. It took some time for Ester to become conscious of her surroundings. She slowly ate all the puree in the bowl, and then weakly said, "Don't worry about me... I can barely lift my hand. I know I won't make it. I don't want to bring both of you any more trouble by taking care of me." "Shut up!" Vincent angrily exclaimed, surprising Lupa and scaring Ester. Then continued, "I will not lose anyone else! So I will make a deal and save your life! You are important to me!" Vincent suddenly felt like he became possessed by the passion and determination not to lose anyone ever again. The death of his parents and his one and only friend Kevin was too much to bear. Vincent gently placed his hand on Ester's shoulder, and reassuringly said, "I want to make you live a happy life, so don't talk about dying so soon." Ester had tears welling in her eyes while Lupa felt sad because these weren't words she wished to hear from Ester. They were depressing words, and the hope to save her grew even stronger. "Please Vincent and soul inside my mate. Save Ester." Lupa said. The collecting tears rained down as she begged the two not to lose a sister. Lupa had lost enough friends to see another one go. Her ear and tail lowered along with her sad emotions as she wiped her face. [If you are ready, then we can start.] Vincent thought of the soul possibly belonging to the fifth Hero to become his retainer. As his thoughts and wish aligned, a window appeared. His eyes and hero mark shone green as the ability activated. [Do you want to start the [Blessed Retainer] Trial on the intended soul target?] [Cost of 20 soul power will be taken to start the test.] [Test duration is 5 seconds. No refund on failure.] [Agree to meet in the host's Soul Domain for mutual understanding.] [Accept -20sp used] [Cancel] "Accept. " Vincent said with a determined gaze. The information also was different. The difference of a soul instead of a flesh and bone living being changed the information. The world suddenly froze, and darkness enveloped everything engulfing Ester and Lupa from his sight. Soon, in front of Vincent stood a ball of weak green light with a pair of white glowing eyes. It was a wisp hovering in the darkness of his Soul Domain. Its body was transparent, almost invisible. It seemed not much time was left for the wisp to become extinguished. [Welcome Vincent, could you use inspection on me? I don't know what you will find, but please tell me. I can only see around you in a third person's view when you're not here.] [Name] Kazumi Chiba [Condition] Critical Injury, Critical Mana Loss [Class] Kn0wl?dg3 Hero