"Oh no… It would seem their reach extends through the kingdom now," Alexandre muttered, turning to James, who lay there twitching as if on the verge of waking.
"Old friend," Henry's voice softened, "why don't we make a plan? If you take the boy back, his gift surging like this… Think of the destruction it could cause if the Raven gets ahold of it."
"What then? Trust you?" Alexandre's voice rose to a roar. "You may be older, but I am no fool, Henry. I know the face you wear is not your own—every time I see you, it changes."
"Huu… scary," Henry smirked. "Mmm… you say it changes? Most people don't notice. I suppose it's true—you've been knocking at the door of Sagehood, ha…"
At that moment, James stirred. His eyes were hazy, his head splitting with pain. The world spun endlessly around him.
"Grandpa!" He leapt into Alexandre's arms. "I… I thought you were going to die." Tears welled in his eyes—but when he looked up, he froze at the sight of a silhouetted figure.
"Professor… what are you doing here?" James asked, clearly puzzled.
"Oh, my boy… no manners, have we?" The professor's smile twisted into something manic, and James's discomfort grew. He said nothing, simply staring without blinking.
"What else? I'm here to clean up the mess my precious student has caused," Henry laughed again. The usual stoic charm he once carried was gone, replaced by a paradox—silly yet wrapped in a mysterious air that kept Alexandre on edge.
"What is it, boy? Do I have something on my face?" Henry asked, pulling a small mirror from his pocket.
"What are you?" James finally spoke.
"Wh… what?" Henry stammered. "Oh my, what a frightening ability you've unlocked." His laugh this time was nervous.
James's left eye had returned to its golden form.
"What do you mean, what he is? He's clearly human," Alexandre said, surprised.
"Maybe… but not completely," James murmured. "He's like… like…" He thrashed his head, struggling to articulate. "No… I see every person — from the inside — and it's blue."
"Do you mean everyone's soul?" Alexandre asked.
"Yes. Though I'm not too sure," James tilted his head as if trying to shift all his thoughts to one side.
"Well, that is one of the abilities of that gift," Henry added.
"Yes… everyone's soul is always white. When they lie, parts turn green. When they intend to kill, it turns red. And… I realized something—every time they form a seal, a piece of their soul moves from their heart to their hand. Fire turns it orange. Wind turns it light green." James paused, his gaze locking on Henry again.
"Then you can see people's emotions—even the Seals they're about to cast—just by the color of their soul. So… What's wrong with Henry?" Alexandre pressed.
"Well, that's the thing," James said. "Most people I've seen only have five colors at once… just like you, Grandpa. But the professor… his colors are countless, ever-changing. More colors than I've ever seen. Even a rainbow pales in comparison."
"Now, now… It's not kind to spy on another person's soul," Henry said, his tone souring with disgust.
"Wow… it's all black now," James blurted without thinking. "Ohmmm… sowwy," he said, covering his mouth.
Troublesome… Those eyes can even see through me, Henry thought. If they develop further, I'll be in deep trouble.
Henry's thoughts raced as he stood. "Alex, you have to make up your mind now. Time is running out. The longer we stand here, the more chaos spreads out there—and it's only a matter of time before they find you."
Henry's eyes met Alexandre's, and Alexandre realized the man was being sincere… though there was still something he was hiding.
"How can I trust you?" Alexandre asked, his voice weakening as he rose to stand, now face-to-face with Henry.
"I will make a vow," Henry said softly. "I will cause no harm to James, and I will protect him from any harm when I am near him—even at the cost of my own life."
Alexandre's expression hardened, then slowly softened. "Alright… there really is no other choice." He extended his hand. The decision had been made; time was moving, and he could no longer stall.
The sun shone above them, casting a perfect light. From a distance, they might have looked like a painted portrait as Henry took Alexandre's hand and the ritual began. They muttered words under their breath, turning counterclockwise, then again in the other direction, the chant shifting each time. Slowly, a circle etched itself into the ground around them.
A wind began to swirl, pushing James back a few steps. Whispered voices filled the air—dozens, hundreds, speaking all at once. The pressure knocked him off his feet.
That's when he saw it. The shell he had received as a gift pulsed with blue light. The wind swept it upward, carrying it above the two men.
Water flowed into the air, drawn toward them, spinning into the wind until a great whirlpool encircled them both.
"The Seal is complete," they said together, their eyes still closed, unaware of what hovered above them.
The water crashed down in a heavy splash, and both men now bore a pulsing tattoo on their arms—the exact shape of the shell. The shell itself, still glowing faintly, fell to the ground between them.
"Wait… where did this come from?" Henry's eyes darted toward James. He snatched up the shell and stormed toward the boy, his voice sharp with something close to fear.
"Boy, where did you get this?" His grip was iron, his hands shaking James by the shirt.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Alexandre's voice thundered.
"Ha… hahahaha…" Henry's laugh was wild, almost unhinged. "I suppose it's just fate."
"We've just formed a soul-tie under the Goddess of the Sea," Henry said, turning back to Alexandre.
"Then…?" Alexandre asked, brow furrowing.
"It means," Henry said, voice dropping into something grave, "if I die, you die. If you die, I die. And if James dies…" He gave a bitter smile. "...we both die."