"I am not concerned with your opinion regarding my appearance," Faral replied.
"You should be. I'm the one who has to look at you."
"Your concern is deeply appreciated."
"It should be."
Faral practically rolled his eyes if he had any "For your point of information once in control I can transform to human shape.
Mara shook her head. "But would it really work?"
The amusement faded.
"I do not know," Faral admitted. That answer immediately sobered them. "My soul has been connected to this plant for an extraordinarily long time. In theory, if the lotus spirit were removed, I should be able to occupy the vessel completely."
"And merge with it?" Herkid asked.
"Yes."
"Then the lotus would become your physical body."
"That is my hope."
Zhu studied the flower.
A strange feeling settled over her. Faral had spent an unknown number of years trying to escape this lotus. Now his only chance at freedom was not to leave his prison. It was to make the prison his own.
"If it works," Mara said slowly, "would you finally be free?"
Faral was silent. "I do not know."
Zhu groaned. "Again?"
"There are many unknown variables."
"Wonderful."
"I may gain complete control of the lotus while remaining bound to this location. I may gain the ability to move. I may eventually be able to leave Hollowveil."
"Or?" Herkid asked.
"Or the attempt may fail."
The wind moved softly through the courtyard.
"What happens then?" Zhu asked.
"I could be weakened." Faral paused. "My soul could be damaged."
Another pause. "Or the lotus spirit could destroy me."
No one spoke. Zhu's eyes dropped to the dark purple flower. It looked harmless. Beautiful, even.
Its petals rested peacefully against the water while golden light glowed softly at its center.
It was difficult to imagine that something so delicate had once captured a powerful wandering soul.
"How strong is this lotus spirit?" Herkid asked.
"I do not know."
Zhu threw both hands into the air. "Of course you don't!"
"It has never had reason to reveal the full extent of its strength."
"But you've been trapped together for thousands of years!"
"Possibly."
"Stop saying possibly!"
"I cannot provide certainty where none exists." Faral stated.
Zhu opened her mouth then closed it.
Then opened it again. Then pointed accusingly at the lotus.
"This is why I wanted to punch you."
"Your reasoning remains questionable."
Herkid laughed, but his expression quickly became thoughtful again.
"If the lotus spirit is semi-sentient, will it understand what we're trying to do?"
"Perhaps not in the way you understand it."
Faral's voice grew grave. "But it will understand that it is being removed from its body."
"And it'll fight," Mara said.
"Yes." The word seemed to make the air around the fountain colder.
"With everything it has."
The three looked at one another. For the first time, the task before them became clear. They were not simply freeing Faral from a flower. They would have to remove an ancient spiritual consciousness from the only body it had ever known. And somehow keep Faral alive long enough to take its place.
Zhu rubbed her forehead. "Alright."
Mara looked at her."Alright?"
"Yes. Alright." Zhu pointed at Faral. "We're helping him."
Faral was quiet.
Herkid nodded immediately. "Of course."
Mara smiled. "I already asked how we could help. I'm not changing my mind now."
The lotus remained motionless. For once, Faral seemed to have no immediate response.
Zhu leaned closer. "Don't get emotional, Stinky Fart."
"I was not."
"Good."
"I was considering whether accepting your help is more dangerous than remaining imprisoned."
Zhu's mouth fell open. Herkid turned away, shoulders shaking with laughter. Mara didn't even try to hide hers.
"You—!"
A vine slowly rose from the fountain.
Zhu immediately stepped back. "Don't you dare."
The vine hovered. She narrowed her eyes at it.
It slowly lowered. Zhu nodded with satisfaction.
"That's what I thought."
"That was not me," Faral said.
Zhu froze.
The others did too.
Slowly, all three of them turned their attention toward the dark purple lotus.
The flower floated peacefully upon the surface of the fountain, silent and beautiful. Then one of its petals moved. Not with the breeze. Not with the gentle current of the water but on its own.
The courtyard fell deathly silent. A calm but unusually serious voice echoed inside Zhu's mind alone.
The lotus knows we are speaking about it.
A chill ran down Zhu's spine, raising goosebumps along her arms. Just moments ago, the flower had seemed elegant and harmless. Now...
It felt unsettling.
So what do we do now? Zhu asked silently.
She didn't dare speak aloud.
We continue planning. However, from this point onward, I will speak only to you. You will relay my words to Mara and Herkid. I do not wish to alert the lotus to the details of our plan.
Zhu gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Understood.
Our first objective is to obtain a book from the ancient library. It contains the rune array we will need to separate my soul from the lotus spirit. Without it, we cannot proceed.
Zhu looked toward Mara and Herkid.
"Faral says the lotus is aware we're talking about it," she said quietly.
Both of them stiffened.
"He also says we shouldn't discuss the plan out loud anymore. From now on, he'll speak to me, and I'll pass his messages on to you."
Herkid nodded immediately. "That makes sense."
Mara glanced uneasily at the beautiful purple lotus floating peacefully in the fountain. "It almost feels like it's listening."
"It probably is," Zhu replied. She took a deep breath before continuing.
"The first thing we need to do is find an ancient rune book hidden somewhere in the ruined library. Apparently, we can't free Faral without it."
Herkid's eyes immediately lit up.
"A library?" Even in the middle of a dangerous mission, the thought of exploring an ancient library filled him with excitement.
Zhu couldn't help smiling. "Yes, a library."
She stretched her sore back before looking at the setting sun.
"But not today."
The golden light filtering through the courtyard had begun to fade, and exhaustion from the long journey was finally catching up with them again.
"We'll rest here tonight..."
She looked around the peaceful sanctuary one last time before grinning.
"...and tomorrow, we go adventuring."
___
Morning sunlight filtered through the cracks of the ruined sanctuary, painting long golden lines across the ancient courtyard.
The gentle trickle of the Spiritual Spring echoed softly through the air. For the first time in what felt like forever, Zhu had enjoyed a full night's sleep. No horrifying monster cries. No running. No poisonous plants trying to kill her. No twisted mana trying to poison or choke her or drive her mad.
Just a peaceful night beneath the protection of Faral's sanctuary. She stretched until her joints popped. "I could get used to this."
"You will not." Faral's calm voice drifted into her mind.
"This sanctuary was never intended to become your permanent residence."
"I know." Zhu yawned.
"But it would make a great retirement home."
"...You are sixteen."
"Planning ahead is important."
Across the courtyard, Mara was carefully packing their remaining food while Herkid excitedly inspected several broken stone carvings surrounding the fountain.
His eyes sparkled like a child who had wandered into the greatest museum in existence.
"I've never seen writing like this..."
He gently brushed moss from a fractured pillar.
"The craftsmanship... these tool marks... this architecture..."
He looked absolutely delighted.
Zhu chuckled. "You look happier than when we found food."
"This is history."
"So is yesterday."
Herkid ignored her entirely. This little girl was getting cheekier every day, but he found himself smiling. Somewhere along the journey, her teasing had changed. She no longer treated him like an outsider; now he was part of the banter.