Change

Days folded one into another and after, having spent so much time with his nose buried in the blasted book, Ian raised his head, crestfallen. There was nothing in the damn book, that could give him the answer he was looking for. To top it all off, there's been a shift in balance within the Hollow. Something was different, there was a charge in the air. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but as sure as the Eternal Flames, it was there, only he couldn't see it. Something was coming.

Ian pushed his chair and waved his hand at the obsidian wall. It had been so long since he'd laid eyes on Iris, that he couldn't resist anymore.

He bitterly smiled when on the wall appeared Iris riding a horse but she was nowhere near the northern lands. It looked a lot like the Southlands. Ian frowned, feeling like he'd missed something. Last he saw her she was journeying with the northern man and the others back to Ironstone. What happened?

Ian shook his head and reprised watching Iris fervently speaking to people.

" By the looks of it, she is doing well for herself," Nobos as per usual found the worst time to show himself.

Ian hummed, not willing to share his thoughts with Nobos" Tell me that you found something useful. You've been gone for quite some time." Ian waved his hand at the wall, making the image of Iris disappear. No rest for the wicked.

Nobos sucked a breath and placed a large parchment on the table " This is the only thing that I was able to find. You'll have to summon Helm. He is the only one that can, help you relinquish the darkness to someone else," Nobos unfolded the large parchment onto the table.

" Out of all the parchments, this is the only one that mentions anything about soul restoration. And since you haven't quite lost your soul completely, the only thing you need to do is to break the bind that you have with the darkness." Nobos explained, smoothing the parchment flat on the table.

" Only Helm can do that. Summoning Helm is a different matter though. He requires blood sacrifice and with everything not easy to find. Blood of a Shaddow Lord, a soul of the most despicable person, and the soul of a Guardian which will replace you." Nobos frowned glaring at the parchment.

" None easy to find. The only Guardian I knew was Iris. Shaddow Lord, that's an easy one. The most despicable person, I might have someone in mind that would fit just right in. We are short of a Guardian, though." Ian reasoned with a frown deeper than Nobos's.

Ian sighed and turned his gaze towards his domain that stretched as far as his eyes could see. It was no easy task to summon Helm, and even if they did there was no certainty that he would agree to his request. Forcing a ubiquitous entity to do his bidding was not an option. Even if he'd tried, it would end in a blood bath. Ian tore his eyes from his domain to look at Nobos. He needed to confirm his suspicions.

" Do you feel it? There is a certain charge within the realm. I haven't felt it before. It is something different. " Ian broke the silence bringing Nobos's attention to him.

Nobos turned his dull eyes onto him " Yes. It is unusual. It's like the darkness is stirring. Something is disturbing the balance." Nobos sighed " You haven't left the realm in a while, so it's not you" Nobos's hairless brows furrowed, concerned. It was the first time he'd ever seen him truly concerned.

" We need eyes in the other realms. Gather all the soul collectors. Find what they know. They can enter realms and see things that we are not privy to. Come back once you find anything. I need to know what is happening. I'm sure whatever is creating the disturbance, is powerful. Too powerful." Ian frowned, troubled, gazing in the distance.

Nobos nodded " It will take some time but I'll return as soon as I know something. What will you do?" Nobos worriedly asked.

" I won't leave the realm. Get this done." Ian turned to him " I can feel it. It's getting stronger. " For once Ian didn't rudely bark at him. It wasn't in his nature, not to make snarky remarks or be derisive.

Nobos took his leave without adding anything. His smart mouth had stayed shut for once. The charge rolled off in waves, not visible to the naked eye but strong enough to make his bones shake. Ian closed his eyes trying to sense where it was coming from, and after a few brief moments, he opened his eyes, shaken. It wasn't coming from within the realm, it seeped through the veil. He wasn't in the least curious, to meet the entity that wielded such power. He was strong within his realm. But the power that radiated from the entity surpassed him, greatly.

Ian grunted, displeased, and turned his attention toward the obsidian wall. Iris was in danger, she needed to be warded, warned. He could sense the entity wasn't in full control of his abilities. A newly created one.