Liora’s scream was not one of pain, but power. As the spirit’s essence coiled around her, her soul cracked open. Her body became a battleground of shadow and flame, light and lust. The spirit surged inside her, merging with her memories, her desires. It saw her love for Kael, her pain, her strength—and through it all, it began to fracture.

Kael dropped to his knees, eyes wide as Liora glowed. She was no longer just herself—she was more. His voice broke as he began the counter-ritual, the words trembling from his lips. His hands moved to her back, drawing ancient symbols along her spine. Each mark shimmered, undoing the binding.

Their lips met, and the kiss ignited a storm.

The book flew open, its pages turning violently. The story of the headmaster’s betrayal spilled forth—the spirit’s true origin laid bare. Love twisted by envy. The headmaster had sacrificed the one he claimed to love in order to lock away a power he feared. Each student lost was part of that debt.

As Kael and Liora embraced, their bodies soaked in sweat and tears, the crypt shook. The spirits of the students circled them, their faces straining between sorrow and hope. The spirit staggered back, its seductive form flickering, shifting. It now appeared not as a monster, but as a woman broken by love.

She knelt before Kael, her claws fading. “Will you take my place?” she whispered, not a threat, but a plea.

Kael stepped forward. “If it means freeing her.”

Liora cried out, clinging to him. “No. Not again.”

But he only smiled, brushing a kiss to her lips. “I was born from this curse. Let it end with me.”

As the spirit reached for him, her form flickered again—this time with tears.

Kael collapsed.

The spirit wept.

The crypt stilled.

Liora’s sobs filled the silence.

The spirit dissolved into light and ash, its sorrow finally spent. The students’ souls rose one last time, smiling faintly, before vanishing into peace.

But Kael remained still.

And Liora’s tears fell upon the cold stone, unanswered.

Chapter 8: The Binding

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