The air hung heavy and still, thick with the scent of damp earth and something else—a coppery, metallic tang that no amount of clean river breeze could fully disperse. Emmet and Eanne had stumbled upon the place by accident, a forgotten homestead tucked away in a quiet bend of the Danosa River. It was a picturesque spot, the kind of place a family might choose to build a life. An old, withered vegetable patch hinted at a small garden, and a few broken fence posts marked where a livestock pen once stood. The only sound was the gentle murmur of the river, a stark contrast to the silence of the house itself.

  Emmet pushed open the creaking door, a faint sense of unease settling over him. He was a man accustomed to forgotten places and echoes of the past, but this felt different. The house was small, built for a modest family. Inside, dust motes danced in the slivers of light cutting through grimy windows. At first glance, it seemed simply abandoned. But as Emmet moved deeper, his practiced eye caught the signs of something far more sinister.

  This wasn't an abandonment; it was a massacre.

  In the kitchen, a pile of fractured bones lay near a toppled table, a shattered jawbone and splintered ribs suggesting a brutal end. Another skeleton, much smaller, was huddled in the corner of a bedroom, a gaping hole in its skull. The third was found near the front window, as if the person had been trying to flee, their leg snapped at an unnatural angle. The scene was one of desperate struggle and sheer terror. Deep gouges, as if from enormous claws, scarred the wooden floors and walls. A dark, rusted stain—long since dried—splashed against the wall, its pattern suggesting a violent, frenzied spray. There were no marks of battle, no defensive wounds on the remains. This was a one-sided slaughter, a brutal feast.

  "What did you find, Emmet?" Eanne's voice echoed from the doorway, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern. "Do you think it was the Bloodbounds?"

  Emmet emerged from the house, his face grim. "I can't be sure, but the evidence points that way." He knelt, running his finger along a peculiar mark in the dirt near the door—a dark, almost greasy-looking stain. "They were slaughtered. And something feasted on them." He held up his hand, showing Eanne the black smear on his fingers. "See this? The residue of the blood has a high iron content, far more than any terrestrial creature. And the way it's aged, the breakdown of the hemoglobin and proteins—it's consistent with a metabolism that processes flesh not for simple digestion, but for a rapid, almost magical conversion of mass and energy. The speed of the decay here tells me whatever did this was efficient, draining the life from them completely."

  He stood up, his eyes scanning the horizon. "It's a high chance this was the work of Bloodbounds. They're not just killers; they’re harvesters."

  Eanne’s eyes glinted with a familiar fire. "So we track them, right? We hunt them down."

  "No," Emmet said, the word firm and unexpected. "We can't. This happened a long, long time ago. The trail is cold, and we have more pressing matters." He paused, a strange glint in his eye as he looked around at the peaceful surroundings. "Besides, this is a perfect place to stay for a while."

  Eanne’s brow furrowed. "Stay? Your pilgrimage—are you ending it?"

  "No, not ending it," Emmet clarified. "Just... pausing. I need to understand you better, Eanne. I need to improve my own skills and learn to understand my own divinity if I'm going to find a way to make you whole. Your powers and memories are returning, but it's not enough. I need you to teach me about your sealing abilities. I've been studying them, but now I need a practical understanding. And I need time to explore my own abilities more deeply. This place is safe, it's secluded, and it's a good place for us to build a temporary base."

  A rare, proud smile spread across Eanne’s face. She stretched, her form shimmering slightly as if her essence was flowing more freely. "My powers are definitely coming back. I'm better than before. Soon, I'll be completely fixed."

  "That's the goal," Emmet said, his gaze softening. "So, we stay here. We focus on learning and understanding each other. And I'll continue my research on the Bloodbounds, improving my understanding from the data we've gathered so far. We'll make this our temporary base."

  The duo set to work immediately. After a trip to a nearby town for supplies and books, they returned to the homestead. The first order of business was to bury the remains of the family, an act of silent respect for the lives lost. They dug three graves under a great oak tree, placing a small stone marker for each. "We're just borrowing your house for a while," Emmet whispered to the silent earth. "May your souls rest in peace."

  The next few days were spent cleaning the house and fortifying the area, setting up defenses to ensure their privacy and safety. Then, the real work began.

  Emmet, with his knack for analysis and theory-crafting, spent his mornings meticulously going over the skills he had, exploring their potential applications. In the afternoons, they would sit together, and Eanne would demonstrate her sealing abilities as Emmet observed and took notes.

  "My sealing ability is innate to my race," Eanne explained one afternoon, demonstrating how she could seal a stone in her palm and make it disappear. "We use tools and artifacts to apply it in different ways, but our bodies are the real conduit for the power."

  Emmet nodded, his mind already weaving together connections. "Yes. The current sealing magic in this world all depends on external artifacts—talismans, runes, magic items. But your power isn't from an item; it is you. It's your own power, not something borrowed."

  He laid out his theories, each one a different lens through which to view her power.

  

  
• 
  
    The "Primordial Language" Theory: This theory suggested that Eanne's race were the original scribes of reality, and their sealing power came from a primordial language woven into their very essence. The sealing wasn't a spell, but a "word of binding" that temporarily rewrote reality's rules. Her pocket dimension wasn’t just a void, but a "prison of words" where objects were held in glowing, floating script.
  
    


  
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    The "Divine Lock" Theory: This posited that their power was a remnant of a time when her race were "keepers of balance" for the gods. Their souls contained "Divine Locks," metaphysical constructs that allowed them to impose order on chaos. Her pocket dimension, in this theory, was a "sealed void," a fragment of primordial order. This would explain why modern sealing rituals, which only mimicked her power, were clunky and required artifacts.
  
    


  
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    The "Cosmic Weaving" Theory: Emmet’s favorite, this theory proposed that Eanne’s power came from manipulating the "threads of fate or creation." Sealing a target was like weaving invisible threads around them, binding them in place. Her pocket dimension would be a "tangled knot" in the fabric of reality itself, a knot only she could untangle.
  
    


  

  As Eanne showed off more of her skills, Emmet also started to theorize about her defensive abilities, like the forcefield she could conjure. He concluded they weren't just simple barriers; they were another application of her sealing power.

  

  
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    The "Barrier as a Seal Against Harm" Theory: This theory argued that her forcefield wasn't just a shield, but a "seal against intrusion," a metaphysical contract stating that "Nothing shall pass this boundary." It was a seal that forbade external forces from entering a specific area.
  
    Stolen story; please report.
  
    


  

  "Gosh, Emmet," Eanne laughed after he explained the theories, a genuine lightness in her tone. "You understand my abilities better than I do."

  "They're just theories," Emmet replied, though a certain pride was evident in his voice. "But based on what we've seen, your power isn't just for storage. It's for defense, offense, containment, even for sealing non-tangible things like memories. The potential is endless."

  But with every observation, another, more troubling conclusion began to form in Emmet’s mind. "The limitation," he said, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "It seems to be tied to your memories. The more you use your power, the more your divinity seems to be used up. I can feel it. When you use your abilities, it consumes not just your energy, but my divinity as well."

  Eanne's expression remained neutral, devoid of any alarm. "Well, yes. As I remember it, my people used their life force to seal things. Once we used it all up... that was the end."

  Emmet felt a cold knot tighten in his stomach. "What? You mean your sealing power consumes your very being?"

  Eanne nodded, a casual shrug accompanying the gesture. "Of course. We were just tools for the gods. Once we had served our purpose, we were disposed of, faded away."

  A profound sadness settled over Emmet, but it was quickly replaced by a cold, searing fury at the gods for creating a race with such a bitter purpose. His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white

  Emmet’s heart sank as the realization hit him. It wasn't that Eanne's body was incomplete; it was that she was slowly and deliberately fading away, a built-in obsolescence. Her incredibly powerful abilities came at an equally immense price. She was only surviving now because she was tethered to his own divine core, but in doing so, she was a parasitic drain on his divinity and, by extension, his life force.

  He felt a sudden, deep sadness for her, a profound sense of injustice. The knowledge that his own lifespan had been shortened didn't bother him; he would gladly give up centuries for her. But he couldn't let her continue to fade. He couldn't let this slow, agonizing disappearance be her fate. He decided he wouldn't tell her of this discovery—not yet. It would only worry her, and he needed to find a solution first.

  The goal was clear: he had to find a way to give Eanne independence, to sever the parasitic link and provide her with her own core. His first plan to give her a divine core was still valid, but he now knew it was more urgent than he had ever imagined.

  He formulated a few new theories, each one a different approach to the problem:

  

  
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    The External Conduit Theory: Find a way to transfer the energy consumption from their life force to an external conduit. This would allow Eanne to use her abilities without the life-force drain, essentially running her powers on a different fuel source.
  
    


  
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    The Symbiotic Link Theory: Rather than ending the connection, he could find a way to transform their parasitic relationship into a true symbiosis, where they would both become stronger together. This would be a more harmonious method, but it was complex and carried its own risks.
  
    


  
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    The Totem Theory: The most radical and risky idea. He could somehow transform Eanne into a totem being. This would fundamentally alter her and give her a new, stable form with her own divine core, but it could also change her forever, making her something else entirely—a kind of living artifact bound to him.
  
    


  

  He dropped the idea of using her as his own personal power source; the thought of consuming her for his own benefit was abhorrent. For now, he decided to focus on the symbiotic relationship, to learn how to empower her without draining her, and to continue studying the totem theory. It was clear that to save Eanne, he first needed to master his own divine abilities. This temporary base wasn't just a place to rest; it was a workshop, a sanctuary, and the first step on a new, more desperate quest.

  As the days turned into weeks, Emmet focused on their link. He realized that when he used his own totem abilities, they also consumed his life force because they were fueled by Eanne’s sealing power. It was a vicious cycle, a paradox that threatened to consume them both. Yet, he wasn't disheartened. Instead, he was more motivated than ever. It was a good thing he had chosen to pause their journey and study her abilities; otherwise, he might have simply withered away without ever knowing why. He decided to focus on improving their symbiotic relationship for now, as he wasn't yet strong enough to even consider creating a new form for Eanne.

  He was deep in thought, staring out at the river, when Eanne appeared beside him, a funny smile on her face. She seemed to know exactly what he was thinking.

  "What are you looking at with that funny look on your face?" Emmet asked, trying to sound annoyed but failing.

  "Wehoo, I know what you're thinking," Eanne said, her smile widening. "Are you worried about me?"

  "Of course, I am," Emmet replied. "You're thinking that the more I use my seal, the more I'll disappear, and it will also use up your life force so the two of us will disappear? Am I correct?"

  "Well, you don't have to say it that way," Emmet said, a little defensively. "But yes, you are."

  Eanne's smile faded, replaced by a look of profound seriousness. "Have you forgotten what I am capable of? All those theories in your mind, yet you didn't factor in what I can do? Honestly, Emmet, you rely too much on yourself. It seems you're at a deadlock. Good thing I have a better idea."

  "What is it?" Emmet asked, intrigued.

  "A contract," she said, the words simple but heavy with meaning. "Make me your own familiar."

  "I can't do that," Emmet said, his voice firm. "We have contracts like that in the North, but that's the same as making you my slave. I would never do that to you."

  "Phufufu," Eanne said, a sad laugh escaping her. "Let's face it, Emmet, I'll be a goner soon. I'd rather be your familiar than disappear. I don't mind disappearing, but in that way, you will disappear too. Do you want that?"

  A heavy silence descended between them. Emmet was still reeling from the possibility of a contract, a path he had never even considered because of his ethical objections. Eanne broke the silence, her voice soft. "I'm sorry, Emmet. Because of me, you are having this trouble." He knew the truth of her words—the logical conclusion was inescapable, yet his heart rejected it outright. It was an impossible choice, a cruel dilemma with no right answer. He wanted to refuse, to shout at her for her casual acceptance of her own fate, but no words would come out. This was not a problem he could solve with research or theory, and for a man who defined himself by his ability to solve problems, it was a terrifying feeling.

  "Not at all," Emmet said, reaching out to take her hand. "I never blamed you for anything. The best we can do is find a way to solve this."

  "That is the best way," Eanne insisted. "Trust me, Emmet, there is no better way. Besides, it's not like it's a bad thing. After being with you for so long, I won't regret being with you for more or being a part of you for good."

  "I am part of your divine core for now, but I'll end up using your life force because you were forced to do it out of immediate need. With the contract, we can change that. I become a new being, and I will no longer need to depend on using up our life force."

  "How is that even possible?" Emmet asked, his mind racing. "If we are bound together, we still use the same life force, don't we?"

  "Not like that," Eanne said, her grip on his hand tightening. "Once my being is altered, I become a tool. My original being is altered, too. The contract you do in the North is not the same contract we are going to make. We serve the gods with the sealing power we have; it's more like we seal my being, definite, no longer bound to the laws of the world but bound to you. Which is why it will be changing my being and creating a new me. Put your trust in me. I will never endanger the both of us again."

  "I don't know," Emmet said, his voice wavering. "I don't know the depths of your power. But tell me, will you lose your powers if you do that?"

  "Yes," Eanne said simply. "I said altered. It means I will have my powers, but I will never be the same again. You're a smart one, so you should know that we shouldn't waste any more time. You are not one to act on your emotions."

  Emmet looked at her, and for the first time, tears welled up in his eyes, a foreign sensation. He was a calculative man, not one to act on emotion, but Eanne was different. She was the first person he had truly cared for outside of his mother. Emmet's logical mind had always been his shield, his most reliable tool. Now, for the first time, it felt useless. He was forced to confront a truth he couldn't calculate or solve. He looked at her, and the tears he had been holding back finally streamed down his face, a foreign feeling of utter helplessness. He was a man who defined himself by his ability to solve problems, and this was one he couldn't.

  A new thought, a logical one, came to him through his tears. He had to agree to this. If Eanne, with her ancient knowledge, thought this was the best way, then he had to trust her. For now, the most logical step was to act now. He would improve his own powers, and then, someday, he would find a way to set her free again. Time was of the essence. He had no idea how much of his own life force had already been consumed by their link.

  Taking a deep breath, he looked Eanne in the eye, his gaze firm and resolute. "Okay. Let's do this."