Page 93 of A Soul to Steal

Weldir was the ruler of this world, and he’d rather not actually piss him off. He’d only been playful because he didn’t actually think he’d care – from what he’d learned of his personality so far.

He lowered Aleron’s wing while ensuring he didn’t pull it away completely. Gideon sat up as he searched the area, with Aleron following. “Where the hell are my clothes?”

“Gone,” Weldir stated, cocking a cloudy brow. “Your soul is naked. Therefore, the clothes you wore earlier were what I conjured. The moment you removed them, they disappeared.”

Unlike Weldir’s earlier misty formation, he appeared to be made of chalky ribbons. The ribbons swirled, glittered, and coalesced around his essence, and only made up about a quarter of his body. Not much of his face was to be seen, other than his jaw, chin, cheek, nose, his right eye, and a horn. His body followed a similar pattern; only parts of him were visible.

Gideon’s lids lowered in annoyance. “Oh.” Then, he waved to his naked body, specifically his groin hidden away by black feathers. “Could you conjure some more then?” hepolitelyasked.

The only reason embarrassment didn’t flush his cheeks at being found naked and entangled by Weldir’s son was because of the perverse statues he’d seen. The man, or god, or whatever, obviously wasn’t shy about sex. Why should Gideon be?

Weldir waved his visible hand, and the same plain clothing as before snapped into place around his body.

Gideon stood and ignored the eight-foot demi-god as he offered his hand out to Aleron. Gideon appreciated that, although they both knew he didn’t actually have the strength to help the big guy to his feet, Aleron still grabbed it and pretended. Gideon flashed him a mild smile, remembering the first time they’d tried that.

Once steady on his feet, Aleron fiercely shook his body, making every part of him quake. His fur and feathers, which had stuck up in odd places in disarray due to Gideon, shifted and lay properly against him. A few stray feathers fluttered out of hiswings before disappearing into nothingness. His collar fluffed out, then settled.

He noticed Aleron’s chest puffed with a confidence that hadn’t been there before.

His orbs flashed bright yellow for a moment, and only faded when he wrapped his hand around Gideon’s side.

His tone curt, but kind, Aleron asked, “What is it you want?”

“Hopefully it’s not another task,” Gideon joked, although he was rather serious.

“No.” Weldir stepped closer with his hand out. When his pinkie finger must have touched the other, it also became visible – like spreading ink. “I would like to try something.”

A skull appeared from thin air. It was unusually large, but it didn’t take much for Gideon to furrow his brows. He darted a glance to Aleron’s bat skull and twisting goat horns, realising they appearedalmostthe same.

There were a few differences, like the colour of the horns and how the snout was ever so slightly squarer, but other than that, it was the same. It tilted in Weldir’s palm, and sparkled with gold as though glittery dust had been thrown upon it.

“What is this?” Aleron asked, tilting his skull as he closed the distance, leaving Gideon in his curiosity.

He stayed behind, unneeded.

“Lindiwe was unable to find your skull fragments within the rubble of Jabez’s castle. So, I asked her to find me a fruit bat skull and goat horns that closely resembled yours.” Weldir’s head tipped down to it. “She put her all into finding them as quickly as possible for you.”

“Why?” Aleron reached forward to touch it, but his intangible hand simply passed through it.

“It is physical, so you are unable to touch it, but...” Weldir lifted his face until he was staring down at Aleron. “With a piece of the crown the Gilded Maiden gave me, I want to use this togive you a new skull. With the combination of her magic and my own binding the pieces, Lindiwe and I are hoping we can use this to bring you back to life.”

Aleron’s wings slowly drooped. It was all Gideon could see standing behind him.

“Does this... does this mean I can be with Ingram again?” The whispered hope in his voice was so strong it almost became palpable enough for Gideon to gnaw on.

Despite the cold pang that struck across his chest, he couldn’t help his sorrowful smile on Aleron’s behalf. This is what he wanted, to be with his kindred again. Gideon knew how much that meant to him.

“I hope so,” Weldir affirmed with a nod. “I’m going to mould it around your soul so that you may fill it once more, and the combined magic should be enough power to tether it to you.”

Weldir lifted it to Aleron’s face, and Gideon stepped to the side so he could see what would happen.

“Will... he still be here for a little while before he goes?” Gideon couldn’t help asking, rubbing his palms against his pants.

I’d like to say goodbye to him.

Even if it didn’t matter for Gideon, who would probably forget him in a damn hour, he’d still like the Duskwalker to think of him fondly in the future. The past month had meant a lot to Gideon, and a big part of him wished he could permanently remember it.

He may even ask Weldir that when he fell into a sleep state, if some of his dreams could be of his time with Aleron. If it were possible, of course.

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