45 - Miracle of Will

I woke up the next day unable to even sit up. The others offered help where they could, but it was clearly terminal care. Without a surgeon or healing magic, that's all they could do. 

Laying basically immobile beneath the giant stone pillar, all I was able to do was think. Consider the pros and cons of becoming a Soulblade. Contemplate strategies to counter the Adversary.

I boiled it down to a handful of options: Fight and kill the original carrier, restrain the carrier and take the sword away, monkey-trap the blade. 

All of my strategies involved me healing or someone else with the guts to attempt them bonding the Ancient. Either way seemed unlikely. Not to mention the luck and skill the barrier techniques I thought of would require.

Around noon, my attention was drawn by a shout. I turned my head to see what the commotion was about. People scattered as a figure descended from the sky on white wings. Her unkempt blond hair was wrapped by the Angel's helm. 

She approached me, gliding to the ground. The red light in her eyes flickered for just a moment.

"You've found us. Now what?"

"I'll start by finishing you off." The Adversary replied with my wife's voice. She poised her sword above me and thrust downward.

I deflected it with a barrier. The narrow blade pierced into my right arm. I summoned barriers capturing the Angel before she could withdraw it, trapping the blade in a blue energy jar. The hole that Katie's arm reached through was made smaller than the Angel's guard. Classic monkey trap.

With the Soulblade basically useless, I turned my attention to her face. The glowing red concealed her natural blue eyes. A scowl distorted her beautiful face as she tried to free her sword from the monkey trap. 

"I know you're in there, Katie. Are you going to sit back and let him do this? And you, Angel. What happened to your vow? Aren't you going to do something to restore it?"

"They can't hear you. And even if they could, what does it matter? I am the god of the mental realm! Nothing can break my hold."

I smirked. "Nothing? That's a bold claim. If you had given me a chance, I'd give you a run for your money." 

Lethargically, I raised my unpinned arm to caress my wife's face. The Adversary leaned away, refusing to let me make contact. My effort thwarted, I let my hand fall to my side. I felt my remaining stamina deplete with my mana. This was it for me.

I closed my eyes and gave a content smile. The last thing I saw was my wife's face, albeit possessed by an evil magic sword. So be it. At least I got to see her one last time before I died. I released my monkey trap barriers.

Something dropped to the ground. And instead of the sharp point of the Angel's rapier, I felt gentle hands caress my skin. 

Surprised, I opened my eyes, and looked to find Katie. Her eyes were white, with blue irises. She had no wings or helm, yet her face was just as angelic.

Yellow-white energy emitted from her hands, flowing into the stab wound in my shoulder and towards my waist. The pain at my waist burned, as though it were freshly inflamed. It's sensation overrode anything else, and unable to hold it back, I screamed in pain. 

I don't know how long the pain lasted, but when it was done, nothing hurt anymore. I nearly passed out in relief.

Katie took my hand. I opened my eyes and found her smiling at me.

"I knew you could do it." I said.

"I guess I could. It was really hard, though. The Angel is still wrestling with him in my mind right now. It's... overwhelming."

"I'm sure it is. I couldn't help but think this felt like a rematch with the Boss, but on steroids."

She giggled. "Is that what it was like? And you went though this willingly. I didn't realize you were so crazy."

"Sure you did. And you married me anyway."

Our romantic moment was cut short when Thomas approached, the Lost in hand, with several other men wielding carapace-based tools.

He looked between Katie and me, confused. "How? I thought you had come here possessed by the bad guy."

"I did. The Angel is holding him back right now, so I can have a moment with my husband."

"How long do you have?" Thomas asked

"I probably will have to leave soon. Maybe I'll go further west, and try to get out of his range. His control is weak this far out, and will likely be weaker the further I go."

"If you do, watch for me." I said.

She smiled. "I'll watch for you every day of my life if I have to." Then she leaned down and gave me a kiss.

Thomas let us be, and we enjoyed the sweet moment for as long as we dared.

Finally, the time came. She stood and picked up the Angel gingerly. Carefully, she tucked the Angel into the leather sheath she wore at her hip. She left my view, heading West on foot.

I fell asleep, finally able to actually rest.