Chapter 751
Chapter 750: The Unbinding
13 Days To Go
Orion sat where he was, his legs crossed beneath him, his hands resting on his knees. The stone floor was cold beneath him, but he barely noticed. His focus was already turning inward, preparing for what was to come.
He closed his eyes.
The world around him dimmed as he let everything fade piece by piece until only the presence of Noctis remained.
Sophia was seated just behind Josiah, her legs folded beneath her, her hands resting on her thighs. She closed her eyes too, her breathing slow and measured. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, already reaching for the threads of black magic that she knew were there.
The workers in the shrine surrounded them in a loose circle, their hands clasped in front of them, their heads bowed. They were silent, waiting.
Madam Tyler stood at the head of the circle, her staff in hand. She raised it slowly, then brought it down against the floor.
She began to mutter then. The workers joined in, their voices rising and falling in unison, weaving a chant that seemed to vibrate through the very stones.
The air grew heavy, and Orion felt a chill creep across his skin, settling deep into his bones. It wasn’t the cold of the shrine — it was something else, something that came from the ritual itself.
*Let me take control,* Noctis said to Orion.
Orion inhaled slowly. Then he let go.
His bones cracked and reformed, his muscles stretched and reshaped, his senses expanded outward, and then Noctis took over.
He stared directly at Josiah, whose eyes were wide with shock. His mouth hung open, his face pale, his body trembling.
*Can you hear me?* Noctis asked Orion.
’I can hear you,’ Orion replied.
*Can you contact Sophia?* Noctis asked him.
’Shorty,’ Orion called out.
There was a beat of silence.
’Shorty,’ Orion called out again.
A moment passed. Then Sophia’s voice came through, steady and clear.
’Orion p>
’Yes, it’s me. Can you see the traces of black magic?’ he asked her.
Sophia paused again before answering.
’Yes. I can see it p>
’It’s in the lower part of his stomach,’ she said. ’And it’s pulsing p>
Noctis’s growl rumbled low in his chest. *Then that is where we begin p>
He stepped forward, his massive paws silent against the stone floor. The Bloodroot Bloom lay on the ground between him and Josiah, its dark petals gleaming faintly in the light.
Noctis reached for the black magic with his power.
The moment he touched it, the magic reacted.
It lashed out. He growled, bracing himself against the assault. It was fighting back.
Noctis pressed forward, forcing his power deeper into the coil of black magic. He could feel it writhing beneath his touch, twisting and turning, trying to escape his grasp. But he held on.
The chant grew louder.
Madam Tyler’s voice rose above the others, her words sharp and commanding. The workers followed her lead, their voices weaving into a wall of sound that pressed in from all sides.
Noctis growled again, louder this time. The black magic was spreading — he could feel it moving through Josiah’s body, trying to find a way out, trying to consume him entirely.
Sophia’s voice cut through the chaos. ’It’s moving toward his chest. It’s trying to reach his heart p>
Noctis followed her direction, his power surging toward the spreading darkness. He met it head-on, pushing back against its advance, forcing it to retreat. But the black magic was stubborn. It fought him every step of the way.
Noctis knew it was futile, though. This black magic in Josiah was still new. It had not taken the time to fully form its root.
He channeled it through the bloodroot bloom.
Once more the magic tried to resist, but Noctis was having none of that.
He pushed and pushed until the black magic began to move.
Slowly, agonizingly, it began to flow. It seeped out of Josiah’s body, a dark, viscous shadow that clung to Noctis’s power like a leech. He guided it toward the Bloodroot Bloom.
The chant reached a crescendo just as the magic touched the herb — that was all they needed. It reacted immediately.
Its petals darkened, turning from deep purple to black. Its red root shriveled, curling in on itself.
They had no idea how long they had spent; their only aim was to get rid of what Victoria had used on Josiah, and finally, they achieved their aim.
But then another issue arose — Noctis was stuck in some sort of trance.
’Noctis,’ Orion called out.
There was no reply.
’Noctis,’ Orion called out again, firmer this time.
It took a while, but Noctis replied.
*It’s done, Orion. It’s gone p>
And then he let Orion take over. Immediately, the chant faded.
Josiah’s body, which had been trembling and taut, went slack. His head dropped forward, his eyes wide and unfocused, tears streaming down his face.
The shrine fell silent.
*It was binding magic,* Noctis said. * But also more than that. There were effects of brainwashing too. Victoria did not just control him — she remade him. His grief was a cage, and she was the one who kept him inside it p>
Orion only nodded. He had done little, but he was exhausted. He opened his eyes, and the first person he saw was Josiah.
His eyes were wide, his face wet with tears, his body trembling. He looked at Orion, and there was no fear in his gaze this time. There was only grief.
He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, he collapsed.
Madam Tyler moved forward, her staff tapping softly against the stone. She crouched beside Josiah, her hand pressing against his neck.
“His pulse is steady,” she said. “He’ll recover p>
The Bloodroot Bloom was fully black now, its petals curled and dead. It was already crumbling, its purpose fulfilled.
Sophia stood up slowly, her legs unsteady. She crossed the distance between them and knelt beside Orion, her hand finding his.
“Shorty,” Orion called out.
“Well… see why I might love Noctis more than you?” Sophia asked him.
Orion chuckled. “Well, too bad. Without me, you’re not getting Noctis p>
She rolled her eyes and stood up.
Orion tried to stand too, but his limbs felt weak.
He let out a breathless laugh.
“I can’t feel my legs.” And then he collapsed.