Everyone stared at me in shock, their eyes filled with confusion and fear. As if being controlled, they all turned their gaze to Elowen, visible disgust written across their faces. Even the girl from earlier slumped in defeat and shock. She bit her lips and gazed at me in fear, but my focus wasn’t on them.

"Let’s go," I said gently, grabbing Liora by the hand. "What happened?" I asked the moment we made some distance from the crowd.

"My beast-man... he protected me from a ghoul, but I don’t understand why he’d risk himself for someone like me..hated by my own parents, my own family. He’s the only one that cared, the only one that treated me like an actual human being. Now he won’t wake up anymore, and I’m so worried. I don’t know what to do. What if he’s dead? I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. I can’t be without him. Raven, please help me," she burst into bitter tears.

I felt my heart sink. Her sadness felt all too familiar. I held her close, comforting her. After she had calmed down a bit, we made our way to her dorm room. I pushed the door open. Her beastman was lying on the bed. He had burn marks on his wings and his face.

"What did this?" I asked, and her lips parted, but she broke down and began crying again. She choked on her tears, unable to say anything. She had a traumatized look on her face, she was probably reliving the entire event again.

"Liora, snap out of it!" I yelled, gripping her wrist, but she kept crying. Her lips parted to say something, but closed instantly.

"What’s wrong with her?" I murmured to myself.

"She’s being forced not to speak," Azrael said, and my eyes darkened.

"What are you doi—" I didn’t finish speaking before Azrael emerged from the shadows and walked towards her. His hands rested on her head, and she went quiet instantly....completely numb. Bright green mist swirled around his hands, drifting down to her face.

"What are you doing?" I asked urgently, but I trusted him. He wouldn’t hurt her. His eyes flashed a bright green, and his left hand shot out, resting on my head.

"Bring him out, Raven," Azrael said, and I felt my body slump to the ground. I braced myself for the impact, but instead, I passed through the floorboard.

"Huh?" I muttered in shock, staring at my hands. They were translucent. "Was I dead?" I muttered, when suddenly the cat appeared, floating in the air.

"Such drama," she purred, oozing happiness.

"Why are you here?" I asked, and her smile widened.

"To help you, host. Because without me, I don’t think you will be able to get out of here." Hearing her words, I felt a bit of relief.

"Where are we?" I asked.

Her lips spread. "The ghoul world. That’s why your hands are translucent. It’s your soul that is here..." she explained, and my lips parted with an "oh."

"So, is Liora’s eagle beastman here?" I asked, and she nodded, but then stilled, like she heard something. Her whiskers twitched, and she snapped her head back to me.

"Liora is here too," she said, and my eyes widened.

"I was talking to her just now!" I said, and she sighed.

"Didn’t you notice? She couldn’t talk on her own free will. Something is stopping her from speaking," she said, and I bit down on my lips.

"Lead the way to her," I said, and watched as her eyes sparkled.

"Raven, you care about her so much?" she asked, and I nodded.

"She’s a friend, the only one in this world I feel I can truly relate with and she actually likes me," I said, and her lips parted, but—

"You’re my friend too," I added, and her eyes widened. She closed her lips and looked away, but I caught a sparkle in her eyes.

"Let’s find her," she said, not commenting on my words. I felt a silent acceptance, so I nodded.

We moved deeper. I couldn’t help but feel amazed. It was like one big town, with bungalows and fields too?

"It’s not like they eat," I said unconsciously, and Orange laughed.

"Well, ghouls try to imitate the life they once had. It’s all they know. They envy the living for this very fact," she said, and I turned to her.

"You heard me?" I asked, and her smile widened.

"You said it out loud," she said.

As we walked, I saw a woman about thirty holding a baby girl, staring straight at me. Did they sense something was wrong?

"Don’t look them in the eye," Orange said, but those eyes... something about them pulled me in. I felt like I had already broken the rule she spoke of. But I managed to tear my gaze away... others followed her stare, watching me and Orange as we walked.

"That’s absurd, you can’t keep me and my beastman here forever!" I heard Liora’s soft, panicked voice, and my eyes snapped open. I paused... there she was, tied to a chair, her hands trembling and her gaze fixed on the paper beneath her pen. It was translucent and had an eerie aura.

I trailed my gaze further and spotted her eagle beastman. He looked weak and cold. He was kneeling, his hands tied behind his back.

"Just sign it already. It’s the only way you can save him," the ghoul man said, untying her. Liora bit her bottom lip, fighting back tears. She gently grazed her pen against the paper, and the ghoul man’s eyes lit up... just as she was about to sign, my hands shot out and stopped her.

"What’s this?" I asked, grabbing the paper.

The ghoul man stood up angrily. "What are you doing? Who the hell are you!" he spat, pointing at me, but my eyes scanned the paper and an evil sneer escaped my lips.

"Did you know what you were signing just now?" I asked, and watched as Liora sucked her bottom lip. She looked up at me, didn’t say a word, and immediately moved, hugging me tightly.

"Thank you for coming," she said, bursting into tears. "I thought I was alone." She cried harder, resting her head on my neck. I didn’t push her away and gently lifted her head, but the ghoul man gritted his teeth angrily.

"Sign it or I take his soul!" he yelled, and I glared at him.

He scoffed and placed his hands on his waist. "I’ve died once already. I’m not scared of that look," he cursed.

"The law of the dead says: the living has nothing to do with the dead." I honestly didn’t know what else to say. Those were the only words I could think of. I was anxious, but I kept a calm face.

"Don’t show your fear, they can sense it," Orange had told me earlier, so I had to be careful.

"What the hell are you?" he asked, and my lips parted...

"I’m a Nether Binder," I lied, and watched as his face went pale. The ghouls around gasped and stepped back.

Orange had gone invisible, whispering in my ear what to say. A Nether Binder was a ghoul rank her, someone involved in bonding, trapping, and controlling souls. Really, Orange was smart...

"What a lie. Show your badge," he demanded, pointing at me, and I froze. What should I do next? But then—

[Tania_M_Travers sent a hidden gift]

My eyes lit up at the hologram. "Thank you, Tania," I said softly, blushing.

"Choose what you want!" Orange said, and a panel instantly appeared. Wow... Tania had given me the ability to choose anything. I picked forgery. That instant, I created a false badge in my pocket. I pulled it out and showed it to him.

He went pale, and immediately his knees buckled. He waved to his servant, who rushed to him. He whispered something into his ear, and the servant ran off... the next second, the eagle beastman was freed, and Liora wiped her tears. She rushed forward, hugging him tightly.

"Master, I’m okay," he said softly, but Liora hugged him even tighter, and he accepted it. Watching them, I felt my chest soften. He cares a lot about her.

"Now... you..." I pointed at the ghoul man and watched him fidget. "If you ever try to scam living souls again, you will answer to me," I spat, and watched him swallow hard.

"I wouldn’t," he said.

I stared at the paper, and it burned into ashes.

"Let’s go," I signaled to Liora, and she immediately followed with her eagle beastman. Did we really resolve this so easily? I thought, licking my lips. I felt my heart ease... it was great here.

Orange led us to the door. Liora and her eagle stepped in. I was about to follow when I saw someone running towards me.

It was the ghoul woman from earlier, with her baby. "Miss!" she called out, and I paused... I had been scared for a second. I thought that man had figured me out, but instead...

She held my hands and stared straight into my eyes. "I knew you were another worlder the moment you stepped in," she said, and I panicked.

"I don’t know wha—"

"This is for you... it’s my special charm. It’ll always protect you. I know you are a good soul. And you’re going to do a lot of good... but be careful because..." she said, pausing as she turned to look behind her.

"Because what?" I asked.

"You should go now, child," she said, slipping something into my shirt.

"Wait—" I stopped when I saw that ghoul man running towards me. Looks like he figured me out.

"Thank you," I said, turning away.

"Hey, you imposter—" I looked over my shoulder and winked at him. That instant, I stepped in, and the portal closed.

Azrael removed his hands, and I staggered back, but Ryker and Veyra caught me from behind. Liora smiled... but then my eyes turned cold...

When Azrael crouched down and coughed out blood...