August's breath caught. Rhea rarely expressed desire—she was always calm, analytical, detached. But now, her voice carried a note of genuine longing that he had never heard before.
'Anything that can strengthen Rhea is worth pursuing,' he thought.
She was his greatest asset—and my closest companion.
He turned his attention back to Grimy Hallow, his expression carefully neutral.
"The Soul Nourishing Orb is a rare treasure," he said, his voice carrying a note of appraisal. "But the Astral Octopus remains are also exceptionally valuable. I believe the orb and the spirit stones together would be a fair trade."
Grimy Hallow's eyes narrowed. "You drive a hard bargain, Sorcerer August. The orb alone is worth more than the remaining parts."
