Trinity arrived on Snake Island, her heart racing with purpose. The island was dense with thick, tangled trees and the air was filled with the sounds of crickets and other creatures.
As she moved through the forest, she looked for a high spot to get a clear view of her surroundings. Finally, she found a vantage point that gave her a good look at the island.
Trinity decided this was the perfect place to use her spirit detection. She focused, releasing a pulse of spirit energy that spread out over the land.
Almost immediately, she sensed a large amount of spiritual energy coming from one direction. Without hesitation, she began to run toward it, adrenaline pushing her forward.
When she reached the source of the energy, she found… nothing. Confused, she tried to use soul detection again, but this time she couldn't sense anything.
"I thought the energy came from here,"
She muttered, scanning the quiet area, where only the chirping of crickets broke the silence. But something felt off, as if she wasn't alone.
Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her. She turned quickly, but there was no one there.
"Who's there?"
She called out, her heart racing. For a brief moment, she felt someone right in front of her, yet she couldn't see anything. She jumped back, creating space between them, her mind racing with confusion.
"If I can't see you, then I won't use my eyes,"
She thought. She closed her eyes, focusing on her spiritual senses. The presence became clearer as she focused intently to the waves of spirit energy she felt.
"I can feel your presence,"
She whispered to herself, growing anxious.
In a moment of determination, she released a burst of spiritual energy, hoping to knock whoever it was down. But instead, the figure countered her attack with an energy twice as strong.
Trinity felt her temperature rise as the pressure hit her, forcing her to her knees.
"This immense spiritual energy… it feels like my father's," she realized.
Slowly, she opened her eyes to see a figure in a long green robe, a hood pulled over their head. The person wore a mask with no openings for the eyes. With deliberate movements, the figure removed the mask, revealing Lamthe's familiar face.
"You seem to be improving, daughter,"
He said, a smile spreading across his features.
Trinity felt a wave of relief and joy.
"Father!"
She exclaimed, rushing to give him a hug.
"That movement you just showed me...I've never seen anything like that before."
Lamthe chuckled softly.
"It's a technique you'll learn once you become an ethereal sage."
Chief Lamthe glanced around.
"You didn't come with your sister?"
"No," Trinity replied.
"I came alone...Altine stayed back to watch over the division."
Lamthe nodded, understanding.
"I trust the spirit harmony division is in good hands. But what brings you to Snake Island?"
Trinity took a deep breath.
"I came to deliver a message I thought was important. It's about the soul eater."
At this, Lamthe's expression shifted, a shadow of worry crossing his face as he recalled past encounters with the soul eater.
"Tell me more," He urged calmly.
"We found a hollow, but by the time altine arrived, the soul eater had already gone..." Trinity explained.
"...this happened a few weeks ago when the soul eater reincarnated. As of now, we still don't know where she is."
Lamthe sighed heavily.
"This is important information. Did you tell the other chief purists?"
"No," Trinity admitted.
"I came straight to you."
"Okay, here's what you'll do for me. Go to the Spirit Incarnation division and tell Chief Femi this same information. I will warn Chief Celestine about the soul eater."
He paused, looking at her.
"I know you're tired from your journey here."
Trinity cut him off, shaking her head.
"I'm not tired! I can keep going!"
Lamthe smiled, "You've always been the lively one."
But then, they both sensed another presence on the island.
"Are you sure you came alone? I can feel someone near the shore," he said.
"I...i feel it too," Trinity replied, her voice tense.
They hurried toward the source of the feeling, and what they saw made Trinity's heart drop. Juwon lay on the shore, motionless.
"Juwon?" she gasped, rushing to examine him.
He wasn't breathing, but his heart was still beating. It looked like he had drowned while trying to cross the water.
"Juwon!" Lamthe asked,
"Isn't he a student at my division?"
"Yes," Trinity said, her voice shaky.
"I told him to wait for me, but I guess he didn't listen."
Without wasting another second, Trinity dropped to her knees beside Juwon's still body, her hands trembling only for a moment before instinct took over.
She tilted his head back gently, checking for signs of breath. Nothing. No rise, no fall. His chest was silent.
"He's not breathing," she whispered, barely loud enough for her own ears.
Trinity interlocked her fingers and placed them firmly on the center of Juwon's chest, beginning compressions... steady, forceful, rhythmic. Her body rocked with each push, keeping count silently in her head. Thirty.
Then she leaned in, pinching his nose shut, and pressed her lips to his. A soft, quick breath passed from her into him. She drew back, took in air, and gave him another breath — mouth to mouth. Her face was close enough to see the flecks of dirt on his skin.
Lamthe's eyes narrowed. It was a vulnerable sight — his daughter breathing life into another with urgency and purpose. Yet he said nothing, letting her work.
Trinity went back to compressions. Her pace was relentless now.
"Come on, Juwon," she muttered under her breath, sweat beading at her temples.
"Breathe. Please."
Then, with a gasp like someone surfacing from deep water, Juwon's body jolted. Juwon coughed up water, and Trinity felt relief wash over her.
Trinity sat back, breathless, her hands shaking. Lamthe exhaled quietly. But behind the relief in his eyes, something unreadable lingered.
He must be crazy, she thought, breath catching in her throat. Did Juwon really swim across that entire body of water, just to get here? Her heart thumped faster with admiration. Is that even possible?
She found herself smiling despite the absurdity. There was something wild, foolish, and deeply admirable about what he'd just done.
Drenched to the bone, barely catching his breath, Juwon looked like a boy chasing something impossible to achieve...and that only made Trinity admire him more.
Lamthe stood beside her, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on Juwon—not with awe, but with silent calculation. His brow furrowed as he studied the boy, his expression unreadable.
"That's odd," Lamthe finally said, almost to himself.
"Even now, he hasn't been able to locate his soul."
Trinity turned to him, blinking.
"Altine said something about that," she murmured.
"She thinks it's his trauma. She believes it's blocking him from accessing it."
Lamthe's gaze lingered on Juwon a moment longer before he stepped forward.
"Is that so?" he said quietly.
He knelt in front of Juwon and gently reached out, placing a steady hand on the boy's forehead. His fingers glowed faintly with spirit energy, humming with warmth.
"I believe," Lamthe said, voice low and full of intent,
"I can help him with that."
To be continued...