CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 82: BROKEN SELL

Raviel blew out a long, shaking breath as the last sparks disappeared from his fingers. The cave still smelled of scorched stone and cold steam, the aftermath of Richard’s chaotic spirit outburst hanging in the air like a wound. Akumo still stood in the center, chest rising and falling in uneven rhythm as the old lungs struggled against his damaged ventilation spot.

Raviel moved beside him and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Lord Akumo... calm yourself. Your body cannot take more of this today. You need to rest.

Akumo shook his head, obstinate as always. "Rest? Now? Richard’s body is still unstable. His cells are cracked, a few of them even shattered. If I don’t mend them well, he may break again the moment his spirit wakes up."

Raviel frowned. "But your ventilation core—"

"I have lived without breath, without time, and even without peace," Akumo said sharply, interrupting. "This is nothing."

He knelt beside the unconscious Richard, his chest rising in slow, heavy beats. Faint wisps of dark aura still clung to his skin, trying to latch on again. Akumo placed both palms over Richard’s heart.

Warm, soft light spilled beneath his hands.

Raviel watched in silence. Akumo’s healing aura was unlike anything else. It wasn’t bright, nor grand, nor holy. It was warm... like the memory of sunlight which had survived countless winters.

Akumo spoke softly, as if speaking to himself more than Richard.

"You know, Raviel... there was a time when I wasn’t a warrior at all."

Raviel lifted an eyebrow. "You? Not a fighter?"

Akumo chuckled, the light flickering with his breath. "I was young once. A healer in the northern clans. I carried no sword. I barely knew how to punch properly. But war doesn’t care what you prefer. When the darkness rose, every village needed defenders. I healed soldiers until my hands bled... but healing comes with a price."

He paused, voice lowering.

"Sometimes the wounded died in my arms before I could save them. Sometimes I poured all my spirit into a comrade only to have him stand, fight again, and die again the next day."

He shook his head. "I risked my life not because I was brave... but because I couldn’t bear losing people."

Raviel listened silently as Akumo continued to channel aura into Richard’s broken cells.

Skin on Richard’s arms vibrated softly, adjusting and mending and reshaping into stable form again.

"I remember the first life I lost," Akumo whispered. "A boy. Too young. I tried to heal him but I did not have enough spirit then. His last words were ’Thank you for trying.’ That is when I realized my weakness... and my hatred for it. So I trained. I learned to fight. Learned to survive. Because a healer who dies cannot save anyone."

Raviel softened. "Lord Akumo... your path was never easy."

"No path worth walking is," Akumo murmured. "And now, Richard walks that path with us."

The healing light gradually died. Richard’s breathing steadied, and his skin was no longer cracked. Akumo wiped off the sweat on his forehead and leaned back.

Raviel crawled closer. "Is he. normal?"

"Normal enough," Akumo replied. "His cells are repaired. His spirit still unstable, but no longer dangerous."

Richard’s fingers twitched. His eyes opened slightly-clear, human, no longer clouded by the devil spirit.

He blinked at both men, groggy.

"A... Akumo? Raviel...? What happened...?"

Akumo snorted. "You tried to kill us. That happened.

Richard’s face flushed bright red. "I—I’m sorry! I didn’t mean— I couldn’t control—"

Raviel laughed softly. "Calm down. It wasn’t your fault. That double spirit nearly tore you apart. Anyone would have lost control."

Richard swallowed hard and bowed his head. "Still... I feel ashamed."

Akumo rose and grasped Richard’s shoulder. "Shame is useless, if it does not teach you. Learn... then rise stronger."

Richard nodded. "Yes, sir."

Akumo shut his eyes, and his aura pulsed outwards. In a few moments, his spirit left his form in thin streams, like mist of silver. Then, with practiced ease, he allowed a part of himself to merge into Richard.

Warmth spread into Richard’s chest, and he straightened his spine. His aura stabilized.

Raviel nodded in approval. "Your synchronization is improving."

Akumo grinned. "Of course. This brat needs every drop of discipline I can force into him."

Richard puffed his cheeks. "Hey--I’m trying!"

"And you will continue to try," Akumo replied with a firm voice. "Because what comes next is training."

Richard blinked. "Training? Now? After all this?"

"Yes," Akumo said simply. "Your spirit is stable but your control is not. You need to learn how to let me awaken inside you instantly, without pain or chaos. If you don’t, this incident will repeat itself.

Raviel folded his arms. "He’s right. If the dual aura misfires again, the entire cave might collapse. Better fix your control before that."

Richard exhaled deeply. "Alright... I’m ready."

Akumo nodded. "Good. Stand.

The three moved into the center of the cave where the ground was open and flat. Akumo placed a foot forward and gestured.

"Richard. Close your eyes. Breathe. Sense the two spirits inside of you—yours and mine. Do not separate them. Let them exist side by side. Feel the balance."

Richard breathed in slowly, his aura dancing like a candle flame.

Nothing happened for a moment.

Then—

A faint ripple echoed outward from Richard’s body.

Raviel arched a brow. "That’s better than before."

Akumo folded his arms. "Barely. He’s still stiff. Relax your shoulders, boy."

Richard tried again. This time, his aura formed a soft halo around him—golden mixed with faint silver trails.

Akumo stepped forward.

"Now, call me."

Richard hesitated. "How... how do I call you inside?"

"Think of sharing your breath," Akumo said. "Your heartbeat. Your thoughts. Do not force it. Let me come."

Richard nodded.

He put a hand on his chest and closed his eyes, whispering,

"Akumo... awaken within me."

The silver aura pulsed.

Akumo’s spirit glowed, like a flame silently drifting, and slipped into Richard’s body with natural ease.

Richard shivered as the energy mixed with him. His movements became sharper. His fingers steadied. His aura expanded, no longer wild but controlled.

Raviel smiled. "That’s it. You’re matching each other’s rhythm.

Akumo, speaking through Richard now, laughed.

"Yes. Much better. His body can hold me now without tearing."

Richard spoke with his own voice layered beneath Akumo’s tone. "This... feels powerful."

"Powerful, yes," Akumo said through him. "But also dangerous if misused. You must always maintain your focus. The moment your thoughts waver, the spirit inside you will misalign."

Raviel lifted a hanging chain. "Let’s check his stability."

Akumo nodded. "Do it."

Raviel whipped the flaming chain forward-but stopped it inches from Richard’s face.

Richard didn’t bat an eyelash. His gaze remained keen, aura unwavering.

Akumo nodded in pride. "Good. Before you would have panicked. Now you are breathing as I breathe.

Raviel pulled back the chain. "Excellent. His synchronization level is far higher than earlier."

Richard grinned. "Then... can we continue training?"

Akumo stepped out of Richard’s body, separating the aura delicately. Richard gasped but remained standing.

"You didn’t collapse," Akumo said. "Very good. That means your internal structure is fully stable."

Richard rubbed his forehead. "I feel a little dizzy, but not broken."

"Dizzy is allowed," Akumo replied. "Broken isn’t.

Raviel approached. "Now we strengthen his endurance, yes?

Akumo nodded. "Yes. Richard needs to withstand sudden spirit awakening. If, in battle, I have to take over instantly, he cannot fall unconscious again. We practice until he can stay conscious, even if I channel full power.

Richard gulped. "Full power? That sounds... painful."

"It will be," Akumo said bluntly. "But pain is better than dying unprepared."

Raviel placed a hand on Richard’s arm. "We’re with you. You won’t go through it alone."

Richard smiled weakly. "Thank you... both."

Akumo stepped back and inhaled. "Let us begin."

For the next hour, the cave was filled with pulses of energy, an exchange of aura, shifting spirits, and the synchronized rhythm of two souls learning to live inside one body. Often, Richard would stumble, succumbing to exhaustion and overwhelm, but every time, Akumo steadied him, aligning his stance, guiding his breath.

Raviel used his chains seldom, testing reflex, balance, aura control, while giving stern warnings whenever Richard slipped into fear.

Gradually, Richard’s movements became smoother.

His balance sharpened.

His aura no longer fluttered like a frightened flame but moved like a continuous current.

Akumo finally raised a hand. "Enough." Richard fell onto his knees, panting, but still smiling. "I... did it, right? Akumo placed a hand on his shoulder. "Yes. You did." Raviel smirked. "Better than we expected." Richard laughed softly. "Then... I’m really getting stronger." Akumo looked at him with quiet pride. "You are no longer the weak body revived for my sake, you are becoming a warrior of your own." Raviel nodded. "With training like this, your control will only grow." Akumo exhaled, satisfied. "Good work, Richard. Rest now. Tomorrow, we continue." And for the first time since the cave erupted in chaos...

Peace returned...