After Rober cast the "Yin-Yang Eye" spell upon Kalis Marry, the world around her momentarily plunged into a profound, thick blackness, as if all light had been utterly consumed. Then, from within that enveloping darkness, faint, ethereal specks of green light began to emerge, shimmering like fireflies flickering in the dead of night.
"So, this is how you see souls" Kalis murmured, her voice carrying a hint of surprise and fascination. She glanced around the room. In the positions occupied by Rober, Viscount Calos, and the butler, she saw indistinct figures emitting a pale green light, their souls, invisible entities that the naked eye could never perceive.
She directed her gaze towards the bed where Viscount Calos's son lay. And, just as Rober had described, she saw no soul there. Instead, a thread hovered in the air, stretching from the boy's position out towards the window.
"It's true, the boy's soul isn't here" Kalis said, her tone turning somewhat serious.
"I can see the connecting thread, but it seems to lead quite far away."
Rober nodded in confirmation.
"Indeed, Madam Marry. Now, please use your own magical energy to enhance the effect of the 'Yin-Yang Eye'."
Kalis Marry didn't need to strain or concentrate excessively. With the extensive experience and innate talent for controlling magical energy befitting a skilled mage, she quickly channeled a warm, powerful current into her left eye, where Rober had just performed the spell.
Immediately, Kalis's vision underwent a dramatic transformation. The soul-figures became sharper, more vibrant, and their details clearer. The connecting thread of Viscount Calos's son's soul also became much easier to observe.
Kalis slowly moved, following the connecting thread. She walked to the window, reached out, and lightly touched the cold glass panes. She narrowed her eyes, peering outside, following the direction the thread stretched through the glass, towards the dense forest.
"Towards the western forest" Kalis stated, a touch of concern in her voice.
Rober nodded. He had anticipated this. He said: "Madam, could you perhaps observe the soul threads of the other children as well?"
Kalis Marry nodded and did as Rober suggested. She scanned her vision around, extending it beyond the window. Very quickly, she realized it wasn't just one connecting thread. There were many, many other threads, also hovering in the air, faint and fragile like spider silk.
"I see them" Kalis said. "There are numerous other soul threads. They all lead towards the forest as well. But... they don't follow the same path. They radiate out in many different directions..."
She paused for a moment, then added "It looks as though they are lost, doesn't it?"
Rober, hearing Kalis's description, nodded slightly in confirmation.
"Precisely, madam. It seems the children's souls haven't just been pulled away, but also... scattered and lost, within some space inside the forest. They are... like children lost in a maze, unable to find their way out."
He thought for a moment, then said "It appears we will need more help. That forest is vast, and we cannot be certain if all the children's souls have ended up in the same place. If they are scattered across multiple locations, just the two of us won't be able to search effectively. We need more people to conduct a wide-area search and cover the entire forest."
Kalis Marry, after some thought, asked "So, what do you intend to do, Rober? Are you planning to use this 'Yin-Yang Eye' spell on others so they can join our search?"
Rober nodded. "That's correct, madam. Currently, it's the only method I can think of. However, with my current abilities, I cannot cast this spell on too many people. My energy is limited, and maintaining the 'Yin-Yang Eye' for multiple individuals over a long period is somewhat beyond my capacity."
He smiled and said "Perhaps... I will need to prepare a ritual. A ritual to bestow the 'Yin-Yang Eye' upon several people for a specific duration, and to maintain its effectiveness without consuming too much of my own magical energy."
Rober turned towards Viscount Calos, intending to ask for his help in preparing the ritual. But seeing the man's haggard face, worn down by worry, he reconsidered. Rober shifted his gaze to the butler standing beside the Viscount and said coolly:
"Sir, there are a few things I need your assistance with."
The butler quickly replied:
"Please speak, Mr. Rober. As long as it can save the young master and the children of the village, I will do everything within my power."
"I need about twenty-three people" Rober stated, his tone decisive and clear.
"Healthy, brave individuals, unafraid of danger, and familiar with the terrain of the western forest. If they have combat experience or proficiency with weapons, even better. These are the people who will accompany us into the forest to search for the children's souls."
"And" he continued "I also require a quantity of fresh animal blood. Any type of animal will do, chicken, duck, pig, cow, goat... but it must be fresh, drawn no more than an hour ago."
The butler, hearing Rober mention "fresh blood" looked surprised. He immediately thought of dark rituals, sacrificial rites he had heard about in folk tales.
But Viscount Calos spoke up then, cutting off the butler's thoughts:
"Do as he says! Quickly! Don't hesitate, doubt, or question anything further!" His voice was hoarse, trembling. "Do everything he requires!"
Hearing the Viscount's tone, the butler hastily bowed his head and said "Yes, my Lord Viscount. I will make the preparations immediately."
Then, he turned and hurried out of the room to fulfill Rober's requests, not daring to question or ask anything more.