"The Velmir family," Asher continued quietly, his tone calm but laced with a faint edge of sadness. "They were soul cultivators—artists of the spirit. But they crossed paths with a sect that desired their techniques. When the Velmirs refused to submit, that sect cursed them instead of killing them outright. Madness took root in their souls, and they turned on one another until none remained."
The room fell silent. Even the soft hum of the chandeliers above seemed to fade.
Selene's brows furrowed, her voice lowering. "And their souls?"
Asher's gaze shifted to the far wall where faint runes glowed dimly, like veins of red light trapped beneath stone. "They lingered here," he said. "Bound by their own despair. But I've freed them. The curse is gone now. Their spirits have already passed on."
Arnold's expression softened with respect. "You performed a soul cleansing that powerful? That's not an easy task, boy."
