#Chapter 286: Lost Innocence

Ella’s POV “Consume a lost soul?” I repeated. Maria nodded. She stood and walked closer to the edge of the cliff, looking down at the writhing mass below. The green glow cast shadows across her face. “The crystal needs energy to pull you back,” she said. “A soul contains that energy. But you’d have to take it completely. The spirit wouldn’t be able to move on. It would just… cease to exist.” My stomach dropped. “So you’re asking me to erase someone’s soul.” “I’m not asking you to do anything.” Maria turned back to face me. “I’m telling you what’s possible. What you choose to do with that information is up to you.” I looked down at the sea of souls. They were still screaming, still reaching up with translucent hands. How many of them were down there? Thousands? Millions? And I was supposed to just… pick one and destroy them forever? “I can’t do that,” I whispered. “Then you’ll be trapped here.” Maria shrugged. “The procedure will finish. M