Chapter 226: Fractured Loyalties

**Thelma Zane’s POV** The barren wilderness of Frank's spiritual world now resembled a tattered canvas, dotted with ominous black holes like punctures in aged fabric. Each hollow seemed to whisper despair, the remnants of the battle against the demonic shard still palpable. “What do we do about these holes?” I asked, my voice uncertain. “Is there any way to repair them?” Dorothy, equally perplexed, sighed. “A soul generally has some capacity for self-repair, but Captain Frank’s condition is severe. His soul is too fragmented to rely on natural recovery. We’ll need external help. I’ll consult Master Kevin and the others to see if they have a solution.” We exited Frank’s spiritual realm, our consciousness snapping back to reality. As we opened our eyes, we were greeted by a room full of anxious faces, each gaze heavy with unspoken questions. The first thing I noticed was the ward—or rather, its absence. The wooden walls that once surrounded us were gone, leaving only an op