Feral Bonds

Chapter 63: The Witch's Dedication

The air inside the cottage was thick with the scent of burning herbs and the sharp tang of magic. Akecheta sat in the center of the room, surrounded by ancient tomes, vials of glowing liquids, and the gentle flicker of candlelight. His heart pounded in his chest, a steady rhythm of hope and fear, as Elowen, Cernunnos, and Sira worked tirelessly around him. They had been at this for days now, researching, experimenting, trying everything they could think of to break the ancient magic that bound him.

Elowen's face was lined with exhaustion, her once sharp features softened by the weight of her guilt and determination. Sira moved quietly around the room, her hands glowing faintly as she prepared the next spell, her concentration unwavering. Cernunnos stood tall, his presence commanding as he rifled through the ancient texts, his brow furrowed in thought. The god of the wild was unshaken, but Akecheta could sense his growing frustration beneath the surface.

Each spell they had tried, each ritual, had failed. The magic that bound Akecheta was too old, too deep, its roots entwined with his very soul. No matter how hard they tried, no matter how powerful their efforts, the runes remained etched into his skin, a constant reminder of the curse that had nearly destroyed him.

Akecheta flexed his hands, his fingers curling into fists as the weight of it all pressed down on him. He wanted to be free. He needed to be free. But the more they tried, the more hopeless it felt.

"There has to be something we're missing," Sira murmured, her voice steady despite the tension that hung in the air. "Some ancient spell or ritual that we haven't thought of."

"We've tried everything," Elowen said, her voice tight with frustration. "Every spell, every ritual... the magic is too deeply embedded in him."

Cernunnos looked up from the tome he had been reading, his golden eyes gleaming with determination. "There is one thing we haven't tried," he said, his voice low but filled with resolve.

Elowen turned to him, her eyes narrowing. "What are you thinking?"

Cernunnos stepped forward, his gaze locking with Elowen's. "The runes are bound to his skin, to his soul. They won't leave willingly. We can't banish them through spells or rituals alone." He paused, his eyes flicking to Akecheta, and his voice softened. "We need to force them out."

Akecheta's heart skipped a beat, his stomach twisting with a mix of fear and hope. "How?" he asked, his voice quiet but steady.

Cernunnos looked at him, his expression filled with both sorrow and determination. "We carve them out."

The room fell silent, the weight of Cernunnos's words hanging heavily between them. Elowen's face paled, and even Sira stilled, her hands trembling slightly as the gravity of what he was suggesting sank in.

"You mean... physically carve the runes off his skin?" Elowen asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Cernunnos nodded. "It's the only way. The runes are too deeply intertwined with his body. We can't simply remove them with magic. We have to destroy them at their source."

Akecheta's throat tightened, fear gripping him, but he knew there was no other choice. He had lived with the runes for so long, their presence a constant reminder of the darkness that had claimed him. He wanted to be free of them, no matter the cost.

"I'll do it," Akecheta said, his voice firmer than he felt. "Whatever it takes."

Elowen's eyes filled with tears, her guilt crashing over her like a wave. She stepped closer, her hand resting gently on Akecheta's shoulder. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I never wanted this for you."

Akecheta gave her a small, sad smile. "I know."

Sira moved to stand beside her mother, her eyes filled with determination. "We'll do this together. I'll heal him as we go, to make sure the runes don't have a chance to return."

Elowen nodded, though her hands trembled as she reached for the ceremonial knife they had used in previous rituals. Her magic flared softly around her, a faint glow of green and gold as she prepared for what was to come. Cernunnos stepped forward, his presence grounding Akecheta in the moment, his eyes filled with quiet reassurance.

"This will hurt," Cernunnos said gently, his voice low but filled with compassion. "But I'll be with you the whole time."

Akecheta nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He was scared—terrified, even—but he trusted Cernunnos, and he trusted that this was the only way.

Elowen knelt beside him, her hands steadying the knife as she placed it against his skin, just over one of the larger runes etched into his chest. The sharp edge of the blade bit into his flesh, and Akecheta hissed in pain, his body tensing under the agony of the cut. The runes flared to life, their dark magic writhing as they fought against the intrusion.

Cernunnos placed a hand on Akecheta's shoulder, his power flowing through him in a calming wave. "Breathe," Cernunnos murmured, his voice a steadying force. "You're strong. You can do this."

Akecheta gritted his teeth, nodding as he forced himself to stay still. Elowen continued, carving away the rune with precision, her magic crackling in the air as she fought against the dark magic that clung to Akecheta's skin.

As the first rune was cut away, Sira moved quickly, her hands glowing with healing magic as she pressed them against Akecheta's raw skin. The warmth of her magic soothed the pain, but it also sealed the skin before the rune could re-form. The dark magic hissed and writhed, but Sira's healing power was stronger, pushing it away, sealing the wound without the cursed mark.

Akecheta's breath came in ragged gasps, his body shaking from the pain, but he could feel it—the rune was gone. One down, many more to go.

They continued, Elowen cutting each rune away with careful precision, Sira following close behind, healing the wounds before the magic could reclaim its hold. Cernunnos kept his hand on Akecheta's shoulder, his power flowing steadily, soothing the worst of the pain and keeping Akecheta grounded as the agonizing process unfolded.

It felt like hours, maybe days, as they worked together, but Akecheta stayed strong, his heart pounding in time with the rhythm of their combined magic. Each rune they carved away felt like a small victory, a piece of the darkness that had bound him slipping away into the air.

Finally, the last rune was carved from his skin, the dark magic sputtering and fading as Sira's healing light sealed the final wound. Akecheta collapsed back, his body trembling, his skin slick with sweat and blood, but he felt lighter. Freer.

Cernunnos knelt beside him, his golden eyes soft as he placed a hand gently over Akecheta's heart. "It's done," he whispered, his voice filled with quiet pride. "You're free."

Akecheta let out a shaky breath, tears filling his eyes as the reality of it settled over him. The runes were gone. The dark magic that had bound him for so long was finally gone.

Elowen, her face streaked with tears, knelt beside him, her hand resting on his cheek. "I'm so sorry, Akecheta," she whispered again, her voice breaking with emotion.

Akecheta gave her a small, tired smile. "It's okay," he said softly, his voice hoarse but filled with gratitude. "It's over now."

Cernunnos wrapped his arms around Akecheta, pulling him close in a comforting embrace, and for the first time in years, Akecheta felt truly whole.

He was free.