The Acolyte of Spirits and Curses

Orpheus was still sitting on the bed as she watched Klein collapse and fall in horror.

Blood immediately began spreading across the wooden boards beneath him.

Her eyes widened in pure shock.

"...Klein-?!"

As she scrambled off the bed, she dropped to her knees beside him so quickly that she nearly slipped in the growing pool of blood.

Her hands trembled as she turned his body over and pulled his body into her arms, cradling him against her chest.

His head lolled against her shoulder with the dagger still protruded from his heart.

"No... no, no, no-"

Orpheus quickly pulled out the dagger and threw it away before pressing her hand desperately around the wound.

In the next moment, she instantly healed the wound.

"Klein! What did you do?! You said you would come back-!"

Her long green hair fell forward like a curtain as she leaned over him "You reckless... absolute idiot... You can’t just- why would you do this?!"

Orpheus’s fingers curled tightly into his blood-stained shirt.

"Come back," she muttered, almost angrily. "You don’t get to leave like this... Not after making me feel these things."

She pressed her face briefly against the side of his neck, feeling only cooling skin.

She rocked him slightly in her arms, "Klein... please. You promised you would come back."

The wound in his chest had already closed completely, but his soul was missing from its shell.

She adjusted her hold, carefully supporting his head against her shoulder so it wouldn’t loll to the side.

"...You said not to panic. But I am scared! What did you do?"

Her long green hair spilled over his shoulder and chest as she leaned down again, pressing her forehead to his.

"I can heal your body as many times as needed. And I can maintain it for days if I have to. But I cannot drag your soul back..."

A moment later, a faint shift passed through the empty body in her arms.

Orpheus felt the subtle spark of a soul settling back into its vessel.

Klein’s fingers twitched and his chest rose with a shallow breath as color began returning to his face.

Before he could fully orient himself or say a single word, Orpheus pulled him into a tight hug.

"You idiot," she muttered into his shoulder. "You reckless idiot."

She hugged him even harder and her bare body pressed against him as she refused to loosen her grip.

Klein let out a quiet, breathless sound, "...I’m back,"

Orpheus kept her face buried against the side of his neck, breathing him in, feeling the steady return of warmth and heartbeat that had been missing only moments before.

"You warned me not to panic, then stabbed yourself through the heart right in front of me. Do you have any idea how that felt?"

Klein’s hand moved slowly along her back "I’m sorry."

Orpheus pulled back just enough to look at him.

Her green eyes were sharp with leftover fear and frustration, but underneath it there was clear relief.

She raised her hand and cupped his cheek, brushing her thumb near the corner of his eye "...Don’t do that again without a better explanation."

Klein gave a faint, tired smile "Understood."

Orpheus stared at him for a second longer, then pulled him back into another tight hug, burying her face against his shoulder once more.

"You are going to shorten my patience at this rate," she muttered against him.

Klein rested his chin lightly against the top of her head, "I’ll make it up to you."

She let out a quiet huff, but she didn’t let go and hugged him tighter.

---

Klein sat on the floor beside her, still feeling the residual disorientation of having returned to his body.

The Arbiter Panel hovered faintly in his vision.

[Spirit Contracts]

[Galaxy Destroyer]

[Orpheus - Mother of Spirits]

He smiled wryly and glanced at Orpheus, who was leaning against his shoulder.

"Is it really okay to form the contract now?" he asked quietly.

Orpheus nuzzled into him without lifting her head, "Yes. I am scared how much more reckless you will be."

She shifted slightly, pressing closer.

"Your mana is still low. If you try to summon me for long periods right now, you will burn through everything you have in minutes. Under normal circumstances I would tell you to wait until your foundation is stronger."

She finally raised her head just enough to look at him, "But after watching you stab yourself through the heart without hesitation... I would rather form the contract now."

"Even if you can only maintain my presence for a short time, it is better than nothing. If you are ever in real danger, I can still force my way through the contract long enough to heal you or pull you out."

She poked his chest lightly with one finger, right over the place where the dagger had entered.

"Forming the contract now means I will at least have a direct link to you. Even if your current mana only allows a brief manifestation, the connection itself will let me sense when your life is in danger. That is enough reason."

Klein was quiet for a moment. Then he gave a small nod.

"...Alright."

Orpheus shifted so she was facing him more directly.

She took one of his hands and placed it over the center of her chest, then covered it with her own hand.

"Focus on the bond we already share. Since you are already King of Spirits, should be easier for you to stabilize your bond with me."

Klein closed his eyes and did as she instructed.

As the bond stabilized, Orpheus wrapped her arms around his neck and took his lips in a soft kiss.

Klein’s hand remained against her chest as he kissed her back.

The flow of spirit energy between them continued through the point of contact, while her mouth moved softly against his lips.

Orpheus tilted her head slightly, deepening the kiss for a moment longer as her fingers slid into his hair at the back of his neck.

"There," she murmured against his lips. "Now even if you do something stupid again, I will know. And I will come."

Klein gave her a faint, wry smile in return "I’ll try to reduce the number of stupid things."

Pecking her lips, she murmured "Klein... don’t forget that there is a wife always waiting for you at the spirit realm."

Klein’s hand rested against the side of her waist, and for a moment he simply looked at her.

"...I won’t forget, dear." he answered quietly.

Orpheus’s lips curved into a small, satisfied smile.

"That’s good to hear..."

"...Husband."

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