Soul Swap

Torelion: Greetings. I'm Torelion, an archaeologist studying Verteron's history.

Torelion: You might think archaeology is foolish in times like these, but I believe studying and preserving the past is most important for the future.

Torelion: What do I research, you ask?

Torelion: I study all of Verteron's history. Right now I'm focused on Zumion Temple.

Torelion: I'm especially interested in the talking statues.

Torelion: Now that I think about it, I heard you restored the statues of Zumion's Priests? Talk about serendipity?

Torelion: If you have the time, could you lend me a hand?

Torelion: I discovered damaged statues that seem to depict important people. Do you think you could restore them?

Torelion: You do? ‹your name›! I knew I could count on you! And you'll even introduce me to someone who might be helpful for my research?

Torelion: I've never heard of Zumion still having priests lingering around. But if you can vouch for them, ‹your name›, I'm sure they'll be trustworthy.

Torelion: Very well. The statues I found are in the corner of the ruined temple. I'll meet you there with the priest.

Torelion: I need to see these talking statues with my own eyes...

Seraphine: ‹your name›, you're here. I already had a long talk with Torelion.

Torelion: Seraphine has been very helpful. Her knowledge as a researcher is impressive, and everything she shared was really fascinating.

Seraphine: Now that I've seen the statues Torelion discovered, I agree. They're valuable finds.

Seraphine: But without the heads, it's hard to picture what they originally looked like.

Torelion: How were you able to restore the statues before? Hmm... You gathered the head fragments and put them together?

Seraphine: Then we should be gathering head fragments. They're likely buried in the dirt or among nearby ruins.

Seraphine: I'll point out some places where fragments could be. Please take a look around.

Seraphine: It has been a while, Daeva. Is something wrong?

Seraphine: You want to restore statues that are damaged and talk to them?

Seraphine: Then I'll get right on it, as both a priest and researcher of Zumion.

Seraphine: I'll head there right away.

Seraphine: You found the statues' head fragments. Nice work. Hmm... Let's take a look at their condition.

Seraphine: This one is too cracked, and the surface is badly eroded. Unfortunately, we can't use it.

Seraphine: But these two are in good condition. Judging by their shape and surface patterns, they should fit the statues perfectly.

Seraphine: Great. Let's try restoring the statues with these.

The binding failed. There was no reaction.

Seraphine: Hmm... the pieces aren't binding properly. That's strange.

Torelion: Do you think we might not have enough materials for restoring the statues?

Seraphine: Hmm... I think the statues themselves are simply too old. That might be what's causing the issue.

Seraphine: Could it be that the spirits trapped in the statues have almost faded away?

Torelion: If that's the case, we'll need a way to restore that power.

Seraphine: Let's try using the concentrated mana core embedded in the ruins apparatus. We'll plant the mana core between the statues and their heads and channel the power of its soul.

Torelion: If the remaining soul power concentrates at the severed part, putting them together might become easier.

Seraphine: Right. But we need to draw out the power of their souls a bit more, just in case.

Seraphine: ‹your name›, will you bring me the mana core? And obtain some Soul Stones from the wandering souls? I believe I can use the Soul Stones to stabilize the statues' souls.

Seraphine: Torelion and I will secure the heads in place.

Seraphine: You're back. We secured the heads in place. Now I'll connect the mana core.

Seraphine: I'll put this here...

Seraphine: Hmm... and then this here...

Seraphine: Ta-da!

Statue of Sheldon (with Head): Hmm... What's going on?

Statue of Sheldon (with Head): Wait. Why is this worthless head attached to my body?!

Statue of Sheldon (with Head): I am a being of perfect symmetry and precision! How did I end up with a head whose intellect is lower than the density of dark matter?!

Statue of Feyn (with Head): Excuse me?! I've got plenty to say to you, too!

Statue of Feyn (with Head): Why did I end up with a body that has no sense of decency?! Spending even a day with this head is driving me insane.

Statue of Sheldon (with Head): Ah, now it makes sense. No wonder the noble energy that once filled me is breaking down.

Statue of Sheldon (with Head): This head's neural network must be on par with the primordial plasma that formed AION.

Statue of Sheldon (with Head): If I have to stand here forever with this head, I'd rather dissolve into the Abyss through a spacetime rift!

Statue of Feyn (with Head): What did you say?! Just smash me. Smash me now! Better to be shattered than spend eternity like this!

Statue of Sheldon (with Head): Better indeed. This is an insult to my very existence.

Statue of Feyn (with Head): I'm the one who's been insulted! I just can't catch a break, even in death, huh?

Statue of Feyn (with Head): Why did I even stay back to rescue you when the Dragon Lord attacked? What a fool I was!

Statue of Sheldon (with Head): The probability of my survival with the help of an entity with your level of intelligence is statistically zero.

Statue of Sheldon (with Head): And yet here we are... AION must have turned the world upside-down.

Torelion: Oh, ho... We got the heads the wrong way around.

Seraphine: I never even dreamed of making such a mistake.

Torelion: But seeing talking statues up close... It's truly astonishing.

Torelion: These are more than just relics. They embody form, souls and consciousness.

Torelion: Living proof of both history and magic. Seraphine and I will have to study these statues even further.

Torelion: It's our duty as scholars to restore their heads correctly and return them to their original forms. Thank you for assisting with our research.