Violanda slowly shook her head, casting a glance at Eirik and Pixie that was laden with regret.

  "The reason her progress has stalled," she said softly, "is that she now possesses a Closed Soul—she has become a void body, incapable of absorbing elemental power."

  Her eyes softened with sympathy. "And the worst part is, this isn't the result of some external force. It's a natural occurrence, which makes it incredibly difficult to reverse."

  Eirik froze, his mind reeling.

  What the hell?

  Pixie... a closed-soul void body? How is that even possible?

  She had spent years studying magic in their secluded home, living a peaceful life—how could everything have suddenly gone wrong?

  "Are you sure there isn't some kind of mistake, Master Alchemist?" Eirik asked, disbelief heavy in his voice.

  Pixie shared his confusion, brows furrowed. "This doesn’t make sense... How could I—?"

  Violanda’s expression was grim as she shook her head. "There are precedents for this condition. Take the fifteenth archbishop of the Holy Light Church, for example. He trained relentlessly until he reached Savant Level 9, only to find that he, too, had become a void body."

  She paused, letting the weight of her words settle in. "His case was unique. His soul didn't close all at once—it shut down in stages. Each time his power grew, his talent degraded. In the end, his soul was completely sealed, and his abilities diminished until he was no more than a regular man."

  The revelation struck Eirik and Pixie like a hammer blow.

  An archbishop of the Holy Light Church... cursed by the same fate?

  The more he gained, the worse he became?

  What kind of twisted fate was that?

  Eirik clenched his fists, frustration and anger swirling inside him.

  If Pixie couldn’t continue her magic studies, then his entire run would be screwed!

  Raising a cosmic champion was hard enough. Now, how was he supposed to clear this game? The thought gnawed at him—was the system deliberately messing with him? He couldn’t prove it, but it sure felt that way.

  Violanda, however, wasn't finished. She added:

  "This condition is known as the Heaven-Forsaken Body, and it has one defining trait—such individuals are born with elemental energy already within them."

  Pixie blinked, taken aback.

  She had always thought that being born with innate elemental power was a sign of extraordinary talent. She’d always taken pride in it.

  But now? It felt like a cruel joke.

  "So... I’m one of those broken cases? Completely incapable of absorbing any new elemental power?" Her voice trembled, her eyes filling with tears.

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  This was too cruel.

  She had just married Eirik, her partner on the magical journey—her ticket to a future of unimaginable heights. And now? Now she was a reject of the heavens, forbidden from progressing further in magic.

  "Why me?!" she cried silently, her fists clenched.

  "Why would the heavens do this to me?"

  Eirik’s mind spun in circles.

  This couldn’t be real... could it?

  Should he just end it all and restart the run?

  Oddly, this situation felt familiar. In the game’s narrative, his character had been described as having little magical potential. And yet, with his Elemental Absorption talent and the right magical tomes, he’d managed to overcome that limitation.

  "That’s different," Violanda said, seemingly reading his mind. "Your case was simply a matter of efficiency. With enough exposure to concentrated elemental energy and the right books, you could have trained just like anyone else."

  "But the Heaven-Forsaken Body? That’s a whole different matter. The soul is completely sealed. No potion, no spell, can fix that."

  A system message flashed in Eirik’s mind:

  【Heaven-Forsaken Body: Abandoned by the heavens, no remedy exists to restore it.】

  【Even the renowned Master Alchemist cannot help you. You leave, crestfallen and out of options.】

  Damn it all. It really seemed like his only choice was to end this run and start from scratch.

  Still, at least he’d gotten Pixie to Savant level. That was no small feat, and the reward would surely be worth it. The last time he accomplished something similar, he’d received the Eye of Divine Insight.

  Maybe this time, the reward would be even better. The thought of restarting felt less like a failure and more like a chance to try again with a better outcome.

  Just as he was about to resign himself to that fate, another system notification popped up:

  【Unexpected Event: As you prepare to leave with your wife, the Master Alchemist sends you a discreet message.】

  【"There is... one way to alter a Heaven-Forsaken Body. It’s complicated and requires great sacrifice. If you're interested, meet me alone in the church’s rear garden."】

  The cryptic message stopped Eirik in his tracks.

  What was this about? Why hadn't she mentioned this before? Why the secrecy—especially from Pixie?

  Curiosity gnawed at him.

  His cautious nature would normally have him steer clear of shady meetings. Who knew if this was some kind of trap? What if the alchemist knew he was the one who killed the Emperor’s envoy?

  But... if there was even the slightest chance to save Pixie’s future, wasn’t it worth the risk?

  And if it turned out to be a trap? He could always die on purpose and restart. It wouldn't be the first time.

  【You decide to meet the Master Alchemist. After making an excuse to your concerned wife, you slip away to the church’s rear garden...】

  Seriously? Did the system have to make it sound like he was sneaking off for a secret affair?

  【The church’s rear garden is a peaceful place, filled with blooming violets. As you approach, you find the alchemist gently playing a harp, the melancholic melody stirring your heart.】

  When the music ended, she remained calm and collected, her expression unreadable.

  She spoke softly: "The method I mentioned comes from the teachings of the fifteenth archbishop. It is difficult... and demands a tremendous sacrifice."

  Eirik leaned in, intrigued. "I’m listening."

  "To break the curse of the Heaven-Forsaken Body, you need two things: the Forgotten Grimoire and an Essence Fruit from the demon realm."

  Eirik’s mind clicked. The Forgotten Grimoire was real!

  The alchemist continued, “The grimoire requires its user to cast aside their most cherished emotion, transforming those forgotten feelings into raw power. If successful, the soul can be reshaped, opened once again.”

  With the grimoire's power combined with the Essence Fruit, Pixie could be reborn, her soul freed from its sealed state.

  But there was a catch—Violanda already knew that Pixie’s most profound emotion was her love for Eirik. Their bond was deep and unbreakable.

  To break the curse, Eirik’s help would be necessary. That was why the alchemist had called him here, in secret.

  Now, the choice was his.

  If he refused to help Pixie erase their love, her magic would stagnate, and she might even regress to an ordinary life. But their love would remain intact.

  If he helped sever that bond, she would have the potential to reach unfathomable heights...

  But they would no longer be the same. Their love would vanish, and they would be strangers.

  "So, what will you choose?"

  Back in the heart of the capital, the Master Alchemist watched her simulation unfold, her breath held, eager to see what Eirik’s choice would be.