A distant settlement was engulfed in flames when Kael arrived. Smoke churned above, bodies scattered some fleeing, some lost to the dead. Kael extended his Sight immediately, discerning the threads of the lingering souls caught in the chaos. Each movement was deliberate, each soul a puzzle of memory and intention.
Kael worked methodically, redirecting the spirits away from the living, stabilizing fragments where necessary. Some he consumed not out of desire, but necessity to preserve coherence among the others. His hands trembled from the effort, but he maintained control, balancing the hunger with morality.
By nightfall, the settlement was mostly secured, the remaining souls restrained, and the living survivors spared. Kael's exhaustion was profound, but so was his sense of purpose. He understood now that his power was not just for survival; it was a tool to preserve, to order, and to protect.