Yu Holea narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "Why are you suddenly so afraid of the ring being destroyed?" she asked slowly.
Mirai's soul form shook harder. "Because it's… It's my anchor! If you crush it, I'll lose the last part of myself! I'll vanish!"
There was silence.
Even Qiao Jun looked unsure now. He held the ring carefully in his palm, watching it glow faintly.
"Holea," he said softly. "She might be telling the truth. If the ring really does hold a piece of her soul… destroying it could erase her completely. Even I can't pull a soul back from that."
Holea said nothing for a long moment.
Her eyes flicked between the ring… and the trapped, squirming soul in the vial.
Mirai, seeing their hesitation, doubled down.
"Please! I'm begging you!" she cried. "Don't crush it! Don't give it to anyone else! Just… just keep it safe! I'll tell you everything later! I swear!"
Qiao Jun looked at Holea, waiting for her decision.
