Chapter 9: The Search for a Virgin

The sorcerer left the demon's lair, his mind racing with the weight of the demon's demand. He knew that he had to find a way out of this deal, but he also knew that time was not on his side.

He spent the next few days traveling the countryside, searching for a virgin whose soul he could offer to the demon. But he found that this task was much harder than he had anticipated.

Many of the young women he encountered were already married or had given their virginity away. Others were too young, and he could not bring himself to condemn them to such a fate.

Days turned into weeks, and the sorcerer grew increasingly desperate. He knew that the demon was waiting for him, and that his time was running out.

One night, as he was wandering through a forest, he stumbled upon a small village. It was a poor and isolated place, and the people there were suspicious of outsiders.

But the sorcerer was desperate, and he knew that he had to try. He went from house to house, asking if there were any virgins in the village.

Most of the people laughed at him or turned him away, but finally, he found a young woman who was willing to help him. Her name was Anna, and she was only eighteen years old.

Anna was shy and nervous when she spoke to the sorcerer, but he could sense a deep strength in her. She had lived a difficult life, but she had not lost her faith.

"I will help you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But you must promise me that you will not harm anyone in this village."

The sorcerer nodded, relieved that he had found someone who could help him. "I promise," he said. "I will do everything in my power to protect this village."

Anna led him to a small cottage on the outskirts of the village. It was her home, and she lived there with her mother.

The sorcerer explained his situation to her mother, who was hesitant at first but eventually agreed to let him take Anna's soul.

The sorcerer felt a great sense of guilt as he prepared to take Anna's soul. He knew that what he was doing was wrong, but he had no other choice.

He closed his eyes and muttered an incantation, and Anna's soul was ripped from her body. He felt a surge of power as he held the jar containing her soul, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of shame and remorse.

He left the village, feeling like a monster. He knew that he had damned himself, and that there was no going back.

To be continued...