She appeared to me a year ago, a few weeks after losing Aurora. It happened as all bargains with existential beings tended to, while I lay on the edge of dying. I was alone in a destroyed hospital, completely beaten and on my last drop of mana.
All the new power that humanity had at their fingertips. It didn’t make humans any nicer. Strength and cunning ruled in this new world. If you want to be a nice person, you better have the power to back it up. With power comes groups, with groups leaders, and multiple leaders lead to territorial disputes. All the things that come with human civilization. Some killed just for the fun of it. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, as the saying goes.
Our main camp was in the destroyed remains of a hospital closer to the downtown area. The monsters that mutated from the rift in the sky ravaged the area completely. The surrounding towns had fallen in a matter of hours. Hordes of rats and other mutated creatures tore through the stunned humans in mass.
Our common weaponry had no effect on the mutated hides of the creatures or produced minimum effects at best. Larger caliber weapons were unwieldy and had been swept up by the military during the first few weeks. Contrary to the belief of most fiction, the military were quickly organized and prepared. The presence of an overwhelming enemy united us for a brief time, but the horrors that kept pouring forth slowly dwindled the ammunition supply.
When the initial force of goblins and rats had settled, the first wave started. Slowly, the rest of nature started to mutate with the heavy influx of mana that poured into the world. Resources were constantly strained as magic enhanced animals roamed the streets, attacking anything on sight. You had to fight to survive. Friends would leave on scavenging runs and never return. It was a horrible time.
I had just lost Aurora in the sixth wave and, in a fit of rage, fell into one of Joshua’s provocations. He made a big show of my uselessness, twisting the knife of loss deeper and I needed to get away. I decided to join a scouting party against everyone’s better judgement.
As we neared the third location, we were ambushed by a group of survivors that preyed on the weak and separated. We nicknamed them Hyenas.
Their leader was Chris Samson. He had been a convict on death row before escaping with the new power granted to everyone during The Fall. With the last of resources running out fast, some turned to a more gruesome practice...cannibalism. They ran at us and everyone scattered. I fought them off as best I could, while trying to buy time for the others to get to safety. As the last of my party ran through the double doors, Chris approached me with his large machete. My last memory was his admission to hunting down my son, Xavier.
I blacked out from the loss of Mana and blood and I awoke in a disorienting freefall. Screaming and flailing my arms wildly, I looked around for anything to hang on to. Only to be met by a large, open night sky.
Constellations of unknown stars creased the horizon. Some shone bright as a sun, forcing me to cover my eyes, while others seemed to dim and blink from existence. Beneath me, a large tiled gray floor came into view. I covered my face with my arms as I braced for impact. Instead the gravity slowed, and I was lightly placed on the gray and black checkerboard stone feet first. Looking around, all I could see were the stars and large black pillars that were hard to make out. The towering structures gave off an eerie feeling. I felt microscopic near these monstrosities that dominated the skyline. I counted five, maybe six of them.
“Where am I?” I spoke aloud with fear rising in my gut.
Is this death? Did Chris kill me? As I stood there amongst the behemoths, an inky liquid spread towards me. I jumped back as it crept closer. The substance seemed to originate from the closest monolith.
A feminine shape emerged from the black substance. Hardened purple spider silk spun around her jet-black skin, forming an elegant gown of twilight. The stars and constellations behind her started to blink in exuberance, seemingly excited for her presence.
She stared at me as the galaxy finished spinning her majestic purple dress. Mana erupted from her in all directions. Like the haze of a heat wave, it slammed into me. Recognition came instantly. This being radiated the same ancient mana that the massive monoliths gave off.
Her voice sounded in my mind of silk and thread. “Alexander. We finally get a chance to convene, young weaver. Your tapestry frays as strands come undone, does it not?”
I started to sweat at the closeness of the voice prickling near my neck. It felt as if poisonous silk rubbed against my ears and a vibration of string rang through my mind.
“You choose not to act. Why?” She said it as fact.
“You are aware that you have the aptitude for combat and leadership. Yet you chose a background existence? Again, I ask. Why?”
“I’m aware of my potential, my lady. However, I needed to keep my family safe.” I said in as respectful a tone as I could muster.
She nodded, so I decided to continue...carefully.
“By taking a background role I can keep myself and my family out of the main fight. I figured that if I made sure everything runs smoothly, my family would be free from the politics.”
Silently, one of the monoliths moved in the night sky, just beyond the floor’s edge.
“It doesn’t seem that worked out very well for you or your family, does it?”
“No, it did not.” I spoke solemnly.
I wasn’t even sure if Maeve was still alive back at base. Did I just run out alone without taking her into consideration. My plan to ride Joshua’s coattails for the safety of my family had failed. Was I the cause of our downfall? Another structure, further in the back, silently moved just outside my field of view. An idea that hadn’t quite fully formed tugged at my mind. I needed to focus. I needed to control my emotions.
“Would you be open to a deal, child?” she asked as she touched her smooth fingers to her temple.
“A Contract to be precise.”
If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
She walked towards me slowly, step by step. I would’ve run if I could. My body wouldn’t budge an inch. That’s the kind of presence she commanded.
“I will heal your body, calm your mind, and share a bit of my power. Nothing that will affect your overall battle ability, mind you.”
“It will however, give you the mindstate required to use your skills with confidence.”
The few steps she took brought her directly to my face. The speed was incomprehensible.
I will follow you and offer my guidance, when I deem it necessary. I will not force your obedience nor your compliance.”
She grabbed my face in her hands and stared directly into my eyes.
“This is that moment, Alexander. The one you knew was coming. Your one, and only way...out.”
The implications of the deal offered rocked my mind. “I mean no disrespect, my lady, but how do I know I will not become a mindless pawn? What good would a deal be, if I turned on my family and species.”
“Such beautiful honorifics you speak with, child. I’ve not had such respect shown in a very long time. Your questions are valid, yet we have run out of time. I will answer these and then you must make a choice.”
She let go of my face. One minute she was there, the next she was speaking from behind me.
“To your first question; I will gift you the ability to forge Mana Bound Contracts. A mana-bound oath is a double-edged sword but a very useful tool, nonetheless. We will forge such a contract to seal this deal.”
The structures in the distance started to move...quickly. They seemed to close the distance within moments as two came into view. The existence behind me moved to my left side. She placed an arm around my still shoulders and pointed at the approaching structures.
“I’ll agree to anything you ask just please stop them, my lady!” I screamed aloud.
An unnatural fear arose in my gut at the closer sight of the structures. A pregnant pause of silence engulfed the area. It was the longest moment that my mind would ever comprehend. How long had it been; seconds, minutes, days? Time seemed to drift in that moment.
“To your second question. I don’t need you child. I hear your pretty words and applaud your reliance on intelligence rather than brute force, but I don’t NEED you for anything! If I wanted a pawn, I’d acquire one.”
She stood in front of me again with an upturned corner of her mouth. As I stared at her, another one appeared hundreds of feet above her head. It slowly came into view as I glanced upwards and outwards.
The head of a titanic spider lowered into view. It’s numerous eyes all locked onto one thing... me. Suddenly the entire picture fell into place inside my mind. Those weren’t pillars or obelisks of unknown origin. I could see fluid movement of fine hairs on its surface. They were legs. A spider’s legs. And they belonged to her.
“As to your question about oaths, you should be seeing the answer to that shortly.” she spoke.
System Warning: An attempt to force a contract on Alexander Evans from -@#$error%&* name redacted- with Mana-Bound Contract has been cancelled as the recipient was examined as having been under a skill for intimidation.
The recipient has been alerted to the attempt. Any further attempts under these conditions will be met with an increased penalty.
The great spider shivered from the forceful attempt, as it seemed to receive some sort of feedback.
“As long as both parties agree to a set of conditions, without duress or threat of violence, The System recognizes the oath taken and will enforce it ABSOLUTELY, no matter the being or the power.”
“As to what I gain from this bargain,” suddenly all pressure and weight disappeared from my body. I felt completely refreshed, better than I’d felt in ages.
Her main body retreated to the shadows. She smiled at me with a warmth I wouldn’t have thought possible.
“Freedom. I just want to watch your lives unfold. Should you choose to take my Contract, you will become the main character, the cornerstone, whether you wanted it or not. I’d like to see how you handle it, Alexander.”
She walked forward and placed a finger on my forehead. A thin purple thread entered my mind. Knowledge of my immediate situation seemed to become more…tangible. I saw clearly the tapestry of my current life. The painful expression seemed to be an aftereffect of trying to use force to form a Mana Bound Contract.
I instantly realized the difference from earlier... she’d removed my emotion. It was an interesting feeling. This moment didn’t hold the fear and anxiety I had earlier experienced. I took the relevant information she had offered and placed it parallel to my current situation outside this place. There was only one choice that could be chosen.
“Would you allow me one last question?” I asked as I bowed low with the timing of my question.
“Speak.” she said with a hint of approval.
“Does your plan give me the ability to save Humanity?” I asked. “Will you help me find a way to save what’s left of my family?”
The moment extended, impossibly long.
“I will not guarantee any life, however I can guarantee yours longer than most.” She said with a weighted tone, seemingly reading every motion and twitch of every fiber of my being.
“Your species will expire at its current trajectory. I will give my advice, where possible, to extend your survival. That is all the information I can share without the Contract in place. Make your choice Alexander.”
“Thank you for your answers and I would be honored to Contract with you.” I said with my head bowed.
“May I ask your name, my Lady?”
Attention: Mana-Bound Contract has been proposed between the parties of Alexander Evans and [*^%error*&^* name redacted] entity.
Contractor states the terms of the contract are as follows;
Host is permitted access to the Archon Tier advanced class upgrade at level 10. Advanced knowledge of Spider’s Calm and Mana-Bound Contract provided early at cost to the Contractor.
Contractor will provide advice to the Host to optimize the survival of the Host’s Family and Species.
Contractor will never seek to attempt forceful control of the Host without permission.
Mana Bound Contract
An Oath sworn by recipient and anchored through the recipient or Hosts mana reserves - forcing absolute adherence to agreed terms under threat of System dictated punishments for violations.
Once the Contract is finalized, it cannot be terminated or altered without agreement from both parties.
Contracts sworn under external magical influence or mind tampering will automatically be nullified by The System.
Contracts can bind any entity in any existence.
Terms will be openly viewable to both parties post-establishment.
Mana Cost is relevant to the level of the Entity. The cost can be offset between the parties.
Spider’s Calm [Passive]
Passively grants emotional insulation, enabling pragmatic unbiased perceptions and rapid analytical response in tense situations.
-20% susceptibility to fear, confusion, hesitation effects during combat engagements
Do You Accept the Terms of the offered Contract?
I stared at the screen floating in front of me in shock. Finally, an actual chance to set things right.
“Yes.” I stated firmly.
Contract Accepted. Initializing
“You will find out my name when the last wave has been completed, my dear Archon. Show me what you are capable of...”
She spoke as everything started to fade.
“Now Awaken Alexander.”