CHAPTER 109.

Amber paused, and so did Asil though only for a moment before he scoffed and stood up.

“I’ll go get Cecile then.”

With those words, he exited the room, but Amber was just staring at the smiling mage in front of her. Frei, the elf she had recently met, and the member of the Arcane Council she had initially tried to escape. She was young looking, no older than early twenties, her features were sculpted and her hair was white, gradually becoming more orange to the tips. Her eyes were silver like the moon, and they were filled with sincerity. Finally, after a moment the elf laughed.

“You’ve been starin’ at me. What? Did I charm ya or something?” she grinned, before flicking her hair off her face. “Well, I’m quite a looker after all.”

Amber finally blinked. “Are you serious?”

Frei blinked. “Never really been interested in girls but⁠—”

“I don’t mean that,” Amber sighed. “I mean: are you serious with accepting a contract from Asil too?”

The elf in response chuckled. “I know you meant that I was just fucking with you.” She took a breath. “Yes, I’m serious, Amber.”

With that, Frei looked down and at the ground, she was lightly trembling though it wasn’t from fear or anything, it was just from her condition⁠— at least from what Amber could tell. Finally, after a few moments of silence, Frei began.

“I mean, I don’t wanna have to serve anyone but ya, you’re the only one that will grant me what I’m looking for, so there is a loyalty aspect to it,” she said. “I may be scum, but I don’t wanna be disloyal. That’s why I vehemently refused before, but at the same time if my loyalty troubles ya then…”

Frei pondered for a moment, before laughing to herself.

“Well it’s a bit silly, but wouldn’t it be just as loyal to agree to servitude to someone else too if it helps you? At least, that’s how I see it now. I’ve been thinking, ya know?”

“Right…” That made sense to Amber. “Is going to… the other realm the only thing you want?”

“Maybe, maybe not.” Frei pursed her lips. “It’s kinda hard to know what I want when I never really expressed desire in anything else.”

“So you’re… fully serious about devoting yourself to me.”

Frei raised her head and tilted it. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do, isn’t it?”

“Right it is…”

Amber stared at the elf, at this point, she trusted the woman completely. Though the idea of her only wanting to go to Ill’hine was incredibly bizarre to her. But at this point she had just kind of accepted it. Perhaps Frei had other desires, like getting stronger, or researching magic, or even having kids⁠— but so long as she reached Ill’hine, she probably could get all of them, so maybe that’s why it was her only focus.

“Fine, I trust you, Frei.”

“I know,” she said simply. “I realized it the moment I agreed to do another contract.” Frei pondered, a hand on her chin. “Your expression was quite the sight to see.”

Amber raised her brow. “Was it?”

“Yep,” she chirped.

At that there was silence, Amber no longer felt as if she was talking to someone she had to be wary of; just a friendly person she could potentially befriend. It was a nice feeling, all things considered. Though, she still had some things to think about.

“How long will you be…”

“Fucked up?” Frei raised her brow. “Well if ya help me by letting me drain ya, maybe a week, and if I pass out completely maybe a few days. But if I stay awake a month or so.”

“Drain me?”

“Yeah like, take your life force,” she said simply before blinking and raising her hands defensively. “Ah, don’t worry it doesn’t decrease your lifespan, just think about your vigor decreasing temporarily or something.”

Amber paused. “Are you a vampire?”

“What’s that?” Frei paused.

She shook her head. “I’ll consider helping you.”

Frei nodded and then once more the conversation died down. It wasn’t awkward, it just felt weird. Before their relationship mostly consisted of Frei trying to be cocky and her pulling the elf down when needed, now it sort of felt like equals? Amber wasn’t all that sure, but in retrospect, it was the first time it happened.

Though, before any further conversation could be made the door was opened once more, and Frei raised her head and regarded the new arrivals.

“Well if it ain’t the lovebirds?”

Cecile frowned as if staring at trash. “Can I just kill her?”

Frei laughed and Asil scoffed before setting another spell in the room. After that, Cecile took a seat next to Amber, though she looked kinda awkward while doing so, while Asil just stood in front of Frei.

“You can’t back down now.”

She sighed. “I get it, let’s just get it over, old man.”

He grunted before continuing. “Do you remember the terms Amber set out for you?”

“Yep.” Frei nodded before turning to Amber. “Can I tell him the details of the contract?”

Amber blinked. “Sure.”

Frei turned back to Asil before coughing and turning serious. “In exchange for helping me leave the Arcane Council and being taken to the land of the stars, I will offer my strength when she requests it. Information about things pertaining to her, including friends, gods, or herself should only be talked about with her.”

She took a breath.

“Amber can grant approval to discuss the information as needed. She also won’t ask me to do things I don’t want to do. So in short: I shouldn’t act against her interests and also shouldn’t harm those that are close to her. I swore upon this with my life.”

“Hm, a very comprehensive contract.” Asil nodded.

Then after a moment of pondering he looked back and turned to Cecile.

“If this contract was working fully properly would you feel safe?”

Cecile frowned thinking. “Does it mean that if she harms us it could cost her her life?”

“Considering that’s what Amber intended, yes,” Asil said. “It is in her best interest we are safe, so acting against her interest is betraying the contract.”

The merchant nodded. “Then… yes, I think if it was working properly I’d feel… comfortable.”

“Y’know you can just make a new one right?” Frei asked, confused.

Asil seemingly ignored her comment, and turned to Amber.

“Could I borrow your…?”

“Not like I can say no,” Amber sighed and stood up, offering her hand.

Asil grabbed it before turning to Frei and proffering his hand. Frei in return smiled and grabbed it, and Amber felt a tug on her Essence; a strong one.

“Frei Lasrel, do you agree to abide by Amber's contract? The cost of breaking it is your life.”

She blinked. “I already agreed to that, didn’t I?”

Asil frowned. “Do you agree or not?”

There was a moment where Frei finally caught up on what Asil was trying to do, and her smile deepened to a more sincere one.

“Indeed, I agree to protect Amber and I, Frei Lasren, acknowledge her as my master, her wishes are my commands, her best interests are my guidance and compass.” She closed her eyes. “In life or death, I shall be her blade and shield⁠—”

And at that moment, an explosion of light happened and Amber felt all her Essence poof from existence as her Essence informed her of something.

You’ve made an Essence Contract with Frei Lasren.

Huh.

“That’s enough,” Asil said, shaking his hand. “No need to be so dramatic when agreeing.”

Frei scoffed. “I meant it. Well, I did make it sound like that on purpose but I mean my words. I ain’t a lying skank.”

Asil sighed ignoring her before turning to the merchant.

“It’s been done.”

“Just like that?” Cecile raised her brow.

“Just like that,” he affirmed.

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“So she can’t take me hostage anymore…?” she asked hesitantly.

“She cannot.”

The two entered a dialogue of reassurance that made Amber slightly uncomfortable, their closeness wasn’t something she had experienced before. Frei however, was eating it up with a wide grin.

“By the way, didn’t you listen to their conversation?” Amber asked.

Frei blinked. “I stopped doing that when I pissed him off; by the way do ya want me to listen to your conversations or would you rather⁠—”

“Don’t,” Amber said flatly.

“Alright.” She tilted her head. ”Out of curiosity, couldn’t ya have made the contract again with me?”

Amber shook her head. “The reason mine was incomplete is because I wasn’t strong enough, Asil has enough strength even if he’s… well it’s complicated.”

“Huh, I see,” she looked at the elf and merchant for a few moments before turning back to Amber. “Well, glad we got that out of the way.”

Amber nodded.

“And so, I’m going to pass out again, because forcing myself to be conscious blows,” she said dismissively.

“Wait,” Amber called as Frei laid back down.

“What is it?” Frei raised her brow.

“Will you be okay? What’s even happening to your body?”

Frei smiled. “I’ll be fine, I’m just in a state of ‘mana debt’ that is being paid off whenever I regenerate mana. Once that debt is cleared I’ll be back to normal.”

“Mana debt…?” Amber blinked.

“Something related to my class and to the principles of magic, I’ll tell ya about it later.” She grinned before closing her eyes, getting comfortable on the bed once more. “By the way, don’t kill me while I’m out. I trust ya.”

“I won’t.” Amber said.

And Frei didn’t reply again, evidently losing consciousness once more. Asil and Cecile were still discussing whatever they were discussing ⁠— Amber had completely tuned out their conversation at this point ⁠— and she just stared at the elf. Meeting Frei had to be the most strange experience she had had since coming to Vir; or well one of the most.

But she didn’t mind it too much.

Amber smiled at that, and that was when Cecile approached her.

“You know, I’m sorry for doubting Frei, I’ll still say that trusting a magical contract feels weird and I have a lot of reservations, but…” She took a breath before looking at Frei. “It’s obvious to me now that she’s serious about what she wants to do.”

She turned back to Amber.

“I’m sorry for placing you in this position.”

“It’s fine,” Amber said. “Asil explained your feelings well enough, sorry for risking your life.”

“Right…”

Amber shook her head. “You should rest, Frei will be traveling with us from now on, at least until we get rid of her contract with the council.”

Cecile slowly nodded and murmured a ‘thank you’ before heading out, Asil followed after her, but also nodded at Amber in acknowledgement.

“I’ll use my family to see if they can help Frei, thank you for everything so far, Amber.”

Amber smiled a bit and then, she was once more alone in the room with Frei. And a sigh left her, she hadn’t expected that Frei showing off could’ve caused such a chain reaction from her companions, but she was glad that it was resolved; because now, she fully trusted Frei, and her friends did too.

Never really expressed desire in anything else… Amber looked at Frei. I can kinda relate to that…

She was quite curious to see how that played out, but for now, it was better for her to rest. Tomorrow, she’d ask Asil to teach her how to meditate; she had to grow stronger with Essence after all. Then, they would depart to the elven forest once more. To search for answers about Ishtar, to search for answers about Frei related things, and also for her to learn about magic given it was beneficial for her Essence.

Amber was quite excited. She laid on the bed she had been sitting on and stared at the ceiling.

She had grown quite a lot already.

[You have reached level 182. 10 stat points awarded.]

+5 Vitality +5 Strength +5 Dexterity.]

[You have reached level 183. 10 stat points awarded.]

+5 Vitality +5 Strength +5 Dexterity.]

She hadn’t gained much experience from the other members of the saints, but it made sense considering Frei was the one to basically annihilate them. Besides, they had delivered themselves at her doorstep, so she couldn’t complain about experience gains.

Amber closed her eyes.

Besides, I’m getting close to my level 200 advancement too, and my core just keeps on getting stronger.

I can’t wait to go to Ill’hine… She smiled to herself. Maybe I should prepare the knitting needles to surprise Ax’thra already…

And a moment later, she fell asleep. In the end, Vir had offered her the life she didn’t know she needed, and it only kept getting better.

* * *

The next day, Amber awoke to Healers trying to tend to Frei, but there was, once again, no success. And for good reason, Frei was apparently in an almost System induced coma, at least from what she got. For the most part, it was mostly peaceful but Amber did make sure to ask Asil for his time in order to learn meditation, which seemed to irritate him slightly. But he still did his best.

They were sitting in the backyard of the lord, or rather she was, right under a tree. Amber had her eyes closed.

“Do you sense it? The Essence in the air?”

“Not… particularly.”

To her, it didn’t feel any different than standing up or doing anything else in particular, whether she was trying to focus or not it didn’t seem to make a difference to her.

“Remember what I taught you about breathing,” he reminded.

Amber paused for a moment and indeed tried to soak in the moment of each of her breaths, and perhaps it was because she was seated on the stupid lotus position, but it seemed to actually make a difference. For just a brief moment, she managed to sense the Essence in the air, and seemingly⁠— it was more concentrated on the tree more than anywhere else.

Amber blinked, looking over at Asil. “Does this mean that if I take a tree with me to sit on whenever I can just meditate at good efficiency…?”

He paused, speechless. “Why would you even think about that…”

“Well I mean, it’s more efficient, that way?” Amber raised her brow. “Like, if I pack up my high concentration Essence spot, then I can just use it whenever.”

“That’s… you know that Essence comes from life, right?”

“Yeah.”

“So you’re telling me you want to mess with life itself for your own benefit?” he asked incredulously.

And Amber smiled. “Yep.”

“Unbelievable…” he almost facepalmed.

Amber shrugged and closed her eyes once more, trying to focus on her Essence again. She didn’t care if Asil judged her ways for being odd or weird. But it was something to consider. Finally, after a few seconds of focusing she saw the Essence once more.

“Once I perceive the Essence, what do I do with it?” she asked, after a few moments.

A sigh came. “Push it towards yourself, just like you move the Essence inside your core. Imagine doing that with the outside world, it is a difficult and arduous task⁠— that is meditating.”

Amber listened though she did not give a reply, instead did as told. She focused on feeling the Essence in her surroundings, and she quickly imagined herself outside of her body. Touching the small shining Essence particles with her hand and pushing them, and to her surprise they moved, but it was also like pushing oil⁠— almost all of it sliding off.

She immediately frowned, and continued to move it all, trying different movements until slowly but surely she began to gather the Essence in her surroundings, slowly feeding her core. That said, the amount was negligible.

“You’re kind of bad at it, but you got it at least,” he said.

“Do you have any suggestions?” Amber asked, then paused for a moment as she realized she had been sweating.

“Imagination is limitless, so long as you can imagine it, you can probably use it to gather the Essence in the air,” he said. “Personally, I imagine myself as a black hole if you know what that is⁠— it took me multiple years to even understand what it was. But because of that my meditation reached a new level.”

“Oh huh, that does sound a bit hard to imagine,” Amber pondered.

“Indeed, but that really is all I can offer you at the moment, once you are more proficient maybe I can even teach you how to meditate while going about your daily life,” he said simply.

Amber paused, before nodding. “That’d be nice.”

“For now, however, I’ll just monitor you for today and give some suggestions.”

Amber agreed with that, and so, for the following hours, Asil made her try numerous ways to gather the Essence in the air and essentially rated them and gave suggestions to make them more efficient. Turns out that even though she fully understood how a black hole kind of worked, she still couldn’t fathom sucking all the Essence via gravitational pull. Such was the world of imagination, and magic was somewhat similar.

All in all, Amber found it quite interesting and enlightening too.

So, for the following week, that was what Amber dedicated herself to, slowly gathering the Essence in the surroundings and learning a bit of Essence manipulation with the help of some mages under the lord. Namely getting more used to the element of electricity. Asil seemed to spend most of his time with Cecile, which Amber had no issues with.

And finally on the last day of the week, Frei, the savior of the city, the Dark Reaper, and the member of the Arcane Council finally awoke, marking it as the last day they would stay in the city of Vaurel before departing to the Sacred Forest once more.

* * *

And on that same day, in the main continent of Kartil, the Saints of Truth finally received the news from their scout priests, the news that Archbishop Anael and his bishops had been felled in battle. And along with the news, pictures of the battle site had come; where nothing of them or the land remained. Whether it was the work of the wretched chimera nest, or outside interference couldn’t be determined immediately.

So, a meeting was held, one with the highest authorities available. The Holy Principalities, and even though only half of them were present: With the Tenth, the Ninth, Seventh, Fifth, and the Second, being available, it was enough for them to make a decision. The other five Holy Principalities were dealing with various important tasks, from training priests over in the mercenary republic, to gathering information about the End.

“Everything matches with our information about the Dark Reaper, the elf who is a part of the Arcane Council,” one of them said, an old looking man with a long white beard. He was the Ninth Principality.

“Yet, the Dark Reaper has never displayed the ability to destroy the environment like that. That’s the work of someone that has reached level 400…” another said, a young man with white hair and silver eyes; the Seventh Principality.

“Seventh, our information on her is outdated by a few decades, perhaps she has reached that height already,” the Fifth Principality said, a frail looking man with glasses. “Irregardless, whether it was her work or not, the question is: Should we continue to research on the Cursebearer, Amber, or should we invest our resources into avenging Archbishop Anael.”

His words lingered for a moment, unfortunately their organization had most of its presence in the main continent, so they didn’t send more people into Sarliane until Amber had made her legend and Oracle had already tried to make his move. After all, the other demon summoning that had happened the year before on the other side of the world had taken most of their attention for a while.

“We should send two archbishops to investigate what happened to Anael,” the Tenth said. “Then, make our decision based on that. We should also prepare to send more forces to the Republic of Mercenaries if necessary. Oracle made a massive mess out of it.”

At that, everyone entered deep thought, and as the minutes passed, they eventually turned to the person that had yet to voice their opinion. The Second Holy Principality, a man with black hair and golden eyes, he seemed young yet his eyes held a hint of insanity.

“I think, sending a party of two combatant archbishops and tracking priests, would be a good idea,” he said calmly. “Then, they can enact revenge on those who wronged Anael; whoever did that is a heretic. The Demon of Genesis situation is handled for now, but it’s better to not have to deal with too many enemies at once.”

The Fifth turned. “Are you sure we should disregard that other woman?”

“She too shall fall, but this takes priority,” the Second said. “We have to take revenge for Anael, otherwise what do we stand for? Our mission is to delete the curses, to destroy all heretics in this land; if Anael was felled in battle by one, then it only makes sense we prioritize those that are actively fighting back against us. After that is handled, we can focus on ending the Demon of Genesis for good.”

At that, he got hesitant nods as everyone considered his words.

“He is right,” the Tenth said. “It is what we stand for.”

“Indeed…” the Seventh agreed.

And the rest, also nodded, this time with greater vigor.

“It is settled then,” the Second began. “We shall dispatch a hunting party to execute revenge for our fallen comrade.”

He closed his eyes.

“Let us kill the heathen that crossed us.”

And everyone nodded in unison.