Chapter 14: ancestral world bead.

Reaching the palace entrance Dez and his friends saw a beautiful lady standing there.

“I have been expecting your visit, young master.”

While saying that she bowed to Dez and his friends. She showed great respect and grace.

“I see you brought your friends this time with you. Would you like to introduce me to your friends?”

“Sure Raisel, this is Ethan and Suki. Guys this is Raisel, one of my father's soul companions and the guardian of the dream forest. She is a nature nymph.”

“Welcome. It's a pleasure for me to meet the friends of my young master. How has your trip been so far? Did you guys like the forest?” Walking and following Raisel they had a small conversation.

Raisel had a beautiful dress of leaves and flowers. Her hair was a combination of different green colors. It was no normal hair but vines so thin no one could tell the difference. They were vines she could manipulate at will. Above her head, she was wearing a shining green and brown crown. And behind her, she had particles of light that resemble wings.

Entering the dining hall Dez, Ethan and Suki Stood rooted in amazement. “Come in, don't just stand there, I have prepared a great banquet. I hope it will please you, master Dez.” The sheer variety of food was astonishing. Some foods were clearly special. Others even have a faint glow around them.

“Anything you cook will be pleasing to me no matter what.”Dez answered.

Following her, they entered the dining hall. There was a long table for at least 20 people to sit around, completely adorned with food of any variety and style. A large variety of vegetables, soups, meat, fruits, and drinks.

Looking at the table Ethan was extremely happy. In reality, he felt like he was in heaven. He felt like the happiest person at that moment.

Taking the lead, Raisel proceeds to sit at the head of the table.

Following her Dez and his friends also sat down. Dez may have been her young master but in this world, power is respected more than social positions. And Raisel was at the same level as Dez's father, the soul emperor ranking. No matter what, an emperor needs to be respected so he would never take a seat first or sit at the head of the table.

“You guys can choose any food you like. My servants, they will bring it for you.”

With one thought of her, a row of servants walks in. Some went to the table, and some approached the children. They were all tree folks. Tree folks are one of the races living inside the dream forest. All tree folk's lives are under the power and command of Raisel. They are all her ‘ offspring’, they used to be normal trees in the past but were given life by Raisel and transformed into treefolks. It was a sight to see so many of them together. They were quite pleasing to the eye too, not too bulky but more resembling a human-shaped sculpture. They were quite refined and rare.

"Wow, Raisel, are all these treefolks made by you?" Dez normally only saw Raisel when he came here with his father. It seems she is putting on a show today.

"Yes, young master Dez. Thanks to the bond between your father and me, I can share parts of his powers as a chosen one. And it makes me able to give them life. A better life than just being immovable trees. but don't let your friends wait any longer, let's enjoy this banquet."

Dez, Ethan, and Suki had an enjoyable time eating.

The food was of the best quality they have ever tasted. Nothing has ever come even close to what they have tasted today.

Ethan even cried tears of joy while he was enjoying his meal.

“Dez, did you decide what you will use as your first core when you awaken?”

Ethan was so satisfied and feeling comfortable he started a conversation. It was what all children of their age were always talking about.

“I don't know yet, I had the ‘talk’ with my parents but I'm not sure. And you?”

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The first integration was the most important.

It played a great part in your battle prowess and growth potential.

“I already decided. I’ll be integrating a soul weapon core as my first soul integration.”

“That is the direction most of your family members take, right? Let me guess it's a shield soul weapon?”It wasn't hard to guess the Edmond family is a family of shield warriors.

“Well absolutely! It will be an honor to my family, my soul weapon has already been selected. It has cost my family a fortune, but my father said it's the best he has ever seen."

Dez was really feeling happy for his friend. The Esmonds weren't as wealthy as other empires. But an empire of warriors that were great fighters who lived their lives in one of the most challenging lands of this continent.

“After seeing what you did today with your Shield I think a shield soul weapon will be great for you no doubt.

And you Suki, what will your first soul integration be?”

“My first will be my Dragon. I wish to integrate it into my soul world. My dragon I raised since I was very little. I’ll be making an equal contract with her.”

Dez and Ethan were surprised. Equal contracts are early done because the risks are too high.

Isn't that dangerous? Ask Dez.

Maybe you do not know this but all the members of my family who can awaken the Eye of the mighty Dragon can get a dragon egg from the valley of dragons. On the condition, we honor a bond of equals with our dragon companions."

“I imagined that you would choose your dragon. The Loong family has good relationships with dragons right? It should be very nice to live with dragons.” Dez has seen them before; the dragons of the Loong family are quite different and outstanding.

“Yeah we do, we have a bond from a very young age. Every member of the Loong family will make a soul contract with a dragon for his first companion. We all have our own dragons. but the quality depends on our eyes. All eggs look basically the same. Only following what our eyes can see can we select the dragon that complements us the best."

“Sigh, I wish my decision could be that simple.”

“Isn't it simple?” Ask Ethan

"Well no it's not. Our family doesn't have a specific type we contract with. That gives me a lot of options but that is exactly why I don't know what I want.

"Isn't your father the best artificial life creator?"

"Why don't you contract one of his creations?"

"My father has a lot of options for me, that is true, but I want something unique."

Everything in this world works under a grading system, even humans.

Different humanoid races including humans categorize their people as normal, talented, special, unique ones and geniuses.

They might be on an equal level but differ greatly in power and capability.

“Sorry to interrupt you master Dez I believe you know of the project and the purpose of the dream forest, if you ask lord Kaihen there won’t be a problem in getting anything that you fancy. even Dream herself, she is still I contracted.” Dream is a very unique being of the dreamscape that lives inside this forest. She is of the very powerful oneiric race. Small in number and extremely elusive. Those of the oneiric race are born from the dream world itself and later leave the dreamscape and grow to own a physical body.

“I know Raisel, but Dreams is too precious to my father, I would not wish to take her away from my dad. Dad values Her a lot and her military value is simply too high. ain't that why you're here keeping her safe?"

"Master dez Dreams need no safekeeping, if she ever wishes she can enter the Dreamworld and she would never be found again. I'm just her friend keeping her company because Master Kaihen has been too busy lately.

Yeah, father has been really busy lately…

Hey dez, why don't you hunt for a beast companion or buy one?

Wait Ethan I don't think wild beasts are good choices. They do not have great potential.

Well isn't your dragon a beast?

You dare compare my highly intellectual dragon to a mare wild beast? You know your words are highly offensive right? If my father heard what you just said he would blow your empire to pieces.

Yeah... Well, let him come. The Esmonds fear no one.

Ok, ok guys calm yourself down. Those were just misinterpreted words. No one will go to war for a few words spoken by us. We are just kids. I never saw you guys fight as much as today. Relax a little guys. I still remember the promise we made. I hope you all still do.

Anyway, the reason I'm indecisive is because of my mother.

Mother wants me to use the ancestral world bead.”

The room became completely silent.

There is another option in this world other than beast or contracts. It's to use items. Some use spiritual weapons but there is actually no limit to the options. The only problem is that most items are of inferior quality and will give mediocre results.

But not world beads. They are items of extreme value.

“Wait. A world bead or did you just say ‘the’ ancestral world bead…?” Ask Ethan in amazement.

“My Selklor family's ancestral world bead.”