I picked up the tarnished ring. The action spurred new words to spill across my mind.

This is a soulbound artifact of unknown rank: Shanasyn’s Legacy. This item houses a dormant celestial companion. Once the ring is worn, a spirit bond will be forged between the celestial and the player. Note, this item can only be equipped by a descendant of Shanasyn who has acquired the empyrean Class.

Soulbound items remain with a player after death and cannot be stolen. These powerful artifacts are one of the few truly Game-created items and, once bonded, cannot be unbound. After a player’s final death, the ring and the celestial it shelters will cease to exist.

You meet all pre-requisites to use this item. To soul-bind Shanasyn’s Legacy, equip the ring.

I blinked several times in astonishment. The tarnished ring that I’d thought the least valuable of the three items appeared to be a powerful artifact, one whose value I could only guess at.

I read the Game messages again, trying to make sense of their contents. I’d heard of soulbound items, of course. Everyone had, and I knew they were exceptionally rare. But I knew nothing of celestials and companions.

Whatever they are, they must be equally valuable.

The ring, I realized, was worth more than any possible cure for Soren’s ailments. If I sold it, not only would I be able to save Soren, but I suspected there would be more than enough left to buy a proper house in a city district with real streets, running water, and without thugs lurking around every corner.

As tempting as the idea was, though, I knew it was no more than a foolish daydream.

For one, selling the ring would be next to impossible. Any sworn would confiscate it on sight. And for another, I wasn’t sure if anyone but me could use it.

It was obvious now that the heirlooms dad had left me hadn’t been randomly selected. They fit together hand in glove. Not only that, but the ring appeared to have been crafted solely for my family. The similarity between our family name, Shanis, and the ring’s own, Shanasyn, could not be a coincidence.

I sighed. There would be no selling the ring. But hopefully, the artifact would make the dungeon run easier. Reaching a decision, I inserted the ring on the middle finger of my left hand.

You have soulbound Shanasyn’s Legacy. From this point onwards, this ring cannot be stolen, lost, or kept from your hands except by the strongest enchantments.

The dormant celestial, Adalinda, has awoken!

The moment the band sat snug around my finger, tendrils of smoke gushed out of the ring and condensed in a thick, white cloud.

I staggered back, attempting to escape the haze, but the dense smoke only followed me. Staring apprehensively at the white cloud, I banished the Game messages and waited for whatever came next.

The trails of smoke separated again, zipping about in one direction, then another, creating patterns, only to discard them a moment later. It almost seemed as if…

As if a shape is taking form. I gulped, a suspicion fueled by the Adjudicator’s message taking root.

The mist was alive.

Someone—or something—was awakening.

Did I just make a grave error? Perhaps I’d been too hasty in equipping the ring. In light of the hovering wisps of smoke, all the Adjudicator’s talk of ‘binding’ and ‘final death’ was sounding more ominous.

What manner of creature have I awoken?

The plumes of smoke kept swirling, and what I was sure now were half-formed limbs appeared one instant, only to vanish a heartbeat later. The creature—if creature it was—seemed uncertain of what shape to take. Finally, the smoke settled back into an amorphous cloud.

Two eyes appeared.

I stiffened, fighting the urge to flee. The shade of its eyes was identical to my own, more true gold than the soft brown most people mistook them to be.

“Greetings, Shanasyn.”

The word reverberated in my mind, similar yet different from the Adjudicator’s speech. The cloud—no, the celestial—was speaking to me.

“Hello?” I replied cautiously.

The celestial did not respond.

I tried again. “Who are you?”

“I am Adalinda,” the celestial answered in a distinctly feminine voice.

Her response, however, didn’t tell me anything new. “And what are you?”

“I-I… I don’t know.”

I frowned. “How can you not know what you are?”

The cloud was silent for a moment. “I don’t know that either,” she answered, sounding puzzled. “But I do know my name. Your own. And that we are meant to be together.”

“My name is not Shanasyn.”

“You are her descendant, are you not?”

I nodded reluctantly. “Probably.”

“Then you are the Shanasyn,” the celestial replied with no trace of doubt. “Will you complete the binding?”

“What binding?”

“The spirit binding that will make us companions.”

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“Is that what you want?”

“Yes.”

I hesitated. I wasn’t sure what the binding was meant to do, but I was no longer afraid of the cloud creature. The conversation had soothed my nerves, and Adalinda did not appear to bear me any ill will. In fact, it was almost a certainty that the long-ago ancestor who had prepared for this day wanted me to have her.

“How do I do that?” I asked finally.

“Tell the Adjudicator.”

Another puzzling response, but I did as she bade, trying to will my desire to the ever-present voice lurking in my mind.

The response was instantaneous.

Initiating a spirit binding between Adalinda and Elana Shanis…

A fiery sensation took root in my heart. It was not exactly painful, but moment by moment, the feeling grew more uncomfortable and distinct. Adalinda was affected too. The formless cloud she’d settled on had broken up again. Not to disperse this time—but to seep into me.

I dropped to my knees, clutching my chest. “W-w-what… what’s... happening?” I gasped.

There was no answer.

The fiery sensation in my chest became a raging bonfire, and it was all I could do to not roll on the floor and give vent to my agony.

Then it stopped.

In a heartbeat, the pain and burning vanished as if they had never existed.

Spirit binding completed.

Congratulations, Elana, you have bound the celestial Adalinda as your companion. Unlike familiars, companions are separate creatures who, through special spirit bonds, can advance and level in the Game in a similar manner to the host player. Note, however, that the companion and player share Class points and lives. Each time either dies puts both one step closer to final death.

A Celestial is a being of light, fire, and air with no true body, though, at times, they may manifest one. When bonded to a player as a companion, a celestial will mirror their host’s core skills and attributes.

The fierce burning was gone, but my thoughts were still hazy with pain. And my chest was heavy, as if... it held more than myself. Something in me had changed. I was different. And whatever it was, it had taken a toll on my body.

I tried rising. It was a mistake. My legs gave way beneath me, and I sprawled on the floor.

“Elana...?”

The voice had come from within, but my thoughts were too scattered to reply or even fathom what to make of it. My head rested on the slatted wooden timbers of the floor. “So tired...” I murmured.

Sleep tugged at me, and unable to resist any longer, I succumbed and fell unconscious.

✵ ✵ ✵

“Elana! Elana!”

Hands shook at me, and fingers dug into me. It was Alon, his voice reedy with panic. “Elana? Are you okay? What happened?”

I could barely make sense of his rapid-fire questions. I rolled over and blinked blearily. “What time is it?” I rasped. My throat was parched and dry, and the words were difficult to get out.

“It’s evening,” Alon replied. “I’ve just come back and found you like this.” He paused, staring at me wide-eyed. “What happened?”

“Help me up first,” I croaked. “And some water, please.”

Alon did as I bade. With still-shaking hands, I gulped down the contents of the flask he’d brought, luxuriating in the sensation of the water. “That tastes good,” I said, feeling more human.

“Elana, tell me,” Alon demanded, his impatience clear. “Did it not work?”

A small smile spread across my face. “It worked, Alon. Even better than I expected.”

Alon’s brows furrowed. “What does that mean?”

Mutely I held out my arms and channeled mana through them.

Alon scrambled backward as a warm, golden light bathed the dark room. “Is... is that…?” he gulped and tried again. “Is that magic?” he asked hoarsely.

I nodded. “And that isn’t all. I have a companion now.”

Alon stared at me blankly, not understanding what I meant.

I grinned. I hadn’t expected him to. “Adalinda,” I said aloud. “Can you hear me?”

“I can, Elana.”

“Who are you talking to?” Alon asked in a befuddled tone.

Ignoring him, I spoke to my companion again. “Where are you?”

“Inside of you.”

Her answer gave me pause. But I realized I should have expected it. Adalinda had been the source of the fiery burning. “Can you come out?”

“Of course.”

“Elana?” Alon asked, trying to draw my attention. “What’s going on?”

I raised my palms, pleading for patience. “One moment.”

Focusing intently, I felt something leave me. It was Adalinda, I knew. This time though, there were no streams of smoke, no mist, and no cloud.

The celestial was invisible as she withdrew from me.

Drat, I thought. I’d been hoping I could show her to Alon. Explaining the companion would’ve been much easier then. I turned to the nervous-looking youth. “The Class stone wasn’t the only item dad gave me.” I held up my hand, indicating the ring. “He also left me this—”

I broke off, my gaze whipping downwards.

Strands of light, fire, and smoke had appeared, writhing gently on unseen currents of air. Just a few. But as I watched, more manifested, and soon, there were thousands. Then the ribbons began to move in tandem, weaving themselves into something.

“What are you staring at?”

I tore my gaze away from the fascinating sight to stare at Alon. “You can’t see it?”

His brows furrowed. “See what?”

“That,” I said, gesturing at the floor. It had to be my companion that was responsible for whatever was occurring.

Alon’s frown deepened. “Elana, are you okay?”

I waved aside his concern and, raising my head, spoke to the room at large. “Adalinda, is that you?”

“It is,” she replied. “I’m manifesting.” She paused. “Is that not what you wanted?”

I tugged at my long, brown hair, not entirely sure what she meant but willing to see what came of it. “No. But go ahead.”

The weave of magic began contracting, the ribbons of fire, air, and light hardening as they shrunk. Eventually, the individual threads became indistinguishable from each other as they coalesced.

Finally, a creature appeared.

Adalinda has cast manifest. Your companion has taken the form of a fire lizard. This creature-form has no special traits. Adalinda has expended 20% psi, 80% remaining.

I jerked backward, surprised despite myself at the small and entirely strange creature at my feet. The beast—I should be calling her Adalinda, I suppose—was just over a yard long and covered by ridged and hardened red scales, like that of a crocodile.

Adalinda’s snout was elongated and lined with serrated teeth, while each of her four legs was tipped with sharpened claws. Her strong muscular tail, snaking lazily behind her, seemed a weapon too.

“Gah! What is that!”

Alon was as stunned as I was, but his response was more aggressive. The youth’s hands dropped to the battleaxe at his side, and in one smooth motion, he drew the weapon and swung it overhead, ready to split the reptile in two.

Adalinda swung to face him. Her reptilian eyes began to glow red, and her jaws opened to hiss in anger.

The pair’s reactions drew me out of my frozen shock. “Stop!” I barked.

Lizard and youth stilled.

I glanced at Alon and gestured at the angry beast that had retreated to my side. “That,” I said, “is my companion. Don’t you dare hurt her.”

Hesitantly, Alon lowered his axe. Adalinda kept hissing, but now, I sensed a smugness in the sound.

I wagged a finger at the lizard circling my feet. “And you, stop that. Alon is a friend. Never threaten him again.”

“I’m sorry, Elana,” Adalinda said contritely, wrapping her tail around me.

“Good,” I said, exhaling in relief. “Now that everyone has calmed down, let me explain.”