Ethan stared at the Mad System message in disbelief, reading it several times before he looked back up. “You can’t be serious,” he said to the towering demon.
“Did you not just tell me that I am my master’s true legacy?” the voice asked from all around him.
“Sure, but didn’t you just tell me how unworthy I am?”
“Perhaps, but your Familiars disagree, and you are still the most worthy candidate I’m ever likely to meet.”
Ethan laughed. “I’d wager that’s because I’m the only candidate you’ll ever meet. But I’ll bite, what do you mean about my Familiars?”
“They are close, and I can see their souls nearly as clearly as your own. The Devourer didn’t choose its bond, but it is content. It likes that the duality of your existence mirrors its own.”
“Deevee thinks I have two heads…that checks out.” When you need to make a decision, don’t put it off–
Shut up Dean, I get it.
“What about Revan?” Ethan asked, unsure if he’d get another opportunity to understand his Familiars in this way.
“The burning one is happy with his True Bond. He knows you chose to heal him, even if it meant losing your own life. He regrets that his Astral presence may have influenced your behavior, but he remains impressed by the choices you made.”
“He was influencing me?” Ethan asked, thinking back to that confusing time, the memories more like visions, the utter desperation. “I felt something, but I didn’t understand it. It was like my whole life–my entire soul was being torn open.”
“You were too weak to be so close to such power, and such agony. But stripped of your vanity and lies, you still chose an altruistic path. That is the way of the Guardian.”
Ethan was silent for a moment. Everyone has self-doubt, him more than most, and it was strangely comforting to hear how he was seen by a creature living in his own soul. He brutally silenced the voice that told him it was one more impossible standard to live up to.
“Can I speak to them, and hear them, the way you do?” he asked.
“You may speak, and you will learn to hear their answers, but they do not conceptualize their thoughts into words. You will know their feelings and their desires, but it is only through my Affinity that I can communicate as you do.”
Ethan nodded, glad for the distraction after the tense debate they’d just had. There were plenty of examples back home of meeting demons and devils, and he hadn’t imagined his own encounter would go this way. If I had a choice…
“I do not play the fiddle,” the demon said, interrupting Ethan’s erratic thoughts.
“Was The Devil Went Down to Georgia really written on my soul?” Ethan asked, somewhat disturbed. “And wait, did you just make a joke?”
“My master told me that I am…very funny,” the dark, ominous voice replied, and Ethan let out a tension-relieving laugh.
“Okay, back to business. Why would I possibly Bond a demon? This sounds like something I’d be foolish to even consider.”
“You are foolish, and you already consider. But it is less dangerous than you think. You’ve already learned that your Bonds cannot be examined without your permission, and I walked these lands with my master for ages without being discovered. Deception and obfuscation are who I am.”
“That’s a bold statement to make when building trust,” Ethan said with a raised eyebrow.
“You would have spotted the lie, and we liars have this in common: we understand the value of an open truth.”
“Fair enough, then put aside the negatives for a second then. Why would I want to Bond with you?”
The enormous head tilted, and its reptilian mouth curved slightly. “Because I already know your Soul Rune, and you will need my power to make proper use of it.”
Okay, that’s unexpected. “You claim to know my soul better than I do? What is it then? Who am I really?”
“I have already told you, though it is in your nature not to believe until you see it.”
“Convenient,” Ethan accused.
“In a world of magic, where all laws can be bent or broken? I would say it is remarkably inconvenient. But put that aside, for there are other benefits. I have knowledge of this world, beyond any you’re likely to meet. And I have knowledge of Potentia beyond any you will ever meet. I know of Hunting and war, politics and legends, magic and men. I am what you need to survive.”
“That is quite the claim, especially for someone whose knowledge has to be hundreds of years out of date.”
The demon shook its head. “You still think like someone from Terra. You don’t understand how power is calcified in this world. How slow it is to change.”
“Maybe I don’t,” Ethan acknowledged. “But what about the princess’s plan? What about the lightning Bond I need?”
The demon laughed again. “A lightning Bond would be a tragic waste for you. I suspect your supposed benefactors are well aware of this.”
“Oh? Even putting aside talk of tactics, the royals seem to think it’s key to the grand deception they have planned.”
“Perhaps, if Flagras was truly a Fire affinity. Insulting. Flagras is Flare, and Flare is fire and lightning, both. They would cripple you with a second lightning Bond.”
“What? Are you serious? How could they not know that? And how do you know that?”
“As to how I know, my master fought with one who held Flagras’ Bond ages past. As to how they could be confused, it is…possible. You’re aware how new abilities are formed, yes?”
“Sure, you Hunt a monster with the Affinity of the ability you…want…oh.”
“You see another truth. Flagras’ greatest powers lie not in one Affinity or the other, but in the combination of the two. Though I say again, I doubt they are truly unaware of this. Consider their motivations in light of this new knowledge.”
Ethan’s eyes narrowed, but he did as he was asked. Of course he’d been aware that he’d gotten off easy, that the king’s wild mood swings hadn’t been indicative of a person given to mercy. It was only through Princess Ellevaro’s intervention that Ethan’s request had been granted…and she hadn’t let him hear her final words to her father.
She wanted a body double for her brother. A sacrifice that could be used to prop up the kingdom until Calevaro was strong enough to do it on his own. What benefit was there in helping Ethan become as powerful as possible? Wouldn’t he be more controllable if his abilities and Bonds were poorly chosen?
The demon nodded, clearly seeing what was going through Ethan’s mind. “It is far worse than you think. Neither of your current Familiars are meant to Bond to spirit, with fulven being even worse.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I told you before that your spirit is unguarded, it is why it can be read so easily. This is what I referred to. When you reach Dawn rank, your Bonds will strengthen, and your mind, body, and soul will each become connected to one of your Familiars–regardless of how ill-suited they are for the role.”
“And the consequences of a poorly guarded spirit…” Ethan prompted.
“Are every bit as bad as you might imagine. Like a wall of paper protecting you from the ocean. Most importantly, you would be far more easily influenced by those that are capable of weaponizing the Astral.”
Ethan smirked. “And of course you are suited to that role.”
“As a Mystic the Astral is–in some ways–more my home than this one. But that is not all I offer you. I will also guide you, show you which monsters to Hunt, and help your other companions to grant you the right abilities. With me as your ally, you become powerful enough not to fear the manipulations of other liars any longer.”
“Okay, now that sounds a little bit more like the classic evil demon pitch,” Ethan accused.
“Hardly. Demons–as you call us–only want violence and destruction. There is no version of the path you walk which does not provide those in abundance. What I offer is freedom. A path to a life where you choose how your power will be utilized. Or will you tell another lie, and claim to enjoy a future as an expendable double for a prince? A pawn in an army to which you possess no loyalty?”
“Perfect, the part of the tale where the demon starts to make sense,” Ethan said, shaking his head. “You know, where I come from, there’s a lot of stories about people making deals with demons and devils. They don’t tend to work out well for the poor saps who sign in blood.”
“I am not like the beings in your stories or your religions. I am simply from another world. Perhaps you’d prefer to consider it a deal with an alien?”
“I can’t imagine how that’s better,” Ethan replied.
“Isn’t it? You’ve already Bonded with two aliens, what difference is a third?”
Thinking of Revan and Deevee as aliens messed with his head slightly, but felt reductive. “Isn’t there a difference? Aren’t monsters here basically just powerful animals? Whereas your kind are…”
“Violent and aggressive? Are bears a type of demon then? Are sharks?”
“Fair point, but if I was going to allow a hyper intelligent shark into my soul, I’d still need to know what it wanted. Especially if it claimed to have moved beyond the very things sharks are known for. So what do you want?”
The demon remained silent. Nearly a minute passed, but Ethan could sense it was building to something. At last the voice returned. “I will offer you one final truth, but you must understand, it is a secret more dangerous than any you carry.”
“Half my secrets are deadly, I’m not worried yours will make me more dead. If I’m really going to consider this, then I need to understand your real motivations,” Ethan countered.
“This secret could kill many, and I do not tell it lightly. I have a singular desire, though it isn’t something I believe I will ever attain. It is an…aspiration. Something that pushes all intelligent demons forward. Do you truly wish to know?”
Ethan had to force himself not to immediately agree. He was painfully aware that he’d been digging himself into a deeper and deeper hole since he arrived in this world. The experience was still so new and surreal that he had trouble taking the consequences seriously…not that he’d been great at doing that back on Earth.
Still, part of him understood that there was another side to moments like these. That chaos brought opportunities. That secrets worth killing over, could also be used as leverage. And Ethan needed leverage, needed power. He had accepted that he wasn’t likely to survive this year, but he refused to die because he was too afraid to walk a dangerous path.
He laughed out loud then. Who am I kidding? I was always going to listen to the forbidden knowledge from the ancient demon in the haunted tower. They can put that on my tombstone. “Let’s hear it. What do demons really want?”
The massive horned head nodded once, seeming unsurprised by his answer. “The Throne,” it said, and the tower seemed to somehow grow more quiet around them.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Although after all the buildup, Ethan was disappointed. “You’re kidding. You want to rule this place? Take over Viridus?”
Another hissing laugh. “No, not the throne of this insignificant backwater. The Throne. The Throne of Potentia. The ultimate symbol of singular power on my world. Even the slimmest, faintest hope of pursuing that dream would drive me for a hundred lifetimes.”
“Potenia has a throne?” Ethan repeated in disbelief. He thought back to the army he’d seen gathering on the other side of the rift, wondering who held its allegiance. “Why is this such a great secret?”
“Its existence is largely unknown in this world, as few demons can speak, let alone would, if given the chance. But more than that…those who do know of the Throne might one day choose to seek it. Most true contenders would simply destroy such seeds while they’re still weak.”
“But why would I want this Throne? I can’t even imagine a path from here to there.”
The demon laughed again, longer this time. “You don’t want it. I don’t even wish for you to seek it. Bonding with you doesn’t bring me closer to that impossible dream, but it does keep it alive. For my kind, that is enough; one more instinct I’ve suppressed for my master. But given the choice…there is no choice.”
“I don’t really know what to make of this. It’s over my head,” Ethan said honestly.
“Perhaps, perhaps not. Is there nothing in your world so grand, so remarkable that its pursuit is worth living for? Even if you have no real chance of attaining it?”
Ethan smiled. “Put that way, I suppose it’s not so complicated. You’d love lottery tickets. I suppose I can respect your dream as much as anyone who wants to be president when they grow up. But does it convince me to let a demon live inside my soul…give me a moment, friend. This is a decision that bears consideration.”
Ethan moved away from the demon, and began pacing. Am I seriously considering this? I wouldn’t have two weeks ago, but it seems a hell of a lot less insane compared to some of what I’ve done lately. I mean, if someone had lined up my future Familiars in a row before I got to this world, would this creature really have seemed any worse than a Dimension Devourer?
Ethan continued to pace, his mind struggling to imagine a thousand scenarios he couldn’t possibly anticipate. He simply didn’t know this world well enough to understand the consequences of what he was doing. But that’s the point, isn’t it? That’s exactly why its offer is so enticing. Simply having access to an ally that knew this world, and his secrets, and could offer guidance, was invaluable.
Ethan was so close to accepting the offer when the demon spoke again. “One other thing you should know. There could be no greater insult to the Church than taking this Bond.”
“You sneaky bastard,” Ethan said, his grin returning. “You know just what to say, don’t you?”
The draconic face slowly split into an approximation of Ethan’s grin. “Who are you kidding? You were always going to agree to the forbidden Bond from the ancient demon in the haunted tower.”
Ethan shook his head in disbelief. “You realize this is what other people would consider red flags, right? Well, for better or worse, I am not like other people.”
He walked back to the large red demon, whose face returned to its neutral expression. “You are certain?” the voice asked.
Ethan’s face grew serious as well. “One final truth. No games, no obfuscations. Tell me plainly, can I really trust you?”
The demon leaned forward, clearly in pain from doing so, but it brought its face level with Ethan’s own. “We will be bonded for as long as you live. Our fates will be joined. Your survival is my survival. We are both liars, you and I, which is how we know better than any what real trust means.”
A long, clawed finger reached up and tapped Ethan’s chest. “Familiars become part of your very soul. We are the only ones you can trust fully, in any world.” The demon leaned back, slumping once more.
Ethan didn’t speak, just brought up his system once more.
----------------------------------------
Disabled [Unknown Rarity] Eidolon detected!
Onitomo is attempting to form a True Bond. Accept? (Y/N)
----------------------------------------
“Onitomo,” Ethan said. “Is that what he named you?”
“It means ‘Demon Friend’. A joke that stuck, but one that still has great meaning to me.”
Ethan smiled at that, then took a long breath. “Here we go…” he muttered, and tapped the button. Immediately the demon began to sparkle and dissipate, far less grandly than Ethan would have expected. Next came the burning as a new Bond Rune began to form on his chest, searing its way into his soul as the symbols wove together.
Ethan looked down at the sight, telling himself it didn’t feel any differently than his first Bond had, and hoping it was true. As he watched, the runes and patterns formed over his heart, then reached out like vines to join with his Dimension and Flare Runes, leaving an empty oval in the center. The pain and discomfort lasted only a few moments longer, and then he was simply alone, in a dark room.
He felt slightly lightheaded, but that seemed like getting off easy considering what he’d just done. With more than a little excitement, he pulled up the system window once again.
----------------------------------------
Congratulations, you have formed a Familiar Bond!
New Bond Affinity: Mystic
Total Bonds: 3/3
New Familiar: (Onitomo) Mystic Blade Demon
New Ability: [Trick of the Light]
Congratulations! You are ready to form a Soul Rune!
Soul Rune forming in: 152:11:54:12
Warning: You are suffering severe soul damage.
Dalton’s Recommendation: Find a Rune Expert to complete Soul Rune formation!
----------------------------------------
Ethan cringed when he saw the warning, but supposed it wasn’t anything new. He needed to get back to Colvale soon, but he couldn’t resist checking his updated status.
----------------------------------------
Ethan Bishop
Familiar Bonds: 3/3
Affinities:
* Dimension
* Flare
* Mystic
Class: (Pending)
Rank: Pre-Dawn (Pending) (Dawn Rank: 100%)
Attributes:
* Mind of the Devourer: (Pending)
* Body of the Guardian: (Pending)
* Soul of the Mystic: (Pending)
Abilities:
Dimension: (1/4)
* Rift (Dawn Rank 0: 4%)
Flare: (2/4)
* Volatile Infusion (Dawn Rank 0: 61%)
* Internal Combustion ( Dawn Rank 0: 23%)
Mystic: (1/4)
* Trick of the Light (Dawn Rank 0: 0%)
----------------------------------------
Ethan was about to read up on his new ability, when he heard shouting outside. He took a few steps toward the stairs before freezing, and glancing back at the sword. He quickly channeled Mystic, and summoned Onitomo. He turned to the demon with a question on his lips, then froze in surprise. What he saw was…adorable.
The Familiar was about two feet tall, and still possessed the same red, reptilian skin he had before. He was wearing a tiny kimono and flat, round hat, which hid his demonic horns. A long, undulating tail stuck out behind the little creature which Ethan hadn’t noticed before, and there was only a single set of arms.
“You look like an evil Yoda plushie,” Ethan said in disbelief. “I love it.”
“I regret this Bond immediately,” the demon responded. “Take the sword.”
“Really? I don’t know a ton about their traditions, but if that’s his clan’s weapon…”
“It is not. My former master’s sword was shattered in battle. A few shards were used in forging the Saigo No Shudan, but the weapon was only significant when I believed I was meant to deliver it to his people. Now I believe it will only be significant if it helps you, his successor.”
Ethan moved forward and lifted the sheathed blade. “Sigonosha–”
“Last Resort,” the demon interrupted. “It means last resort.”
Ethan nodded, then heard more yelling outside. “Damn it, are they going to be okay?” he asked, tucking the sword and bundle into his inventory.
“They are mostly unharmed. I sent the fulven away when we began speaking. Dying as puppets was an unworthy end for them.” The demon turned from the altar to examine Ethan. “Still, you should hurry.”
Wasting no time, Ethan channeled dimension, and was next to his dagger on the first floor a moment later. He ran to the doors, but they didn’t open as easily as he hoped. He had to lean his full weight against one and strain just for it to slowly move a few inches. Immediately the sounds of his group became clear.
“He must be in the tower!” Valanor roared.
“We’ll find a way to get to him,” Glenn insisted.
“How?” Valanor screamed back. “The doors won’t budge! The windows resist our attacks! He is lost to us!”
“Then we should return to the capital,” Maggie said.
“How can you be so calm?” the shield knight growled. “We failed him! I failed him!”
Ethan tried calling out to them, but their argument was too loud and the gap in the heavy door too small. Finally he got irritated and squeezed a dagger charged with dimensional energy through. In a flash he was on the other side, letting out a relieved breath as he felt the sun on his face for the first time in what felt like years. He didn’t bask for long as the argument was still ongoing.
“Guys! I’m okay!” he called, summoning Deevee and sending the hydra across the chasm. Ethan was relieved when his Familiar had no trouble crossing the threshold the way it had earlier, and in moments he was stepping out of a rift on the other side.
The three knights were all assembled, and already out of their armor, but Cara was nowhere to be seen. Glenn was on the ground, smiling as he rested against a large rock, his leg clearly broken. Maggie took one look at Ethan before turning back to the injured knight. Valanor was watching him like he’d seen a ghost.
“No worries, I got it all sorted–” Ethan cut off as the shield knight was on him in a flash, lifting him by the front of his armor and slamming him into the rock Glenn was leaning against. “What the hell–”
“Where were you!?” Valanor screamed, his red face inches from Ethan’s own. “Why did you leave us? Why didn’t you stay by my side?”
Ethan didn’t know how to react. The man seemed crazed, his eyes wild. “I ducked into the tower. I was surrounded and I–”
“Why were you on your own? Why didn’t you come to me?!”
“You were surrounded! Glenn was hurt and I didn’t want to be a liability. I tried to help but the fulven–”
“You should have come to me! You should have let me protect you! Why didn’t you…” his voice was breaking, sweat pouring down his face. “Why didn’t you trust me to protect you?” he asked, his hand falling away as his head fell forward.
“I…I didn’t…” Ethan trailed off, not understanding, but recognizing an emotional break when he saw one. Maggie was there a second later, gently guiding the knight away, and sending a glare in Ethan’s direction. He took a step to follow, but felt Glenn’s hand pulling at his leg.
He looked down to see the curly haired knight shaking his head. This time Ethan listened, recognizing that far more was going on than he understood. A glance at Glenn’s leg flicked a switch in Ethan’s mind, and he ducked down to examine the leg, [Apollo’s Gaze] activating in an instant. “The bone’s broken in two places. You took the fall badly?”
Glenn nodded. “Can you set the bone? Maggie and Valanor are too pious to learn how to do even that much.” Ethan’s eyes widened as he realized what he was doing. He was a heartbeat from using his healing rune when Glenn reminded him of where he was. Valanor–only ever stoic or stern–breaking down like that had rattled him.
“I can,” Ethan assured the knight, though he struggled slightly to call up the expertise without using his skill. “Brace yourself,” he said, then with two clean pulls, realigned the splintered bones.
Glenn was groaning in pain, but he stopped suddenly, looking down Ethan’s shirt from where he was bent over the man’s leg. “You did it!” he called out, the pain forgotten in a moment of surprise and joy. “You Bonded one of the fulven! Did it chase you inside the tower?”
“What did you just say?” Valanor asked, looking up in surprise. The shield knight ran back over, hauling Ethan back up so he could see for himself. “You did it!” he said in a shocked voice, echoing Glenn’s words. “You really managed to Bond one. How did you do it?”
Ethan couldn’t hold back a guilty expression. “About that…I did get a new Bond, but it wasn’t exactly a fulven.”
Valanor stared at him as if he couldn’t understand what he was hearing. Ethan continued, backing away slightly. “Well, you know how I got inside the tower? It was mostly empty, except for a single monster. It was responsible for the fulven packs, using illusions to control them.”
“Illusions?” Glenn asked while winding rope around a broken spear he’d pressed against his leg. “This was the creature responsible for the gardens, and ambushes?”
“It was. And it had me locked inside. It used to be the Familiar of a man who lived in the tower…and now it’s my Familiar.” Valanor’s mouth fell open. “Sorry Valanor, I know I was supposed to get a lightning type–”
“No, you damned fool! You were supposed to get a common lightning type! Are you about to tell me that a monster powerful enough to control packs of fulven, while casting large scale illusions–something I’ve never even heard of–is actually a common monster?”
Oh, right. “It was stressful in there, and I wanted to get back out to help you all…I didn’t really check what rarity it was.” That was mostly true. Unfortunately it was also true that the system had labeled the Mystic Demon as ‘unknown’. But that could mean anything. Everything is probably fine.
Valanor’s head was in his hand again. Glenn was doing something similar, while Maggie just walked away. The shield knight let his hand fall and looked up at the sky, muttering. When his head came back down, he looked like himself again. “Maggie! Help Glenn, we’re moving out. We have an hour of daylight left, and I want us using as much of it as possible to get off this damned mountain. Fletcher will have to find us on the move.”
As the three knights began moving away from the tower as quickly as possible, Ethan ran after them. “What?” Ethan asked. “I feel fine.”
***
Lying in the back of the wagon the following night, stars shining down and trees flying past, Ethan clutched at his chest, the pain nearly unbearable. “Yup,” he muttered, “I’m definitely dying.”