While Gabriel and Carmen are enjoying some time at the coffee shop, Kevin, Mak and Munderic are getting everything ready for the ritual to summon the elemental, Kevin is eager to ask many questions but Mak already knows that elementals live in their own pocket dimensions and almost never meddle with other's affairs, still Kevin is a man with extreme curiosity and if there is anything to be learned, Kevin will not look the other way, Munderic feels like he owes them for what Gabriel did and he has agreed to help, with his knowledge of summoning he made sure that he can summon the elemental from its ritual stone, Mak has also been there to lift the Glamour spell and allow them to do what they came for, even if Mak isn't really interested to this encounter he isn't one to not ask questions. They have arrived to where the stone erected from the ground and they begun the preparation for the ritual...

Mak-Is everything ready?

Munderic-Yeah, all that's left is to speak the chant.

Kevin-I can't wait to see what will happen.

Mak-A simple form of the elemental will show up just above the monolith, the form will resemble a humanoid made from the elementals essence, in this case, shadow energy.

Kevin-Why would it take a human form?

Mak-Elementals answer the call in the form of those that summon it, in order to communicate with the summoner, the elemental will take a form that the individual is used to, if I were to speak the chant, it would appear like a goblin.

Kevin-You are in your Glamour though.

Mak-An elemental can't be fooled by something as simple as a Glamour spell.

Kevin-I see.

Munderic-Everything is ready, shall I begin?

Mak-Let's get this over with.

Kevin-Please.

Munderic-" Oh great spirit of shadow, I summon thee in this plane of existence to converse, Nefaris, lord of shadow, ruler of darkness, I hereby call for you to appear before me"

As Munderic finished the chant, a blob of dark energy started to take form in front of them, the markings on the floor glowed with something that can be described as black light, the essence that appeared from the markings of the monolith started to take shape into one of a man, a rough shape of a teenager, it obviously took the form that Munderic would feel comfortable with since he was the one who actually summoned it, once the energy fully formed it looked around and saw the three men standing in front of it...

Nefaris-Humans, goblin, I hear you.

Kevin-It worked! Incredible.

Mak-An Elemental, how fascinating.

Nefaris-Mortals, speak.

Munderic-I am the one who summoned you, Mr.Nefaris.

Nefaris-Mister?

Mak-Nefaris, this man summoned you to converse, that is all.

Kevin-Nefaris, I have some questions for you.

Nefaris-Speak.

Kevin-I want to know, what are you exactly?

Nefaris-I am an elemental of shadow, I was formed as a physical manifestation of shadow and represent everything that has to do with darkness.

Kevin-Where is it that you exist?

Nefaris-I exist in my own plain of shadow and darkness, it has been ages since I saw the light of your world.

Kevin-How long has it been since someone summoned you?

Nefaris-Two minutes.

Kevin-Huh?

Mak-He means since someone else summoned you, not us.

Nefaris-Four hundred years.

Mak-You have to be specific, they aren't exactly good in communication, most times an elemental is summoned it's because someone wanted to harness their power.

Nefaris-Is it a contract you seek?

Kevin-No, I don't want to make a deal with you, I am not prepared to give you anything.

Mak-Relax, Kevin, we should at least hear what it has to offer.

Kevin-All right, let me hear your offer, Nefaris.

Nefaris-I will bestow upon you the power of shadow, to harness it, manipulate it.

Kevin-What would you want in return?

Nefaris-I wish for you to worship my name, every night that you want to use this power.

Kevin-Is that it?

Mak-Careful Kevin, let it finish, we don't know what would happen if you break the contract.

Nefaris-There is no other demand, as long as you worship my name, you will become my champion, the one who wields my power. If you fail to worship me, the shadow will leave your side.

Mak-So as long as he worships you every night, he can use your powers?

Nefaris-Exactly, it has been ages since a mortal formed a contract with me, I kept the demerit into a minimum.

Kevin-Will you have a claim to my soul?

Nefaris-No, I ask only that you pray to me every night.

Kevin-Well, that sounds like a good deal.

Mak-As far as I know, there aren't any tricks to an elementals contract, it's just as he says.

Kevin-Very well, I will accept your contract, Nefaris.

Nefaris-From this point on, you will be a human like no other, I give you the power to control the shadows, as long as you recognize me as your master, you will be my champion.

Kevin-Is that it?

Nefaris-I will now unlock your Source, you will be able to harness the power of shadow by depleting your own stamina.

Kevin-Wait, what does this mean?

Mak-If you use too much, you will get tired, nothing to worry about, if I am correct the other option is for you to directly call the energy from Nefaris but that would mean at any point he could cut you off.

Nefaris-Exactly.

Kevin-I see, I accept your contract, I want the power at the expense of my own stamina.

Nefaris-Your Source is now open, Kevin, demonstrate the power you now possess.

Kevin instantly felt something, his whole body started to warm up with energy as soon as the Source was unlocked, he felt physicaly stronger, his hands engulfed in dark smoke-like energy, Munderic and Mak were watching closely to what was happening to Kevin...

Mak-Well, try something.

Kevin-Like what? I feel stronger.

Mak-Just unlocking someone's Source makes them physically stronger, the good part comes when you actually use the powers. Try and do something with the tree's shadow.

Kevin-Let's see...

Kevin focused on the shadow of the tree, suddenly it started to change shape, the shadow escaped from the ground and joined the stream of smoke that was surrounding Kevin's hands.

Kevin-What was that?

Nefaris-You absorbed the shadow, your power grows in the absence of light, by absorbing the shadow that objects make, you can replenish your energy.

Mak-That sound cool, so when it's dark you are stronger but when it's the middle of the day you can recharge by absorbing the shadows that the sun creates.

Nefaris-Exactly.

Kevin-I see, what should I do with this power?

Nefaris-As you please. Destroy, create, conquer, it matters not as long as your actions bear my name.

Kevin-Thank you, Nefaris.

Nefaris-This forms the contract, I expect you to honor it and you will harvest the rewards.

Kevin-I will.

Nefaris-Farewell, mortals.

Mak-Yeah, see you buddy.

Munderic-Buddy?

The humanoid from disappeared and there were only the three that remained there...

Mak-Well, I hope you are happy, you can consider yourself a mage now.

Kevin-I feel kind of different, I am not sure what it is.

Mak-You are now able to wield shadow magic, the only thing you should worry about is not to overdo it.

Munderic-I am happy for you, Mr.Kevin.

Kevin-Thank you, Munderic, without you, we couldn't have done this.

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Mak-The summoning ritual wasn't exactly meant for elementals, right?

Munderic-As expected from you, Mak, the ritual is just a plain call for any being, demon, elemental, spirit. To be honest I wasn't sure it would work.

Mak-Well, a summoning ritual isn't exactly advanced magic, anyone could have pulled it off.

Kevin-Don't listen to him, you did a splendid job, Munderic.

Munderic-Thank you.

Kevin-We should pack everything and go back.

Mak-Hey, I didn't see you use your pet.

Munderic-Sorry about that, it didn't really have to be here, I was just afraid that my mother would go to the basement and see it.

Kevin-There was no reason to lie. I understand why you wouldn't want your mother to see it.

Mak-I also didn't want to see it.

Kevin-Bear with it. Let's go back, I can't wait to test this.

Mak-(Another power-crazy idiot? No, Kevin is just curious, knowledge is what drives him, he is different.) Ok.

Meanwhile, at the coffee shop Gabriel is watching a football match on the TV, Carmen felt a little left out so she wanted to initiate a conversation...

Carmen-Gabriel?

Gabriel-What?

Carmen-I understand that you want to protect people from evil beings.

Gabriel-That's right, if those who claim to protect others and act based on regulation and rules won't then I will.

Carmen-What happens when you achieve that?

Gabriel-What?

Carmen-What is your plan when you finish your job?

Gabriel-I don't know.

Carmen-You would need someone to support you.

Gabriel-What do you mean?

Carmen-I want to be with you when all of this is over, when true peace is finally a thing, I want to be with you.

Gabriel-WHAT!?(Calm down, Gabe, don't jump to conclusions, she can't possibly mean as a couple, right? Right?)

Carmen-That's why I want to know how you feel.

Gabriel-(What do I do in this situation? Damn it, I can't think of anything, what do I say?) What do you mean?

Carmen-I want to know what is your plan for the future, you can't possibly bear this all alone, you will need someone to be with you, to care for you. I want to be that one...

Gabriel-(Major problem, I don't what to do? Do I like Carmen? I have Helen, what am I supposed to do? I can't just turn her down without an explanation, what would she think of me? Why do I care about her opinion? Maybe I do care how Carmen sees me, maybe I do like Carmen. What should I do then? This is stressing, where is this guy now to help me? He said he had my back...

Gabriel's cellphone rung, that made him snap out of this state...

Gabriel-Hello?(I am saved!)

Kevin-Gabe? I want you and Carmen to come back, I have something to show you.

Gabriel-I see, we will come right back.

Gabriel hung up the phone and looked at Carmen, apparently, the phone call completely changed the atmosphere there...

Gabriel-It was the doc, he apparently has something to show us.

Carmen-Did something happen with that thing in the forest?

Gabriel-He didn't sound like something bad happened, more like he seemed to be excited.

Carmen-Let's go back then.

Gabriel-Yes.(Thank you, doc, you saved me from a huge mess.)

Gabriel avoided talking to Carmen on the way back, the holding of the hands was stressful enough for him and the question Carmen threw on the table got him completely off guard, he didn't have an answer at the time, Gabriel never looked

beyond today, even before he awoke to his powers he never looked at the future, he just wanted for the day to end, back then, it only ment that his troubles were over for the day, but that had a strange development in his growth, even now he hasn't made any plans for the future, he just let every day pass peacfully until something came in his way, for someone who claims that he wants to change the world, he hasn't actually made any plans, he didn't act based on his statements, Mak had these thoughts back at the shrine, he reallized that Gabriel didn't actually do anything of what he said he would, back at the time when Kevin made this deal with him, he was full of passion and the will to achive his goals, now he is just letting time pass, every battle he has faced has been one of just revenge, he said it himself when Marbas killed f. Johnnathan, Kevin didn't want him to go after Marbas because at the time it seemed foolish but Gabriel stated that the battle with Warren was also an act of revenge and he was right, Kevin did hold a grudge but he never told Gabriel to go after Warren at the time, it just happened as a weird chain of events and even though Kevin wanted Warren dead, he wasn't the one who suggested to go after him, it just let it happen, Gabriel never did actually do what he said he would, when Mak thought of that, Gabriel did actually seem like the bad guy, just some random person with enough power to do what he wanted and claim revenge for what others did to him, that sounds like what a villain would do, just mindlessly chasing after those who wronged you without any concern about the consequences. Gabriel never thought of this stuff, he was saving lives after all, by killing Warren, by killing Marbas, he thought he was doing what is just, but so did Eric at the time, Eric wanted to save lives also, to make the world a better place for his kind, what would have happened if he was the one who won the battle? Eric also thought that his actions represented justice, Gabriel was just stronger, that's what decided the battle, it wasn't a matter of right or wrong, it wasn't a matter of who had greater willpower, it was just that Gabriel had the power to make his words true. Even if Gabriel doesn't realize it, the fact that he was just slacking off didn't change, after all, why bother with fighting? His life was actually better, he wasn't bullied anymore, he has friends who care for him, he can just spend the rest of his days peacefully, why bother with fighting when your life is fine? Why would anyone try to change the world when it's not actually his problem? Is it a matter of conciousness or simply ethics and principles? Just as Tamika said, Gabriel is nothing more than a simple guy who uses his power to do what he thinks is right, what happens when people disagree with it? What happens when his view of justice rivals the view of others, if power is what makes things right, then, are the weak just supposed to wither away? Gabriel claims to be the one who protects the weak, he claims he is the one who would bring down those who are responsible for the current state, in sort he claims to be the one who takes down the strong but when his

view is challenged he uses power to make others submit to him, he uses his power to make his view seem right, he essentially does what he once despised. Gabriel never thought that far though, he was just letting the days go by, he was enjoying the free time he had, in his mind, the mind of a teenage boy, this was work, it was just something he had to do, it got boring after a while like a chore, when he killed Koma, he didn't even talk about it, it had nothing to do with revenge so he didn't even feel the satisfaction that comes with it, it was just like he was doing his job, to Gabriel it really felt like that, even if he doesn't know he is walking down a dark path, even if he doesn't know, Carmen still wants to hold his hand on the way back...