Shortly after my contract with Sigil is completed, my eyes rapidly adjust to the darkness of the cellar. No longer magically impeded, I can see a small jet-black cat sitting in the middle of my now ruined summoning circle. The droplet of blood I offered is nowhere to be seen.
Curious, I check Sigil’s status, and while most of it is blocked out due to not having system access yet I can see a few skills. One in particular draws my attention.
[Peerless Sight] - lvl 1
Owner and any Soul Bonds have a [skill level] % sight correction when seeing through darkness.
A useful skill to be sure, and one I’m already benefiting from, though it also gives me high hopes for the future.
“Sigil, this is Cain.” I introduce my new companion to my old friend. “He’s not a summoned spirit, but I did raise him with magic. His Animus Core is progressing slowly, so one day he may be sentient.” Sigil only looks over Cain and says nothing.
Since we apparently have nothing to discuss, I give Cain one last pat and turn towards the stairs to leave. Sigil falls quickly into step behind me and we leave our boney companion and exit up to the surface. I’m shocked to find the sun has set when I open the cellar doors, and tentatively poke my new familiar’s mental link.
“Sigil, how long did our contract take?” I ask softly, my stomach quietly rumbling its protest.
“Several hours. Time is meaningless in the true void, what felt like moments could have been days if we so needed.” the tiny cat explains. I glance to my side, but can’t even see their silver eyes at this angle, the starlight doing nothing to reveal them.
I begin to ponder what to do next now that I’ve lost nearly a day’s worth of prep time, when Sigil suddenly interrupts me.
“Does your village have a church Andras?” My old name feels just as natural as anyone that calls me Vincent. “It’s been quite some time since I was away from the Aether. I’d like to pay my respects to the pantheon.”
With no one else around, I answer verbally, albeit in a whisper. “We have a small church on the other side of the town square, I’ve only been once or twice. Do you want help finding it?”
“No no, I’ll manage.” Sigil replies, and I can hear the smirk in their voice. “I’ll be back later.” Though when later will be is not clear to me.
With nothing left to do, I make my way back into the cellar, having a brief moment to myself before trying to sleep. Between hunger, anticipation for my coming birthday, and a lack of general fatigue, it takes a hasty [Sleep] spell to actually get some rest.
Sigil returns some time in the night, though I don’t know exactly when. They were waiting for me when I awoke. The next two days pass uneventfully, though Sigil does disappear for a few hours each day to do gods knows what.
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On the second day, after nightfall, I sneak out of the cellar to return Leigh’s jewelry box. It’s my hope she hasn’t noticed its absence in only two days, and that by returning it quickly she won’t notice it ever being gone. Just outside the forge though, Sigil walks between my legs and brings me to a halt.
“Andras. Let me take this trinket back to the girl. I would like to speak to her familiar, and I can return it without being noticed far more easily than you.” Sigil offers mentally. I’m not sure why they would do that for me, or why they need to talk to Cinder so badly, but the fuzzy ball of enigmas won’t answer my questions if I ask.
“Fine, what do you need from me?” I groan with a thought after a tense moment of silence.
“I’ll be borrowing a little mana. That is all.” Sigil purrs as I set the box on the ground. A moment later both Sigil’s presence and the box seem to fade into the night, leaving me standing alone outside Leigh’s forge.
With nothing better to do but wait, I stride up to Leigh’s front door and knock loudly before announcing myself. “Leigh? It’s Vincent.” I say softly through the door, taking care not to wake up any other villagers.
A moment later, after a brief shuffling sound, the door swings open to reveal Leigh’s curly red hair in an explosive mess of bedhead. “Hey? What’ssup?” She slurs for a moment, rubbing her eyes and tightening a blanket around her shoulders.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you” I lied, noticing the conspicuous lack of a familiar around Leigh’s ankles. “It's just, with my big day around the corner, and all this preparation being done, I just never really found an Ideal time to talk to you. Do you have a few minutes to chat?” I ask, flashing an awkward smile.
“Yeah, sure, come on in'' Leigh answers, clearing the doorway and shutting it behind me after I enter. She puts a small log into the hearth, and taps a small metal plate embedded in the bricks. I feel a tiny trickle of mana pass into the device and a tiny fire blazes to life. Leigh must have been busy leveling up [Mana Crafting]
“I don’t want to take up too much time or anything, I just thought it would be better for you to hear it from me.” I sigh, trying to sound a bit more bothered than I actually feel. “Once my system unlocks this week, I’m going to spend a few days getting used to everything, and maybe getting a few levels, but then I’m leaving.”
“How long will you be gone?” Leigh asks through a yawn, clearly assuming I was making a trip to Alberach or some adjacent settlement.
“That’s the thing…” I trail off, taking a seat in Leigh’s only spare chair as she takes her own. “I don’t really know where I’m going, so I don’t know when I’ll be back.” Leigh immediately looks more awake, like the words somehow shocked her physically.
“Dad’s got enough Vitality to outlive half the village, and Mom’s a high level Elf so she’ll likely outlive me, I don’t think they’d mind if I was gone for a few years or more…” I begin to explain, briefly considering all the ways I could keep in touch with my parents.
Leigh immediately interjects. “I’ll come with you then. We can be a team” She offers, but even then I can tell she’s apprehensive. Her words lack conviction. Traveling with me means Traveling with Cain, seeing more of my magic, more secrets.
“No. The village needs a blacksmith, and your skills aren’t meant to be away from a forge. I’ll keep in touch, send you souvenirs, but I think it would be better if you stay.” I counter, she began to speak and stopped herself. Leigh has to know I’m right, even if she doesn’t want to agree.
We go back and forth on the subject for the next several minutes, eventually Sigil whispers her presence at the back of my mind. Cinder trots into the room a moment later a few centimeters larger than the last time I saw him.
“I’m not going to change my mind tonight, and you don’t have to make any decisions about it today either. I just didn’t want to surprise you.” I murmur, standing up to leave.
“Goodnight Leigh.” I offer as I exit.
“Goodnight.” She sighs as the door closes behind me.