Darkness stretched as far as I could see in every direction. The only light came from the spirit, blinding just like back in Dawncrest. I raised a hand to shield my eyes and waved with the other.

“...Hi?”

The spirit didn't move, but the air itself seemed to lighten, amusement brushing against my mind. After a moment, they spoke.

“Hello, my Chosen.”

Was it just me, or did that sound almost…fond?

The voice held a touch of warmth, tickling at the back of my mind, towards memories I'd nearly forgotten.

I'd been high on adrenaline and focused on surviving the last two times we'd talked, but now, with a clear head, I took in the spirit again.

They hadn't changed at all since before, but that voice… why was it so familiar? There was no hint of gender in their tone, the echoing quality drowning out any details. I'd never heard anyone with this voice–I would have remembered–but then, why did it feel so familiar?

Setting that aside for now, I cleared my throat and gestured around us. “I wanted to talk to you, but before we get into that, where exactly are we?”

The spirit considered me for a long moment before gesturing toward the endless darkness. “This is your mindscape. From now on, this is where we will meet.”

I looked around at the sheer nothingness and snorted. “Beatrice was right; it is empty inside my head.”

Another wave of amusement passed over me before the spirit spoke. “As it's your mindscape, you can shape it into whatever you please.”

If that was the case…

I imagined home––Dawncrest, untouched by dragon fire. Immediately, the darkness vanished, and colors burst to life around us. We stood on the main road cutting through town, houses lining either side. There were no people besides us, but even being here helped alleviate some of the homesickness.

Focusing back on the spirit, I nodded. “Thanks for telling me. This is a lot more comfortable.” They dipped their head but said nothing, probably waiting for me to get to why I'd called them here…

Swallowing past the nerves in my throat, I cut to the chase. “Who exactly are you? Clover explained that most paladins learn their abilities from tomes passed down through spiritual orders. If you tell me where to go, I'll find and read them.”

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

The spirit observed me in silence, their gaze invisible but no less piercing. I held still, fighting the urge to squirm under it, until finally, they answered.

“That won't be possible, as no such tomes exist. I have no order to pass them through, and few paladins have ever marched under my sigil.”

Disappointment cut through me like a knife. “So how am I supposed to learn the abilities and spells I'll need on this quest? I can't keep fumbling across them mid-battle. It'll get me killed.”

A fierce and almost feral emotion raked over my consciousness, building like a storm of fury so potent I could hardly breathe, only to evaporate in my next heartbeat. The spirit showed no reaction, their tone steady and certain.

“I would never allow such harm to come to you, my Chosen.”

Okay, they wanted to keep me alive; that was good! The storm of emotions they'd just thrown down definitely backed up their words, but why did they care so much? I sucked in a breath to ask just that before thinking better of it. There were more important things to focus on, like my current predicament. As long as the spirit’s protectiveness worked in my favor, I wouldn't question it.

Instead, I asked, “I appreciate that, but is there truly no way I can learn other than trial by fire?”

They stared me down, considering that for a beat, before finally nodding. “I have no tomes or orders for you to learn from; thus, I will teach you. When you gain each new level, call out to me, and I will bestow a new skill or spell.”

Relief washed away my earlier disappointment, and I bowed, despite the action feeling stiff and foreign. “Thank you. I'll do my best to be worthy of your power.”

The spirit tipped their head sideways, and a flash of profound sadness sank into my chest. It was gone in a blink, leaving only echoes of the cold behind. “There is no proving ground or gauntlet for you to run. I pacted with you because you are already worthy. With my aid, you will bring down Lazuris and his dragon.”

I nodded. “Thank you.” A weight I hadn't even noticed lifted at their words. At least I wouldn't have to worry about losing their favor…

Putting that aside, I asked my next question. “I'm only level three right now, but are there any spells you can teach me? Maybe one like Clover has that blesses my weapon?”

They nodded. “When you wake, check your spells. There will be a choice few, and as you become stronger, I will add more. Your companion is attempting to wake you. If there's nothing else you'd like to discuss, I would advise you return before she worries.”

Now that they mentioned it, I could faintly hear Clover, though the exact words were impossible to make out. Focusing back on the present, I shook my head and bowed again. “I think that's all for now, and thank you for this. I won't let you down.”

I was behind other paladins in spells and abilities, not to mention the actual knowledge of what I was doing, but I would work past that. They wouldn't regret choosing me.

The spirit nodded and waved, as I had earlier. “Until we speak again, my Chosen.”

I barely had a chance to wave back before Dawncrest and the spirit disappeared, the dungeon replacing them in a blink.