Dear parent of reader, I would like to inform you that I was not dead and especially not killed by the falling of the book on me, especially the book you didn't read before putting it back on the shelf. I was in fact in a comatose state that is unique to familiars when either they or their masters are depleted of mana. I was not, in fact, rubbish to go in the disposal and, While familiars are said to have the patience of saints and I even more so as I am known as a Holy Beast... I will take it personally next time and you will have an Anaconda in your study next time instead of a Kirtland, which you may not no either the latter is what I look like currently as I simply like the way I look, the other is heavy enough that you will require your entire staff to remove me, even if I am unresponsive again... Also, I found that I will be helping with your rodent problem so I currently am a snake from here that I simply call a Spiny tree viper as the local name of 'serrated bloodletter' just sounds too edgy, even if accurate and not actually a viper. Dear master, If you see a spikey yellow green snake that isn't me, Do Not Touch, it may not be poisonous or lethal, but they can flare their keeled scales and uncoiling them nearly cost a previous master his arm.

Hidden by magic

I am sorry to scald your parents like that, but my tongue was out and everything, there were even diaper rags... It was not a good day. Anyways, on with the story.

Drifting there with the divine entity and astral projection, Sam really had no words for what he was experiencing as the concepts, to him, were only that. The desire to address the new person was high, but the paranoia of encountering such an entity here was mutual... or was it that the other was feeling it and because of that, he understood it? Sam couldn't tell as this place was quite strange to him at the time. The stranger definitely seemed ready to run or otherwise as it seemed the tether went taut as if they were preparing to run. It was probably the notion of meeting a deity, or at least, meeting something pretending to be his deity.

"Greetings and fear not, You seek a companion to help your magical journey yes?"

The entity asked as he drifted to the side and back, revealing Sam to the stranger.

Nicolas didn't know what to make of the situation. He just met Arcadian it seemed and was still breathing so he hadn't died yet. He tested the line to check his body, startling those around it slightly as he inhaled rather deeply as the line was pulled. Seeing that his life was not forfeit he looked at Sam and then at Arcadian then back at Sam.

"So then, are you a mage willing to help me in my journey?" Nicolas asked hesitantly.

At the comment, Arcadian stepped back up to Sam so smoothly that both of them jumped a little. It was very apparent that there was at least some distance between the God that Sam knew and the deity Arcadian that this world did... or at least, what was presented was different since there was at least one living being here.

"He is actually a drifter and needing guidance himself, Sam here fits all the bills to give you assistance as long as you accept his help and friendship." He paused as he looked at Sam. His question seemed to cause his heart to race, his blood to run cold and his breath to shorten as if he had a body once again yet was at death's door once more. "Would you accept his help and promise to assist him and his family for as long as you are willing and they need it?" He asked, clearly giving him at least two outs in either leaving now or later but he had no clue what exactly either out would intel except the other side of all things.

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Sam, for his part, didn't think it would be terrible on the other side yet he came here for a reason and this person was going to help him. He didn't know why they were using an astral projection or what kind of help they needed, but he'd already received two blessings from a deity, now offered help from a mortal who knew magic, he could only find himself stepping up to the plate now. "I think I will." He turned to Nicolas and begin his speech like he was looking for a job as he wasn't sure what was going on. Though, he did notice that as he sought to address him, he was informed with at least his name was Nicolas Miller. "I know nothing of magic, but I have been a man of my word for all my days. I can work with you so long as we are mutual in agreements such as this." He said, hoping that Nicolas would give him at least a little more to work with for what kind of tasks he would need before Arcadian spoke up once more.

"Excellent. Now I should warn you little Nico, he will have many memory problems and be a little at shock at first. In fact I have found an excellent patsy for the back story of our drifter here as he will have almost no memories that can't be found here with you once our conversation is done. There is a poor victim of a spine thresher not very far from your position. The thresher is long gone and you need not worry as it has left two days ago. The adventurer is fairly fresh and so it would be quite easy to claim that his memory and distancing will be likely due to having died so recently. So you have a means to wave off any odd behavior before he gets acclimated"

Sam wasn't sure what a spine thresher was till he thought to question it, looking between the two. It seemed that the divine wouldn't give him any answers yet the blessing seemed to give him knowledge of the person he might address with such a question. Beside Nicolas Miller, there was a scroll with a drawn picture of what looked to be a porcupine with extremely few quills... till he saw that the height was about twice that of a porcupine and the tail even longer than that, with comments under it of being an adventurous and deadly herbivore that lashed out with the tail spines at anything it presumed a threat as it would often run away shortly there after. Which meant the victim probably bled to death from lacerations after sneaking up on it as it appeared to have an armored forehead ridge which gave it poor vision.

Nicolas moved up to Sam and held out his hand like he was reaching for a boundary more than a handshake, though it did feel like a touch across his psyche. "lost soul, I would like to take you from this place back to the world of the living, would you join me and aid me on my journey?"

As Sam nodded his head and reached out to copy the gesture, Arcadian placed his hand on Nicolas's shoulder, much in the same way that he had done to him when he gave him the blessing to adept his mind to this new world. "Something that no other before you had, I hope you will accept this as well so that you may give him a minute of your time when you find it needed."

With that, the two seemed to be connected to the astral tether and were dragged bellow the tide, waking up on the other side.