The cave was darker than a starless night. Liz was still sleeping, the light of lines on her skin had shut down long ago. Her breathing was calm and her chest moved up and down slightly. However, in the middle of this calmness, a shadow crawled.

The creature’s body was muscular, covered with fur and scars. His arms were long, slightly decorated with the same lines that covered Liz’s body. Although he had much less and they were red instead of blue. The silhouette of a pair of straight horns raised from his forehead.

It stopped just before Liz, examining her genderless naked body. Finally it’s golden eyes stared at her face, waiting.

Liz woke up some time later, her eyes slowly adjusting to the cave’s darkness. “HUH!!” When she became aware of the two golden eyes staring directly at her she rapidly tried to jump back and hit it with the rock.

However her efforts were useless, she couldn’t jump back because of the back of the cave, and the creature grabbed her arms faster than what she could react to.

“Oot uoy rof gninrom dooG” The creature said.

“Huh?” Liz didn’t understand a single word, and could only make a confused and fearful face. Why hasn’t it killed me yet? What does it wan’t? What did it say?

The creature then realised that the girl didn’t speak it’s language. “noisneherpmoc lasrevinu. Can you understand me now?” The lines of it’s body glow red for a second as it activated it’s skill.

“Y-Yes” Liz answered, still scared about her fate.

“Good, it’s weird to see a spirit without language comprehension, but I shouldn’t be surprised by anything here in the deadlands” The creature said in a playful tone.

“A spirit?” Liz aske, now more curious than scared.

“You didn’t know you were a spirit? It should be on the top of your status” The creature answered. “Anyway, sorry for scaring you. People call me Kancor, nice to meet you” Kancor said as he handed his hand to Liz.

Liz was still quite confused, this was too much before her first coffee after all. Still, she focused on trying to light up her marks, Karcor might be able to see in the dark but she wasn’t.

Once her body started glowing in blue light she tried to shake Kancor’s hand, but she froze in place after seeing his body. The skin was dehydrated, and painted with a pale orange. The fur was grey and dirty, reminding of a stray cat. His hair was the same as his fur, grey, dirty, as if he hadn’t taken a shower in decades.

One of the horns was broken and chipped, as if it was hitted by a stone. But the worst parts were the hands and half of the arms. There the skin was red and covered in blisters, it even looked rotten in part of his left arm.

“Yeah, I forgot. Most people don’t like it…” He said as he put his hand away and stepped back.

“...What are you?” Liz asked, still looking at his hands.

“I’m a human, or at least used to be one.” He said. “This is what happens when you overuse magic. The curses you cast come and curse you back.”

Liz’s brain was on overclock mode, trying to understand all that he said. “Wha.. How?”

“You must be the dumbest spirit I have ever met.” He said. “Mana residue stays in your blood and must be filtered out, if not, well this happens” He pointed at his body.

“First of all, I’m literally 2 days old. Now what do you mean with mana residue?” She questioned.

“If you are 2 days old, how did you end up in the deadlands?” Kancor replied.

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“I was born here, quite a painful experience if you ask me”

“Aren’t all spirits supposed to be born from aether fire in the sacred kingdom?”

“You were the one who said I was a spirit, all I know is that I woke up surrounded by blue and purple flames in this forest full of killing plants” She explained.

Kancor made a weird face trying to understand all that she said. He then sighed and gave up. “Whatever, do you at least have a name or should I call you fake spirit?”

Liz stayed silent for a second, thinking of her answer. “I do have one, but I don’t think it’s wise to tell it to strangers.”

“Looks like the dumb spirit isn't as dumb as I thought.” He joked. “You should think of a fake one or something. That’s what almost everyone does.”

“Almost?”

“There’s a madman that keeps shouting his name, but he is an exception among exceptions.” He explained.

“Whatever, can you please explain to me all this mana residue stuff?” She asked.

“Why should I. As far as I’m aware you are only a newborn spirit.” He said. “What stops me from killing you for xp?”

“Maybe that I’m only lvl 3, I bet you wouldn’t even get any.” She replied.

“That doesn’t mean I must help you though.”

“What do you want then?” She asked, giving up on getting answers for free.

“Tell me your true name, then we can start bargaining.” He said with a grin on his face.

“Why would I give you my true name only to start the bargain? I’m not that bad of a trader” She answered.

“Hmmmm” He scratched his chin while thinking. His thoughts were running wild. He wasn’t sure about what he could do with this little spirit. But maybe... just maybe... Yes, an idea came to his mind. “I got it, why don’t you turn into my apprentice. I’ll teach you everything you want, in exchange you’ll have to do what I say and tell me your true name.”

“And how do I know you won't just leave after I tell you my name?” She questioned him, but the thought of having someone to guide her in this world seemed appealing.

“Oaths over one’s name can’t be broken without punishment” He said. “And I swear by my name that I will keep my part of the deal as long as you keep yours.”

“Let's say I agree, how much time do I need to be your apprentice, and what kind of things will you make me do?” She asked.

“Being someone’s apprentice is for life, but you’ll be free to go whenever you want, as long as you don’t betray me in the future we’ll call it even.” He said. “But keep in mind that I won't teach you if you are away.”

He might be lying about the oath, but he is way stronger than me. He could force me to tell him my name so this doesn’t seem like a bad deal… She considered her options in her head, only to realise she only had one. “I accept, if you take me as your apprentice I’ll tell you my name.”

His mouth formed a dark grin. “Deal”

“My name is Liz. Now, please tell me what mana residue is” She said with a serious face. This wasn’t her first deal with the devil after all.

“Kneel” Kancor ordered as his marks glowed red.

Liz couldn’t even process his order before her body fell to the ground, kneeling before Kancor. “The fuck?”

“Good, you didn’t give me a fake one.” His grin turned darker and darker. “Next time make sure to add a security measure on the contract. Anyways, you are free to move now”

The moment that words left his mouth Liz felt the pressure on her body vanish, allowing her to move freely again. “I fucked up didn’t I?”

“I’d give you a 7/10, for a baby spirit you did quite well. Given your power disadvantage of course” He replied. “I’m still forced to become your master and answer to anything you ask. So I’d say it's a pretty good deal.”

“You are the second most annoying person I’ve ever had the displeasure to bargain with” She muttered.

“Huh?” He couldn't fully understand her words there. “Anyways, mana residue is, well, a residue that remains in your blood after you cast any kind of magic.”

Liz listened in silence, interested about this side effect of magic.

“You have to either drain it out with some special artefacts or let your body naturally filter it out if you have the skills for it.” He explained, the pointed at a hole in his forearm, not wider than thimble. “Since I have the lesser magic affinity skill I’m able to filter a slight amount of residue each day.”

“What happens if you don’t get rid of it?” She asked.

“You get kind of sick, we call it mana poisoning. It also increases the chance of your spells backfiring and cursing you.” He said, showing his arms. “Though I don’t think it’ll ever happen to you, spirits usually have greater magic affinity, so you should be golden.”

“That's kind of comforting.” She said. “By the way, do you know if spirits need to eat or drink?”

“Spirits usually don’t need to eat, but it helps you replenish your mana reserves much faster” He said, then his face turned pale for a second. “You haven't eaten anything, right?”

“Not really, what would have happened if I did?” She said, now slightly scared.

“Everything in the deadlands is decaying, if you were to eat anything, you would start to decay too.” He explained, letting out a sigh of relief.

“What does the decay do? Is it that bad?” She asked, remembering the notification after killing the red vine.

“It’s basically a chronic disease, it slowly reduces your level, until it reaches 0, then you die.” He said calmly, like it was nothing to worry about.

“That explains why the red vine was so…” She stopped, realising that Kancor was a human. “You are infected, right?”

Kancor froze at Liz’s question. “I am.”

“What level are you?”

“Oh don’t worry little spirit, I’m high enough level to be around for ages to come. Besides, just like with mana residue, my body eliminates a small amount of decay each day.” He answered, shaking his hand like it wasn't a big deal.

Liz stared at him for a moment, trying to distinguish if he was telling the truth. After some seconds she gave up, unable to understand his behaviour. “Whatever, just don’t die before teaching me something useful.”

Kancor laughed at her response. “Hahaha, that’s pretty insensitive my dear apprentice.” He joked. “But very well, would you like me to enlighten you in the ways of magic?”