I’m a failure, I should have been able to protect her.

The fact I’m conscious right now means she must still be alive but that doesn’t change anything, the reality is that I let her down

I had failed, my whole purpose was to protect her, to keep her safe.

And I had failed.

What was the point of my existence if I couldn't fulfil my purpose?

Ultimately I haven’t truly failed yet, she’s still alive and is summoning me while I lament in anguish.

But still, was there even a point to existing, I mean I’m doomed to failure, aren’t I?

This whole awful event, it’s forcing me to actually think about things that I would prefer to only ever consider in passing.

Such as how my creator isn’t like me, she’s mortal, she’s going to die.

It’s just a matter of time.

I don’t when mortals tend to die nor do I know how old she is but what does it matter, the path forward leads straight off a cliff and there are no splits in this path.

She’s going to die, either by an enemy or eroded by time itself, she might even die because she tripped over a rock.

Death is the only thing certain in a mortal's life, how am I meant to fight against the natural order of reality?

How can I possibly keep her safe, what's the point of always coming back after each death if it serves no true purpose?

Before I can brood further, the summoning is finalised and I find myself being pulled into the physical world.

The violent, caressing touch of the water becomes replaced by cold, musty air as my flesh starts forming.

I can’t see yet but I already don’t like where I’m being summoned.

Upon fully manifesting and actually having an eye to see with, I find myself surrounded by at least a hundred enchanted tools and devices.

There could be far more but their magical aura is too intense for me to properly estimate just how many of them there are.

These arcane items lay scattered all around me and, to a lesser extent, my creator.

Oh my glorious creator, she’s alright, she’s breathing and her checks have that healthy tan to them.

But then, why do I still feel faint throbs of pain through our link?

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“Phaeraxion thank you, I’m still alive because of you. I’m dying though, I don’t have long left, maybe a few weeks at best. This is all so very confusing and I’m so utterly exhausted. The war’s picking up or at least it's going to, I'm hurt and rare, perfect combination for a test subject. If I die, well, I was going to die anyway. If I live, then it's a grand success for science and a massive leap forward for our military.”

Even her words sound pained and she's not even actually speaking, just what sort of monster could do this to my creator?

Those pathetic, hateful Rovers, this wasn’t just a war crime, this was a crime committed against nature, this was a crime against my very existence, bastards.

“It’s experimental but we have lots of experts around, so we’re going to be fine. It’s going to be fine, we’re going to be okay.”

Ah right, experts, I hadn’t even noticed anyone other than her when I manifested but now that I take an actual look around the room, I can see some hundred or so figures wearing hoods.

They’re arranged around us in a circle, each one having an enchanted item at their feet.

What exactly were they going to do?

Feeling my confusion she continues to speak, that horrible echo of pain now carrying words through to me.

“Merging, you’re bound to me Phaeraxion, you’ve also been created by me. Our connection isn’t exactly unique but it is very rare, which should make our merging attempt easier. As for the merge itself, I don’t know all the details but there’s been a lot of research done into trying to merge a summon and summoner together. Theoretically, this would create some sort of hybrid as we would be so intertwined that we cease being two separate entities linked together and instead just become one.”

Then does that mean I will succeed?

She’ll be safe, I will have accomplished my purpose, right?

“But no actual attempts have been made yet. Even with the help of Aetherion level relics, I’m still going to die, so this is a way to not only save me but also to see if the theories are correct.”

This is all quite a lot to take in, I don’t even know what an Aetherion level relic is.

And I don’t need to know, all I have to understand is that this could save my creator.

So if this merging process helps atone for even a minor amount of my sins, then I will gladly do it.

What right do I have to refuse? I belong to her, whatever she desires I will do, that is my purpose, to be without purpose is to be without existence, or at least that's the case for me.

I cannot reproduce, nor create art or glorious monuments, I simply exist to obey and protect, I’ve already failed one of those tenets and I refuse to fail another.

Casting aside every other emotion that I’m feeling, I focus solely on approval and start to send that to her.

I accept my fate, I will cease being myself and she will cease being herself but if we were to become one, I would become perfection, her good traits and qualities easily outweigh my bad.

She doesn’t reply to my message, instead she bobs her head a few times like a clam opening its shell.

Then a chorus of chanting starts to ring out around the room, the hooded figures are beginning their experiment, to me it looks more like a ritual.

Their golden symbols and strange ornaments dangle from side to side as they prance around, up down, left, right.

It’s like they’re obsessed with being in every possible spot all at once, yet somehow, it feels like they actually are.

I don’t know this feeling, I’ve never felt it before, I can see them in only one place but I just somehow can’t actually tell if they’re there or not.

Stepping forwards, my creator walks towards me with her arms outstretched.

And then, just as she reaches me, everything changes.