They had only taken a couple of steps away from the camp when they found themselves under attack once more. Out of nowhere, an insect appeared and began crawling up Walter's back. Talax watched in astonishment as the small warrior seemed completely oblivious to the translucent creature that bore an eerie resemblance to a scorpion.
The creature itself was difficult to make out, as it kept phasing in and out of existence. Only the persistent glow of its red edges reassured Talax that he wasn't merely dreaming. His surprised exclamation drew the attention of everyone around. When they saw him clutching his bow with an arrow knocked and ready to shoot at Walter their curious gazes turned into bafflement.
"What are you doing?" Franny demanded, quickly moving to lower Talax's bow. Talax's wide eyes turned to the incredulous noble.
"He's got something on his back! Some kind of insect!" Talax explained, struggling to free his hand. How had they not noticed the giant bug crawling all over Walter? Were they so confident in their abilities that they considered the scorpion a harmless creature?
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by Vesperine's uncontrollable fit of laughter. She doubled over, attempting to catch her breath between bursts of mirth. The others displayed a range of expressions, from amusement to utter disgust.
Finally regaining control of her laughter, Vesperine managed to wheeze out, "Oh, dear puppy, you're utterly clueless, and it's positively adorable!" She glanced at his bewildered expression, provoking another bout of laughter. This time, she had to lean on Callum to remain upright. Talax wished for her to choke on her own laughter, but it seemed his prayers went unanswered.
Finally, Walter took pity on him and explained. "Well, ya see, lad," Walter drawled with a rustic twang, "that's my spirit guide, it is. Just got me this lovely lass, and she don't pay me no mind, does whatever pleases her wicked little heart, she does." He turned around to proudly display his spirit guide and added, "The lass's name's Barby, she's somethin' deadly beautiful, ain't she?"
Talax nodded dumbly, captivated by the creature. The diminutive scorpion continued to scuttle all over Walter, menacingly lifting its stinger without causing any real harm. His inspection was cut short when Franny’s uncle interrupted.
“Enough with the delays!” Edward's stern voice sliced through any lingering amusement on their faces. He turned and began marching toward their destination without looking back, confident that his command would be obeyed.
Callum, the bowman, hurriedly followed suit, exchanging a few words with the noble before vanishing into the dense undergrowth. Franny, behaving as the obedient aristocrat he was, trailed after his uncle. Meanwhile, Vesperine and Walter took a more leisurely approach, strolling along with unhurried steps.
"You wanna sip, lad?" Callum offered, producing a bottle of liquor seemingly out of thin air. When Talax declined with a shake of his head, the man shrugged, took a hearty swig, and let out a loud burp. Talax continued to sneak glances, attempting to catch sight of the elusive spirit guide. Every so often, he managed to spot the small scorpion, cheerfully crawling all over the man's back.
As Vesperine walked by his side, she couldn't help but giggle at his transparent attempts to observe their unusual companions. After a few minutes of feeling ignored, Vesperine's exasperation bubbled over, and she exclaimed, her tone full of irritation, "Here, sweet cheeks, you can stare all you want here!" Talax turned to look at her, and his eyes widened when he saw her grasp the neck of her cloak and yank it down forcefully, revealing her bare neck.
For a brief moment, Talax gazed at her in bewilderment, but then coiled forms with the same translucent quality as the scorpion appeared seemingly out of thin air. Talax jumped slightly in surprise, and he heard Walter chuckle beside him. "Dang, ain't it a shame you got that armor hidden under that fancy cloak. I wouldn't mind takin' a look-see," Walter quipped, earning himself a quick flash of steel from Vesperine, prompting him to quicken his pace.
Talax, on the other hand, couldn't tear his gaze away from the sinuous snake that clung to Vesperine's neck like a living necklace. The masked woman gently placed a hand on the serpent and affectionately patted it. He noticed that her hand passed through its body, yet the snake seemed to recognize the gesture as its head emerged and started nuzzling against Vesperine's hand.
Talax had come to a complete stop, his fascination overriding his awareness of the rest of the company. Strong hands pushed him, and he realized that Qalo had caught up to him. "Let's not anger the nobleman," Qalo urged. Talax nodded absentmindedly and resumed walking, Vesperine still by his side.
"So, is that a spirit guide too?" Talax inquired. As soon as he spoke, the creature vanished, leaving only a faint black outline of its body that soon faded away.
"Yep. I've had him for two years." She placed her hand around her neck again, and the snake materialized once more, eager to receive her affection. Unconsciously, Talax raised his hand to touch the creature, but it hissed silently and disappeared.
"Oh, he's just shy. Don't worry your pretty little head about him," Talax nodded and turned his attention forward. He saw Callum return and join Edward and Franny. He couldn't help but be overwhelmed by curiosity, his mind swirling with countless questions about spirit guides, particularly one burning inquiry.
"Franny mentioned spirit guides to me, but I'm still not quite sure what they actually do," he confessed, his uncertainty evident. He understood that they somehow enhanced one's affinity, but the details remained elusive.
Vesperine leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief and said, "Well, mine happens to be a shadow creature, darling, and it enhances my affinity for shadow magic. You know what that means, right?" She inquired, her gaze filled with satisfaction as if she was enjoying seeing him squirm.
Talax looked somewhat lost, as if waiting for Franny to provide the response. "It increases your affinity?" he replied hesitantly, his voice tinged with doubt.
Vesperine let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling her eyes theatrically, and replied, "Oh, bravo! You've cracked the code, genius!" Her tone dripped with sarcasm as she continued, "Even though I already possess a dazzling affinity for shadow magic, having this little companion allows me to eventually reach even greater heights. This becomes especially crucial at higher levels, where each spell consumes a considerable amount of mana, and you're limited in the number of spells you can hold within your core." Talax was left momentarily speechless, absorbing the revelation.
"Wait, there's a limit to how many spells you can learn?" he exclaimed in astonishment. The realization had caught him off guard. He had thought that he could amass a long list of spells for any occasion. In light of this revelation, he had to be more careful in selecting which spells to unlock, although he still had so few that the issue was practically nonexistent. Still, in the future...
Vesperine leaned back with an exaggerated eye roll and said, "Darling, it's like you're new here!" She waved her hand dismissively. "Our cores have finite mana reserves; they can only hold so much. Didn't you know?" She cocked her head inquisitively, savoring the surprise on Talax's face. He shook his head, his mind racing trying to wrap his head around the new information. He realized that there was still so much about this world that he had yet to discover. With a sigh of resignation, he continued with his questioning, even though conversing with Vesperine felt like trying to grasp a slippery eel.
"Is it like a familiar? Mages have familiars, right?" The knowledge of familiars came unbidden to his mind, without really knowing where it came from.
"Yes and no, sweetie," Vesperine drawled, her tone dripping with condescension. "They are both bound to a person, but familiars are called forth from another dimension, while spirit guides, well, they're creatures bound to servitude upon death by a specialized spell." She explained, as if she were imparting wisdom to a child.
Talax's eyes widened, a mix of amazement and horror in his expression. "Isn't it cruel? To bind them and make them serve even in death?" His question was met with a dismissive shrug from Vesperine.
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"Sweetie, cruelty is subjective," she quipped, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "I leave the philosophical musings to the enlightened nobles, you know, the types who have too much time on their hands." she quipped dismissively.
"But it's not all bad. If they level up and absorb enough mana, they get to become corporeal and live again... More or less...." Talax gave her a blunt look, but it seemed to have no effect on the masked woman. "Besides, they are too useful to consider such trivial thoughts," Vesperine continued, her tone oozing with indifference. "Chuckles also makes my spells stronger, and due to his nature, I get the added benefit of having my stealth skill boosted. He is marvelous." Ignoring the merits of having a spirit guide, Talax asked the more important question.
"You named your snake Chuckles?" Upon hearing its name, the snake materialized again and its head started swiveling rhythmically. Then it hissed at him and vanished.
Vesperine defended passionately, her tone now laced with defiance, "What? Chuckles is a happy little delight!" Talax had to stifle a laugh at her over-the-top enthusiasm. "I'm sure," he muttered eventually.
"Ha! Yer little sneaky snakey ain't worth a tinker's darn next to my Barby! Me scorpion, she'd just sting 'im to smithereens with her fiery acid! Walter butted in, his bottle already half empty.
Vesperine froze for a moment, then laughed derisively, her sass reaching its peak. "Oh, you poor fool... My snake is level 11! He would gobble up your little bug in a second." Walter's eyes rounded in surprise, and his scorpion manifested on his shoulder as if trying to comfort the drunken man.
"What? Already? How is that possible?" The man muttered under his breath, and Talax couldn't help but notice the slur in his speech. Edward would be pissed...
"Level 11 doesn't seem very high..." Talax stated with skepticism, and Walter scoffed, spilling half the rancid liquid from his mouth as he drank.
"Those buggers, 'ey're them greedy, little, uh...bastards, yeah! All they want's mana, I tell ya! If Barby had her say, she'd eat all my...mana, leavin' nothin' for...little old me," Walter rambled on, his words all slurred and muddled.
Vesperine jumped in, trying' to make sense of the man's drunken blabber. "You have to share your mana with your spirit guide, limiting your own progress. But it's all worth it once your spirit grows strong enough to help you in battle," Talax didn’t need any more convincing, he was sold on the idea of having a spirit guide. Despite the implication that he was forcing a creature into servitude, power was... Power.
"Would you hurry up! Stop gossiping like housewives and get a move on!" The noble yelled, startling Walter, who hiccupped and stowed his liquor away before rushing to catch up with the rest of the group.
Talax and Vesperine continued walking in their leisurely way, unfazed by the noble's outburst. The safety of being in a group, especially one comprised of experienced fighters, had relaxed his shoulders and put him in a good mood. It had been a while since he had felt this carefree, and he wouldn't let a stuck-up noble ruin it for him.
Even Vesperine seemed like a good companion at the moment, especially since her erratic behavior had been somewhat restrained after their talk.
"What I don't get," he started the conversation again, his curiosity unabated, "is that these creatures seem cognizant, like they have real thoughts and emotions. Your snake, for example, appears to hate me." As if to emphasize his words, the small snake materialized and extended its head, snapping its tiny mouth. Then something peculiar happened, a small drop of liquid sprayed from its extended fang and dropped to the ground with a hiss. A very real drop of liquid.
Talax looked at Vesperine with shocked eyes, then turned his gaze to the snake, which remained in its intangible state.
"How?" Talax asked, half-stunned and half-impressed.
"I told you already," Vesperine replied matter-of-factly, her tone a touch smug. "Once they level up, they gain abilities, just like us. And to answer your previous question, spirit guides have another name. They're also called soulwhispers. These creatures retain their identity and personality. They don't really die; they just change the vessel their souls are stored in."
Talax contemplated what he had learned, and for once, Vesperine remained quiet. The only sounds that reached his ears were Qalo's heavy footsteps behind him and the distant calls of the wild beasts. The dungeon's forest seemed calm and safe for the first time, as if it had a will of its own and allowed him to be alone with his thoughts.
The true nature of the spirit guides raised a myriad of questions. The concept that a soul could avoid death even if its body was destroyed was difficult for his mind to grasp. It felt as if his very core was fighting against the idea, fundamentally opposed to the concept of death he had. Even with the proof right before his eyes, hissing at him from time to time.
Even if he accepted that these creatures were granted a second chance at life after death, could he truly view it as something benevolent and kind? After all, the beasts were deliberately killed for the sole purpose of becoming spirit guardians to empower people. On the other hand, wasn't what Talax was doing any different? He was constantly facing life-or-death struggles with these creatures, even if he wasn't actively seeking them out with the intention of killing them.
So, if he had the opportunity to empower his abilities through the help of a spirit guide, would he do it?
"Where can I get one of those?" he asked Vesperine with a seriousness he rarely displayed. The woman regarded him with a measuring look and responded with equal solemnity.
"Usually, they are sold by merchants that specialize in magical equipment. Although I have to warn you, they cost a pretty penny. Even the simplest of the spirit guardians cost hundreds of gold coins. Their exuberant price makes it a scarce commodity that only nobles could afford. A merchant will take a look at you and won't even show it, even if he has one in his stores," Vesperine explained, her tone a mix of pragmatism and slight amusement.
Talax shook his head in disappointment, realizing that such a precious product would be out of his reach.
"There is another way..." Vesperine let her words hang in the air until Talax looked at her inquisitively.
"You could use the token I gave you. That's how I got Chuckles," she suggested, her voice filled with temptation. Talax nodded, somewhat expecting her tempting offer. The Order of the Smiling Lady had just become even more appealing to him. He mentally added another checkmark to the long list of benefits the order could provide. However, he remained hesitant, a gut feeling warning him to avoid the order at all costs. He was sure that life in the training grounds of future assassins and thieves wouldn't be all rosy and fun.
They continued to travel for several minutes, trailing behind the rest of the group, with only Qalo bringing up the rear. The low lighting of the cavern made it difficult to see more than a few meters ahead, forcing them to quicken their pace to keep up with Edward, who was leading the way at a brisk pace.
Suddenly, the nobleman came to a halt, his eyes scanning the surroundings. When he spotted Vesperine lingering with Talax, the throbbing vein appeared on his forehead.
"Vesperine! I don't pay you to flirt with the riff-raff! Get your ass over here. We're about to enter the trail," he barked. Vesperine rushed to rejoin her boss, but Talax stopped her by grabbing her hand.
She halted and turned to him, her head cocked in a manner resembling an inquisitive bird, waiting for him to speak.
"I have one last question. Can a human become a spirit guide?" Talax's question hung in the air, met with complete silence. For the first time, Vesperine appeared at a loss for words, and Talax wished he could see the face behind the mask.
The frozen state lasted for only a second because Vesperine burst into laughter. The small rocks that hung in front of her eyes glittered in the soft light, emphasizing the woman's amusement.
"Oh, puppy," she chuckled between her words, "you should definitely join the order. The lady would adore you!" With that, she trotted off towards a fuming Edward, who was on the verge of exploding from impatience.
Talax lingered for a moment, unsure how to feel about Vesperine's response. His thoughts were interrupted by Qalo's high-pitched voice.
"We should probably join them, or we will be left behind. That noble won't wait for us," Qalo urged. Talax nodded absentmindedly and followed the half-orc.
They found the others assembled in front of a wall of pure mana. A whirlwind of colors danced before Talax's eyes as he watched with fascination the currents of opposing schools of magic clash and merge in an endless sea of madness, reminiscent of the magic portal that had deposited them into the river of the trial.
Qalo looked apprehensive and took an imperceptible step back. His discomfort with magic had only grown during their hardships in the dungeon, and witnessing a similar effect to the one that had almost killed him during the death magic trial brought all his fears to the surface.
Talax put a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder, and when their eyes met, he gave Qalo a nod of encouragement. Qalo took a deep breath to steady his nerves and nodded back, appearing somewhat more composed.
"Vesperine, you go in first and clear out whatever is waiting for us," the lord commanded, receiving a sharp nod in return from the masked woman. She had shed the veneer of perpetual amusement, and she now looked serious and all business.
"Me lord, don't ya think it'd be better if it were me? I'm almost leveling up! I could use the mana!" Walter interjected, looking like a man eager for his next fix as he brandished his sword, which had taken on a red sheen.
Edward shook his head firmly. "No, we need to get this done quickly. We've already lost enough time." Walter appeared annoyed, ready to respond, when Vesperine suddenly leaped through the wall of mana. Edward waited a few seconds, then made his own jump, followed swiftly by Franny and then Callum.
Walter grumbled under his breath, but after a tight squeeze at the hilt of his sword that made a squeaking noise, he reluctantly joined the rest of their group, leaving Qalo and Talax as the last ones standing on the opposite side of the wall.
As much as Talax tried to peer through the haze of the mana wall, he couldn't make out what was happening on the other side. With a despondent sigh, he turned to his friend.
"I guess we're next," he said. The half-orc cringed and hesitated, but Talax gave him a cheery smile.
"What's life without a little adventure?" And with that, he jumped through the wall of mana, pulling Qalo along with him.