Litha turned and pressed one of her claws against the wall behind her. A large section of the wall flashed with a white light, before vanishing once the light faded. She then lead Kazumichi inside and down a long passage for several minutes before they eventually entered into a chamber that was several times larger than the previous one.
Kazumichi’s eyes widened as he looked around at the dragon’s hoard. There were piles among piles of various coins and gems, as well as various pieces of art. Statues, paintings, rugs, drapes, instruments crafted of various metals and high quality wood. There were also massive bookshelves filled with tomes and scrolls. One section was filled with plants and flowers, which he suspected she used for her various skills. He also saw different weapons, staves, wands, rings, armor, and all manner of items he assumed were magical in nature.
“As agreed, you may select any five items from my hoard for answering my riddles and completing the dungeon,” Litha said as she spread her wings, sweeping them around to gesture towards the items in the chamber.
Kazumichi continued to look around the chamber at all the different things available. He wasn’t really sure what would be most useful to survive on Enniros. His points were already stockpiled, and with the multiplier he gained for spending Stat Points, he could increase his stats drastically at any point in time. He also had gained two new swords and a ring, which he realized he had yet to inspect. With that thought, he drew both swords and used [Identify] on each of them, as well as the Storage Ring.
Arcane Longsword - Rare
Forged from a rare magical ore known as arcanite, known for its connection to magical energies.
Both Physical and Magical Damage increases depending on rarity while equipped.
Rare Rarity: Increases physical and magical attack by 25% while equipped.
Arcane Absorption: Upon successful hits, the sword can absorb 25% of the target's magical energy, or draining 25% of a magical attack or barrier, replenishing the wielder's own MP by the same amount. If the wielder's MP is full, the absorbed magical energy can be stored within the longsword itself to be later used to replenish the wielder's MP, or unleashed as an attack from the longsword's blade.
The total the sword can absorb is equal to 25% of the target’s current maximum MP, and the total the longsword can store is equal to 25% of the wielder’s current maximum MP.
Psionic Longsword - Rare
Forged from etherium steel, known for its connection to psionic energies.
Both Physical and Mental Damage increases depending on rarity while equipped.
Rare Rarity: Increases physical and mental attack by 25% while equipped.
Psionic Drain: Upon successful hits, the longsword restores the wielder's HP by the damage dealt + 25%.
Psionic Phasing: By spending 25 Psi Points, the wielder can cause the blade of the longsword to phase through physical objects, potentially bypassing shields, armor, or other physical barriers that would otherwise impede the attack.
Storage Ring - Very Rare
A ring forged from platinum.
Allows the wearer to store and retrieve stored items with a thought.
The total weight the ring can store depends on the rarity while equipped.
Very Rare Rarity: The ring can store up to 12,500 pounds worth of none-living matter, regardless of size.
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Knowing what his three new items actually did, gave him a better idea of what he might need in the future. Although he still didn’t know exactly how the rarity of items scaled, it was still obvious that higher rarity items were much better than lower rarity ones. His Storange Ring should last him quite a while, and his two longswords would help in making sure his MP and HP stayed full in a fight. With this in mind, Kazumichi thought for a while about what he might need.
However, despite looking through the vast items the dragon had available, nothing seemed to be necessarily pressing. There were a lot of things he wanted, simply because they seemed interesting or fun, but none of them solved any issues he had, or might have in the future. With his current items, skills, abilities, and reserve points, Kazumichi couldn’t think of a single thing that would pose a challenge to him at the moment or for the foreseeable future. He turned his attention toward Litha.
“Your hoard is quite impressive. Unfortunately, there’s nothing here that I need. At first I considered asking for coins or gems that would equal five of your magic items, but then I remembered I could easily use my [Stealth] and steal whatever I might need or want in the moment,” he explained evenly. “If there is something I’m missing, please feel free to enlighten me,” he offered.
Litha had been watching him silently as he methodically went through the different sections of her hoard, inspecting item after item, only to return them to their respective places. When he finally turned toward her and spoke, she let out a soft sigh.
I have to offer him something valuable, or he might kill me.
“The only other thing I have to offer… is myself,” she said with a slight pause. She wasn’t happy about the idea, but if offering herself to him would spare her life, then so be it.
“Very well,” Kazumichi said as he drew one of his swords.
“Wait! I didn’t mean I was offering my life! I meant I could serve you!” She hastily clarified.
“Meaning?” He asked, his posture having already shifted into a stance in preparation for an attack.
“I am a dragon. I have knowledge, power, and resources you do not. If you kill me, my hoard vanishes alongside me. Keep me alive, and I can offer you aid when you find yourself in need of it,” she further explained.
Kazumichi remained in his attack stance for a few moments as he contemplated her offer. Having a dragon serving him could prove to be quite invaluable. Even though he didn’t need anything at the moment, he wasn’t foolish enough to think he wouldn’t require something later.
“Very well. From this day forth, you shall be my servant. Aiding me in my endeavors and offering aid when I require it,” he said as he relaxed his stance.
Litha let out a sigh of relief, then bowed her head to him. “I, Litha the Graceful, hereby acknowledge you as my Master. I swear on my life to obey you and aid you in whatever you require,” she spoke in a more submissive tone.
Once the words had been exchanged, Kazumichi watched as a tiny orb of light floated from both his chest, and Litha’s. The two orbs floated through the air, passing one another, before entering the body the other orb left.
The dragoness lifted her gaze at him, offering a soft smile. “The pact has been forged, and I am yours to command, Master,” she said, seeming more relaxed than before.
“What happens now? And what were those orbs of light?” Kazumichi asked, an undertone of confusion in his voice.
“We forged a magical pact with each other. Those orbs were a tiny representation of our souls. With yours entering me, and mine into you, we are now soulbound to one another. Because you are stronger than me, and I spoke the words of obedience, you can command me in whatever way you wish. If I betray you, there are consequences. However, because we are soulbound, should you do something to harm me, you will suffer consequences as well,” she explained.
Kazumichi narrowed his eyes a little. Although overall the pact was beneficial to him, it did not go unnoticed by him that she had managed to make sure he didn’t simply expose of her without something happening to him as well. He made a note to look more into what being soulbound meant at a later time.
“Will you be traveling with me, or do I summon you or something?” He asked, still not sure how she would aid him.
“That is your choice, Master. I can remain here if you wish. Since we are soulbound, you can either summon me to your side by saying or thinking ‘I call you to me, Litha’. You can also dismiss me back here, as this is my home, by saying or thinking ‘I dismiss you, Litha’. Finally, if I am here in my lair, you can come here by saying or thinking ‘Bring me to you, Litha’. That’s all there is to it, Master,” she explained with a smile.
He was surprised at the convenience of being able to summon and dismiss her, or returning to her lair if he needed money or magic items.
“Actually, there is a limit to how much of my hoard you may use, Master,” she said as she read his mind.
“Since I am level 22, you currently have access up to any 22 items in my lair. Or gold worth ten times my level, in any combination of coins and gems. Once either of those limits are reached, the rest of my hoard will be inaccessible to you until I level up,” she further added.
So I can either get 22 magic items, or 220 gold worth of coins and gems, but not both? He pondered to himself.
“That’s correct, Master,” she answered aloud to his thoughts. “Even if you take 10 gold worth of coins, you will be locked into only taking coins or gems until the limit is reached or I level up. Likewise, if you take only 1 magic item, you cannot then take even a single coin or gem. So please make sure you choose carefully before making your choice, Master,” she clarified.
Kazumichi wasn’t happy about the restriction, especially with as massive as her hoard was. However, he also realized that for any normal person of Enniros, such a pact with a dragon would probably be a huge boon. With a sigh of acceptance, he resigned himself to just be glad he had someone that could help answer questions about Enniros.
“Fine, I will try to not complain too much,” he said finally.