Arc 9-53
A smart summoner should never underestimate an elemental.
That should be obvious; an intelligent being that chooses to cross worlds and bargains for benefits can never be simple. The succubi are a perfect example. I spent my life blaming the Grimoires for tarnishing their reputations, debasing powerful immortals into idols of lust. I like to think my hatred for them blinded me. Geneva was quick to point out that her kind had orchestrated their reputations carefully; they wanted to be dismissed, overlooked. When summoners forget what succubi are, that’s when they have real power.
Not every elemental is as devious as the amoral shapeshifters, but no creature travels the realms without a plan. It’s best to assume that any “weakness” they present is carefully calculated, every disadvantage a trap or an advantage I just don’t understand.
Because of that, the voidkin’s covered eyes don’t phase me. Khan is not so discerning. He sees a disability on the creature meant to be shackled to him for the rest of his life and is not pleased. Worse, he makes his displeasure obvious, turning to me with a frown and questioning eyes. I’d bet Kierra’s kisses that the voidkin is somehow aware of everything happening around it, including Khan’s blatant disapproval.
It’s a really good thing that Khan’s not running this summoning alone.
“Yes, time is short.” The voidkin paws the wood, exposing a furry foot tipped with curved claws. “Then, my hosts, you should clarify who I’m speaking with.”
Khan looks to me again, which is answer enough. “You are negotiating with me.”
Its ears twitch, which on it is more like a bird shaking out its wings. “Your name?”
“Not for you to have. Yours?”
“I am merely another that walks between shadows.”
“Then, Shadow. You have been called to guide another through the darkness.”
There were two important things I looked for when determining what elemental to tie to Khan. The first, of course, was someone he could spend years with, a creature that shared his wanderlust and was not overbearing. The second thing was its ability to manage him without becoming a tyrant. That made things difficult; even benign beings can be corrupted by wielding power over another.
There is only one type that is happy to guide others and holds themselves to any kind of code: religious fanatics.
As expected, the voidkin is immediately intrigued, its perked ears reminding me of sheets caught in the wind. Its head turns toward Khan, proving it has some way of tracking us.
“This one wishes to worship?”
“To learn,” I clarify. “He will accompany you to the dark corners of the world and witness your pilgrimage. He will be your student, your confidante, and your intermediary. You will be his teacher, his protector, and his jailer.”
As expected, the voidkin is unphased. “He is bound by vows?”
“Only one you must enforce. This is the city of New Quest. He is not to venture north of these lands or communicate with anyone north of these lands.”
“Ah. You wish to hide your servant.”
Khan flinches but thankfully keeps his mouth shut.
“The light will not be kind to him.”
“It rarely is. Do you have anything you wish to add, servant?”
Oh, Khan has a thousand things he wants to say. I can see them fight to escape his twitching lips, but he holds them back valiantly. It’s a praiseworthy effort.
“Speak,” I snap, deliberately making my voice derisive. I want him to glare and ball his fists. To hate me and be helpless in the face of it. The voidkin notices and takes the right interest; if the record is right, the slight bulge near the neck of its cloak is its fur puffing out, a sign of aggression. It’s feeling protective.
“…I don’t know what to say.” His expression is aggrieved and thoroughly confused.
“Will you accept your bonds?” the voidkin prompts, its deep voice softening. “This is your contract. You are yet free. You can still make a different choice.”
The wanderer scoffs. “No. Not anymore.”
The voidkin nods and makes a strange sound, something between a growl and a trill. It tickles a strange instinct in the back of my mind, and I know it’s the creature showing sympathy. Perhaps the only true sympathy given to Khan since we found him beyond the mountains.
“Then there is only the matter of my payment.”
I straighten. This is where things might go awry. “We offer you the Right to Prey and the Right to Commune, so long as you abide by the law of the land.”
The voidkin snaps its teeth. “Hmph. Laws that would prevent me from killing prey as I please, no doubt.”
“But any who prey on you or your contractor are fair game. You may also take any hunt that doesn’t end in a kill.” It’s smart enough that I don’t need to add further restrictions. The voidkin are cautious hunters, accustomed to developed societies. It doesn’t want to be hunted anymore than I want it drawing attention by snacking on a noble brat.
“Your power doesn’t extend far beyond this room, little darkness.”
“Or perhaps it’s gone unnoticed.”
The voidkin makes that strange growl-thrill again. “One final condition. The servant must not extend its life unnaturally.”
Ouch.
Khan looks at me with wide eyes. “Don’t worry,” I comfort him. “It’s referring to melding or doing anything to extend your life beyond a certain point.” I glare at the elemental. “But your demand is too vague. If you want to put a limit on your contract, then do so.”
“Two centuries.”
Oh, thank the saints. I was concerned that he would try to shorten Khan’s life to a few decades; it wouldn’t be the first time that a summoner has bargained their time in a contract. Two hundred is plenty of life for him to live. Far more than I bet he thought he’d ever have.
He may not feel the same when death starts to loom closer but that is also enough time for him to consider a solution.
“Two centuries with no attempt to shorten it.”
“It is already less time than I’d like, but the faithful make do.”
One last thing. “Do you understand what it means to act in good faith?”
“To not play mean tricks on the little servant.”
“You are not to work against him, either to cause him harm or hinder his objectives, unless they clash with your own. And if they do, you are to seek mediation before taking action.”
Unfortunately, my complete domination of Geneva is far from the norm. Even with my incredible power, I don’t dare try to put such a restriction on the voidkin. Why? Because it would refuse. Succubi are unique in how they will sacrifice themselves for their ambitions without a thought for ego or self-preservation. Every other living thing tends to be more hesitant when offering up themselves and their freedom.
Khan will have to make do with the old and horribly inefficient method of compromise.
“So long as the servant is bond to the same.”
“Then we are agreed. Speak the oath.”
The voidkin tilts its head back, raising its hands. “Oh, Great Guardian of Dimensions, Keeper of the Dark between all worlds. This one has come to make a vow in your name.”
I sigh as I feel the higher power turn its attention to us. I guess no one can escape its notice.
“I wish to make a contract with the servant before me, so that together, we may explore the Darkness. I have been granted the Right to Prey and Right to Commune. In return, my claws shall hold him to his vow not to move beyond the boundaries of New Quest nor contact anyone beyond those boundaries, so long as his vow binds him. I will not seek to harm him or subvert his objectives. My vow lasts for two hundred years. Should our bond last a day longer, then we will be enemies. This I swear.”
I move behind Khan. He’s as tense as iron, but he jumps when I grab his shoulder. His eyes are worryingly blank; I can’t imagine what’s going through his mind experiencing so many strange things at once.
But all I care about is that he speaks when I prompt, his lips forming the words as I whisper them to him.
“I wish to contract the elemental before me. For as long as we are bound, I shall treat in good faith, as we’ve defined it. I recognize its Right to Prey and Commune and will not interfere so long as it does not go against the stipulations surrounding both. I understand that these agreements shall only last for two hundred years, and not a day more.”
The attention of the Guardian shifts; perhaps because I recognize what it means, I can feel expectation in the pressure.
Something inside me loosens as the final obstacle falls away. It was a slim chance, but the possibility existed that it would take offense to this. A contract must be made by two willing parties. That’s why I had to break him. If he shows doubt now, there’s nothing I can do.
No matter how hard it is, no matter that there were no others, this is his choice.
The voidkin crouches, touching its claws to the circle. The gray of Khan’s mana swirls along its arm and enters its chest, the room rapidly dimming. Soon, the room is once more covered by darkness.
The contract is complete.