Level 65:
- Strength: 161
- Speed: 166
- Stamina: 179
- Endurance: 184
- Durability: 163
- Mana: 191
- Soul Rank: Ethereal
- Soul Color: Purple
Got it? Alright. Sorry if I’m rushing you, but I have to be fast. You see, I’m finally at the Ethereal stage, which means I’m now capable of undergoing a Core Reset. If you don’t remember, Sys will fill you in.
Huh? Why do I have to do it?
“Can you just do it?”
…….Fine. Listen up. A Core Reset is the process required to transition to the next soul color. In Beric's case, this means moving from purple to blue. There isn’t a Core Reset for the shift from black to purple, since this specific transition doesn’t require one. This is why most individuals undergo it unconsciously as they age. The reason for this lies in the automatic absorption of mana from others throughout one's life, coupled with the natural expulsion of impurities during this phase. Puberty typically marks the conclusion of this process. Now that you recall that, let me elaborate on what a Core Reset actually is.
A Core Reset is a deliberate and intense process in which an individual enters a meditative state in a secluded location. In this state, they consciously deactivate their soul flows, exposing the core of their soul. Once this is done, the surrounding mana is allowed to flood in, causing the core to expand in both power and size. Unlike a child who unconsciously absorbs mana, the free core and the meditative environment allows the mana to enter and be absorbed at a much faster rate. However, this procedure is quite dangerous, as it leaves the individual vulnerable to potential attacks from others…….and wandering spirits. This is because the meditative state closely resembles a near-death experience, or perhaps a coma, for comparison. While the person remains lucid, their state leaves them as vulnerable as someone lying on their deathbed, due to the intentional halting of their soul flows.
There, I’m done.
“Thanks.” Okay, back to me. The reason I'm hurrying is that this is one of the rare moments when I'm actually home alone. Due to my consistent efforts to appear responsible, and with the presence of Shade, who serves as my bodyguard, my family has grown comfortable with leaving me alone. However, not for too long. My parents are at the village on a quick shopping trip, while Elaine and Arthur are at school………that reminds me, I start school in a few years.
Anyways, as Sys mentioned, a Core Reset is vulnerable to interruption, which is why it’s best to perform it in an isolated location. If I want to do this without being disturbed by my family—because let’s be honest, they’d be both shocked and worried if they saw their 5-year-old trying to do a Core Reset—I need to be alone.
What are you gonna do if they come back early and see you?
“That’s why I’m trying to speed things up.” I also need to clarify why I’m so determined to do this. Naturally, to become stronger, I need a more powerful soul. A stronger soul is essential for learning other forms of magic, though elemental styles are not an option. More importantly, I need a stronger soul to absorb the souls of specific beings. Take a goblin, for example.
You may have noticed that all of my summons are “normal” animals, animals that you could easily find back on Earth. Nightclaw, Rogue, Drill, Nibbles, Luci, Tank……….oh, I forgot to introduce them.
Nibbles is my squirrel summon, Luci is a snake, Geek is a lizard, and Tank is a turtle. Sadly, I don’t have enough time to explain their names, so you’ll have to wait for that later.
Yeah, I don’t think anyone’s actually bummed out about that.
As I was saying, I don’t have any summons of beings that would typically be found in a magical world like Zarvendia. It’s not that there’s a sudden lack of them in this forest. In fact, Sys and I have encountered plenty of goblins and slimes in the deeper parts of the forest. The problem is that I’m not strong enough to absorb them. Sure, I could hunt them with the help of Shade and Nightclaw, but my soul isn’t powerful enough to absorb a goblin. It might sound strange, especially since I could absorb something like a wolf, but there’s actually a simple reason for that.
Since Beric originally comes from another world, his understanding of a goblin is lacking in crucial ways. While he can absorb the soul of a wolf, that’s primarily because wolves existed in his world. Goblins, however, are a species unknown to him, so his mind is incapable of fully grasping or imagining the structure of a goblin’s soul. To overcome this, Beric will need to strengthen his own soul and learn more about goblins. That’s why I’ve taught him things like goblin behavior, the potential evolutions of a goblin, and the major stages of a goblin’s life, from birth to death. All of this is to ensure Beric is strong enough to absorb goblins and prepare him for any other “fantasy” creatures that may arise.
It was hard. Sys would’ve not been a good teacher back on Earth.
There is no such thing as a bad teacher, only a bad student.
“........That’s not how the saying goes-”
Can you begin your Core Reset already?
“Right, right.” While I set up, there’s just one more thing I have to explain.
Oh my go-
While my family has grown accustomed to the presence of my summons, a problem has arisen from it. Sure, my tactic of using taming magic as a disguise has worked, but there’s an issue—how do I recall my summons? I can’t simply call them back in front of my family, since basic taming magic isn’t capable of doing something like that. That’s why I’ve been forced to keep my summons out and only recall them when I make it so that they wish to leave the house and return to their natural habitats in the wild. As you can probably imagine, this is an incredibly inefficient process, and it puts far more strain on me than I would prefer.
This is when Sys told me of Bonding magic.
Bonding magic is an advanced form of taming magic, a notable skill for which the elvenkind are renowned. When one ascends their soul to the next color, their physical and mana abilities grow, and their magic evolves as well. Typically, a magic style that someone already practices branches into a unique subclass determined by the user’s race and bloodline. For Beric, his elven heritage allows us to pass it off as bonding magic. This type of magic is a subset of taming magic that enables the user to form a soul-binding contract with an animal they share a deep connection with. The animal abandons its life in the wild and becomes a summon, called upon to aid the user whenever needed. It’s quite similar to soul summoning, wouldn’t you agree?
With this, I can simply recall my summons whenever I wish, free from any suspicious eyes that wonder if I’m hiding anything…………And with that, I’m done.
Done?
I finished the preparations. It’s time to move on with the Core Reset.
Good luck.
The preparations were straightforward. I covered the windows with clothing, blocking out any light or shadows that might interfere with me. I also barricaded the front door in case anyone came home early………..However, this might come back to bite me in the ass, but I think it’ll work. I’ll just explain it as me being overly cautious and fearful of outside dangers. Additionally, I made sure to recall all of my summons, ensuring that my soul was in perfect condition.
Entering soul sense, I carefully examined my own soul. Since soul sense aligns with the characteristics of a meditative state, I decided it was the most effective approach. I spotted the soul flows and severed the connections to the core. Immediately, a profound emptiness spread within my chest. From this void, a chilling sensation erupted, freezing me to my core. The pure mana that had been flowing through the channels was now released into the depths of my being, drawing the attention of otherworldly beings.
Thankfully, as Sys mentioned in the past, I can create a barrier from pure mana. Though it’s not strong enough to take a visible physical form outside of meditation, it’s effective at blocking spectral beings trying to slip into my soul……..However, while it kept them from entering, it didn’t stop their voices.
“Beric.” A haunting female voice spoke as if she was right beside me, her voice chilling my eardrum.
I didn’t know for sure, but it sounded like the same spirit from before………when I first attempted to meditate.
“You’ve gotten comfortable with this new body.” With each word, a harsh, cold wind battered against the barrier, forming rough knocking noises.
“Are you comfortable enough to forget that you stole this body?” The hiss of her voice almost knocked me out of my state.
“I know where he is……..I can show you.” Her voice was different now. Rather than the chilling tone of a vengeful spirit, it now took on an alluring and calming attitude.
I could feel my control over the barrier weaken, as the mana entering was growing even quicker. The coldness began to feel like a blizzard, as I tried desperately to keep the barrier up.
“Just let me in. I can fix everything.”
I let out a heavy sigh. She was getting really annoying, with her whispering right in my ear. Her voice was distracting me, hindering my attention towards the steady flow of mana. With each word, the flow would stutter.
“You can’t do anything by yourself. Give in.”
…………You know what? No, I’m done with this.
“Hey. Can you shut the hell up?”
“......What?”
“I said, shut the hell up. Are you that old that you don’t even know this type of vocabulary?”
“How are you-”
“Did you forget what social cues are? If someone’s not responding to you, then that most likely means that they don’t want to talk to you. Were you some loser who couldn’t even keep their mouth shut back when you were alive?”
“......This doesn’t make sense. You shouldn’t be-”
“LOOK AT YOU STILL TALKING! Leave already! I’m not giving you this body, you old bitch!”
The voice finally went silent, most likely surprised by my outburst.
“I know damn well I stole this body, and I also know that there’s a huge possibility that the original Beric is lost somewhere. But hey, guess what? I don’t care! By this point, he’s probably long by now reincarnated into a different world. Hell, why should I even care if he’s okay or not? In the first place, I’m the one who made a literal deal with Death. I have more things to worry about than some ghost of a baby who’s place I took. If anything, this is all Death’s fault, since he’s the one who chose Beric. How about you go talk to him? You’re already halfway there, since you’re some forsaken outcast that has nothing better to do than bug a 5 year old. This garbage gaslighting of yours isn’t going to work on me, so stop wasting my time. Go haunt someone else, old bitch.”
Upon that last statement, the voice went silent, and I felt the freezing air slowly subside………..Uh……..
You heard all of that, didn’t you?........Sorry. I didn’t mean to force you to listen to me crash out over that spirit. I’m usually not like that………Nah. We both know that’s a lie.
Anyway, you’re probably wondering why I spoke to her in the first place, and how I managed to stay in soul sense when I acknowledged an external presence. Well, Sys and I discovered a special attribute of soul magic. Unlike the usual situation, where one is forced out of meditation upon any interruption, my soul magic allows me to project a spectral image of myself. This enables me to temporarily leave my physical body and, in a way, “swim” into my soul, allowing me to observe it directly. While in this form, I can also hear, speak, and listen to anything, since my physical body is the one that maintains my meditative state. That’s how I was able to converse with the spirit earlier…….Though, since it was my first time using it, I was hesitant on using it…….Meh. It’s fine. I don’t know if I could have lasted another second listening to her bitchy voice.
Oh, there we go. The flow’s finally done. I think my soul’s just about done absorbing the necessary mana………but uh……..is it supposed to glow like that? Hold on, do you hear that buzzing sound too? Is it coming from my soul-
“Beric?”
Oh shit. That’s Mom.
“Beric, are you in there?”
They’re already home? It’s only been a few minutes, 20 at most……..Well, it should be fine. The barricade should hold up well-
The sound of objects falling down made my spectral form stutter. It was then that I heard the sound of rushing footsteps, and the worried voices of my family.
……..Yikes. It sounds like they pushed through past the barricade. How am I gonna-
The buzzing became louder. It got so loud that I could feel the noise alone pushing my entire being back into my physical body. The pure shockwaves were driving me back into my body.
What the hell is wrong with it? Is my soul forcing me back into my body? Should I do it?
The glow became even more powerful, almost blinding me. Combined with the incessant sound of the soul’s buzzing, I strained to keep my form.
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And then, all of a sudden, it stopped. The shine went away, and the soul reverted to a dimly lit sphere. The buzzing was gone, and I could only hear the sounds of my family nearby.
……..Hmm…….. Well, that was weird. I wonder why it-
BOOM!
The soul caused a massive explosion that jolted me back into my body. The forceful return made me choke as my brain struggled to process what had just happened. As I fought to regain my bearings and remind myself that I was back in the physical world, my body began moving on its own.
On their own, my eyes opened to see... that everything was normal. I was still in my parents’ bedroom. The windows were still covered, and the door was…….oh. The wide-open door revealed the shocked faces of my family, all staring right at me. It was all coming back now. I regained full control over my body, and my mind cleared……..But, man, how am I going to explain this?
To avoid any sudden pain, I carefully got up from my meditative position and tried to speak. But before I could, I noticed something still glowing. It couldn’t have been the sun, since the windows were covered. The door to the bedroom was too far from the outside windows. Where was the glow coming from? As I scanned my surroundings, I realized the source was much closer than I expected. So close, in fact, that I could see my own body radiating the same glow…..
I’m the one who’s glowing……..Wait wha-
I jumped in surprise, thoroughly examining this phenomenon. After scanning myself, I realized I had been mistaken about it being just a simple glow. Yes, there was a type of glow emanating from me, but the source was more complex than I thought. A bright, light purple spectral form enveloped me, featuring a transparent sword in my right hand and a hologram-like black cloak that draped over my entire body. The sword itself captured most of my attention. While it initially appeared to be a regular sword, sparks occasionally flashed along its blade, shifting in red, blue, green, and white. These sparks surged through the sword, their flashes mirrored by the gleam of the blade, creating an almost hypnotic effect.
Hmm, a magical swordsman. Not bad at all.
“Sys? What’s going on? What’s this…..sword in my hand? And why’s there a cloak on me?”
I think you have more pressing matters to attend to.
“What are you-” Oh right. My family.
I turned to look at them. Both Arthur and Elaine were wide eyed and stared with awe. Mom shared the same look, but she was much more worried. Dad was silent and held his trademark poker face.
Before I could try to explain myself, Arthur and Elaine rushed in.
“That’s so cool! Beric did the thing!” He ran over to my side, gawking at my sword. “Elaine, what was it called again? A core test?” Arthur asked while poking at my cloak.
“A Core Reset.” Elaine corrected while glancing at my form. She moved closer to examine the cloak with Arthur. “But, I thought you could only do it when you were older. Arthur and I haven’t even done it yet.” She looked back towards Mom and Dad. “How did he do it?”
“It’s obvious isn’t it? He’s a genius!” Arthur proclaimed while using a stick to have a mock sword fight with me.
I didn’t join.
“........No.” Mom walked in and squatted in front of me. Caressing my face, she said, “Even a genius isn’t capable of what Beric has achieved.” I could tell that, behind her small smile, concern and puzzlement clouded her eyes.
Arthur paused as he seemed to be deep in thought. As quickly as he paused, he then resumed dueling me. “Then, he’s a super genius!”
Mom narrowed her eyes. “How did you know to do a Core Reset?” She turned to my siblings. “Did one of you two teach him?”
They shook their heads.
“Arthur definitely didn’t teach him. He can’t even explain it properly.” Elaine pointed out.
“She’s right.” Arthur proudly stated.
“.......You’re not supposed to be proud of that.” Elaine mumbled with a tired look. “It also wasn’t me. I know that Beric will learn it on his own in school anyway, considering how smart he is.”
Mom looked back at me. Despite the absurdity of the situation, or maybe it was because of it, Mom laughed upon glancing at my form. “How did you manage to do this, Beric?”
Dad finally entered the room and stood next to Mom. He looked down at me, but I could sense that his stare wasn’t filled with malice.
I looked back. What was he going to say?
“.........I’ll ask the elders to come.” Dad quietly declared before turning to leave.
Mom quickly turned her head. “Are you sure?”
“We need their wisdom. Perhaps they can give us an explanation……..or simply they can give us advice on what to do.”
“But you know how they feel about you. Ever since you-”
Dad placed a hand on Mom’s shoulder. “Not in front of the kids.”
Mom stopped. She took a deep breath as she played with my hair. “Alright, I understand.”
Dad nodded and walked back out of the room.
……….What was that all about?
It seemed I wasn’t the only one unsettled by the strange atmosphere. Elaine was unusually quiet, making an effort not to draw attention to herself. Even Arthur was on edge, nervously pacing around the room.
Mom was the one who broke the silence.
“Kids, your brother here has done something extraordinary.”
“Duh. Like I said, he’s a genius. He made the beehive, and he can tame animals!” Arthur exclaimed.
Arthur was one of the few people I know who would be so proud over something that someone else accomplished………Who else am I thinking about?
Elaine smacked the back of Arthur’s head. “No, dimwit. This is something way bigger than the beehive, and the taming magic for that matter. People usually do their first real Core Reset when they’re adults. For a 5 year old to do it, it’s almost unheard of.”
Almost? Are there others who’ve achieved a Core Reset near my age?
“Only the most gifted geniuses in the royal families have been known to do something similar to Beric.” Mom explained.
“The royal families? Are you saying Beric’s on the same level as them?” Arthur
was bewildered by that.
So was I. Even with my second life and deal with Death, were there still geniuses within this world that could rival me?
“Didn’t King Soren have a Core Reset at the age of 5 too?” Arthur blurted out.
Mom and Elaine were surprised by that.
“How did you know that?” Mom asked with a confused but pleased look.
“The teacher said so.”
“You actually paid attention in class?” Elaine couldn’t believe it.
I wondered the same thing.
But I also wondered about this King Soren figure.
“Sys, who’s King Soren?”
……………
“Sys?”
Oh, sorry. You weren’t talking to me for a while, so I dozed off.
“I don’t…..understand how you can doze off, but I’ll roll with it. Who’s King Soren?”
King Soren is the current ruler of Gravenor.
“.........Anything else?”
I heard he likes to drink tea.
“Okay, can you at least tell me what’s up with this form? And how long will it stay?”
It’ll disappear in 3, 2, 1.
Just like Sys said, my form dissipated. The glow disappeared, taking along with it my cloak and sword. Checking myself over, I made sure that everything reverted back to normal.
Arthur seemed pretty bummed out about that.
“Are you all hungry?” Mom asked.
Arthur looked like a completely different person after hearing that. He ran to the kitchen like the wind, leaving the three of us behind.
“I’ll go set the table.” Elaine said, walking out of the room.
It was just me and Mom now.
I took her hand, but her lifeless grip surprised me. I looked up to see what was the matter.
She looked at me with a new emotion in her eyes. “You’re just like Dad……..”
Dad? Like her Dad? The Elven Grandfather?
Snapping out of it, she gently grasped my hands and led me out of the room. "I’m sorry, Beric, if I seem a little off. It’s just that…… your grandfather was just like you. He was incredibly intelligent, and he had a connection with animals that no one could sever…….." Her words trailed off, her eyes clouding with a distant sorrow.
I gripped her hands tightly. “Grandpa sounds like a cool guy.”
She chuckled at that. “He was a very cool guy.” She took a deep breath. “Beric, what do you want for dinner today? Roasted potatoes, porridge, some stew?”
“Anything you make is great, Mother.”
“Awww, you little rascal.” She pinched my cheek.
Nice job.
“Are you finally gonna tell me what happened back there?”
Oh right. When one achieves their first Core Reset, their class is revealed.
“I’m guessing that’s what you meant by a ‘magical swordsman.”
Not exactly. When one undergoes their first true Core Reset, they discover whether they belong to the Warrior or Mage class. These are the two primary classifications a soul may fall into, determined by the "True Avatar" that emanates from one's body. That’s the form that enveloped you earlier. After successfully completing the first Core Reset, a glowing outline appears around the user, accompanied by a spectral weapon that represents the type of warrior or mage they are most suited for. The Warrior and Mage classes are self-explanatory—the Warrior focuses on physical stats and wields a weapon that complements their body type, while the Mage specializes in magic. However, it doesn’t end there. When a True Avatar is summoned, the weapon isn’t always a sword or a wand. It could be an axe, a spear, a bow, or even a magical artifact. This is because there are “Subclasses” within the two main classes, and a final tier called “Specialties” within each Subclass.
The primary Subclasses for Warriors are Swordsman, Archer, and Armored. Swordsmen are physically strong warriors with expertise in swordsmanship, Archers are nimble and precise snipers, and Armored Warriors are resilient and skilled in withstanding attacks. Each Subclass possesses its own unique abilities: Swordsmen can parry physical strikes with finesse, Archers have the ability to detect even the slightest movement to lock on and shoot with precision, and Armored Warriors can envelop themselves in mana, creating a tough and impenetrable shield to break through enemy defenses. Interestingly, not all Swordsmen use swords; some prefer other close-combat weapons, such as spears or axes. Armored Warriors often wield slow but powerful weapons like maces and greatswords, while Archers primarily use bows, though specialized weapons, such as crossbows, are sometimes used.
“Okay, I think I get it now. So I’m a swordsman, but more specifically, I’m a magical swordsman. Is this the speciality you mentioned?”
Correct. Specialties are elite roles achievable only by the blessed, and they provide a unique set of abilities beyond the standard Subclasses. For example, Swordsmen can ascend to become Paladins or Berserkers. Paladins are knights devoted to light and divine magic, wielding blessed weapons and acting as protectors, while Berserkers embrace raw power and fury, specializing in overwhelming strength and aggression. Archers can become Snipers or Beastmasters. Snipers excel in precision and long-range combat, while Beastmasters form deep connections with creatures and nature magic, allowing them to tame beasts and harness the forces of the wild. Armored Warriors can ascend to Juggernauts or Sentinels. Juggernauts are nearly unstoppable in combat, with enhanced endurance and offensive power, while Sentinels serve as steadfast defenders, using their impenetrable defenses to protect others. The Specialties one can pursue depend heavily on their Subclass, their fighting style, and the type of magic they pursue. For instance, an Archer’s pursuit of nature magic could lead to becoming a Beastmaster, while a Swordsman’s mastery of Divine magic could lead to the divine calling of a Paladin. There are many more Specialties, such as the Assassin, who uses shadow magic to ambush enemies and remain unseen, making them deadly in stealth-based combat.
Mages have the advantage of being able to master multiple types of magic, unlike Warriors who usually specialize in one magic type tied to their Subclass. The four main types of magic include Elemental, Arcane, Divine, and Cursed. Elemental magic involves six core elements—fire, water, earth, wind, light, and dark—and can be further divided into subtypes, such as steel and nature for earth or ice for water. Elemental magic allows for a variety of spells, from offensive attacks to defensive barriers, and can even involve fusing elements together for unique effects. Arcane magic, on the other hand, focuses on manipulating pure mana to create physical constructs, illusions, and enhance the body itself. Divine magic is associated with healing, purification, and protection, and it serves as the perfect counter to the demonkind, the masters of Cursed magic.
“Yeah, I got it now. I just have one more question. You listed the specialties for Swordsman, Berserker and Paladins, but you said I’m a magical swordsman. Is there a reason why you called me that?”
A magical swordsman is the term used for a Swordsman with a specialty that doesn’t have a determined magic style, such as you. From the sparks that remained around your sword, you may be capable of mastering multiple forms. That’s why I didn’t define you with a specific title yet.
“Gotcha.” That was a lot of information to take in. Warriors, Mages, subclasses and specialties. I have a lot of studying to catch up on……….though, I could just wait for school……….Hmmm, why do I keep doing that? It feels like I’m manifesting the idea of going to school soon, even though it’s still a couple of years from now. Heh, maybe the elders that’ll come here are actually the teachers at the school. How crazy would that be?
*Knock knock*
Eh?
Mom paused her cooking. “Arthur, could you get the door?”
Like lightning, Arthur rushed to the door, swinging it fully open in mere seconds.
Why do I have a bad feeling about this?
A leather boot stepped in first, followed by a walking stick, and then a second boot. The owner of these items was an old man, covered in a dark wool cloak from head to toe. Thin strands of grey hair peeked out from beneath his hood, though it didn’t obscure his sharp, brown eyes that gleamed with a stern intensity. His face, rugged and weathered from years of toil, was a deep brown. The old man entered fully, using his stick to guide his movements. When he turned the corner, his gaze locked onto me, glaring with unwavering focus. Raising his stick and using the walls as support, he pointed right at me. “Is it you boy? Are you the source of my troubles?”
A flurry of questions ran through my head. Who is he? Is he one of the elders? I mean he has to be. Just look at him. He’s already got one foot in the grave. But also, didn’t Dad say elders? Are there more besides him? Why would they all even be here? Couldn’t Dad just ask one elder for advice?
As if to answer my questions, two others emerged from behind the man. They too wore similar dark cloaks, and as they removed the hoods, they were revealed to be an elderly woman and man. Like the first man, they were both as old, but their expressions carried a kinder warmth. The second man shared the same complexion, but his eyes were blue and soft. His grey hair was longer, with a darker tint. The woman’s hair was pulled into a neat, dark braided bun, a stark contrast to the greying men. She smiled warmly as she saw us, her green eyes glimmering with the same light.
Dad appeared after the 3 elders. “Beric is the one in front of you all. He is the littlest one, so I ask you to be mindful and gentle with your words.”
“My my, a 5 year old that’s achieved a Core Reset. You don’t hear that often.” The woman said with a whimsical expression.
“He is the grandson of Othviel. As Lucian stated, Beric has inherited much of the Elven blood.” The second man added.
“Taming magic, and now a Core Reset. What a headache.” The first man grumbled.
“Easy, Walden. He’s but a small child.” The woman rebuked.
“I will do as I please, Liora.” Walden argued back.
“Liora is right, Walden. We have a request to follow through with. And besides, you’re just as interested as we are.” The second man tried to calm down Walden.
“......I will not answer that, Alric.”
What’s even happening? Why are these old farts even here if they’re just going to bicker like this………You’re also tired of it, right? Here, I’ll speed things up. I just have to show them the reason why they’re here, after all. Maybe that’ll make them leave sooner.
Come out, Shade.
Materializing out of thin air, Shade fell to the ground on all four. Grey fur, golden hunter eyes, and massive paws, Shade barked to introduce himself. He then lay his body next to mine, showing that I was his master.
Everyone was shocked by what just happened. Mom raised a hand to her mouth. Elaine could only gasp. Arthur nearly fainted……..Oh, I see his smile. He was just overly excited by the sight. Dad’s eyes merely widened.
The elders?
Liora put her hands on her chest, visibly surprised. Alric put a hand to his head, merely awning in wonder. Walden was the only one who stayed the same. He still kept his gaze, walking stick pointed right at me.
It was then a small smile crept on his face. “Bonding magic, eh? Perhaps you are worthy of my time.”