Chapter 103 - Parting

"You must sign the contract to become one with the System gradually, Yin Sohaya."

The Creator said.

"H-How do I do that?"

"Sit."

The Creator's black void of a body pointed to the chair right in front of the piano from where he regularly played.

Yin was reluctant at first, but he slowly agreed to whatever the Creator said.

After all, this was his world, Yin had no knowledge about anything that went on inside this part of the System.

As he sat down, the black oak colored piano was right in front of him.

The body was clearly old and dated, but it had a uniqueness towards it, seemingly some kind of pull that Yin seems to be getting dragged into.

Almost like the piano was whispering something into his ear, yet he just could not pinpoint what it is.

It was a familiar feeling.

"H-Have I been in this place before?"

Yin asked to himself in his mind.

"No. That is impossible. This is the first time the Creator has even let me set foot into his room. He always had his door closed or just opened a tad enough to stare back at me through it. This really is the first time I am here."

His train of thought was cut short by the time he opened his eyes.

As he opened it, he stared at his fingers, which were now on top of the piano's keys.

The Creator smiled, even only for a brief moment.

"W-Why are my hands here? I definitely do not recall moving them towards the keys."

Yin said as he stared at the Creator.

"Go on. Play it."

His words had caused even more confusion in Yin.

"How can I play something that I do not even know? All my life as a farm hand, we were never once exposed to such musical instruments…"

Yin said.

The Creator approached him from behind.

He had placed both of his hands on top of Yin's shoulders.

"Play it. Yin."

The Creator's voice was soft yet firm.

"You are going to have to tell me why you are trying to get someone who has not even played the piano to attempt to work this musical organ first."

Yin replied.

"This is the only way for you to sign the contract. A binding contract that you will acknowledge that in one year, Thanatos will be reborn in the form of your body. Enough questions, play the piano."

Yin once more placed his hands on the keys.

He closed his eyes, trying to think about his life.

"In one year, will I really achieve everything that I set out to do?" Yin sighed. "There is no other outcome than to do it. I have no time left to whine or to negotiate terms. I will make do of the time I am given."

As his cold fingers made contact with the keys, his hands immediately started playing the same symphony that the creator kept playing ever since Yin met him.

Yin was in shock.

But somehow, the answer as to what the proper key to be pressed next was seemingly coming naturally from within him.

"H-How do I know the notes of this song?"

Yin asked the Creator.

"You just do."

He answered back.

Time seemed to stand still every single moment that Yin was here, but in the Creator's room, it was like it had never existed at all.

Yin had felt the calm and soothing touch of death, without him even knowing it.

It was a serene experience, to have his hands and brain work together to seemingly input whatever key the next one was to be pressed in the song.

The melody was not strange to Yin at all, it was oddly familiar.

The Creator crossed his arms and tapped his foot as he listened with joy.

Yin's fingers stroked the last key of the symphony as he took his hands off of the piano.

"Your soul is now bound to the System, Yin. In one year, you will no longer be you, you will lose all your memories and yourself as a whole. I am sure you are already tired of me repeating these words, but it is of the utmost importance that you have understood what you just signed your soul for."

Yin nodded.

"So, today is the first of many days that will come closer to the end of my time in this Earth."

Yin made peace already with his inevitable end.

His life was like the clock of a time bomb, each tick counted down towards its last.

What greeted Yin was Gavin staring at him by the doorstep.

"I thought you were getting ready."

The Serpent Summoner said with a judgmental look.

Yin turned his head and saw that his clothes were still unkempt and were on the bed.

"I-I err, about that-"

Yin tried to explain that he just wanted to doze off for a bit.

"It is fine, Yin. I know you are tired. I am just joking."

Gavin broke out a faint smile.

"When you are ready, meet me and Zach downstairs, okay?"

Yin nodded.

"We've got a long day ahead of us, you'd best pack well."

Gavin said as he left the room in a hurry.

Yin darted his eyes around his hand.

"Where did you learn to play like that?"

He seemingly asked the question to himself.

The white haired Slayer got up and faced the mirror in the bathroom.

In a split second, he saw his reflection's skin turn pitch black and wearing a devilish grin.

Yin freaked out and stumbled on his foot while backing up, falling down and sending a large thud throughout the hideout.

When he was ready to come down, Luken, Suna, Oliver, Gavin, and Zach were all waiting for him.

"What the hell is taking you so long?"

Zach was irritated by Yin's tardiness.

"W-Well, I sort of told him to come down whenever he was ready, it was my bad, really."

Gavin said nervously as he scratched his head.

"You've got to let them fight some time, Gavin, otherwise you are just going to deal with the constant pettiness."

Suna told the Serpent Summoner.

Luken had his back turned towards them.

"I can't believe it, guys." He said while he was sniffling. "Y-You're really going to leave me and go on to your separate journey."

Suna shook her head and looked down.

"Is he really going to be this dramatic again?"

She thought to herself.

Oliver was quite curious as to why Luken was acting this way, so the baby panda approached him and tugged on his feet.

Oliver was concerned for the Commander.

"I-I know Oliver, they really are going to leave us for good. It's going to be okay, buddy."

The baby panda's brows met and were furrowed.

Oliver simply had no idea what Luken was talking about.

"Stop being dramatic, Luken. You do this every single time I leave you to your devices."

Gavin sighed as he said that.

Zach whispered something to Suna.

"Is the Commander usually like this whenever Gavin leaves?"

He asked.

"Yeah. If you already have not realized it, the Commander is a bit of a drama queen. Well, the 'bit' is sort of an understatement."

She said while rolling her eyes.

Yin walked down the stairs carefully.

He had equipped the gloves that the Commander had given him in his first day in the hideout, after the farm incident.

Luken wiped off his non existent tears.

He was now being serious.

"Yin, I know you already know this without me telling you, but still, please be careful with your powers."

The Commander told him.

"Y-Yes, sir."

"Zach, I trust that you will keep him in check, alright?"

"Is that a command, sir?"

"Yes, in fact. It is a command."

Luken said sternly.

Zach bowed his head.

"Then I will ensure that I do the task at hand with diligence and success."

"A bit of an ass kisser, aren't you, Zach?"

Yin said to the Fire Slayer.

"Shut your mouth, I absolutely cannot believe I have to take care of a child on my very first conquest. How cumbersome…"

The two of them jawed at each other until the Serpent Summoner pulled the back of their shirt's collars off.

"Oh, I almost forgot."

Gavin said.

Let's walk back to the table outside.

When they arrived, Gavin pulled out a mirror.

"Woah, you're going to give it to them?"

Luken was amazed.

"Give what?"

Yin asked.

"Yeah, give what, exactly?"

Zach was equally as surprised as Yin.

"These."

Gavin pulled out three black stud earrings from his cloak.

"Those look like the ones that you and the Commander are wearing, right?"

Suna remarked.

"Terrific observation Suna." Gavin said. "Now, I am going to pierce your ears.

"P-Pierce my ears?!"

Zach exclaimed.

"M-My mother would never let me hear the end of it! She would sermon me about how much of a hooligan I would look like if I ever went home!"