Chapter 207: Bargain

Chapter 207: Bargain

Chapter 207 - Bargain

Youve been offered a bargain by the god of the Hidden Sanctuary, Zervathi: Free my vessel from the ancient shackles and receive wondrous rewards.

Do you wish to accept or refuse the bargain? Be warned that a bargain is a binding pact, and you may suffer punishment for an infraction.

What the fuck?

The whispering presence was back, hovering at the edge of his consciousness. Vast. Overwhelming. Terrifying. His heart drummed in his chest, breath short. The words remained unchanged on the scroll. He wasnt hallucinating, and the Guide expected an answer.

~What are you waiting for?~ A voice rumbled with impatience, echoed and shattered from a far distance. ~I do not extend this honor lightly, elfoid monkey child~

Excuse me?

The overbearing attitude snapped him out of his stupor. A prismatic filament extended from him to the air in the middle of the chamber where it vanished. Hallowed Intuition was silent, though the skill might not measure up if he was facing a god. Kai put more stock in the Guide to not do anything harmful.

~I shall accept your apology. Now, we may seal this pact.~

Shit, he can read my thoughts.

~Dont test my mercy. I shall forgive these crude words, but the time to accept my offer is not infinite.~

Kai scrunched his brows and reread the notifications. The Guide never put time limits on any decision. He had to figure out what was going on, binding pacts and punishments were quite ominous. Wondrous rewards also sounded scummy as heck.

Is he using FOMO tactics?

~What gibberish do you speak, mortal?~

Stop reading my thoughts and get out of my head!

~If you put an end to the screaming in your head, I shall stop listening.~

Kai drew his sword and slashed the filament that must be the origin of the voice. The prismatic tendril looked like it could be severed by a stiff breeze, but the enchanted blade moved through it with no effect.

Its not a physical object.

His mana surged into the runes. At the risk of straining on the enchantments, he mixed every element together and his unattuned essence to increase sharpness. The crystal sword quivered and shimmered half-translucent with Shadow, Water and Earth.

~Wait!~

Kai raised the glowing blade to brush the thread. The entitys panic reassured him of his chances. Either the god was powerless to act, or the Guide was shielding him.

Why should I?

~Why? WHY!~The voice thundered in his mind, making Kais vision blur. ~Im Zervathi! God and sovereign of the Hidden Sanctuary, beacon amidst the Darkness, shepherd of Truth, bestower of Gifts and guardian deity of the Vasheyr kingdom.~

Hmm Thats a very impressive resume, forgive me if I dont bow. But this puny mortal still doesnt comprehend why he shouldnt evict you from his mind.

Kai tightened his hands on the hilt, threatening to cut the connection. A pact with unclear requirements and rewards that could be unilaterally enforced wasnt worth the risk. While the chamber was deserted, a guard might walk in at any moment. He wasnt eager to explain the situation either.

~WAIT! This is your unique chance at receiving my blessing, mortals cant even comprehend its true value!~

Ive got two blessings, and they werent so rude or bossy about it. It sounds to me like you're the one who needs something.

It was interesting to meet the alleged god of the Vastairethat was pronounced Vasheyr. Hed file away every sentence Zervathi uttered for further examination, but he wasnt going to sell his soul for dubious promises of power.

~It appears I underestimated your standing, you must be a prince of these elfoid monkeys.~

Were called humans.

~Hummans, I see. Such a quaint name. And tell me humman prince-child, did those blessings grant you an invulnerable vessel? Shelter your dwelling from Darkness? Grant the sight to discern Truth? Or bestow the arcane secrets of Space? Perhaps I shall look for a more willing mortal!~

Kai bit his cheek. He had no idea what most of that was, but they sounded awfully tempting. You could never have enough blessings or Favor, especially when you were a nameless kid from the archipelago.

What do you need from me?

~A god does not need for anything. It would be the honor of every mortal to provide assistance and gain my gratitude.~

Kai forced his conscious thoughts to be irritatingly polite. Zervathi seemed to only hear the thoughts he consciously stated, and not his background impressions and understanding.

Then why did you send me a bargain?

~Accept or refuse my offer. The shackles sealing my cage are already falling. I may still decide to wait the events out.~

Fine. Then I refuse.

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Zervathi had purposely been vague about why he picked him. One reason must be his affinity for Space, though there must be more.

Because he thought Id be an impressionable child? He did keep mentioning my age and if I were a deity in need of help, Id keep away from the Republic. The Seven Moons might not like their followers helping another deity.

Ultimately, the biggest issue was if he could complete the task. The Hidden Sanctuary must be the place where the beasts came from. Was it in a faraway land or

Can it be a sub-dimension?

Kai remembered Dora mentioning them in passing, mystic realms that orbited around Elydes' main dimension. From the books he found in Higharbor, they were more akin to a myth on the continent that only appeared in tales and legends.

Wait is that the Blessing the Vastaire were thankful for?

The pieces began to fit together in his head. The Hidden Sanctuary wasnt an ideal paradise if it was swarmed by yellow beasts, but he didnt have to go there alone.

Focus on the current problem. How do I reach it?

He had to find the Altar of Covenant on the highest peakclear as a mud pit. It was probably somewhere in a Vastaire site, so that narrowed the search. He could just let the Republic carry him along. There werent that many ruins left, and the name of the place sounded grand enough to be recognizable.

Yatei and Kahali watch over me.

The promised blessing was what tipped him over. Not just for the tempting boost, but because a god imprisoned for millennia must be short on divine power. If Zervathi was willing to invest energies in advance, he must have a decent chance at succeeding.

No pain, no gain. Nothing of value is ever easy.

Ding

The god of the Hidden Sanctuary, Zervathi, has bestowed a blessing of Space upon you!

Uh No Favor? What a cheapskate.

Ding

Youve accepted Zervathi'sbargain. A binding pact has been struck, failure to complete the quest will result in you forfeiting your body to Zervathi.

Wait, what? That self-important asshole! I should have also specified the cost for failure.

Kai wanted to slap himself. He had known there would be a catch, but he couldnt stop himself from charging into it. He exhaled slowly, voices and steps echoed closer from the dark corridors.

I can do it. This doesnt change anything.

There was no choice but to succeed. He didnt know what Zervathi thought provide assistance meant, butto him,it stopped well before getting killed. His plans hadnt changed, he needed to reach the Hidden Sanctuary to stop the beast attacks.

Now he had clues to the nature of the spatial anomalies and the assistance of a god. Until the deity was freed, their interests aligned, and the self-important asshole had sworn an oath to not harm any humans.

I should have said sapient species. Damn brain, why didnt you think of that

Kai was about to test the difference in his Space affinity when another notification flashed in his vision. His arms slackened at his sides with a groan.

What now?

Ding

New Feat: Daring Haggler - You have spoken and successfully negotiated a bargain with a minor deity. You are awarded: +5 Favor!

Huh, at least the Guide isnt a miser. I can use all the Favor I get.

What are you still doing here? Makyn appeared in the doorway, scanning the chamber for threats. Your shift for the day is over.

Kai beamed a smile. Nothing much, just unveiling the mysteries of life. Why? Were you worried about me?

The soldier regarded him with a flat stare.

Cmon, there is no need to be ashamed, but I can take care of myself. I was looking for clues before the mad magicians blew up the place.

Did you find anything?

No. Iridescent mana motes fluttered in his vision, they stood out like stars in the clutter of ambient mana. Their seemingly random motion followed a pattern, congregating in clumps around the room. Kai slumped his posture. Nothing at all.

Youve tried your best. This is our only lead. The excavation of the main summoning chamber has been set in two days.

Can I be present?

If you wont make problems. The soldier peered at him.

Kai dutifully bobbed his head. Ill behave with the respect and reverence owed to a god.

Maybe this wont be a complete disaster after all.