Chapter 28: Binding Contracts and The New Plate

The next day, we all met in my room. Each team divided, and I handed out the other items we hand collected from before. I gave Tilly the CAPE AT HAND and Vitoria the BOOTS OF SPEED. I also gave Iona the last blue wave ring.

"Where did you get this?" Iona questioned me as I took the ring from the jade case.

"I found after beating," I started to say, but Iona cut me off.

"You mean releasing him. You didn't beat him."

"Alright then, after RELEASING him, there was a silver chest with this jade box in it," I explained, emphasizing 'releasing.'

"These are ELEMENTAL FORCE BINDING RINGS. Once I put that ring on, the Master Ring Holder and I will connect. I'm not too sure I want to put this on. Put your's on and then go into your AVATAR. It's easier than trying to explain everything," Iona explain.

I went and got it out of my inventory, the ring falling into my open hand. Now that I had the chance to look at the ring, it divided into four sections. Each quarter depicted a different element that poured over each corner of the ring and down the corners.

Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water were all represented, and in the middle, a solid black gem sat surrounded by a two-millimeter band. I stared into it, and there were micro runes that I could barely make out. I slid the ring onto my finger and opened my AVATAR, scrolling down to the items.

ELEMENTAL FORCE MASTER BINDING RING (Legendary Set Item)

The Master Binding Ring controls the magical output of each ring. Each ELEMENTAL FORCE BINDER RING user receives elemental augmentation, meaning all abilities, magic, and physical attacks will gain elemental enhancement. ELEMENTAL FORCE BINDER RING users can not wear more than one at a time, and they must obey and protect the Master Ring Holder.

The ELEMENTAL FORCE MASTER BINDING RING user controls the power output of each ELEMENTAL FORCE BINDER RING user. Each ring is set to use 25% of the total power from the Master Ring and 100% from each user. If you give power to one ring, it must come from another user.

I.E. If you give FLAME RING 40%, then the others only have 20% each, but FLAME RINGS user power also increases to 130%, while the other three-ring user's power will drop to 90% each.

"Woah," Was all I could say after that item description.

No wonder Iona didn't want to explain it. I had to read it twice before I really understood what was going on. I lifted my head to tell the girls to wait, but all except Iona had slipped their rings on. Each quarter lit up as they did, and the patterns on each lit corner moved gently.

"We all trust you, Dave, even after what happened. You know what you have to do from keeping that from happening, and we are all here to support you." Lavender told me as she walked closer.

The three girls crowded me for a hug, but Iona was still looking at the ring in her hand. I kept getting glances from her as she seemed to wage an internal argument. As she did, we all stealthy moved our group embrace closer.

Iona sighed, still not noticing our nearing proximity, and slid the ring on her delicate finger, the ring shrinking to fit. The moment the ring tightened, we all grabbed the loli and pulled her into the hug. She fought the girls and me but lost and gave in in the end. After we all separated, Iona grabbed my collar and pulled me down.

"Stay out of my mind, and when I want this off, you will take it off," Iona shook me as she spoke.

"Stay out of your mind? What do you mean?" I asked, puzzled and shaken.

"Nevermind!"

I stared at her as she turned away, but then I heard her talk without her mouth move.

Stupid idiot this he can control a thirty-year-old woman like me just because he looks good in those stupid black pants.

"You're really thirty-years-old? I would never have guessed with a loli body like that," but my remark was cut short from a direct hit to my shoulder with Iona's needle.

The hit by itself would have been bad enough, but the ring caused a water spout to form on connection and blast me twice as hard. I crashed through a couch and landed in a wet pile. Suddenly, Iona started to wail and moan, falling to the ground.

Still, in a great amount of pain, I got up as my MOLTEN SKIN dried my clothes, and I ran to the twitching and moaning Iona. I picked her up, carrying her to my bed, and the girls followed me over. All of them seemed to be at a loss as to what happened. Iona's face was covered in blush and sweat as she panted in my arms. The pain seems to have gone down since I touched her.

"I'm sorry, Master," Iona whispered as I set her down.

"Don't call me that, or ill be putting you over my knee," I whispered maliciously in her ear.

Iona blushed and gave me a meek look before pulling the covers over her head. I turned to the girls, who all had puzzled looks. I couldn't blame them, but after seeing the effects, I wasn't sure if I was comfortable having them wearing the rings.

After all, the wrong choice in power direction could lead to someone dying. I looked at each of the girls, but none of them had hesitation. Lavender and Victoria approached me, both seeming to sense my thoughts.

"Don't worry, we trust you, Dave. Take Tilly and get that big snake. We will go when Iona is feeling a bit better," Lavender hugged me and then kissed me.

The kiss wasn't long enough, but I heard both girls behind us exclaim in a shared, "WAH!"

"Hey, no fair, Darling! Why does she get a kiss? Hmm?" Victoria was fighting her way between us.

After kissing the girls goodbye, Tilly and I left and headed towards the stairs to room one. I somehow ended up having to kiss Iona on the forehead before we left as well. I hoped the three girls would be fine, but Tilly seemed to be in a wonderful mood today.

She had changed from her typical leather apron into form-fitting chainmail that hung in all the right places and hugged the rest. Once we got to room one, I asked her to come and sit beside me so I could go over her AVATAR. Tilly's tail curled around me as she lay against my arm.

I place my hand over hers, and I could feel the start of a low purr vibrating in Tilly's chest. To distract myself, I stared intently at her AVATAR screen. A couple of things had changed, but there was also a flashing bar that caught my eye.

LEVEL: 12

HP: 290/290

MANA: 100/150

NAME: Tilly Moonmane

AGE: 18

CLASS: CAT-KIN FORGESMITH

STATUS: Satisfied and Calm

WEALTH: Average

HOME: Huntington Manor

STRENGTH: 27

CONSTITUTION: 46 (+230)

COMBAT: 24

SPEED: 15

INTELLIGENCE: 16

MANA: 18 (+90)

CHARISMA: 32

LUCK: 18

CHAIN REACTION: 100% (Ready To Activate)

ABILITIES

PASSIVE SKILLS

BLESSING OF PROTECTION+++: Your aura projects defensive strength and resistance. Friendly creatures within 25 feet take 12 less damage from all sources.

MAGICAL ENHANCEMENTS: SPEED: All magical enchantments gain a bonus to SPEED.

PEIRCE EVIL: People with evil intentions have black auras and are vulnerable to the HERO's LIGHT BLADE Skill.

ACTIVATED SKILLS

TAUNT+++: Aggravate your foes and take the focus from your allies. Target hostile creatures within 20ft, and they must attack you for 1 minute.

TEMPERED FORGE PAWS: Forge metals into Weapons and Armor with speed anywhere you are. Effects depend on the quality of the consumed materials and consume 50 mana per/use.

PURRFECT PAWS OF ENHANCEMENT+: Unlock the potential of a weapon or piece of armor. Temporarily increase stats of an item for 5 minutes, consumes 25 MANA per/item.

FRIENDSHIP LEVEL 50/100 YOU ARE GOOD FRIENDS.

Gain CHAIN REACTION STRIKE: When 2 or more good friends fill their CHAIN REACTION bar, activate to make a synchronized strike.

"CHAIN REACTION, we haven't had a chance to use that yet. All your stats are looking good, Tilly! Do you mind if I asked what you crafted?" I asked Tilly after releasing her hand, and the screen dropped.

"Hmm? Oh! Yes!" Tilly's eyes went glassy for a minute.

Soon, a chest and shoulder set of plate armor appeared from nowhere and clattered down the three steps before resting on the main landing. Both of us got up to collect the armor. As we did, I noticed that the hole where the front door had been was gone someone, or thing had fixed it in the night.

"What's all this, Tilly?" I questioned as we gathered the pieces up.

"It's for you," Tilly said nervously and dropped a couple of pieces.

"Really? Thanks, Tilly, that means a lot!" I praised while patting her head and ruffling the hair between those ever so soft ears.

Tilly turned bright pink but didn't turn away. Instead, she made me raise my arms to the side, and she started to fit me with the armor. The metal was silvery and light like aluminum, but the metal looked far more tensile. After Tilly adjusted the last pauldron on my shoulder, and she stepped back.

"How does it feel? Is it easy to move in?" Tilly asked as she made a circle around me on the landing.

I stretched my arms and made a couple of windmills, followed by some turns and other movements. It fit like a glove, and none of my motions are restricted. It almost felt like I wasn't wearing any armor at all.

"This stuff is amazing. You really are a superb craftswoman, Tilly! What did you make the armor out of?"

"I went to see Master Darbon and told him about you being missing. So, he went into the back and brought me out a large chunk of Mythril. Master Darbon, Let me work on the piece to get my mind off Lavender and you being missing. After I was done, Master let me keep the piece, saying it would make a good gift when you returned. That helped me stay positive while you two were missing."

"Well, I'm gonna have to thank Master Darbon when I get a chance. So, one more thing before we head into door number one," the last part I give a bit of an announcers flair. "That beautiful cape I gave you."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I have no idea what it does. From what I read, you just reach behind yourself and grab for an item you need."

"So, like this?" Tilly asked as she reaches back under the red cape.

Tilly pulled out a book from behind herself. It was a red notebook with a thin piece of cloth marking the last read spot. I tried to examine it, but Tilly quickly put the book into her inventory, and it disappeared.

"What was that?" I questioned the now extremely flustered and cherry red-faced Tilly.

"N-N-N-Nothing, let's go!"

Tilly turned to go, but I also heard something else as she went to room number one.

"Why did it bring my journal??? I don't need that right now! If Dave saw what I wrote about him..."

I decided to leave her alone and not torment her further. These rings were not really fair to them. Every time I asked a question, I got to hear what they were actually feeling. I needed to remember not to let my comment on their thoughts slip, or I would get myself into serious trouble. I followed Tilly into the room and gave her a small squeeze on the shoulders as we walked in.

It was another dank and wet cave like the first one Lavender, and I visited on my first encounter with a demon. Well, I hadn't even known it was a demon, and Lavender had stubbled into the place by accident. This time would be different with Tilly, we had come prepared.