Chapter 66: Reforged Bonds

Chapter 66: Reforged Bonds

Erimaya paces her room as she desperately tries to think. Rikuto has begun gathering all of the magic artisans who are citizens of Mornistae and the vassal territories, as well as any scholars and mages. He has become distant and distressed, gearing up for a more direct attack, as if the war with the demons is an afterthought.

She wants to warn Hekate, since Hekate believes that Mornistae will be on neutral or friendly terms with her thanks to her efforts to protect Erimaya and see her home unmolested.

Suddenly, an idea hits her.

She looks around. She picks her sheet up, and she casts it across her room. She tries to look, but nothing stands out. She picked it up again, and then did the same thing several more times. Still, she sees nothing out of place.

She looks around, whispering, “Lady Xyreko. Please, if you're there, I need to talk to you.”

The door opens, and her guard, Phingoen, peeks his head inside. “Did you say something, Princess?”

She shakes her head. “No. Just talking to myself.”

“Very well.” He retreats behind the door, and she sighs.

She whispers as quietly as she can, “Please, Xyreko...”

When she turns, she nearly screams. Towering over her is the imposing form of a suit of metal armor, but one not occupied by a living body. It's not Xyreko herself, but one of her golems, staff and all.

Erimaya covers her own mouth, narrowly hiding her gasp from reaching the guards on the other side of her door. She looks around, thinking desperately. She trots to her desk, quickly penning a note. She holds it up for the golem, which stares at the note with no indication of its thoughts.

“[Please tell Hekate and Daniel that Rikuto is afraid of Daniel's god-killer.]”

The golem cocks its head, but it nods.

However, nothing happens. “A-Are... you going?”

The golem puts a finger to where its mouth would be, and she cocks her head. “But, you can't waste time!”

The door opens again, “Princess?” She gasped, but when she looked, the golem was gone. She looks at Phingoen again. “Y-Yes?”

“Heralesse is here to see you.”

Erimaya is flustered, but she shakes her head. “No.”

“Eri!” Heralesse squeezes past the guard, and Erimaya huffs in anger. She walks away from her elder sister, who doesn't pursue her, since they're still in Erimaya's room. “Eri, listen...”

“No! None of you trust me! Hekate and Daniel are good people! If you saw what I saw, you'd worship them!”

Heralesse is quiet for a moment, and Erimaya snaps, “You two exiled him and treated him like an enemy when all he did was save my life. I'm very happy to be alive. I want to serve my homeland. I was trying to make sure Daniel was safe and harbored no ill-will.”

“Eri...”

“No! If you and your fiance continue, you’ll make him our enemy. All he does is help! You’re the blind ones who can’t see it!”

“I know...”

Just as Erimaya is about to continue her rant, she halts. “What?”

“I-... I know... We should have stood up for Daniel... Most of the nobles we tried to appease either proved to be traitors or sold us out while we were dealing with Bromlund. They... even tried to assassinate you...”

“What?”

“I... just found out myself... Aramellianna found information that they tried to get rid of you... to force Mother and Father to restore my betrothal to Zorenwein Junior.”

“H-How... did you learn this?”

She takes a deep breath, walking over to Erimaya’s bed and sighing as she takes a seat. “Rikuto blurted it out when I was asking him if we can afford to make such a vast investment, since Daniel’s actions... weren’t that bad. He claims he’s trying to protect us, but... I don’t know anymore.”

“He’s going to attack someone who can destroy a country. I wish I could make you believe me with words alone, Sister. I truly do. But, you have to see it. It’s true. A great demon monster known as the Devourer was consuming the land and forcing the demons east. Many of them are open to diplomacy. Though, their leadership got rid of the Demon Tyrant to continue the war...”

Heralesse shakes her head. “Eri, you don’t sound right in the head saying all of this. It’s frankly unbelievable.”

“I know how it sounds! I do... But, you met Daniel. Hekate... She’s a little girl like me. She’s eccentric, but she doesn’t have a cruel bone in her body. We became friends. I was teaching her etiquette... What little I could do in the time we were together.”

Heralesse sighs. “Apparently, Rikuto believes in the power of this weapon, because he has been obsessed. I’m not sure what his goal is, but... He seems set on stopping Daniel.”

“Stopping him from what? He’s not doing anything.”

“That we know of. Eri, I know you still trust him, and... I have my doubts... But, he sided with a demon kin. And, now we’re getting reports that he’s actively increasing the dragon population. The same dragons he supposedly killed.”

“He did kill dragons! Just... not all of them. But, the Dragon Empresses are also wonderful people.”

Heralesse sighs. She cups Erimaya’s cheek. “Eri, I wish there was something I could do. I can’t see what you say you saw, and I haven’t met Hekate.”

“That’s it!” exclaims Erimaya. “What if we could invite Hekate and Daniel to a summit to pursue peace? I know they’d come!”

“Demons have always rejected...”

“Not demons, Hekate and Daniel. They’ll come. I’m certain of it.”

Heralesse thinks for a moment. She looks at her younger sister’s face as she thinks. She asks, “And, how would you get a message to Hekate to invite her?”

“I’ll send her a letter. She told me how to contact her.”

Heralesse sighs. She’s not convinced. “And, how exactly are you supposed to do that? Just because you were able to contact her once, the journey to the border forts is dangerous enough, let alone trekking into the Demon Wildlands.”

With a soft glare, Erimaya retorts, “I don’t appreciate you doubting everything I say and do, Elder Sister. If I tell you, you’ll tell Rikuto.”

“I will not if you ask me not to.”

The younger princess sighs. “Elder Sister, I love, admire, and respect you. But, when I did trust you, you betrayed that trust. Hekate is the rising power in the west. I have my way of reaching her, but you don’t need to worry.”

Heralesse hesitates as she thinks about Erimaya’s words for a minute. She sighs, murmuring, “I’m sorry, Eri.” She then sits upright, saying more seriously. “Very well. I’ll discuss the notion with Rikuto and our parents, and if she’s available, Grand Duchess Aramellianna. If we can, I do believe peace is the preferred option.”

Erimaya nods in agreement. “Agreed. I shall send a formal letter to Empress Hekate once they approve.”

Heralesse smiles, and she hugs Erimaya, kissing her forehead. “Please don’t do anything reckless anymore, my dear sweet little sister.”

Erimaya smiles gently. “I won’t. Thank you.”

“Oh, and remember, Empress Sundenelle has expressly forbidden recognizing Hekate as a titled ruler. Not picking a fight, just telling you to be mindful in court.”

“Understood. But...”

“I know. We’ll need to treat her with respect if we want to get anywhere. I’m just worried... Sundenelle might try to get involved. Anyway, problems for the future. I’ll talk to you later to let you know what’s decided.”

With that, Heralesse stands up and leaves the room with one last sincere smile. She has to now convince everyone else to consider a peace summit with someone that the Empress of the Grand Zenkon Empire, with whom Mornistae is allied, has expressly denounced.

And, from the sounds of it, Hekate can be specific about who she gets along with.

***

Daniel walks out of his restroom, flinching in surprise when he finds Kera'tai waiting for him. “Oo, uh, Kera’tai? What’s going on?”

She grins at him, looking up and down the hallway. She sighs in apparent relief. “I finally have you alone...”

Daniel sighs. “So, uh, what did you need me alone for?”

She approaches in a titillating manner, teasing warmly, “Isn’t it obvious, Master?”

“If you’re looking for business advice from Earth, I must insist that I’m not a businessman. I’ll do what I can, but I can’t guarantee your business idea is a good one.”

She cocks her head in confusion. “What?”

“No?” replies Daniel as innocently as he can muster.

Kera’tai frowns at him. “Seriously?”

Kera’tai pouts, “Am I the only one here he hasn’t seen?”

Wenlianna squeaks, blushing furiously. “I...”

Daniel sighs. “See what you started, Xyreko? Let’s just get this over with.”

Xyreko guides them into position, starting with Ryuogriar as Daniel stands in front of them. “Alright, the process is relatively simple, now that the circle is prepared. In all seriousness, your hand will have to touch the crest.”

Ryuogriar grins, and she doesn’t hesitate to loosen her dress and shimmy the collar down much further down than needed, threatening to allow her well-endowed chest to spill out of her dress, in spite of the magic crest being present near the top of her sternum and her collar bones. Daniel maintains his composure, since they’ll just keep getting distracted if he becomes flustered.

Daniel takes his glove off, placing his hand on Ryuogriar’s chest. She huffs lasciviously, but he again ignores it. Though... “Sorry. Is my hand cold?”

“No, it feels good, Mukori. Now, if you want to tear-...”

“Ryuo... What’s next, Xyreko?”

“Repeat these words after I activate the circle; ‘I hereby release the Greater Dragon Ryuogriar from her contract with no conditions. Fade the mark from her soul and return her to her own will.”

“Uhh...”

Xyreko snaps her fingers, and magic lights illuminate the wall behind her, revealing a projection of the words in the eastern trade language. Daniel smiles with a chuckle. “Thank you, Xyreko.”

“My pleasure, dear Master.”

“If I may... Who am I speaking to when I read this? I never understood that about magic.”

Wenlianna answers, “It’s widely believed that spoken spells are heard by spirits that control the domains of whatever the spell falls into. Wind spirits for wind magic, light spirits for light magic, and void spirits for void or darkness magic.”

“Lady Ryukana can probably explain better than anyone else we know,” points out Xyreko. “But, there is no evidence the spells are controlled by conscious beings. Rather, the feldroks believed it to be echoes of the souls that came before, rather than conscious spirits, which answer the spell.”

“Like the unfinished business of a ghost?” asks Daniel.

“I suppose that’s a fair way to look at it. Souls interwoven with magic are powerful bundles of energy, as evidenced by the feldroks becoming stronger when they absorb magic. It’s likely feldroks were not the first race to wield magic, but adapted to overpower magic.”

“I see. So, spirits or lingering soul fragments. Works for me. One more thing... Why can I use Ryuo’s current name, rather than the name she gave me when the contract was established?”

Xyreko lets out an audible chuckle, and she replies gently. “Because, Master, the very first instruction you gave your newly contracted dragon, along with slapping you, was to go by a new name. Because she wholeheartedly accepted this name, and it was the instruction of her contractor, it became her new true name.”

Daniel is a little surprised, and he looks at Ryuogriar first. The white dragon smiles tenderly, and when he glances at the other two, they also smile.

He says gently, “I see... Then, let’s do this.”

Xyreko nods, and she begins casting the spell to activate the contract removal circle. It begins glowing, and once more, it reminds Daniel of the strange magic circle that appeared in his bedroom that fateful day. Once she’s ready, Xyreko nods at Daniel.

“I hereby release the Greater Dragon Ryuogriar from her contract with no conditions. Fade the mark from her soul and return her to her own will.” Daniel can feel the glyph on Ryuogriar’s chest heat up, and she hums a little, wincing slightly. “Are you alright?” whispers Daniel.

“I-I’m alright. Just a strange sensation.”

“Oh, and Daniel, do try to stay calm,” adds the caretaker golem. “The golems were able to handle it.”

“Handle what exactly?”

Suddenly, the air crackles and whooshes, and a gust blows as an apparent hole opens in the air above them. The golems Xyreko had in the room immediately take firing stances, aiming at the strange black sphere with whirling energy around it.

Daniel would guess, given the appearance and Xyreko’s reaction, that it’s a portal.

Daniel reaches across his chest under his right arm to grip the hilt of his revolver, watching the portal.

From it descends a being that sends a chill through Daniel just looking at it.

It possesses gossamer, torn-looking robes that immediately remind him of the grim reaper, and its long, gangly hands might as well be bones. Its face is also rather grim, though it appears to be a mask with a demonic face on it and solid black eyes.

“Xyreko...” states Daniel in a warning tone, but she simply gestures as Hekate and the others cover their ears. The golems fire in unison, and the floating wraith screams in surprise and anger.

“Contract Demon! Don’t stop touching Ryuogriar!” calls out Xyreko, before a second volley follows the wraith as it tries to retreat, finding a barrage of fire with specialized bullets from every direction. After the second volley, while the wraith is screaming in agony, Xyreko adds, “They try to hijack contract spells when conditions are fulfilled for its removal, when the spell is in a transitory state and the contractee is still bound.” A third volley thunders, and Daniel winces, switching his hand to Nemaisol’s hilt. He tries to pull the sword from its scabbard, but it doesn’t move. He tugs and tugs, finally managing to pull it out, though the sword does seem heavier than usual. Meanwhile, Ryuogriar holds his hand to her chest, keeping their connection so he doesn’t accidentally remove his hand.

The mechanic keeps his magic-repelling sword towards the wraith, ideally to defend Ryuogriar, since she’s the one apparently targeted by the demon.

Thankfully, it loses strength quickly, and the golems close in, firing relentlessly in volleys until the wraith cries out, disintegrating into a pile of ash.

Afterwards, Xyreko finishes the ritual, and a cool sensation reaches through Daniel’s palm. “You may take your hand away, now, Daniel.”

Hekate instantly snaps, “Xyreko!? What was that thing!?”

“I told you. A contract demon.”

Kera’tai remarks, “That doesn’t look like a normal demon.”

Daniel adds as he inspects Nemaisol for a moment. “Why didn’t you tell us about it beforehand?”

“I had hoped it would be unnecessary. From testing, the ratio of successful contract removal to contract demon arrival is ten to one. Though, I suppose they may be able to tell what the target is and choose to ignore goblins and ogres...”

Daniel sighs. “Ya think?” He shakes his head. “Anyway, those things can hijack contracts?”

“Yes. They reside in a pocket dimension, similar to storage magic. In fact, I believe storage magic was passed down by contract demons.”

Suddenly, Ryukana appears, saying rather urgently, “I detected an extraspatial intruder. Where is it?”

“Not to worry, your Divinity. It was a mere contract demon. It would have provided trouble before Daniel’s arrival, but they are no match for the overwhelming firepower of Earth combined with our magic materials.”

Ryukana looks at Daniel and he rolls his eyes and shrugs. “She caught me by surprise, too. Xyreko, are there any other things you’re keeping secret from me regarding this ritual? Please tell me before we do the others.”

Xyreko hesitates for a brief moment. “There is a slight chance that the being that comes through is a mana devourer, which is what it sounds like. Like the Devourer, it could become a great threat to this world. I doubt one will arrive here, though.”

Daniel looks to the goddess, and Hekate says the obvious, “I’d be more comfortable if we didn’t invite mega monsters into the Citadel. It takes time for Daniel to make his god-smiters.”

“I’ve heard that term a couple times,” replies Wenlianna. “What are these ‘god-smiters’?”

“Sorry, Wenlianna. That’s one thing I won’t be sharing with anyone who doesn’t already know,” answers Daniel.

Ryukana speaks to Hekate’s concern, “I shall remain close and seal any portals that open. I agree that we should avoid making an opening for something that threatens the world once more.”

Daniel nods, and Reignleif trades places with Ryuogriar, waiting on her turn. She has to strip her mantle to be able to reveal her own chest, though she doesn’t go overboard with trying to expose herself like Ryuogriar.

Again, as they’re performing the ritual, a portal opens, but Ryukana simply waves her hand, and the portal crackles and vanishes.

“Where are they coming from, and how do they know the spell is taking place?” asks Daniel.

Ryukana replies, “There are worlds that produce beings capable of transcending from their own worlds to a place not unlike the Divine Realm. However, there is no established location. They can’t return to the physical realm without drawing the gaze of the god or goddess watching over that world, so they wait until they can anchor themselves with powerful magic.” She looks at Hekate just as the fox-eared girl is about to ask something. “Only Lady Order or Lady Chaos have the power to disentangle magic from one’s soul. Even the process by which Rikuto gained magic when coming to this world is an automated function of the summoning process. I could perform the ritual Xyreko is doing, but I don’t have the authority or power to remove the contract myself.”

Hekate’s brewing question proves to have been about just that, and she nods, satisfied.

Daniel looks at Geirahoel, who is the last one. “Are you ready, Geira?”

She nods softly, stepping into position. Because her dress opens at the front like a kimono, she is more deliberate about minimizing how much of her chest is exposed. She looks away when Daniel places his palm on her chest, while Xyreko performs the ritual once more. Daniel jokes, “Come here often, Geira?”

“Sh-Shut up and do the spell. Dummy.”

He chuckles, and Xyreko signals him. He reads the spell once more, substituting Geirahoel’s name in, and he can feel the spell taking place under his palm. Geirahoel winces, squeaking softly.

This time, three portals open, but Ryukana responds to them just as quickly, launching powerful balls of energy into the portals before dissolving them this time. Daniel makes a note to ask about it later, though he suspects she was just obliterating the contract demons on the other side so they stop trying.

Once the spell is complete, Geirahoel looks at her chest, seeing no signs of the glyph and Daniel’s name. She relaxes, closing her dress and holding it closed with her left arm. Ryuogriar remarks in a playful pout, “Aww... I’ll kinda miss having Daniel’s name on my chest... It was charming and fun being his ‘property’.”

“You were never my property,” groans Daniel.

Geirahoel suddenly cocks her hand back without warning, and she swings her palm, smacking Daniel across the cheek with an audible clap that causes everyone else in the room to halt what they’re doing and gasp.

***