A covenant, the most binding of all soul contracts…

I recoiled a bit at the thought of forming such a bond with unknown entities especially while under duress but I understood my position. The shadow would reach my core structures long before I figured out how to free myself on my own. And once it got to my core, it would take control by injecting its mana into me just as I had done with the portions of its “bait”.

I felt disgusted at the thought of becoming yet another sub-core for this leviathan of the Astral and my pride couldn’t tolerate how it had tricked me. It used pieces of its body disguised as independent astral beings to lure me into its trap, going so far as to allow me to subjugate and claim the sacrificial pieces so I’d be lured into a false sense of security. I had no idea it was possible to control structures independent of one’s astral body. Yet another thing that marked how much I had to learn of the Astral beyond my isolated sector.

To separate hundreds of pieces of one’s body stabilized by sub-cores and use those pieces to simulate the behavior of weaker astral beings, the feat was an impossibility, a level of control I couldn’t fathom. Yet, there I was, trapped in the belly of a predator older than the oldest stars because of my ignorance. However, I would not let the mistake be the end of me.

Very well. Name your terms and be quick about it, I said as I watched the shadow creep through my body, ever closer to Libbu and my core structures. Its presence rattled the fetters of my mind like a neurotoxin corroding my response time and mana reserves.

“To flesh, we will be bound and in us, the Nascent Soul’s heart will dwell. From the shadows, we will hide until by the Nascent Soul, we are found. He restores us to our former glory to gain that which he most desires. The covenant concludes yet we remain. A chance for all to elude the shadow’s knell.”

Again, the Sanguine Dream spoke with the voice of four and l paid close attention to the message, intent on complete comprehension. The words were accompanied by images of four humans, separated by space yet connected. I couldn’t see their features but I recognized their souls. The four each carried a bloody organ held aloft like one might hold a lantern in the darkness. The Mad Titan had a tongue; the Weeping Sun, an eye; the Languid King, a brain; and finally, the Sanguine Dream, a heart. These gruesome tokens led the four down individual paths that converged at the same point.

There, I stood, a whirl of mana amidst the darkness. The four offered their tokens and in return, I let them pass and they took a piece of something precious to lead the way. After they passed, I used the tokens to push out the darkness. Then, I transformed, my essence taking on a humanoid shape before I vanished. I reappeared after a time and began to walk along a road filled with shadows. One after another, the souls of the four who escaped appeared beside me until we arrived at a monolithic shadow.

The visions ended with a scene detached from the other. I sat at the pinnacle of power and the four knelt before me, each offering the piece they had taken. For each piece, I granted power to the supplicants until they stood next to me, heads bowed in respect.

The message and the visions gave enough information to grasp their meaning. In exchange for helping me escape, they wanted new mortal bodies. They would each contribute to the endeavor in a way only they could and the result would free me from the shadow’s grasp. I appreciated that the escape they proposed included an implicit understanding of sanctuary. We would not be simply free of the shadow, we would be safe from it as well, at least for a time if I understood correctly. That said, I had one major issue with their conditions. Their plan involved Libbu, specifically splitting her core structures between myself and the four souls. They intended to use parts of her core as anchors to return to the Physical and somehow, they would return the pieces later.

I will not split her. Not only am I unsure of my ability to do so but the act may cause long-lasting damage to the integrity of her core, I thought sending forth my displeasure.

The Sanguine Dream laughed at my refusal. “The Nascent Soul lacks the experience in true intimacy but I will show him.”

Her communication brought to mind my encounters with seductive women while I reared the rulers of old, complete with the sultry suggestion and self-interested undertones. I ignored the tone of her message and struck at the heart of it.

If it is possible, then I will agree to your terms.

I didn’t like it but I had little choice in the matter especially since I had no idea how to save Libbu myself. The Sanguine Dream seemed confident in her insinuations once again and I wondered if I was being misled. Still, I had to do something soon. The shadow’s influence had already dulled my sense of the outer regions of my body to an uncomfortable degree and the symptoms grew more severe the deeper it burrowed.

I took solace in the truth that the covenant would reveal any falsehoods.

“My touch upon your sheltered heart to cast my light into your dark.”

She pushed knowledge into my mind, a process that cost her much by the feel of it. I saw the flow of my mana permeate Libbu’s core structures without disturbing their integrity. I encased different sections in psykhe then bound those sections to five separate souls through the covenant’s connection. The process used me as a nexus of psykhe to keep Libbu stable. Technically, I wouldn’t be splitting her at all but rather extended the linking pathways within her core structures. A covenant merged the Truths within the souls of all those involved, a process which would have potent benefits and unknown side effects. Thanks to my path to find the Truths of the soul, it was an ingenious loophole that would allow Libbu’s core structures to avoid the dangers of a soul binding while maintaining her integrity.

If I had been at full strength, I may have been able to mitigate any unwanted side effects by using psykhe to interface directly with the covenant but as I was, it was impossible. Still, knowing how I could save Libbu was enough for me even if I sensed their unwillingness to reveal more until after I accepted the covenant.

I had resolved to go forward with the plan despite the dangers but I needed something confirmed first. These souls might have been another ploy by the shadow like the sub cores posing as astral beings. The four souls seemed independent of the shadow, almost like flickering lights barely holding their shape in the oppressive darkness. That didn’t mean I could discount them being pawns of the shadow. What better way to lure prey into the final blow than with the promise of salvation? The shadow had proven itself cunning so I would not let negligence lead to my downfall if nothing else.

I am satisfied with your proposed method for Libbu’s safety. However, I have my conditions. First, I will perform an analysis on the Sanguine Dream to ensure I can trust this deal. Second, when you are reincarnated on the planet currently known as Earth, you will do nothing to harm the planet itself. Third, you will coexist with the native population of Earth. Fourth, Libbu’s core structures will not be used as a tool for coercion or manipulation in any of our dealings. Violation of any of these will constitute a breach of the covenant and I will not hesitate to tear your souls apart in the aftermath.

I sent my demands rapidly to all four souls to ensure each one understood. Along with the communication, I sent visions for clarity and emotion for context. I chose the Sanguine Dream as the subject of my analysis because she was serving as the medium for the other three. I could use her as a focal point to closely evaluate the integrity of her and those for whom she spoke. What’s more, the Sanguine Dream was the most powerful of the lot and also the most suspicious. She knew things beyond the shadow even though she had been trapped for ages and the ego underlying her communications gave the impression of one who enjoyed manipulating others.

Not that I was one to judge, all things considered.

I felt their consideration as I began my preparations for the covenant. Despite its magnitude and the possible consequences, a covenant didn’t require much to initiate. All we had to do was create an equal binding between the souls, or the core structure in my case, of all participants. This binding would be filled with our essence causing our innermost selves to mingle with the covenant’s intent thus rooting the agreement in the depths of the participants.

“We accept,” said the Sanguine Dream.

Like that, the process began. A lance of psykhe pierced her soul as I scoured it for treachery. It was similar to what I had done to Brigantī to find Libbu’s whereabouts so long ago; however, the technique had been honed over the millennia by Truths of the soul and my mastery with mana. Now, not even the innermost regions of another’s soul were beyond my reach.

I found the Sanguine Dream’s pain over the ages since her imprisonment within the shadow. I sifted through her faded memories from those of better times on a long-lost world to those of her purgatory within the shadow ignoring the emotion welling within her soul as it was forced to relive each one. I delved further into the foundation of her soul, to be sure nothing was hiding from my sight. There was no hint of betrayal or subterfuge within even after several sweeps. Finally, I pulled away.

“Have I passed your inspection?” the Sanguine Dream asked. Although her voice was impassive, she was too weak to prevent the revulsion, fear, and shame from leaking across the psychic communication. I disregarded the emotion, aware that by mortal standards of morality what I had done constituted the worst of violations but indifferent to it, and answered her question.

Yes, let us begin.

The binding of the covenant took all of a few moments. After that, knowledge flooded my mind from how to escape with my abilities to what lie in wait for me once I did so. Wasting no time, I began.