Contract.

In the outskirts of a forest a little blond girl was stalking a deer, bow in hand. She was walking with measured steps to avoid being detected. She used the trees to hide her advance, dashing between them while keeping her silent approach. Thankfully in this forest there was nearly no undergrowth, which made it easier for the little girl to go fast.

She was nearly in range of the deer when it suddenly raised its head and dashed away. The little girl sighed and put her bow away.

“Why do they always detect me? I am good at sneaking.”

“Maybe because you didn't pay attention to the direction of the wind and it smelled you? I think that was a royal deer, and those have good sense of smell.”

The girl jumped backwards and turned sideways before drawing the bow in her hands and pointing it towards the origin of the voice. There sat a boy of similar age to her. He had his bow resting in his lap and waved at the girl cheerfully.

“Who are you?”

“I am Emyr Morgan, aspiring runemaster and inhabitant of the Neram Woods, Keeper of the Well. Who are you?” He put a wise looking posture but being a young child it looked more adorable than impressive or boastful.

The blond girl laughed a little at his antics and Emyr smiled at her, his objective of breaking the ice complete.

“I am Rhiannon Griffin, aspiring knight and inhabitant of Blaen village. I don't have a title but my father is commander of the militia in town.”

“A knight? But my books say that here in the wildlands there are no knight orders, only hunters.”

“Your books? Well sorry to say this but they are wrong.” She wasn't really sorry. “My father came long ago to these lands in order to protect them. Since he is a knight he can train me until the day I go to the Capital to be knighted.”

“That sucks, if my books are wrong I can't trust my knowledge.”

“What about your parents?”

“I don't have parents. I know that they existed since my mansion is there and the spirits and books taught me about human reproduction.”

“Sorry.”

“No problem, since I never knew them I don't miss them much. I do wonder what it is t like to have parents.”

Silence spread Rhiannon feeling awkward and Emyr completely lacking social skills. In desperation to break the awkward silence Rhiannon latched to the weirdest thing Emyr had said.

“What are those spirits you mention? They aren't from Beyond, Paradiso or Pandemonium right?”

“There are no spirits from other places than those two. Aside from spirits born in Physica but those are still part from one of the other three. There are no pure Physica spirits.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The spirits are weak and not sentient Beyond spirits that were bound by my parents in case something happened to them. I thank them for that since something did happen, though I don't know what exactly. They were left with lessons that I would need and a few messages. Knowledge and my duties are part of those lessons. I think I can trust the spirits but much of what I learned was from books and now those can't be seemingly trusted now.”

His face showed irritation at that. Rhiannon didn't speak and just let him calm down but she thought of something.

“Wait! If you don't have parents, and I don't think I've seen you at the village, who has raised you?”

“The spirits. You are the first human I've met. Oh but don't worry, I had food brought to me by spirits and I learned to hunt long ago.”

While he tried to reassure her her face was filled with consternation.

“Get down.”

“What?”

“Get down from that tree.”

“Why?”

“Do it or I'll shoot.”

“Alright, alright. Sheesh.”

Emyr climbed down the tree in a few seconds and went to Rhiannon, he was about to speak when her actions paralysed him. Rhiannon had embraced him.

“I'm sorry you had no parents.”

Emyr felt uncomfortable with the contact but he didn't break it. His books had said breaking a hug was rude and he didn't want to be rude.

“It-it is not your fault. You don't have to apologise.”

“Shut up dummy, just enjoy the hug.”

“It actually feels uncomfortable.”

Rhiannon separated from him in shock.

“What?! But hugs are the best!”

Emyr was about to refute her when he felt something twist inside him. While human contact felt uncomfortable due to having never experienced it there was something about the hug that now that he lacked it he missed it. Warmth, both physical and emotional.

The six year old began crying a little, understanding now how lonely and cold he had been. He tried to contain his tears, that felt weird for him, but failed.

“Why am I crying? I don't have anything in my eyes. Is this that crying from sadness thing?”

Rhiannon didn't answer with words but with action. She embraced him again. They stood like that for a while, until Emyr stopped crying.

“Hey Emyr?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you want to come to the village?”

“I'd like to but I have a duty in the forest, I can't leave for more than a day.”

“That is fine, the village is one hour away, you can't see it only because of the forest.”

Emyr began feeling excitement bubbling inside him and nodded with expectations.

Back at Blaen village a well built blond man was pacing in a room. A similarly blond woman was reading a book.

“If you big oaf don't stop bothering me I swear I will throw you out.”9

“But dear this is the first time Rhiannon hunts alone. What if she is harmed by something? I don't think she is ready.”

“If it was up to you she wouldn't hunt until she was twenty and her knight dreams would die. She is ready for the forest, the only monster there is sealed beneath the Morgan Manor. And animals aren't a danger for her, remember what you are grooming her for.”

“Yes but what if it frees itself? What if a bandit attacks her?”

“It has not shown signs of stirring since the Wild Hunt exterminated the Morgans six years ago. And the only bandits that pose a problem for Rhiannon are again the Wild Hunt, any other would be sliced to pieces in a few seconds. She has the strength of an ox and the skill of a page. I'm honestly a bit surprised by how much she has improved in just a year, how long did it take for your brother to do the same?”

“Two years. But he was older.” He answered absentmindedly. “And what if she can't bring herself to kill them and doesn't fight?”

“You have brought her to butcheries precisely to make her get accustomed to death and blood. And even then she is perfectly capable of running away so stop pacing around.”

“Fine!”

Rhiannon’s father sat in a chair. He lasted three seconds. Rhiannon’s mother sighed and just chose to ignore him.

Some time passed before they heard a voice in front of their house.

“Mom, Dad! I'm back!”

“Rhiannon dear!” Her father went to the door as fast as a horse. Her mother sighed again.

“Rhi dear, have you managed to hunt something?” She asked.

“More or less?”

Her father was about to ask her what she meant when she entered with a boy in tow. The impact was tremendous, with her father staring in horror and her mother laughing at him.

“Well well. Look dear! Rhiannon is so mature, she has already caught a boy.”

“Catrin?!” Her father didn't know whether to be scandalised or mortified. “She is too young I refuse to accept that!” At that moment his brain caught up to the situation.

“Wait a minute. How did you find

an unknown boy in the forest?”

“Now you think of that Cadoc?”

“It is perfectly normal for a father to be worried about his daughter’s male company.”

“When she is six?”

“Yes.”

“Stop ignoring us!” Shouted Rhiannon pouting.

Her parents stopped their unintentional comedy routine and looked at her.

“Alright Rhi. Who is your friend?“

“He is Emyr Morgan.”

The impact of those words were of even bigger impact. Catrin gasped and run to Emyr to examine him while Cadoc paled and clenched his fists.

“What is it?” Asked Emyr, a bit put out by the attention.

“Just to make sure, are you the son of Jon and Heled?”

“You knew my parents?”

Three hours later they were all seated around a table.

“So my parents were killed by the Wild Hunt?”

“Yes. We also thought you had been killed but it seems your parents hid you well.”

Emyr looked conflicted before he asked.

“What were they like?”

“Jon was eccentric, he would spend hours going on and on about whatever gadget he had made. I still remember the time he reinvented the gun by ‘improving the crossbow’ and didn't realise until I told him.” Reminisced Cadoc. “However he was still a loving and reliable husband and friend. Even to this day I still use the armour he engraved for me. He was an excellent runesmith. The other thing he would go on an on about before his death was you, Emyr. He was so happy to have had you, hearing him speak of you it would be believed that you were a condecorated hero and not a baby.”

“Your mother on the same hand was also eccentric, but about runic arrays instead of crafting. She loved to make and speak of her traps and defences. She like your father was proud of you.”

“I see.” Emyr’s smile made the adults melt a little inside, before they were sobered by the comprehension that he had spent his entire conscious life alone. “But how were they?”

The adults looked at each other before agreeing.

“Would you want to live with us? Then we could speak at length about them.”

“He can't.” Said Rhiannon. “He has to remain at his home or a monster will escape.”

“I forgot about that.”

“So did I. But can you at least come often here?”

“Sure miss Griffin. I'd be glad to.”

Two years later.

Two young children were sparring in a field. The blond one charged at the red haired one but he sidestepped her and slashed at her neck. She didn't manage to avoid it in time and was hit.

“Enough! Emyr wins this time.” Exclaimed Cadoc.

“How?!” Asked Rhiannon. “I train every day and I have always won! You spend all your time with books and runes, you can't be better than I!”

“I am just great.”

“Tell me the truth!”

“He is.” Said Cadoc. “But he is misdirecting you, quite devious of you Emyr.”

“Then what has he done?”

“You already said it.”

“What?” Rhiannon furrowed her brows in thought. “Wait runes?”

“Yes.” The smugness irradiated from Emyr. “My ‘weak’ runes have defeated you, miss I am the greatest warrior.”

“But there are no runes in your clothes or weapon!”

In response Emyr took of his shirt and showed her his chest. In it a few glowing runes were spread out.

“Body runes? But those are advanced!”

“Yes, but if I want to create the Gates I need to be a runic grandmaster. It is only natural that I am so great at them. I have neglected my history for it.”

“That is bad, Emyr. The history of Kabrack is important if you want to be a great man.” Catrin told Emyr off, worried about his education.

“But between my magic studies, my rune studies, and my natural sciences studies I have little time for anything else. Particularly if I want to build the Gates before twenty!”

“No buts, you are coming with me until you learn your lessons.”

“Rhi, help me!”

“Sorry Em, I can't help you. I'm also trapped.”

Emyr sagged at those words and reluctantly went with Catrin.

“Don't worry Emyr, the story of Goleuadau, the sword that makes lightning as it is swung is an interesting one.”

“A sword that makes lightning is easy to make.”

“But what If I told you it can cut through any not magical material we know of.”

“Really?! Does that mean that it makes lightning through the ionisation of air particles by shaving and carving electrons from the atoms?!”

“Yes.” Catrin looked at him intently. “Now I understand what you meant by your studies not letting you learn other things. What kind of child knows that process simply by hearing two things about it?”

“Me.”

After they left Rhiannon let herself fall to the ground and stared at the sky. Seeing her in such low spirits Cadoc chose to let her know of the secret.

“Rhi, do you remember the difference between knights and runic knights?”

“Knights are normal but trained people, they learn all weapons, both firearms and cold weapons. However runic knights are knights that have had runes engraved on their bodies becoming superhuman.”

“Then why are you depressed about your loss? You know the difference between them and Emyr was using runes.”

“But his runes were weak.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I wouldn't be able to fight him otherwise. Well done runes have always the same effect, there is no way a child would be able to fight against a rune engraved person. I would have lost in seconds instead of the minute it took.”

Cadoc smiled at her daughter's lack of understanding of her own strength.

“Rhi, what do you know about spirit knights?”

“They are the strongest of knights alongside wizard-knights. They, like wizards, draw power from Paradiso, Beyond and Pandemonium. But unlike wizards they do so in an indirect way

Wizards make holes in the dimensional barriers and draw power from the Three Realms of Unreality. With enough work and skill they can transform them into Gates to the Realms. What Emyr is attempting is to skip the first step by crafting Gates directly and then fusing them to his soul to draw power from them. Anyone can be a wizard but it takes incredible mental and runic skill, so few achieve it. Emyr is a genius.” She seemed a bit downcast at that, fearing that he would forget her once he was successful.

Caboc saw this and resigned himself to the fact that Emyr was his most likely future son in law. He preferred him to some other punk, honestly. However he would not allow his daughter to feel inferior to him, she too was a genius.

“Keep on.”

“Ah! Ehem, sure. Spirit knights instead draw the power of Physica and the Three Realms of Unreality into their body, enhancing them. They can also use leftover energy that wasn't used in the enhancement to cast spells like wizards, much like wizards can enhance their bodies with their energy, but both are worse at the other’s main technique. Aside from that spirit knights can eat or make contracts with spirits to acquire special powers.”

“How do spirit knights become that?”

“You need money, bluntly put. They also must train hard from a young age if they want to become spirit knights before thirty years of age since the process is sped if done while growing. Most start at the teenage years but some dedicated ones do it from five. The money part comes in that they must be fed with monster food. That is monsters made into food. And that is expensive.

As they train and absorb the power of monsters their bodies adapt and begin to absorb it naturally from the Four Realms of Creation. They will grow stronger to the point that they can equal rune knights with their bare bodies. Once they reach that level the training methods must be changed. I don't know those.”

“Good. What is the standard procedure for training spirit knights from childhood?”

“To avoid them becoming cocky and not honing their skills they must not be told… that… they are training? You can't mean?!”

She rose from the ground fast and launched herself at her father, making him topple.

“Careful! I am just a spirit knight trainee like you my daughter.”

“Really?! Like uncle Gruffudd?!”

“Yes. My parents didn't have the money to train both of us so only he got training. But I am now a rune knight! I have the money to raise my entire family, though your mother is a wizard so she is only strengthening her body. All the food we eat is from monsters.”

“Yes! Just wait until Emyr hears! But why did you train me?”

“About your second statement, you asked for it when you first heard about them. I didn't want to close doors for you so I simply trained you just in case.”

“Just in case? Grandpa and grandma would have a stroke.”

“They know. I'm also feeding them monster food.”

Rhiannon began to smile and giggled creepily.

“Sorry to burst your bubble but if you are imagining how Emrys will look it is futile. He already knows.”

“Whyyyy?!!!!!!!”

“No way around it! He noticed the monster food the moment he first ate at home! He is a runesmith, you can't fool a runesmith senses!”

“Fuck.”

“RHI?!!!!!!”

“What? It's what Gwilim always says when he is beaten at training.”

“I'm going to kill him for corrupting my little girl.”

“Dad?!!!”

Eight years later.

A blond teenage girl stood next to a red haired teenage boy. Despite her youth the girl already showed signs of great beauty, with a toned body, long blond hair and modest breasts, but it was her face that made her stand out. She had symmetrical feminine features but what shone were her green eyes, they were filled with confidence that made her look as if she was beyond mere mortals.

The boy in exchange was less toned but still above average. His hair was striking in its redness and his eyes were a rich brown that turned green at the edges. While he lacked the girls conventional beauty he had similar confidence in his eyes. It was a pity that at that moment that confidence was wavering.

He had asked a very important question and the lack of answer was getting to him.

“Hmmmm.” Hummed the girl while having a finger over her mouth, simulating being deep in thought.

The boy waited, but no answer came. His eyes were beginning to twitch when she finally answered.

“Honestly I should have made you wait as much as you made me wait but… Yes, of course! Why do you think I was sending you those looks?”

She was about to continue teasing him when he made her shut up in the most pleasant way. Despite her confidence she was still but a teenage girl and the kiss made her lose all reason.

The kiss kept going on until a deep male voice sounded with irritation.

“Would you stop kissing my daughter while I am here? Why exactly did you call me here? And stop groping my daughter!”

The two teenagers separated with haste, having forgotten that Cadoc was there. They blushed deeply and didn't look at Cadoc and specially not at each other. Until they did and blushed deeper when they saw the other looking at them.

“Oh for Mam Nephol’s sake! I knew all those years ago that you would get together but this is ridiculous. My daughter is in the tentacles of this beast, why Mam, why?”

“I am not a beast! Rhi would have to have much better curves to make me react like that!”

“Em?!”

“Please you have seen her mother, you know her potential. I know, I've been there.”

“Father?!”

“But her mother excercises much less than Rhi, she will have less curves.”

While shouting at each other the two men had approached each other. That put them in the perfect position for Rhiannon to grab their ears and twist them.

“Please stop talking about me as if I was an object, thank you.”

“Sorry Rhi.”

“Sorry Rhi but I am a man and I will notice those things. Particularly since I love you and you are beautiful.”

Rhiannon felt shy again at that and released her fathers ear to curl her hair around her finger.

“Well, if it is like that…”

“Don't let him fool you daughter. Today is compliments tomorrow hands on you.”

“I wouldn't do that! Not without her permission anyway.”

“Yeah!”

“I forbid you to do that until you are of age. Even with permission.”

The lovebirds blushed when they understood they had just admitted that they wanted to be intimate with one another. In a desperate attempt to redirect the conversation Emyr explained what he wanted Cadoc there for.

“IwantedtogiveagifttoRhiandiwantedyouto- Gagh, cough, cough.”

Rhiannon grabbed him and looked at him in concern. He waved it way while Cadoc felt an intense surge of madness overcome him, he managed to seal it away until he was alone with Catrin.

“You were saying?”

“I got a gift for Rhi and I wanted you to evaluate it!”

“What if I had rejected you?”

“I'd have given it to your father who would have given it to you and then I would have gone to cry in the tavern.”

Rhiannon looked touched and she kissed him in the cheek. He looked at her and they fell in their little world again. Cadoc twitched and whispered to himself.

“I swear if they don't stop doing that…”

While they didn't understand him they heard him and were startled awake.

“So yeah! Gift right there, I'm going for it.”

Emyr run away to a cart and took a sword and full plate armour from it.

“Is that…” Rhiannon was entranced by the beauty of the runes in the armour.

“Yes. A full set of runic armour to the height of my skills.”

He was jumped on by Rhiannon and they fell to the floor in a tangle. She began pecking him.

“Thanyouthankyouthankyou!”

“Hey! Calm down! That's not even the best.”

She stopped cold and turned to the sword. A predatory smile appeared in her face and she unsheathed it. She was a bit disappointed when only a faint lighting appeared around the blade. She turned to Emyr and pouted.

“Don't look so down, it's more than it looks like. Do you remember what your mother taught me the day you learned you were a spirit knight trainee? I have tried to replicate it since then and I may have succeeded.”

“Impossible!” Shouted Cadoc. “No matter how good you are you can't have replicated Goleuadau!”

“Well I mostly replicated it.” He put emphasis in mostly.

As he said this his girlfriends energetic swings halted when the lightning disappeared.

“The energy that I could fit in the sword only allowed for ten seconds of activity. But those are ten seconds in which you can cut through anything, provided you have enough force behind your swing. And it only takes five seconds in the sheath to recharge it!”

Rhiannon lifted an eyebrow and sheathed the sword slowly. Expectations built up as the seconds passed. Five seconds later she unsheathed it again and the lightning reappeared.

“Isn't that a liability? In battle you won't have five seconds to sheathe it and it will be useless until then.”

“It won't. It is still the second best blade I've ever laid my eyes on. The blacksmith that made it was highly skilled. I engraved enough runes to make it of the same quality as the armour. And the allcut enchantment is activated at will, which adds a layer of unpredictability to it. And before you ask the ten seconds are ten seconds while active, so you won't be wasting any charge.”

“Only second best?”

“You want my Heirloom already? We have only began to go out.”

“Not yet then.”

“That's ridiculous, there must be a catch.”

“Well, the enchantment is so delicate that it only works against mundane materials and not at all against magic. Any decent rune armour will cause it to fail. But I remind you it is still a ridiculously good sword, even against magic and rune armour.”

Rhiannon sheathed the sword in satisfaction and hugged it. She then loomed over Emyr, who was still in the floor, and gave him a long and deep kiss. Once she finished she smiled at him.

“Don't worry Emyr, I will use this sword to protect you.”

“Please, once I finish my Gates you puny knight will have to grovel at my feet.”

“So you are into that?”

“Maybe.”

“Urge to kill rising.”

“Eep!”

“Whoah!”

“Let us just test the armour and sword, alright?”

Once the sword was tested Rhiannon felt conflicted.

“This is too good Erym. An armour capable of stopping anti tank rounds and missiles. A sword that even without the enchantment can cut through normal plate armour like cotton. This is too valuable, why?”

“I love you. I'd give you only the best. I don't put price to my love.”

“You're sweet.”

They kissed then, this one not passionate like the others, but tender.

Two years later.

In the Morgan Manor Rhiannon and Gwilim were guarding a door. The thirty year old man sighed.

“What is your boy doing? It doesn't take this long! My brother took only two hours.”

“Did he ever craft three Gates, linked them and fused them to his soul.”

“Wait, three linked Gates? He’s going to become an Arch-Trinity right off the bat? Well may Mam Nephol take me, that’s ridiculous. How long did it take him?”

“Twelve years. But he became a runic grandmaster only three years ago so it may take him less time if he did it again.”

“Why don't more wizards do that then?”

“Because while all runesmiths are wizards not all wizards are runesmiths. Few can become runic grandmasters, and honestly? It would have taken Em at least twice the time if he didn't have his parent’s research and findings. And he sucks as a wizard, he only knows the absolute basics of spellwork.”

“I see, so it's a question of preference?”

“Not really. Most Arch-Trinities are about sixty so even if you began at twenty you would become an Arch-Trinity at forty some. Few have the patience for that and would prefer to learn awesome cosmic power and perfect their holes into Gates with time. So in the end it comes to the age at which you begin to learn runesmithing. If you are an adult and want to be a wizard the traditional way is best. If you are a child and have patience Em’s way is best.”

“I see. How powerful is an Arch-Trinity anyway?”

“Even as unlearned as he is he would be stronger than me.”

He turned to her, eyes bulging.

“You aren't bu- I mean kidding me?”

“I'm not a child anymore Gwilim.”

“Chastised once learned forever, sorry.”

“Riight. Anyway, he might lose to me in physical power and bizarrely enough spellwork, which would give me a chance to defeat him, but his magic could take out dozens of normal people in seconds. No amount of skill would save you Gwilim.”

Some cold sweat appeared in his forehead.

“I see. So it's not only because he is your boy that we are here.”

“You really thought I needed you if he was doing something less? There might be a great commotion so we have to be prepared for anything.”

“What kind of commotion?”

“You should be feeling it soon.”

Noticing she wouldn't speak further Gwilim shrugged and returned to guarding the room. The answer to his questions came soon after they fell silent. He alternated between awe and fear, between feeling happy and repulsed.

“What is that?” Even speaking seemed harder.

“The Gates to Pandemonium and Paradiso have opened. Only Beyond is left.”

“Shit, it feels weird.”

“Paradiso is the epitome of good, only those of righteous heart are allowed there, all others are cast out. Pandemonium is the epitome of evil, only the wicked can survive there. Weird is putting it mildly, there are those who go insane when looking at a Gate of Pandemonium.”

“So, how do I avoid that?”

“Don't look at a Gate when it opens. Though if you are in front of an opened Gate you have bigger problems than insanity.”

“Got it. Not messing with Arch-Trinities.”

“Or plain Trinities. Or Arch-mages. Or Arch-demonologists. Or Arc-Theurgists. Or spirit knights. You have a lot of things to be scared of Gwilim, myself included.”

“Nah, I've known you for years. I can't fear you.”

“You've also known Emyr for years.”

“Yes. But he is the forest dwelling wizard, that sounds more imposing than the ultra strong training maniac.”

“I'm not a training maniac.”

“How much time you have for yourself or Emyr?”

“Not that much. But we enjoy training side by side. And he trains as much as I do in his own way.”

“That makes you both training maniacs.”

Rhiannon was interrupted by a feeling of wonder appearing.

“Finally! All three gates open. Now he only needs to fuse them to himself.”

“And no problem in sight.”

“Don't jinx us, Gwilim. Remember about the monster.”

“Oh shit.”

“Oh shit indeed.”

The last comments weren't because of the comprehension of the danger, but because of the danger being real. A roar had sounded across the forest.

“Fuck! Gwilim, keep guarding Em. I'll deal with the monster.”

She didn't wait for an answer and sprang to action. She ran through the reconstructed hallways to meet the monster, knowing fully that she couldn't defeat it. She could only hope Emyr woke up fast enough to seal the beast back.

She arrived at the sealed well and jumped within. She fell to the floor in total darkness.

“Lux!”

The cavern was illuminated and she saw the beast. It was humanoid but no human could ever be of such size. It was about twenty meters tall, with gray skin and four muscular arms. Its head was bulbous and round and five tusks spread from its lower jaw. Its teeth were sharp and its legs strong.

Something to be thankful of was that it had only released two of its arms from the ethereal chains binding it. It was tugging at the chains of its third arm when it noticed Rhiannon. It began tugging harder but Rhiannon wasn't about to let it break free.

She charged at the beast unsheathing her sword. Since it was a monster she didn't bother to activate its enchantment and simply jumped to its shoulder and slashed it. Her sword barely made a cut, not even reaching beyond the skin. In retaliation the beast swiped at her and launched her through the cavern until she impacted the wall.

“Gah!” She fell to the ground but raised herself quickly. “Even stronger than it looks like, thank you Em for this armour.”

She charged again this time at its legs. The beast swiped its hand at her but she slided beneath it and passed through its legs before turning and stabbing the back of its knee. While she managed to penetrate the full length of the sword the beast was so massive that she only reached halfway through it. But that was enough to make it collapse on its knee. She took advantage of its weakness and run up its back to its head. Once there she stabbed her sword downwards into it and then began running forward, creating a gash through its head. She had to jump from it when the beasts hand swiped through its head. In order to do as much damage as possible she slammed her sword on one of its shoulders and in the injury she stuffed a grenade.

She jumped and hit the floor as the explosion went off, injuring the beast lightly. However the use of its upper right arm was impaired slightly, making it slower. Its upper left arm shot forwards to punch her but she raised her shield and blocked the impact, using the pause on its movement to stab one of its fingers, which were one third of her height, and try and sever the articulation in question. She was halfway through when it made a sudden upwards movement that threw her upwards and made her fall to its now open mouth. She had managed to keep hold of her sword and produced shockwaves from her feet that shot her towards the beast's left eye. She managed to stab through and blind it but the beast’s reaction of closing its eye and swatting at its face separated her from her sword and sent her plummeting to the ground near its feet. She was about to rise when it stomped on her and she lost her strength. It kept applying pressure, making her grind against the floor.

“Aaah!”

She put strength on her limbs and began to lift herself along with its feet. She then jerked upwards and then to the side, managing to escape from its feet. She quickly jumped backwards, out of the range of its feet and rose again. She took out her secondary sword and prepared to engage again.

The beast attempted to clap its hands with Rhiannon between them but she jumped upwards and landed on its right arm. She run up it but she hadn't noticed that it had freed its lower left arm. She saw it coming at her in slow motion, too late to react when a giant ball of wind impacted it and made it hit the beast's body. The sudden movement threw Rhiannon off the beast, but a force pulled her to the arms of the newcomer.

“Got you.” Said Emyr with a smile.

“Thanks Em,” she smiled at him, “now let's kick that things ass.”

“No, we must seal it. It is too strong for us to defeat.”

“I have injured it.”

“Yes but its true power is still sealed. Once it turns red it will be too late.”

“Red?”

“It is a Red Golrogam Demon. A very old and powerful one, it is currently not even at one percent full power. It has only its physical might.”

“Fuck. Then we must strike fast. It has my sword in its eye, if that helps.”

“It does.”

As he said this a majestic gate appeared behind Emyr. In its border the workings of the universe were engraved, all of them. If you stared too long you would see it shift in bizarre ways, showing all physical phenomenons, all natural laws. It's door was detailed, with many creatures engraved on it. It opened fast and a transparent distortion flowed to Emyr, empowering him. He directed the power to his arms and released it in the form of lightning that went to the sword in its eye. Using it as a conduit into the beast the lightning began to course through its eyeball and head, paining and damaging the beast. He kept throwing lightning as the beast flailed until the water in its eyeball vaporised and exploded, destroying its eyeball and damaging its skull, making the beast sag. The sword was thrown to the wall where the two humans were and Rhiannon run to grab it. Then she returned to Emyr, who was kneeling and sweating heavily from his feat.

“Is that your limit?”

“No, but I am not accustomed to so much power, I can't release more.”

“Even then I think we have a chance to kill it.”

“Too risky. We can seal it and return once we are stronger.”

“True. How do we do that?”

“Protect me while I manipulate the seal over there.”

He signaled to a portion of the wall covered in runes.

“How did I miss that?”

“No idea. Come on.”

They were interrupted by the sound of something snapping. They turned to the beast and saw it had turned red and snapped the last chain keeping its arms restrained. Now only the pylons keeping its torso immobile remained.

“Shit! Quick lets-”

Erym was interrupted by the beast roaring and emitting a red wave that crashed against them and threw them to the wall. Only the fact that it was reinforced allowed the wall remain intact, but Rhiannon and Erym were not as lucky. They were left on the floor with several bones broken. They dragged themselves towards each other slowly.

Once reunited they grabbed with their hands and Erik spoke as the beast tried to release itself.

“So this is how it ends. It is disappointing, I wanted to spend my life with you.”

“You’r-cough.” She coughed blood. “This armour is nasty when broken. You're not alone in that thought. I wanted to be with you, to rise to fame with you, to marry you, to raise our children with you. But I guess it won't happen. Hey Erym?”

“Yes?”

“I love you, forever. You have always been by my side, you have been both my best friend and the only man I've loved. I can't think of spending my life with anyone else.”

“I love you too.”

They looked at each other, waiting for the end. But seconds stretched into minutes and it didn't come.

They turned to look around and saw the area around them had frozen, with the demon being in the middle of breaking the last of the four pylons.

“What is going on?” Asked Rhiannon.

“I don't know. Only an incredibly powerful being may be able to do this.”

“It is time for me to speak. I didn't want to break your moving declaration of love, that would ruin the story.”

The voice came from the heights and when they looked to them they saw an eye surrounded by a roiling mass of tentacles.

“The Collector of Stories?” Said Erym.

“What?!”

“Indeed. I have intervened for one reason only. Your stories can be much more than you are right now. Far beyond what a mere Red Golrogam Demon can offer, even one as great as this one. It is unlikely but under the right circumstances you could be as great as I.”

“That's an honour, but what is the price?” Asked Rhiannon.

“Intelligent, I like that. In this planet your story would stagnate. The forces that can threaten you are too powerful, this planet has been mostly tamed and no upheaval is to appear in millennia. Decades of training are boring no matter how great you become, so you must leave it.”

“How? Interstellar travel isn't achievable, unless you take us.”

“Even I wouldn't do such a crass thing. No, there is a much more elegant solution. You may call upon my aid thrice, and once they have been spent or five years have passed, whichever comes first, you must depart for the City of Mercenaries.”

“The City of Mercenaries? The sole interdimensional mercenary ring?” This time it was Emrys that questioned the Collector of Stories.

“Indeed. There your story will blossom, but you must go together. This is my deal, do you agree?"

They looked at each other and recognised that besides death hey had little option.

“Together?” Asked Erym.

“Together. We agree.”

“Very well. What do you wish to do with the demon?”

“You should absorb it Rhi, it'd probably give you something nice.”

“Sure why not eat the demon?”

"Very well."

The Collector moved to the demon and easily crushed it between its tentacles, the demon never knowing what happened even to the end. It returned to to the pair and dropped a chunk of flesh before Rhiannon.

“I have concentrated its essence in this flesh. Eat it and be reborn."

Having said this the creature disappeared and the world returned to normal. The two had been healed sometime during the conversation and they rose while supporting each other.

“Your mother is going to kill us.”

“Yep."