Stunned to silence, confused, and more than a little surprised, I stood there for a while just thinking. Ditto sat on my arm, motionless. The Alraune seemed more than content just affectionately nuzzling my chest with her arms wrapped around me. I still didn’t fully believe it. I had formed a contract with her… was I certain?

I focused on the feeling. The attachment. It was there. Undoubtedly. I could feel new spells in the back of my mind too. And her scent, while still sweet and quite pleasant, didn’t threaten my sanity anymore; stranger was the fact it felt so familiar and… safe.

‘Well… I guess this isn’t a bad development…’ I thought, finally just shrugging a little. The movement caught her attention and she looked up at me with those brilliant emerald star fire eyes.

“I guess you need a name then?” I asked. She smiled back and nodded. I jerked a little at her response. She understood me?!

But then again… Ditto had no brain and still we could understand each other because of the contract. ‘Handy things… contracts.’

I set a hand on her head, giving it a light pat. The soft silken strands of her hair, touched with gentle leaves and flowers, caressed my fingers and palm with every leisurely movement. I started petting her to feel it more… and not only did my fingers alight with electric, shivering glee, but she seemed to enjoy the petting as well, once more snuggling close and squeezing her hug.

A small chuckle rippled from me. A smile formed on my face. “You sure are the affectionate one, aren’t you?”

“Nnnn…” she mumbled into my chest. The sound she made had no words, but I could understand it to be a simple ‘yes.’

“Hmmm… a good name for you would be…” I thought about different names related to vines and the forest, but mostly drew up blanks. I switched to thinking about popular characters or people related to forests, plants, and biology. Poison Ivy… Ivy. Technically, the Alraune had nothing to do with Ivy, but it would make a nice name nonetheless. And since ‘Ivy’ was a ground-creeping plant… and grew in forests, it did make some sense.

“How about Ivy?” I asked. She just smiled up at me again and nodded. I continued petting her head. “Ivy it is, then… ummm… good to be working with you.”

“Nnnn!” she stood on her tip-toes, wrapped her hands around my neck, and pressed her lips against mine abruptly. I froze. Unsure of how to react. What to even think.

The delicate presence brushed against my lips. Warm. Sweet. Delicious in its own way. Hers parted ever slightly, then closed again on my bottom lip, lightly grabbing it and pulling before letting go. Her eyelids slid down. Her head turned to interlock her mouth with mine all the more. Her ravishing scent filled my breath. The warmth of her tongue stroked my skin. Strands of her hair tickled my nose.

I wanted more. My hands began to slide down toward her waist with the intent to hold her into the kiss… but my eyes caught sight of an encroaching shadow. Of the far deeper shadows. The sky was darker.

Night was coming!

The intensity of my thought caused Ivy to break the kiss and open her eyes. She hung off my neck, staring at me curiously, a touch of bewilderment catching her features. My heart internally flopped about, throwing a tantrum that I had just ruined such a glorious moment. It was my first kiss in this new life… and it had felt frickin amazing!

But time waited for no man, or kisses, and I needed to climb that tree. Realization flowed into her and giving a sad smile, she let go and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward said tree.

I let her pull me along.

“I’m sorry… maybe another time?” I asked. I really, really hoped there would be another time.

She looked over her shoulder, smiling brightly. “Nnnn!”

That restored my mood instantly and I joyously followed, like a puppy with the promise of a future treat. When we reached the vines, she focused on them and like an opening flower, they peeled back and out of her way, offering a path; their movements collecting into a shivering voice reminding me of a wind through the trees.

I felt the surge of the spell. The connection Ivy formed with the nature and how she called out to it, allowing her Mana to ease the flora to her will. But it wasn’t a forceful relationship. It felt like the plants did so willingly. As if the attachment was far more intricate than simply magic manipulating a static being…

As we walked forward, I tried replicating the feeling within me. I reached out to one of the vines and implored it to rise into the sky. I didn’t have any blood on my fingers anymore… likely thanks to my Heal, but I still tried.

The vine stayed still for a moment. But, unnaturally, it jerked to some call and erected itself upward slightly.

It moved! And no blood needed! Had I just used Mana instead of Spirit? My blood contained Spirit… so if I used it, nonverbally, and without the taint of blood, wouldn’t that be Mana? I really hoped so.

I tried again. Another vine slowly rose, not as high as I wished, but still enough to half obey. I tried it on another. And another. Losing myself in the trials like some kid finding out he had superpowers. It was only when we stopped did my focus shift back to Ivy.

She just held a knowing smile on her face, waiting patiently. Reaching up, she pat me on the head, whispering, “Nnnnhhhaaa…”

‘Good job…’ I chuckled and little and nodded, “Thanks.” I looked to the tree, “Now to climb it…”

I thought of doing it the hard way, but an idea formed in my mind. I let go of Ivy’s hand and took out my knife to slice my finger. A feeling of cold fear shivered within my mind and Ivy’s face darkened. She hastily looked away.

“It’s okay,” I said, reaching out and laying a hand on her shoulder. She jerked a little from the touch, but nodded, closing her eyes. I quickly cut my finger and sheathed the knife to calm her.

Her eyes opened and she looked at my now bleeding finger. Worry replaced the fear. She reached out to try and take it, but I held up my good hand to stop her.

“I’m fine. I need it for my magic,” I said. Reluctantly, she nodded and moved to the side. I stepped up to the tree. Looking up, I spied a high, thick branch that would offer me an excellent vantage point. I swallowed a bit, an anxiousness rising. This was a bit crazy on the idea side… but if it worked…

I willed one of the larger vines nearby to reach up. It slowly began, but the flow of energy going to it wasn’t from my blood… ‘Definitely Mana then.’ I tried switching to Spirit, turning the river’s course. Nothing. I tried replicating the feeling of casting through Ditto.

Blood surged from my finger, pulled out in a constant stream. I had no idea what I was doing, but I pushed it out, willing the energy to pour into the vine. The blood arced through like a vine itself and dove into the plant beside me. Red laced through it, turning it to a wild crimson color and its girth grew, as well as its length. With a mighty surge it dove into the sky and up to the branch.

“Heck yeah!” I shouted. I then pulled the vine back down to me, had it wrap around my waist, and then rise to the branch again. It obeyed. While a bit unpleasant considering all my weight was being held by a thick, near trunk-sized vine around my waist, I was still able to enjoy the invigorating power. The blur of the tree as I moved up. Weaving through the branches easily. As if I had become the head of the snake, and the vine was my monstrous body.

Reaching the branch, I guided the vine to set me down on the branch. My boots kissed the wood with a solid “Thunk” and a twilight wind blew over me, rustling the millions of leaves surrounding me. I peered out over the forest.

Beautiful was the only word. The treetops glistened with fractals of shadow and light, quivering within the cooling air. Half of a sun peeked out from the horizon. Its light painted the sky pink and purple pastels. The clouds touted oranges and flaring reds. The color gradient continued across the sky, growing darker and darker till opposite the sun lay an encroaching shadow that kissed the world gently.

Better yet, I easily spied the licking colors of a bonfire a mile or so Southward; snaking smoke trails rising from the chimneys of perhaps a dozen homes.

“So I did pass it…” I said, memorizing the direction and then having the vine lower me to the ground. I had to decide whether to strike out for the village tonight. Or tomorrow. Considering the night would reach me before I reached the village, I favored the latter.

When I reached the ground and released the spell, I decided immediately on the latter. An overwhelming feeling of exhaustion slammed into me like a truck. I staggered. Ivy quickly hugged me to keep me standing. My vision blurred slightly. My lungs could barely pull in breath. Everything felt sore. My body screamed at me, cursing me, threatening to wretch in protest.

“What… the heck… is this…?” I mumbled, slowly lowering to sit against the tree, Ivy helping me do so. Ivy had no answer. I didn’t really need one. Just like the Mana bars or Stamina bars in games… it was obvious that I had used a lot of juice on that spell. What I hadn’t expected was the intensity of the repercussions.

Ivy sat beside me. She leaned closer, rose her hand, and pressed my head to her shoulder. She then took my cut finger and brought it to her mouth, licking and sucking on it. The warmth of her touch. Her scent. A peace descended and with my tiredness holding me so firmly, I couldn’t help but fall asleep then and there.

When I woke, I felt warm. Pleasant. Calm. An unnatural peace blanketed me. There was also a slightly squishy, soft feeling beside me. Arms holding me. The sound of slow breathing, the sweet familiar scent of Ivy, her skin against mine. I peeked open my eyes and filtered light rained from on high through a scattered weave of vines that formed a protective globe around us.

I glanced her way, smiling when I saw her lovely face in sleep. Her arms hugged my waist and had her head lay against my shoulder.

While bizarre how close we had become just from a contract… the feeling we shared because of it just made such affection seem normal. It was if, instead of a sudden friendship only based skin deep, we had been joined at the soul. I planned to research it to fully understand what a contract was. But for now, I was just thankful for it. I had acquired a fine, and quite stunning companion. And doting. That was a plus.

Not wanting to wake her, I just enjoyed her steady breathing for near an hour till she woke. Her eyes opened and shimmered with a blurry energy.

“Mmmm…” she mumbled sleepily, rubbing up against me like some cat. I chuckled and rubbed her head.

“Good morning, Ivy.”

Groggily smiling, she nodded, “Nnnn…”

“We’re heading to Lonely Briar today. Will you be fine without your bulb?” I asked. She nodded, leaning close and kissing me on the tip of the nose. She immediately started to move in toward my mouth. I placed a finger on her lips to block her. “Not right now. We need to get moving.”

A precious frown formed and she shot me a slightly sad, pouting look. I pet her head to brighten her again before rising to my feet. The vines pulled away as I did.

Sun. Bright colors. The fresh smells of the forest. The chirping of birds. Though, I detected a small tinge of smoke on the air.

“Sounds like something is cooking over there,” I said, breathing deep. “We can probably buy some. Chaos gave me some money…” No, not money, they were called Crysts, if I recalled correctly. “Gave me some Crysts…” I pat the small coin pouch, listening for the jingle. It sounded.

Using one hand, I helped Ivy to a stand while the other pat Ditto. “Hanging in there Ditto?” The slime almost seemed to bounce in response, but I waved it off as imagined. Ditto was also larger. And a deeper red. “Now what is going on with you…?” I leaned in closer to look.

“Nnnn!” Ivy scolded. I glanced at her. Her eyes were slim and she was frowning.

“What?” I asked, confused.

She tugged on my sleeve, “Nnnn!”

“No? No what?” I cocked an eyebrow.

“Nnnn!” She tugged on my sleeve again. Realization struck. She was… jealous… of Ditto.

‘Why?’ I wondered, but just shrugged it off and pet her head. She was just being silly. “Come on, let’s go.”

The walk there was nice. We took a slow gait, leisurely pacing ourselves so we could enjoy the brilliance of nature. She held onto my arm the whole time. I certainly didn’t mind. It took nearly an hour to get there, with a few stops during to nibble on a snack, watch a snake slithering across a branch, tending to nature’s call. The closer we got the village, the more the smell of smoke began to build.

“Maybe they’re holding a festival?” I hoped so. That would be a fun time to enter the village. Have something jovial enough to meet my happy mood.

When we were just a few minutes away, my mood began to wane. I began to worry. Heat filled the forest with a sickening stench of burning and smoke. A soft crackling echoed through the trees. Everything was silent. No voices. No noises. Nothing. And the smell… putrid. A disgusting layer of over-cooked meat slathered in honey, or something of the sort.

We broke through the thicker part of the trees. Walked forward. Stopped at the edge of the clearing surrounding the village. Ivy clutched my arm tightly and hid her face in my shoulder. I felt like hiding my face in hers.

The bonfire I had seen the night before… now were smoldering cabins and workshops; gray and black husks sprouting from piles of ash. The chimney smoke wasn’t from chimneys. It came from piles of burning corpses, now mostly skeletons, lying in neat little spots and assorted according to size and gender from the look of it. Men. Women. Children.

Lonely Briar wasn’t a village. It was a grave.