"Ah, I'm pleased to meet you, Vesper. Joric has told me great things about you. I was the one to ask him to investigate who you were, to tell me every tiny piece of knowledge about you. To know who you are not through your words, but through your actions."

"Why?"

"Leave us, Joric. I need to speak to the boy alone."

"I'm an adult," Vesper chimed in.

Morrel chuckled.

"I'll meet you at the camp. Thank you for your service, Joric."

"No problem." Joric waltzed back to his duck, disappearing into the overgrowth. Vesper could smell the food from here and did envy him a little bit.

"Bring your Fae out, Vesper. I can feel your connection."

"Who are you?" Vesper backed away from the stranger.

"Just an old man, a guardian, I suppose."

"Look. I don't want any trouble. I get that my head should be lopped off, but I didn't mean to do anything wrong. Believe me, the last thing I wanted was to be burdened with Alry."

"Hey! I'm not a burden!" Alry appeared on Vesper's shoulder and poked him with her sword. Just enough to prick a little blood.

"I'd hope you don't actually believe your Fae is a burden. They're progenitors of true magic. The destined race to lead the mortal realm to prosperity, to remove the evil scourge that spreads its tentacles throughout the Kingdom of Calfor. You're the chosen, no matter how much doubt you have."

"Yeah, no. I’m a [bookworm]. I think you've got the wrong guy." Vesper said.

"A [bookworm]?" Morrel paused, contemplating. "Fate works in mysterious ways. That changes nothing. You are the chosen. Your job is to bring harmony to magic once more."

"I'm not joining some pointless war. I have my entire life in front of me. I'm not going to waste it, helping some stuck-up immortal creatures." Vesper said firmly. This Morrel guy was a fanatic, crazy, and didn't have a brain if he thought that Vesper would drop everything to go fight a war he didn't care about.

Morrel's old face turned beet red. He snapped his finger, pulling Vesper and himself into a cold, dark empty room. Despite this, Morrel and Vesper glowed.

"I didn't sell my soul, lived for thousands of years, suffering, for some sniveling petulant brat to tell me he is going to waste my time, the safety of the kingdom, and countless lives that have died for this cause! You will fix this kingdom, so help me gods."

"Why? I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to pick up this cursed book to feel so empty inside. I didn't ask to feel like an empty husk, to be born an orphan, or to enter into slavery. I'm not giving up my future for some maniac's beliefs." Vesper spat. "I'm tired. I've had enough of magic, of Fae. I want to live a normal life."

Morrel paused. He scratched his beard in contemplation.

"I'm sorry. What I said was uncalled for. I've forgotten what it's like to be young. Let me tell you my story, then you'll see what's at stake and why you're so important. I won't sugarcoat that this journey will be full of suffering and pain. Come sit down."

"I suppose I could hear you out."

"My name is not Morrel. I've gone by many names through the millennia, but before I went into hiding, my true name was Gunthar Carn, [head wizard] of the wizard order. Magic flourished back then. Mages had more power, [wizards] were more frequent and formed packs with various magical creatures. The most notable two being the Fae and Demons.

There was a time when both were used in harmony before humanity realized how foolish that was and that we'd have to pick a side eventually. Some of my brethren were hopeful that we could delay the decision, grow our strength, and place Fae in their rightful place as progenitors of true magic.

But the traitorous Archmagus Fiori backstabbed his way to the position of [head wizard] and disposed of those who made deals with Fae and most of the other minor summons."

"Minor summons? What else can people summon?" Vesper asked.

"It doesn't matter. You're bonded to a Fae, the proper summons of the mortal realm."

Vesper scowled. What was wrong with such a simple question? Why did there need to be one true summons?"

"I'm afraid I didn't notice the problem until it was too late. It started with the Fae acolytes disappearing on their initiation missions, then lesser [wizards] began disappearing when they traveled as delegates for the kingdom. When I noticed, only a third of the order remained, and we were just too weak to stop those filthy demon users.

Then came the great massacre. They slit our throats and fed our souls to Ulgathar, a powerful demon bonded to the Archmagus; they tore up our manuscripts and convinced the King to outlaw our kind in the kingdom. So we made a choice. It was not easy coming to the decision we made.

The last thirteen human Fae [Wizards] sacrificed their souls to me, to bind me to the book you hold within your hands so that I can guide the chosen in the right direction towards the salvation of humankind."

"How does any of this affect me or the kingdom? I was living just fine before you entered my life." Vesper asked.

"The King's decisions have always been closely tied to the Order of [Wizards]. Therefore the influence of demons causes this once mighty kingdom to rot away. You'll witness demonic evil along your path, trust me."

"I'm not interested in any of this."

Maybe Vesper was selfish. Maybe Gunthar was right, but it just didn't feel fair.

"But you're interested in something I can offer? Don't think I failed to recognize you're still willing to talk to me. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually, you'll understand."

"Do you know how I can repair my soul? I can't live like this."

"It's possible. The answer you seek is in that grimoire and mastering the pact you have formed."

"I can't read it. If you're as old as you say you are, why don't you translate the grimoire for me?"

"I said the answer is within the grimoire. To live this long, I've had to make many deals, a few which restrict me from giving you an unfair advantage."

"So why even come here? Why tell me all of this if you're just going to be useless?"

"I'm here to give guidance. You lack discipline, brat; sometimes good things take time. You would do well to remember that."

"Then what can you tell me?"

"Well, for starters, it would be good to get to know your Fae. It seems to me that you've neglected your partnership. Just get to understand her, and the rest will fall in place. She did, after all, take a part of your personality through the bond so you'll have something in common."

"Alright, I'll trust you for now." Vesper didn't want to trust Gunthar, but if what Gunthar said was true, he'd have the answers Vesper needed to fix the emptiness in his soul.

"Wonderful! We should celebrate for the journey to reinstate the power of the Fae begins. The road will be arduous, but no path worth taking ever is easy."

Gunthar snapped his fingers, and the darkness subsided. The cool breeze of the forest and the smell of roasted meat and numerous spices wafted through the air. Vesper didn't realize how hungry he was until now.

Where'd you go, Vesper? You disappeared with that crotchety old weirdo.

"I don't know. Let's go eat; I'm hungry."

If Gunthar heard their conversation, he didn't tell them. He led Alry and Vesper to the bonfire that was starting to wane. Most of the camp had gone to sleep, including Quill, who was slumped over the book he'd been reading.

The foreign chef tended to flames, cutting and carving the cooked food, never taking his eyes off the fire. By now, most of the camp had already had their fill, and there wasn't that much food left.

"Welcome back, Master Vesper. I was instructed to serve you a heaping plate once you returned."

Vesper happily took the plate of food. It smelled delightful. Vesper turned back, and Gunthar was gone. Vesper just shrugged and dug into the delicious meal. It might have been the most delicious food he had ever eaten. From taste alone, Vesper figured the roasted duck might’ve been mystical, or magical, or something otherworldly. At the very least, it didn’t come from a world of poverty.

He sat back and closed his eyes. He dreamt of mystical roasted ducks.

The bustling movement of merchants woke Vesper from his slumber. He was tired, his legs and feet sore from driving Quill’s cart. Vesper made his way to Morrel before the merchants had finished packing up everything.

“Can you tell me how to bond with my Fae? Why can’t you just tell me how to break the bond?”

“Patience. I’m not the person that you need to talk to. Once you’ve solidified your bond, I will bestow you the knowledge of how to fix your [soul strain].”

“But I want her gone. I want this cursed soul strain gone. What point is there strengthening my bond with her if I’m going to feel like this?”

“You can mitigate the effects of [soul strain] once you’ve mastered your bond.”

“I don’t want to mitigate the effects of [soul strain]. I want to be me again, the whole me.”

I can hear you. At least other people can’t hear you when you think about getting rid of me.

“It’s nothing personal,” said Vesper.

“Are you chatting with your Fae?” asked Gunthar.

“Yes.”

“Good. That’s bonding. Maybe you’ll get to the point where you begin to understand each other.”

“I doubt that,” said Vesper.

Four days traveling on the road and Gunthar refused to teach Vesper anything. He had to become one with Alry, whatever that meant. He had plenty of time, and he did talk to the tiny devil. And the tiny devil talked back.

Why're you such a coward, Vesper. Ride the Ox. It would be funny!

"I don't have a death wish. Have you seen the way the ox glares at me? If I didn't know any better, I'd think it wanted to flatten me into a pancake."

Gunthar did say we needed to become one.

"And me riding the ox would do that?"

Possibly. Have you tried it yet?

"That's not what he meant. I'm not riding the ox. We've been riding the poor creature to death."

You've been riding the poor creature to death. I've been sightseeing.

"Well, so you have any idea what Gunthar means? Some Fae secret you won't tell me?

I don't know. This is my first time in the mortal realm, mortal.

"You know my name isn't mortal."

Noted Mortal.

Vesper sighed. He glanced back at the pile of books, envying Quill. All he wanted was a little silence and maybe a good book.

At least Vesper was looking forward to visiting the capital. If Joric was right, they were only a day from arriving. Vesper daydreamed about the capital; he daydreamed about having a proper bath and bed.

Joric's horn wrang. Vesper pulled the reins on his oxen to stop. It was the middle of the day. They shouldn't have stopped yet, not when they were so close to the capital. The frantic rush of mercenaries gave Vesper his answer. Bandits.

"Get down! Get down! They're coming from the eastern side of the forest." hollered a mercenary.

Vesper ducked as an arrow whizzed past his head. He jumped off the wagon, using it as cover. More arrows rained into the caravan, thunking into the wooden wagons and Quill's books.

"Fuck, Alry, how many of them are there?" Vesper asked.

Battle! Finally, something exciting, mortal.

Alry whizzed over the wagons and zipped around the treeline, quick enough where the bandits couldn't get a good glimpse of her.

Maybe a thirty? These aren't your typical bandits.

"Shit!" Vesper uttered. It was just his luck. He closed his eyes and gave a quick prayer, hoping he didn't trip.

He prepared himself and pushed his legs as fast as he could go, sprinting away from Quill's wagon, hopefully drawing fire away from the scribe. He ran faster than he should've been able to. Adrenaline pumped through his body. Most arrows missed, some too far ahead of Vesper and many more behind him.

"Hit him in the legs!" shouted the bandit leader.

Joric's wagon was so close. And then Vesper tripped on a rock, tumbling on the ground. He hadn't made it.

"Help!" Vesper screamed as an arrow pierced his leg. The closest mercenary ran out and grabbed hold of Vesper, and dragged him to cover. Blood leaked from the wound. Vesper grimaced.

"Thank you," said Vesper. Joric, his chef, and three other mercenaries sat behind the wagon, surprisingly calm. They looked confident. To Vesper, they were courageous.

"I should be the one thanking you. You've made me a wealthy man." Joric grinned. "Tie him up, men. Let's make sure the deal doesn't fall through."