Breathe in the Embers

Part 30

Martin had a thousand questions for Lithuega that night. Not all of them had been generated by the previous day, though many had, his mind was just not willing to shut the hell up. So he took the many rambling thoughts into the smoky world he shared with the demoness.

The Carcolith. She’d started getting upset when he referred to her as a demon. Others might not know any better, but he should.

That was fair.

They drifted together through the realm of shadows as they always did, floating with hands behind their backs. It was quite like Martin’s favorite ride at water parks. A slow moving river, inner tubes, relaxing and letting your mind wander. It was moments like these with Lithuega that he treasured the most. It was why they spent every night this way.

“So you think that’s why you couldn’t force the contract?” he asked idly, her speculation on the matter proving most fruitful. Of course, she’d had dozens of contracts before. Lithuega was extremely familiar with the theory, like a diabolical lawyer. So, you know, a lawyer.

“Yes. Carcoliths aren’t really bound to a contract, per se. Our power allows us to overwhelm the souls we bind to and take them. The only thing we need is their willingness to establish that bond. But shockingly we have found that if you just steal a soul the moment a contract is made, word of mouth doesn’t really do much advertising for you. Instead we complete them as well as we see fit, then take the soul after they have time to do some gloating.”

“You were going to take mine well before I got to brag about how helpful you were.”

“The kinds of people who want a contract would have heard the news, seen a demon saving everyone, and heard of there being only one student missing. The dots would have connected eventually.”

“But you couldn’t take my soul. You couldn’t enforce the contract because of my power?”

“Yes, because Mr. Ludo is incorrect, charming though he may be. Handsome man too.”

“Wait, is that from my memories? Have you met him before?”

“Shoosh. You aren’t immune to magic. You can allow magic to influence you if you wish it. What you have is more like… an absolute imposition of will. When something attempts to influence you, you can allow it, or you can not. If you do not allow it, it doesn’t work. Simple as that.”

“So when you tried to force the contract into completion…”

“Don’t go on about that again!” Lithuega protested, rolling over to glare down at him. He’d been rather enjoying the view before, but he had to admit this one had advantages too. She smiled knowingly before continuing. “The contract was complete. You tried to loophole me on a technicality.”

“I was turning the tables. That’s the kind of trick the demon is supposed to pull on the summoner.”

“Well I didn’t appreciate it.” she grinned. “So instead I was ending it fairly, where we both knew it was meant to end. Unfortunately, or fortunately I suppose, that didn’t work out.”

Silence fell, but it was an uncomfortable one for the first time Martin could remember. He didn’t really understand why that was the case, not until Lithuega brought it up herself.

“Are we ever going to talk about it?”

“About what?”

She averted her eyes. By God, was she uncomfortable? Martin had never seen her anything less than utterly confident since he met her. “About… how I tried to take your soul. How I’m going to eventually.”

“No.” Martin shrugged. “I believe we actually talked about that before. We made a deal. I loopholed you into a different deal, and had the power to enforce it. Honestly I feel worse about my end of this bargain than yours. You held yours up in good faith. I strong armed you.”

“Huh. I guess I never really thought about it that way.”

“Probably due to the popular portrayal of contracts with magical beings. They’re always evil for some reason, even if they stick to the letter of the contract. If you don’t want your soul sold, I would recommend not selling it.”

Lithuega laughed. Her laugh was always so beautiful when it was surprised. More honest and less restrained. “I suppose that is true. You’re certainly an odd one, Martin. I’m glad you got into Azimuth. I think you were always going to be someone great, but this place is going to give you the shot you need, even without me.”

“Without you? I thought you were staying with me until the completion of the contract, then taking my soul when you go. What happened to ‘forever’?”

“That was when this was about the soul.”

“And it isn’t anymore?”

Lithuega sighed, sapphire eyes looking into his. She almost seemed sad. “Not really.”

“So… are you going to leave before the contract ends? Are you going to take my soul at all?” Martin was confused. He thought this was all set in stone, the future set, but now she was talking like it was mutable.

It took Lithuega a very long time to respond.

“We’ll see.”