“I’m just gonna practice a little longer.” Aster said as he moved the small ball of flame from one hand to another. It had been another few days since their encounter with Hitsuki and Aster’s transformation. He felt happier with himself, like he finally found a missing piece of who he was. His new mental partner wasn’t as annoying as he feared she might be either. While he found it funny that her way of talking was so… teenager... she truly cared for him and he found that he also cared for her. It was like they had been friends long ago and had finally reunited.

Saelak gave a groan, as he rolled over to look at him from his bedroll on the ground. “Aster, you’ve been practicing all day, you need to rest and recover your mana pool, this constant draining is gonna wear you down mentally till you get some real rest. The mana fatigue debuff is no joke.”

“Debuff?” Aster repeated, raising an eyebrow at him.

Saelak returned Aster’s raised brow with his own and observed, “You know, for all the reading on magic you’ve done you seem to miss a lot of the basics.” Saelak shook his head and said as though reciting from a book, “Mana Fatigue is caused when a mage drains their mana repeatedly without ever allowing the pool to refill completely. It causes a temporary reduction to your maximum mana and an increasingly worse headache the longer it persists.” He sighed then rolled back over pulling the blanket further up his body as though the discussion was over, “Now go to sleep, Old Man”

Aster chuckled and released his ability, the flame disappearing and the flicker of the campfire becoming the last light in the area. It had been getting much colder and he knew winter was fast approaching now. He went and laid down under a heavy blanket, the cold might not bother Saelak but he was starting to regret travelling so late in the year. He was wanting to go through his profile screens again. His Fire Magic skill had gained a couple levels as well as Spirit Magic from summoning Hitsuki for a bit everyday and he wanted to see today’s progress.

He had tried out his Manifest Soul Space earlier, only to find himself in that black void where he first bonded with Hitsuki. When he had gone to sleep that first night he had found himself there with the fire rabbit in their humanoid form and now wearing a variant of a Japanese shrine maiden’s outfit with a dark red hakama and a pink kosode. Her long orange hair and furry ears made her almost look like a doll. She still had eyes that almost looked like rubies to him. They floated and talked for a bit when Aster had asked her how she got clothing and she just laughed at him and explained how his Soul Space worked. He could literally manifest whatever he wanted in the area. He tried it out and quickly discovered that it was about the size of two small bedrooms and he turned half of it into just that; a room for Hitsuki based on what she asked for. Apparently, she now shared his memories and had fallen in love with Japan almost as much as he had. Based on the outfit she had imagined for herself he thought there might have been a particular pretty fire wielding shrine maiden soldier that Hitsuki was fangirling over.

Tonight he rejoined her in the space, having made the other half into a hybrid living room and workspace for himself. Even though he felt very conscious here his body was apparently completely passed out in a deep sleep. So while he couldn’t really do anything, he could go through his information and talk with his soul bonds. The other nice thing was that even though there was limited space he could make it appear larger, so for instance he made the ceiling in the work room look like the night sky and instead of solid walls he had floor to roof windows that showed beautiful lakeside scenery, the moon reflecting off the lakes surface.

It helped him relax a lot and in this space he brought up his profile information. He had a better idea of his abilities now and where he needed to improve so it was time to distribute his stat points.

He definitely needed more mana. Now that he could cast spells, he felt mana starved constantly. He couldn’t even cast Soul Bond Possession because of the ridiculous mana cost and Soul Bond Fusion he was only able to cast for a minute.

The Fusion ability was too expensive to be practical to use at the moment. He tried it for the first time yesterday and he had basically turned into a hybrid of himself and Hitsuki. His hair grew and turned the same color of orange and his eyes had gone red, ears emerged from his head and his legs had shifted into the same structure as a rabbits. His teeth had elongated and small claws replaced his nails. He was not fond of the whiskers that had sprouted near his nose.

Aside from the appearance though, his senses were heightened to new extremes and he became wicked fast. He could jump much farther too, which he had, almost crashing into a tree. He could also Fire Bend much easier, that feeling alone was worth testing out the Fusion ability as it gave him a much better foundation to practice upon. The ability had broken automatically when he couldn’t pay the upkeep cost though which was an extremely jarring experience.

It could eventually be a powerful weapon though and any points in his physical attributes would make him all the more formidable. He decided for now to focus on his magic and speed to make him more dangerous in a fight since he kept seeming to lose those. He had a lot of points to help him catch up though so he made sure his other attributes didn’t fall far behind.

He placed his points, mentally clicking the little arrows, feeling himself change a little with each point. He finally looked over his newly updated and fully unlocked profile.

Name: Aster

Surname: Seppen

Title: Artifact of the Age

Age: 19

Gender: Man

Race: Half Winter Elf Half Airelian Human

Level: 20 (103,425/118,000)

Class: Soul Tamer [ Artifact ] [ Unique ]

Attributes

Strength: 50

Dexterity: 45

[+16 from Equipment]

(+1 from Soul Bonds)

Constitution: 50

Intelligence: 50

(+1 from Soul Bonds)

Wisdom: 50

(+1 from Soul Bonds)

Charisma: 45

(+1 from Soul Bonds)

Luck: 13

(+9 from Soul Bonds)

Willpower: 15

(+1 from Soul Bonds)

Karma: 13

Resources

Health: 500/500

Regen: 5.0/minute

Stamina: 620/450

[+160] (+10)

Regen: 5.0/minute

Mana: 510/500

(+10)

Regen: 5.0/minute

Qi: 360/500 (+10)

Inspiration: 103/500

Favor: 67/450 (+10)

Affinities

Air: 0%

Earth: 0%

Fire: 10%

Water: 0%

Ice: 0%

Lightning: 0%

Metal: 0%

Wood: 0%

Dark: 0%

Death: 0%

Life: 0%

Light: 0%

Blood: 0%

Illusion: 0%

Song: 0%

Covenant: 0%

Gravity: 0%

Spacial: 0%

Spirit: 100%

Time: Unknown

He aimed for a balanced distribution, trying to bring him closer in line with others in any area and he wasn’t certain what he might specialize in now that he had a class but perhaps not specializing would give him more options in the long run. He could maintain Soul Bond Fusion for five minutes now, in a battle that would be a huge game changer. Alternatively, he could summon Hitsuki indefinitely! For now however, he wasn’t planning to have Hitsuki out for battles and once they reached the next town tomorrow he wasn’t planning to reveal her existence to anyone so it wasn’t a huge deal but it was nice to have the option. The bigger reason to up his wisdom was that it would currently take him about an hour and 40 minutes to completely regenerate his mana pool. While that meant he’d easily cap it off when he slept at night, he couldn’t rely on his regen during a fight. He’d have to manage his mana carefully.

He unsheathed his mental replica of Crimson Destiny and inspected it again, he was slightly surprised that it worked and he assumed it was because of his close proximity to the item outside of his Soul Space.

Crimson Destiny

Forged on the night of a full Carnal Moon, during the month of Maniluna, by a Blood-Blessed master crafter, this blade desires the life blood of its enemies.

Quality: [ Masterwork ]

Availability: [ Mythic ] [ Unique ]

Type: Sword

Level: 16 (51,712/58,500)

Effects:

+16 Dexterity. (1 * level)

+16% Critical Strike Chance. (1% * level)

+16% Critical Strike Damage. (1% * level)

Applies a bleed for 16 damage per minute. (1 damage * level)

Fated: This item gains experience along with its wielder.

Bound: This item is bound to its wielder and cannot be wielded by another person unless given freely.

It was so powerful now! He couldn’t believe the instant upgrade he had gotten to it from all his past experience applying to it. It felt like a weird quirk in the system if he thought about it but it gained experience when he did and since his experience had basically been put on hold he gained it all at once and it gained the benefit as well.

He gestured to Hitsuki, who was laying on a fluffy couch watching the stars, and asked her, “Do you know how to wield this?”

She gave him a dubious look, “I have your memories so I, like, technically know how to, like, use it but I’m not sure if that will translate to ability. Besides, there’s, like, totally not much point in learning when I only have this form in here, ya know?”

He nodded thoughtfully and resheathed the sword with a sigh, “I guess you’re right.” He sat down on the couch next to her and stared up at the ceiling of night sky. He remembered something else he had seen on his profile, “What is with your Luck by the way? Do you really have over 90?”

Hitsuki clapped back impishly, “What’s up with yours? How are you not totally dead yet? I got, like, a single freaking point from you.”

“You got points from me?” He asked, a bit surprised.

“Point. Singular. And ya, after bonding with you I picked the Soul Bond class so I could actually get all the perks of selling my soul.” She sat up seeming to fiddle with something invisible in the air.

Aster rolled his eyes at her dramatization and inferring his devilishness, but his curiosity kept him asking, “What’s the Soul Bond class do?”

She made a final swipe in the air and her entire profile appeared between them for him to read.

Name: Hitsuki

Age: 2

Gender: Woman

Race: Fire Rabbit

Level: 2 (542/600)

Class: Soul Bond [ Artifact ]

Attributes

Strength: 2

(+5 from Soul Binder)

Dexterity: 15

(+4 from Soul Binder)

Constitution: 3

(+5 from Soul Binder)

Intelligence: 15

(+5 from Soul Binder)

Wisdom: 10

(+5 from Soul Binder)

Charisma: 10

(+4 from Soul Binder)

Luck: 94

(+1 from Soul Binder)

Willpower: 10

(+1 from Soul Binder)

Karma: 1

(+1 from Soul Binder)

Resources

Health: 50/30 (+20)

Regen: 0.2/minute

Stamina: 180/150 (+30)

Regen: 0.3/minute

Mana: 190/150 (+40)

Regen: 1.0/minute

Qi: 10/100 (+40)

Inspiration: 20/20 (+20)

Favor: 100/100 (+20)

Affinities

Air: 0%

Earth: 0%

Fire: 100%

Water: 0%

Ice: 0%

Lightning: 0%

Metal: 0%

Wood: 0%

Dark: 0%

Death: 0%

Life: 0%

Light: 0%

Blood: 0%

Illusion: 0%

Song: 0%

Covenant: 0%

Gravity: 0%

Spacial: 0%

Spirit: 10%

Time: 0%

Abilities

Fire Bending

Effect: Manipulate fire with mana cost being dynamically based on the amount, duration and complexity of the desired task.

Duration: ∞

Cooldown: None

Cost: X mana per minute

Requires: Fire Blessing

Spirit Senses

Effect: Sense and interact with other souls, be they living or dead, with mana cost being dynamically based on the duration, distance, and power difference of the target and their disposition towards you.

Duration: ∞

Cooldown: None

Cost: X mana per minute

Requires: Spirit Blessing

Techniques

Empowering Flame

Effect: Imbue fire into your unarmed strikes and kicks for additional fire damage and a chance on hit to burn.

Duration: ∞

Cooldown: None

Cost: 5 qi per minute

Requires: Fire Blessing

Bite

Effect: Use your teeth as a weapon.

Duration: ∞

Cooldown: None

Cost: 5 qi

Requires: Rabbit Race

Command Soul

Effect: When making eye contact with another creature, you can speak directly to their soul. You make a Charisma check to command them to fulfill a task.

Duration: 10 minutes

Cooldown: None

Cost: 10 qi

Requires: Spirit Blessing

Class

Soul Bond [ Artifact ]

You are bonded to a Deviant Spirit Blessed. You have bound your life, purpose, Blessing, and very soul to them. They are your Soul Binder and you are their Soul Bond. Only death shall part you from them.

Requires: Contact with a person containing the Soul Bond Ability

Effects:

The effects of your Bonded Blessing (Fire) Spells and Abilities are increased by 10% while costs are decreased by 10%. You can use items bound to your Soul Binder. You gain a percentage of your Soul Binder attributes and resources. (Current percentage: 10%) The lifespan of your Soul Binder compound with your own. (Current estimated lifespan: 189 years)

Special Abilities:

Inhabit Soul Space

Effect: You reside in your Soul Binder’s Soul Space. You are immune to all damage and effects within this spiritual form and never tire nor require sustenance.

Duration: ∞

Cooldown: None

Cost: None

Telepathy

Effect: Communicate telepathically with living creatures in a 10 meter range.

Duration: ∞

Cooldown: None

Cost: None

Share Memories

Effect: Gain access to all the memories of your Soul Binder. Share your own memories at will.

Duration: ∞

Cooldown: None

Cost: None

Empower Soul Binder

Effect: For a limited time you can increase the effects of your Bonded Blessing (Fire) for your Soul Binder. The effects of your Soul Binder’s Fire Spells and Abilities are increased by 20% while costs are decreased by 20%.

Duration: 2 minutes

Cooldown: 20 minutes

Cost: 100 mana

Emergency Override

Effect: In the event your Soul Binder is incapacitated you may take control of their body.

Duration: Until Soul Binder is no longer incapacitated

Cooldown: None

Cost: None

He was impressed that she had so much considering she was just a rabbit. Aster decided to tease her back now though, “Your strength and con is abysmal, how have you survived this long?”

“Hmph, I don’t need to be big and buff to beat someone up. If they can’t hit me then I don’t need a lot of HP.” She gave a little pout.

Aster chuckled at her and said, “That emergency override ability is a little unnerving to me, though.”

She gave him a serious look, “If you die then I die. It only makes sense that if you’re, like, in serious danger then I can step in without you needing to, like, summon or fuse with me, ya know?”

He nodded thoughtfully while he twirled his ring that still hung from the chain around his neck even in this space. “Does Soul Bond Possession work similarly?”

Hitsuki tilted her head slightly causing her long ears to flop over slightly, “I don’t know, we’ll have to try it tomorrow, maybe on Donoma, I bet she’d be fine with cute lil me taking over her body.”

Aster laughed at that, “You’re a bit evil if you're willing to wield your cuteness as a weapon.”

She flipped her long hair as she replied smugly, “It’s a gift.” She laid back down on the couch and rested her small tabi-socked feet onto his lap and rested her hands behind her head, “You should try out Soul Sight tomorrow too. I know you’ve been focused more on, like, summoning me and Fire Bending but I'm totally curious about your friends’ information.”

“I’m pretty sure they’re your friends too.” Aster pointed out.

She grinned brightly at the stars that she continued to stare at, “Ya think? That’s totally awesome. Oh! We should totally find some more creatures to bond with too, one big happy bonded family! But, like, not just any ol’ animal. They need to be at least as awesome as I am!”

Aster grinned, “Not sure that’s possible.”

She giggled at him, “I know right?!”

Aster looked over her profile once more and asked incredulously, “Are you seriously only 2 years old?”

She shrugged at him, “Bunny years, ya know? My lifespan was only, like, 9 years before I bonded with you. Bunnies mature way faster than humans or elves, we have to with such little time to live.”

“So mentally you’re what? 14?” he asked, thinking about ‘dog years’ back on Earth.

“Well now that I can access your memories, I’m probably, like, 15 or 16? If I was, like, a human on Earth. Bonding to you was…” she paused trying to find the right words before shaking her head and sighing, “an experience. I don’t think the same way as before,” she sat up and tried to clarify, “like, we thought much more advanced than your Earth bunnies since we talked to each other and had stories and families and whatnot but… we were, like, really really simple cave-dwelling gatherer tribes. Our biggest concerns were, like, what was for dinner and not becoming dinner.” She said with a sigh before laying back down, this time resting her head on his lap instead. “Everything seems way more complex now.”

He nodded, patting her head comfortingly, and changed the subject a bit, speaking with a tinge of awe in his voice, “94 luck is simply amazing to me. Since you’ve seen my memories, then you know what my terrible luck has wrought. How has it impacted your life?”

Hitsuki seemed to relax noticeably and gave him a warm smile, “It brought me to you.”