“That’s... that’s insanely powerful, Aster.” Saelak responded with a tinge of disbelief. Taking a few steps towards him, he continued, “You can know exactly what your enemies are capable of, potentially more than even they knew.”

Aster interjected, speaking excitedly, “If I can discover people’s affinities for them… they won’t need to go to the temple, they won’t need to find someone with a rare Blessing to see if they have one… I can save people who are like me from the pain of being labeled Unblessed.”

Saelak’s expression softened, “Aster… you can’t tell anyone else about this.”

Aster’s brow furrowed, “I could help people though.”

“I know but people will learn about your abilities and then they will try to control you. People like my moth-” Saelak was interrupted this time by a streak of fire hurtling against Aster’s chest.

Saelak raised a hand to drench Aster but the half-elf held up a hand to block the oncoming wave and with his other hand cradled the ball against him, “Wait! It’s okay! Behind you!”

Saelak spun to see that a bit further down the road was a grotesque half-skeletal creature trodding towards them. It reminded Aster of a zombie badger. Before Aster could say anything else, Donoma had her bow drawn and shot a glowing arrow from her now glowing bow.

Alert! Combat initiated with level 5 Death Badger!

Donoma used the technique: Quick Draw.

Donoma used the technique: Bright Weapon.

Donoma critically strikes Death Badger in the head for 48 physical damage and 20 Light damage.

Death Badger dies.

Combat ended.

You gained 18 experience.

Crimson Destiny gained 9 experience.

Saelak and Donoma turned back to see what had crashed into Aster only to find him passed out in the road. Donoma rolled her eyes, “Not again.”

Saelak gave a slight chuckle before quickly trying to cover it up and reprimanded her, “He can’t control it.” He walked over and nudged him gently, “Hitsuki? Are you going to take over again?” After a couple minutes of no response, he shrugged and lifted Aster onto his back with Donoma’s help. Donoma left the Death Badger, noting none of the pieces were useful in its rotten state, and they continued down the road.

“At least he’s not on fire this time.” Donoma said and placed a hand on Aster’s forehead, “A lil warm but not nearly as bad as before.”

Saelak stepped away slightly, pulling Aster from her touch, and replied, “It’s most likely because it’s not a new Blessing, less acclimation needed.”

“Odd that da bunny isn’t controllin’ him this time.” Donoma noted while Saelak just nodded but didn’t speculate further.

They continued down the road in silence before Donoma spoke up again trying to take advantage of their time alone, “Soooo... ‘ave ya always been da one ta take care o’ Aster like this?”

Saelak gave out a short bark of laughter, while shaking his head with a smile, “Honestly, it’s usually the other way around. I’d be the one making trouble for everyone and Aster would be the one to save my arse and teach me to be better. From the moment we met he’s been motivating me to become what he calls ‘The best version of myself’ that I can be.”

Donoma hesitated slightly before saying, “But ye’re a noble. Ya didn’t think ya were already better dan everyone else and didn’ need ta become better?”

Saelak frowned slightly thinking it over, “I believe my parents think that way in a sense, but I struggled with controlling my power so much early on that I never really saw myself as better than others since it felt like I was failing most of the time.” He readjusted his grip on Aster’s legs as he continued, “I think the fact that Aster, an Unblessed, saved me when we met helped me realize that ‘noble’ doesn’t equate to being more capable or good in general. Aside from that though, Aster showed me that even if you don’t think you can be better than others, or even if you think you already are better than everyone, it doesn't mean you should stop trying to be better than the person you were yesterday.”

Donoma nodded, “I guess yer right. I ne’er thought ‘bout it that way.” She studied Saelak and then Aster’s faces before asking, “Aren’t ya both a bit young ta self reflect like that?”

Saelak laughed again and leaned slightly towards her and whispered conspiritorily, “That’s why I call Aster an old man. I swear he acts more like an adult than 90% of the adults I’ve met.”

She laughed with him. Feeling her heart lighten at being included in the joke. They fell into a comfortable silence for a while when Saelak decided to ask a question this time. “So I know we’ve been travelling together for a while now and you and Aster talk incessantly but where did you come from? Like, what brought you to that river we met at in the first place?”

Donoma pursed her lips slightly before shrugging and said, “I’ve just been wanderin’ and survivin’ fer years.” she tugged thoughtfully at one of her braids before quietly continuing, “I don’t like stayin’ in one place fer too long. Let’s just say I ‘ad a fallin’ out with me clan and I don’ plan on goin’ back or lettin’ ‘em catch up.”

Saelak nodded, “I can understand that actually. I basically told off my parents before going on this journey with Aster. They cared more about their status than the situation of an orphan that had always shown our house loyalty and respect, more about how others would view them than the life of their son’s best friend.” Saelak took a deep breath trying to calm himself, “I refused. I told them to go resh themselves and packed my bags and left.”

Donoma gave him a soft smile, “Guess that finally gives us somethin’ we ‘ave in common.”

Saelak smiled again at that, “And don’t forget we’re both Multi-Blessed now.” He lightly touched the small golden music note at her left temple.

Donoma perked up and quickly rummaged in her bag for a mirror, taking a look at the new symbol herself, “Ye’re right, I can’t hardly believe it.”

“So do you play an instrument or is your voice your only tool?” Saelak inquired.

She grimaced slightly, “I play a bit o’ pipes but I ‘aven’t ne’er been taught and… well, I’m not really fond o’ singin’ in front o’ others.”

She was fidgeting with her braid again, and Saelak guessed that she didn’t want to go into why that was as he said, “Well you can practice either one while we walk if you want. We should probably follow Aster’s example and increase our skill levels while we travel. I know I’ve been slacking...”

Donoma cut in, “I know what ya mean but da higher levels are just so.. so…”

“Frustrating.” Saelak finished for her and she nodded.

“I just can’t believe how long it takes now ta get even a single level o’ me Light Magic in da Apprentice rank. Gettin’ past da level 20 wall is almost as painful.” She continued giving a defeated sigh.

“20,000 experience for a single level is not a small task,” Saelak reminded her. “I’m amazed Aster had gathered enough to get past it, but it’s not too surprising in hindsight.” Donoma raised an eyebrow at him and he elaborated, “He was always working. Always pushing himself to improve. Since he didn’t have magic he tried everything else. I think the only time I ever saw him not working towards some sort of goal was during festivals and while sleeping. If he wasn’t actively working on something, he was reading and learning and sometimes he was doing that while working.” He paused for a moment then corrected himself, “Though… I guess there was one day each year that he did take to himself.”

He went silent at that point and it took Donoma’s prodding, “And what day was that? His Age Up?”

Saelak shook his head and said with slight forlorn, “The day he was relinquished into the care of the Temple, the anniversary of his mother’s death.”

Donoma went quiet then and Saelak didn’t feel like speaking any longer. He remembered coming across Aster on one of those days about 4 years ago, he had secretly followed his friend through the forest in the early dawn and he would never forget the sight. It was snowing, as it usually did during that time of year and Aster stood in front of a black husk of a cottage, laying some dark red roses in front of where the door had once been. He had then stared up at the sky as he spoke. Saelak had been mesmerized as his best friend recounted everything he had accomplished that year. He had to hold himself back when he saw the tears running down Aster’s face as his friend said, as though he was trying to convince himself, “I matter to me and my purpose is mine. These experiences are not a waste. This life is worth living.”

Looking back now, Saelak realized that that was probably the moment he really fell in love with Aster. When he realized that he never wanted to leave his side and to be a part of his life forever. That feeling had only grown over time.

Donoma interrupted his reminiscing when she recommended they aim for a campsite sooner rather than later with the dead weight Saelak was carrying.

They meandered a ways from the road making sure they wouldn’t easily be spotted by passersby and setup camp, Donoma setup Aster’s bedroll quickly so Saelak could deposit him into it and then he proceeded to remove the rest of their camping gear from his spacial bag.

It was only an hour later when Aster opened his mental eyes to see his new messages.

A Fire Hedgehog triggered your ability: Soul Bond!

Congratulations!

Soul Bond Acquired: Imbratisa the Fire Hedgehog

Imbratisa shared their Blessing of Fire from the Provider.

Your body will now undergo Acclimation to Fire.

You are feverish.

You are unconscious.

Acclimation to Fire complete!

Your Fire Affinity reached 20%.

Skill Level Increased: Magic (Fire) (Beginner 99, 99%)

Skill Rank Up: Resistance (Fire) (Novice 9, 98%)

Your Constitution increased by 1.

Your Wisdom increased by 1.

Your Karma increased by 1.

You gained 1440 experience.

Crimson Destiny gained 720 experience.

He had gone through the same weird bonding ceremony that he had with the others, nakedness, chains, element swapping and everything else included. He lay on the couch in his soul space for a few minutes taking stock of his newly expanded surroundings and recalling what had happened.

He had been fashioning his soul space similarly to a house, each Soul Bond had their own room that he let them personalize, though Kanati still refused to speak to him or come out of his space, and the open area he had basically made into an open living room, now it had a little kitchen area and he briefly wondered if they needed to, or more likely pretended to, actually eat any food here. After all this space actually felt like it was just a separate dimension that was physical, which Aster had to stop himself from going down that rabbit hole of reality inceptions knowing that he was already in a simulated reality.

He sat up and found Imbratisa making something in the little kitchen area which she then brought over and handed him a mug of. It was coffee, he realized, and gave a warm smile as the woman sat down next to him. She had strong angular features and her dark brown hair was tied back in a ponytail, she wore fairly simple clothing from back on Earth in his opinion: denim jeans and a grey turtleneck sweater. Warm brown eyes stared at him as she smiled back and said simply, “Thank you, Master.”

“You can drop the ‘M’.” He replied automatically. She gave a smile though that Aster read as she wouldn’t argue nor comply with that particular request. “Are you alright? I know you were terrified… I could feel it. I hope you didn’t bond just to get away from that monster.”

She paused then shook her head slightly, “I will admit was most likely case at first but, now I have seen memories, I don’t regret choice. Your old world is fascinating to simple creature like me.”

Aster was a bit taken aback by the Russian sounding accent she was speaking. He knew that if these bonded gained his memories then they would know how to speak Common like he did but it felt like when their personalities collided that the soul bond would attach itself to a concept that they, or perhaps he, liked. He wasn’t sure and he didn’t know how to ask. He glanced down at the mug in his hand, it resembled one of his favorites from back on Earth, a bright yellow with a winking face and two red cheek spots which were symbolic of a famous electric mouse, and he asked simply, “Why coffee?”

Imbratisa smiled at him and said simply as she lifted her own mug to her lips, “Is strong like Master. I wish for more strong, so drink is strong.”

He gave a short laugh and nodded, “Good a reason as any I suppose. Is that why you chose that accent? Or is that a result of something else?”

She nodded and expounded, “When we bond, your memories and my desire tangle. Identities merge. You see people from Motherland as strong, independent, and unyielding. The people are the fire among ice. Despite oppression, tyranny, or bad odds, they endure. You may say I have affinity with them. I desire that strong. I become that strong.”

He nodded thoughtfully and took a sip of his coffee finally and almost moaned as the warmth spread through him and he gave it another surprised look as he asked, “Mint?”

She nodded again and said matter-of-fact, “Is Master’s favorite.”

He nodded and took another long sip enjoying the nostalgia and companionable silence. Hitsuki walked out of her room and joined them on the couch sitting with her own cup of what Aster thought was most likely hot cocoa.

After he finished he set his empty mug on the small low table in front of the couch and stood, “Well, if Hitsuki’s here that must mean nobody’s driving so I better wake up now.”

She gave a little pout, “Travelling down an old dirt road is totally boring. I’d rather spend time with Imbratisa. She’s been much better company than Mr. Grumpy Birb.” she gestured to the closed door across the room.

Aster laughed while giving a small wave and then opened his physical eyes. He sat up to find himself near a campfire with Donoma and Saelak quietly chatting with one another. He was happy to see the two getting along so much better now. He stretched, garnering the attention of his companions and asked, “So, what’d I miss?” Donoma laughed brightly while Saelak rolled his eyes in exasperation.