"Why didn’t you get serious? And to give up? That’s really unlike you.." Herman asked as Hector approached him.

"Cause my enemy is also not serious." Hector answered with a tired smile on his face.

“And what make you think like that?” Herman asked, his face annoyed.

“First, From the way he fight, i know that his main weapon isn’t even a spear. From the way he handle his spear, I think he’s actually a swordsman. Think about it, if a swordsman fight with spear and he’s that good, what if he use his sword, not to mention that when he first appear no one could sense his presence, that is the signature skill of assassin class, and that black fog of him, he might as well be a mage. Tell me Herman do you know a spirit, demon or hero, who is that versatile?”

“A few. King Arthur, Hercules, maybe more, i can’t remember, why does it matter?”

Hector sat on the rooftops next to Herman. “Don’t you get what i’m trying to say?”

"Gah! Whatever, guess it’s my loss then." Herman said. Hector laughed.

Aldwin jumped out from the crater and walked to Rose. Her face show it all.

"What? You worried I might lose?" He asked with a smirk. “You’re bad partner you know Rose, having no faith in your spirit like that.”

"Of course i'm worried! That was Hector of Troy, one of the most famous legendary hero." Rose replied.

"But I won right?" He asked with a prideful smile.

Rein and Albert watched the crater, they just realized now how strong a legendary spirit, and how dangerous this game really was. By using a spear alone, they created such a huge explosion and a crater.

"Well don't dwell here any longer, let's go back to the base people!." Arthur ordered.

After Aldwin won the fight, and Rose won the bet, people became more accepting of Rose and Aldwin. Of course there are some that still don’t want them there, but they could only show their displeasure.

When night came, Arthur accompanied them when they got home. They took a jeep to the city square and from there they parted and walked to their respective home. Before they parted, Rose called Rein.

“Rein, if you wanted to survive in this game you have to be a proper mage first. Right now you can barely support your spirit, so starting from tomorrow you’ll be my apprentice, i hope that you have no problem with that?” Rose asked.

“No. Arthur already told me earlier, and you look really capable.” Rein answered. “I’ll be in your care then.”

“Good” Rose replied as she walked away.

“Uh.. Rose!” Rein called. She turned her head to him. “Isn’t your home this way? The same as mine?”

“I got something to take care of first. Take a good rest tonight Rein, you’re going to need it tomorrow… and merry christmas Rein”

‘Oh yeah, christmas!’ he thought. After what happened recently, he had completely forgotten about christmas and new year.

The night was the complete opposite of the day before. A lot People walked from one end of the street to the other without looking at their surrounding, only focused on their own phone. Car, motorcycle, taxi still filled the street. The skyscraper that filled the business district were all lit up. Rein couldn’t believe that place was empty the day before, and he died because he went there.

“Emeralis, let’s go home.” He said to Emeralis that was looking at the skyscraper .Her mouth and eyes were wide open like a child. “You look happy… you have been quiet and gloomy since morning.”

“I can’t believe human could make something like that without magic.” She looked at Rein.”We spirit get the general knowledge of this age when we were summoned, but looking it in person….. I don’t even have a word to describe it. Also i was quiet and gloomy because we’re with Uriza the whole day, not to mention that girl spirit was keeping his creepy eyes on me.” Emeralis replied.

‘You mean Rose spirit? A-Al-Aldowin or something like that, you afraid of him?“ Rein asked.

“Not afraid, how do i say it? he’s just.. Unsettling. Something inside me just can’t help but feel restless near him ” Emeralis answered.

The walked home slowly while enjoying the winter night. The snowflake that was falling decorated the night like a thousand lamp in the air. He could see his own white breath every time he exhaled, but his jacket keep his body warm. He looked at Emeralis that was walking behind him, still looking around. He noticed that she wore a clothes that revealed her stomach, and a mini skirt.

“Are you not cold? Wearing clothes like that.” He asked.

“No, with my magic i can ke….” She stopped midway and smiled.

She hugged Rein from behind. Rein jumped at the sudden sensation, her chest pressing against the back of his neck. His face became red.

“W-what are you doing?” He flustered. He only noticed it now, Emeralis was actually really tall, about a head taller than him.

“It’s COLD!” She hugged him tighter.

“He-Hey! People are looking at us.” Rein complained. Emeralis chuckled.

“Your face is really funny Master! You never have a girlfriend before do you?” She asked, teasing him.

“Girlfriend?” He stopped walking. He looked down, and remembered about Iris condition. Emeralis noticed his change of mood.

“I-i’m sorry Master, i-”

“No! Thank you Emeralis, we will save Iris together, and after that i’ll confess to her.” Rein replied.. Emeralis smiled and hugged him again.

“AHHH! How can you say you’re going to confess to another girl master, when this girl here is hugging you really tight?” She teased him. “Also, call me Elis from now on.”

Rein face became even more red. “E-elis, please let me go.”

“NO WAY!” She hugged him even tighter.

When they finally arrived home, the church was already dark. they walked around the church, and realized something. Their house front door was blown away in the morning. The debris and pieces of wall was still scattered around the lawn. After what happened today he had completely forgot about the condition of his own house. “Lets just get inside first, we can take care of this tomorrow.” Said Rein.

“Actually Master.” Elis replied. She took a piece of the wall and started chanting something. The next instant, the debris that was scattered started hovering and flew together to create a wall. The wall moved to its original position, and not long after that, the wall has returned to its original condition, albeit with some crack and no door. “It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing.”

“Wow!” Rein didn’t know what to say. He have heard that some mage can repair a broken vase or something along that line, but he never heard a mage repaired a blown out wall before, and without much effort no less. The amount of magic and concentration needed to pick every pieces up, move them, and put them together must be immense.

They walked inside and sat in the living room. Rein was still uncomfortable with the fact that Elis was going to live with him in his house. Now he understood why Albert was acting that way yesterday.

“So how are we supposed to make this contract? I know how to make one with an animal spirit, but for a humanoid one...” He asked.

“First we have to decide what kind of relationship we are going to make. For an animal it was obvious it always either an owner-pet relation or a friend relation. For human, or a sentient creature like elemental, the possibility become endless. We have to be careful though, since it's really hard to change it once it's made. So what do you want us to become, master?”

“Uhhh-” He was unsure.

“Lover? Slave and master? Object and Owner? Or are you going to see me as a pet?” She leaned her face and licked her lips, teasing him .

“W-what are you thinking? Anyway what kind of person would treat their spirit like that?”

“Haha Just kidding! But think about it, you have a woman you can order as you wish, whose existence dependant on you, wouldn't you use her to your heart content? Fulfilling your fantasy?”

“Well if you put it that way…. maybe there are some that might do that, not me. Also aren't spirit able to reject if ordered like that?”

“Yes, but If the master is an expert mage, they can bind spirit to their will, forcing them to do as the master wishes.” Elis placed her face on the side of Rein head and whispered. “But I won't refuse if you wanted to do anything naughty to me. ”

Rein stood up, walked to the other side of the table and sat on another chair. He hid his face, unable to stand the teasing. Elis chuckled.

“Okay let's be serious here. I give you some suggestion. Why don't I become your servant?” She asked.

“In what sense?”

“In the sense that I become your kind of your maid.”

“If you put it that way... okay. I don't have any other idea anyway.” He answered.

“Your hand please.” She took his hand and kissed it. A dragon tattoo emerged from the back of his right hand. It caused slight pain, but nothing more.

“Now the contract is done. Remember that my power depend on you acknowledging me as your servant. If our feeling aren't mutual it could have a significant impact on my power.” She smiled. “Understood.. Master?”

“Umm.. what do you mean?”

She sighed. “Master! Didn’t you listen Arthur explanation before why my current power is reduced?” He shook his head. “There are a few thing that could affect a spirit power, but two of the most important is the master and the relationship. If the master is not a proper mage and unable to supply their spirit with mana, the spirit would unconsciously reduced their power so that they don’t burn all of their mana and end up vanishing. Both you and Albert suffered from the first one. The second is the relation between the master and servant. For example, you have to see me as your servant and i have to see you as my master, if one of us didn’t do our role as our contract say, the contract will become weaker and so does the spirit.” She explained. Suddenly a bell ring inside the house. “What was that?” She asked.

“Oh, father Marcus is calling me. My father put a bell inside the house that is connected to the church, so he can call me from the church, since he rarely ever come here. Wait here okay?” Rein asked. She nodded.

The church light was all turned off, but there were a few candle that was lit inside, making it feel gloomy. Father Marcus wasn’t in the chapel. Rein looked at all the side room, but Father Marcus was nowhere to be found. Rein sat on one of the chair inside, waiting for father Marcus. He thought it himself, what business Father Marcus could have as he rarely ever call him .

--------

As Rein entered the church, someone walked from the lawn and entered his house. Elis heard a footstep and looked at it’s source. It was too fast to be her master. She prepared a spell in case of an enemy.

The figure entered the room where Elis was waiting, it was Father Marcus.

“Father Marcus? Didn’t you call Rein to the Church?”

“I do, but first i have to tell you something… Emeralis isn’t it?” He answered.

“Yes”

Father Marcus walked near Elis. “I’m grateful of you for taking care of Rein, he looked really happy to have a spirit… but that won’t be needed anymore.”

Elis released the spell, knowing full well what he meant, but her spell dissipated.

Pain assaulted her like being struck by a lightning in her back. she was paralyzed, unable to move anything but her eyeball.

She grunted. Father Marcus started chanting something and chain emerged from the ground, chaining her already paralyzed body. Father Marcus continued his chanting, this time he created a wall of light around Elis. Wide grin appeared in his face.

“I’m sorry for my rude behaviour to you, but i don’t want you to disturb my work. Three binding miracle should be able to hold you long enough.” Father Marcus turned his back. ”Wait here and be a good girl please, i need to eliminate the keybearer that is waiting for me in the church.”