Sarah felt herself leave her body.

Endless darkness stretched before her.

She remembered Adara's warning to not panic at the feeling or she could lose control and waste the energy within the circle.

Floating in the void of her mind she focused on the numbers nine-five-three and a connection opened to her senses.

The nether-link opened in the recesses of her mind, she had already set up her defenses.

A smoke-like substance seeped through and quickly took the form of a bulky man with blue-green skin as well as a crop cut and trimmed beard with a weird fu-manchu moustache, clearly a male form.

The djinn sported multiple tattoo's and casual earth clothes, perhaps even a little ahead of her time.

"Greetings Human, I am Jojik of the 'Stargazer' family. You are here to establish a partnership yes? I will refer you to an appropriate family member. Do you have any preferences?' Jojik the djinn.

Sarah took a deep breathe and calmed her jittery nerves, this was it.

"Yes, Lord Jojik of the honorable Stargazer family. I am Sarah Martin an aspiring fire-mage, I am relatively new to magic and do not have much of monetary value, I would like to ask for advice on payements you believe I could make. I also have need for a Djinn with tracking capabilities and perhaps a combat related specialty." Sarah taking measured breathes.

"Excellent Miss Sarah. You must have had an wonderful tutor, either that or you're exceedingly polite. As for payments, mercenary service sounds perfect for you or you could grant favors depending on what you owe. Death and fire elements make wonderful mercenaries. Noncombatant-servitude payment requires certain professional skills and you seem a little young. Elemental energy pays a little more than others, but it is still abundant. You do not possess deeper magics yet, as you said. Do you possess any PSI abilities?" Jojik tilted his head at her with an encouraging smile.

"I am afraid not, you're Lordship." Sarah looked downwards.

Adara had warned her that she would be unable to fulfill many payments yet, but it still stung.

"Not a problem my dear, not a problem. I'm sure it is only a matter of time, you seem extremely young and already are learning invocation that shows promise. Never the less, this means you have few options for now. As I said I strongly recommend mercenary service, the pay is great even for non-elites and you are also asking for a djinn with something combat related. That will bolster your combat potential in times of need as well. A win-win situation. I have a particular djinn in mind, the offspring of my second-cousin enjoys being outdoors and has an ongoing deal with a certain mortal-leader to do some minor pest-control. If I recall most combat involves mostly clearing out weak monsters in a wilderness, very tame and little risk. I'll refer you now, feel free to decline the partnership, there are many family members and even families around after all, though I really do think this is a good fit for you. I think you will make a great team." Jojik smiled.

"Thank you very much for your advice Lord Jojik, I will be glad to heed your advice." Sarah bowed.

"You're very welcome. I hope you find whomever or whatever you are looking for. You will establish your meeting soon, please wait." Jojik gave her another smile and waved his hand.

The djinn Jojik melted away and Sarah waited alone in her mind.

Soon another smoke-djinn seeped through, this time it took form as a hot-pink slender female with long purple hair.

She wore modern clothes of a person going out on a hunting or camping trip, a knife was hanging from her waist.

Sarah took another deep breathe, this was the real challenge.

"Hello! I am Isemi of the 'Lightweaver' family." Isemi gave her a huge toothy smile.

"Greeting Lady Isemi of the honorable Lightweaver family. I am Sarah Martin an aspiring fire-mage." Sarah repeated the words she and Adara had practiced.

"Hello Miss Sarah. I will begin. Runes are at a set price depending on complexity and they generally last twenty hours. I deal in traditional assets and equipment as well, all which cost varying degrees of standards. Information and various forms of energy are also available for sale." Isemi cocked her head to one side then the other constantly.

"How much will you loan me?" Sarah took mental notes, this was important if it was too little she would have to find someone else.

"For now as we are starting you can only ask for up to twenty-five gold standards worth, before I withhold my services. That counts as a tiny favor in payment if you wish that route, you may swear on your soul. You may decline three favors I ask, after that you must find another way to pay though." Isemi pinched her fingers in the shape of a circle.

"If I cannot fulfill a favor what options do I have?" Sarah blinked and gripped her hands.

"I prefer mercenary services as payment, if I require more time from you I expect you to give me up to sixty standard hours overtime, for which I will pay premium. I also accept the traditional monetary loop-holes at double as well." Isemi spoke as if this had been rehearsed a million times.

'That seems close to what Adara mentioned.' Sarah tried to bring up everything she could remember.

"Can you give me examples of your specialty?" Sarah.

"Certainly. I excel at finding people and things, the longer it takes the higher I charge. I love direct-combat, I can provide aid through contract and I can also provide an assortment of utility and combat runes. I'm good with anything animal or monster related also. I like experimenting with temporary protective wards as well, I'm good, but I'm trying to perfect it. I can loan you energy as well, if you pay the price." Isemi grinned.

"Can you perhaps elaborate on the direct combat aid?" Sarah mind raced to keep up.

"It generally involves you granting me some access to yourself, I stay here close to your mind and provide support. You will gain my guidance for a time. There is a limit to how long your mind can support it though." Isemi.

"Is...isn't that similar to possession?" Sarah crinkled her nose.

"Don't be that way, it is similar yes. However I cannot possess you without you feeling the loss of control, you could resist yes? I feel your protections around you and you could easily sever the connection. I also have no motive to possess you. This is more like mentally holding your hands and showing you how to dance." Isemi visibly narrowed and rolled her eyes.

Sarah breathed in and realized her mistake.

'Well I can always just leave that as a last resort.' Sarah mentally grimaced.

"I beg forgiveness for my mistake. I am still new to all this." Sarah bowed her head, but was mentally sweating.

"It's fine. Are you agreeable to a partnership?" Isemi nodded and did a dismissive hand gesture.

"Yes, but first what runes do you grant?" Sarah placed her hands on her lap.

Isemi told her everything, from physical boons to metal reflexes to spiritual boosts.

Sarah discussed everything Adara advised her to ask.

She asked about equipment, magic items, enchantments and prices.

Eventually she decided Jojik had been right, Isemi seemed like a good fit and she also wanted to quickly find Eian.

Isemi had a condition however.

"Worlds that advance too quickly tend to spiral out of control into centuries of bloodshed and destruction. I will ask for an oath to not grant that world any technological advancements when working for me, it is an agreement we have with several powerful entities." Isemi bobbed her head.

"Why? Wouldn't advanced technology help many people?" Sarah furrowed her brows.

"Don't be naive. Newer technologies are often used by those in power for their benefit. As a result interplanetary interactions are closely scryed and heavily limited. It also prevents many people from simply going to a more primitive world and conquering a country with superior arms." Isemi shook her head.

Sarah listened to Isemi's examples of such things occurring in the past.

Apparently travel between similarly advanced worlds was easily accommodated, but travel between lower and higher worlds were heavily regulated.

Sarah would need to get a license to work off her debt, which would allow her to work as a mercenary.

She would also have to restrict the technology she took to such worlds, the bright side was all forms of magic were allowed everywhere.

Once both parties were satisfied, Sarah agreed to the partnership by swearing an oath of mutual interest.

"I will approach to seal the agreement. Do I have permission?" Isemi cocked her head sideways, Sarah nodded her consent.

Isemi came over and planted a mark on her forehead which allowed them to mentally communicate.

"So we've done? Can we begin bargaining?" Sarah straightened her back.

Isemi nodded and smiled.

"I have a friend lost in a forest. i would like to invoke your help." Sarah bit her lip.

"Excellent! I can begin charging. Give me a moment." Isemi smiled and closed her eyes.

Isemi asked a few questions regarding Eian, then she mumbled a few words and did a handsign in Sarah's direction.

"Awaken and I shall aid you." Isemi's eyes glowed.

Sarah closed her eyes and focused on returning.