I was playing eternal chess with one of my siblings, when something tucked on my essence. Weakly at first, but with a force ever growing.

Oh? Seems that someone offered payment i am not allowed to decline. It had been a while, decades at least, since someone had tried to summon me for real, not afraid to pay an adequate price.

"Brother, i need to heed this call."

"Oh? Unusual for one of us to be summoned, in times of relative peace."

"Yeah, it is odd. Take care."

"Yes, you too, Galdir. See you at the next grand battle."

Whilst i travelled through the veil between the worlds, i was kinda hoping to see a circle of wanna-be mages, or whatever, foolish enough to call upon me. That could be fun, for a while. And then, i would just return home, dragging their helpless souls with me. Maybe conjuring this or that disaster on the way.

I was utterly disappointed. The one who called for me, appeared to be a blood-binder. Weak, yes, insignificant even, but he knew his business, unfortunately. As soon as i arrived, i felt the same blood offered as payment form shackles, that were almost impossible, at least for me, to break.

Great. An old school summoner's bond, well crafted.

"What is it you desire?" I asked, grudgingly, knowing the fastest way to get out of this, was hearing his desire. And maybe twist it a little..

"Oh great spirit, obey my command. In turn i will release you, after you granted my wish."

At least he knows the proper phrasing..

I sighed internally, rustling on my mental chains a bit. "Not that i have a choice. So, what is it you need me for?"

Hopefully, the task given would involve a high body count. A pixie's soul might force me to answer a summoning, but that was about it.

Where i was from, the souls of what you killed were yours to claim, as additional payment. That was customary. Most entities with serious power, calling upon me or my siblings, knew that. But did this lowly mortal know this, too?

"Unfortunately, i do not seek violence of you.."

Really? Fuck you, human. Don't you know what spirits of war, like me, are to be used for?

"What then?" This better be good, or you will regret it, blood-binder.

"There is someone you might be able to help. For now, sit still on my shoulder."

The last part was aided by the summoner's bond and so i had no choice but to take place on his shoulder. Damn.

In silence, we walked through a small settlement, not even worth wreaking havoc in. Not enough souls to be worth the effort. After a few minutes, we stood before a farm house.

After two knocks, the door opened, revealing a family.

Are you serious? Calling me to help a useless mortal, that's way too daring. Even a human king was barely worth my service, but a fucking farmer? It's decided. You will pay in your own blood, when this is over, insolent little blood-binder. Who the fuck do you think you are?

The blood-binder used the bond to make me stop emanating hatred. I will eat my anger, for now.

While he overbearingly explained what, and who, i was, i inspected the residents.

Worthless human male.

Worthless human woman, probably his whore.

And a child, also fucking worthle... WHAT?

By reflex, i immediately tried to genuflect. Oh shit! The blood-binder's bond prevented me to move, still. Not good.

Was this his plan, all along? On the off-chance it wasn't, i needed to tell him, or this could end bad. Very bad.

So i did. (AN: He told the shaman that everything he could do, the girl could do as well.)

He was silent for a while. All humans were.

Then he asked what i meant. Did he think i was stupid?

My pride was hurt, being led into such an obvious trap. My anger rose again, demanding to be expressed. So i threatened the, probably insane, blood-binder.

(AN: He asks the shaman, if he is insane, or just stupid, and says that he will regret it, unless he is unsummoned right away.)

Suddenly, the woman started to talk. What the fuck? Worthless human whore, how dare you address me?

The blood-binder was allowed to, as an exception, because right now, i was bound to him. But a lowly human, with no power over me? Ridiculous.

Just as i put her into place, i noticed a flicker in her soul. Great misfortune awaited her. Hm.. a bargain? If she was gonna loose her soul anyway, she might as well give it to me, right? I proposed so, but the blood-binder demanded that she ignored me. That fucker.

(AN: He tells her she will loose her soul, unless he helps her.)

Then, i doubted my ears for a second. The one who called me demanded that i read the little girl's fate.

It dawned on me. This was not a trap, was it? He really thought she was just a girl, didn't he? I couldn't help but laugh in his face.

(AN: He asks rhetorically, if the shaman really didn't know.)

Wait.. THAT is the favor he summoned me for?

Oh boy. He asked me again. Damn. Creatures like me might twist our words, but being directly asked by someone who bound you, demanded a truthful answer.

Which was a problem. I didn't know, who exactly the girl.. no.. thing, masquerading as a girl.. was. But one thing i could tell, with absolute certainty. She was more a dark thing, than i was. There was a chance, that she even ranked above the one who created me. (AN: Heojin, the god of war, created him.)

In front of such a vastly superior entity, preventing me from showing proper respect came very close to blasphemy. And possibly suicide. Reading her fate? Way out of my league. Even if it wasn't, offending someone strong enough to make the whole world have a bad day, when pissed off?? No thank you. I'd rather take the painful backlash of disobeying bound commands.

Yep. Let's tell him that.

(AN: He tells the shaman that he values .. existing.)

Without warning, the supreme thing directly asked me a question, designed to mock me. Fuck! Is this because i didn't pay her the respect she was due?

(AN: She asks if he knows what is wrong with her. As he doesn't know, that she doesn't know, what she is, he thinks it is mockery.)

Right now, i didn't feel very good, in my role. Would i die here, today? Permanently? The possibility became more real by the second. Shit..

Very careful, to not provoke her further, i tried to explain myself. Also, i tried to bow, despite the massive pain caused by violating the summoner's bond.

(AN: He says that he doesn't dare find fault in a being like her and that the bond prevented him from bowing earlier.)

"Obey me, until i say you can go, omen of war."

Damn, that was close. I let out a relieved breath. She had just stated the price to pay, for my insolence. Actually, serving one like her was something i hadn't done in centuries. Amongst my siblings and I, having a powerful master was a great honor, so i got kind of excited. Not only was i spared, but with high chance, i would witness grand events unfold once more, while in a front row seat myself.

But the damn blood-binder had to accuse me of trickery. Why now, seriously, fuck you! Luckily, his mana seemed to have gone bye-bye, which made the bond weak enough to let me act on my own. At least a bit. Still, now i had to prove to the dark thing, that granted me mercy, that i honestly accepted her terms.

Shit. The only option i could find, was forming a contract, signed with my soul.

I really didn't want to loose my soul, even if temporarily, but in the end, there was no other way. After a short mental battle with myself, i offered her an unbreakable contract.

(AN: He says he humbly wishes to form a contract, after informing the shaman about his intentions. The shaman's eyes open wide in surprise.)

After a brief pause, she accepted the token that represented my soul.

For better, or worse, heh? My fate is not in my hands anymore now. While she was in a forgiving mood, maybe i should humbly request, that i get my soul back, preferably intact?

To additionally comfort her, i uttered my request in the tongue of her kind. A language, older than the gods, and way more dangerous.

(AN: He requests her to show mercy and return his soul, should she no longer require him.)