“Don’t touch you, don’t bother you, don’t even look at you. Don’t do this and that. Blah blah blah. I wouldn’t even think of touching the blade, too ridden with weird occult shit. Besides, I got my own weapon.” Jorun said, as he plucked a melodic tune on his lute.

“Just…”

“Yeah yeah. If Ma or Pa come in here, tell them you're doing some mystical things and force them to go away. Don’t worry.”

“That's…”

“Dude. Just go already!”

Kenan huffed in annoyance. This was going to be the first time he dived into the sword in front of anyone. Before he was always secluded. Surrounded by sleeping humans or picking opportune times to be completely isolated. He didn’t know if there were any punishments if he got forcefully ripped out of meditation, he didn’t want to find out either. Multiple times did Kenan warn everybody not to mess with him, for both his and their safety.

He wanted to have Doco by his side. Yet, with his Uncle's fear attached to the blade, Noctis didn't think that was wise. Besides, Doco was busy receiving and sending constant correspondence with the capital and planning Kenan's next move.

After many minutes of Noctis psyching himself up and reassuring himself that nothing will go wrong. He unsheathed the blade, layed it across his lap, and plunged all thought into it. He felt the last shifting of Dion, who was laying at his back, before the surrounding morphed into darkness. A cool and welcoming place surrounded Kenan. For just a moment he relished in it’s relaxing state. Once he felt it begin to pull, he ripped away. Then switched his focus to a mote of light, and started his way towards it.

He soon met the ground. In front of him were large steel bars holding back a gigantic, white sleeping dragon. Noctis went into a sitting position and waited. After a few minutes he looked around in confusion. Usually Nattura was either awake, or simply roused as soon as Kenan arrived.

"Ahem" He waited. The large coiled lizard didn't stir. "Ahem!" He tried again. Still nothing. "AHEM!" This time there was a shift in movement. Nattura slowly untangled himself. He looked at Kenan in contempt. Noctis didn't understand how a scaled being could look like they had bedhead, but the dragon did. Nattura shook himself before slithering his way into a lying position, with his head facing the bars.

"It is foolish to purposely wake a dragon. Or at all" A puff of hot air came from his nose, then he yawned. Or roared. It was hard to tell.

Kenan shrugged. Then faked coughing. "Sorry, sore throat."

Nattura growled. "It has been some time since we last talked." The face passed annoyance and headed towards a predatory smile. "For someone of your level that was an impressive battle. With the orc. Even if you needed help. The willpower you show tests the likes of dragons. However, your willingness to get rid of a hoard is pitiful."

The dragon shifted once again to a sitting position. "You have curiosity on your mind. With the little soul strength you gave this blade. I have begun to sense surface emotion. Before you begin your inquiries, I want one of my own." Kenan made a go ahead motion. "Your companion. Dion I believe. He is an enigma. I have been able to sense him through our connection, and his to you. You two are infinitely bound to each other. His existence, well, it eludes my understanding. Why haven't you created a bond yet?"

"Bound to me? Creating a bond?"

"I see. You lack the knowledge. Didn't you find it odd that he has been resurrected into a different body? Just to find you once more. His soul is tied to you in an unexplainable way. I don't know how, or what the soul-binding entails. It all eludes my comprehension. For the time, forget it.

"Bonds, magical bonds, are created between two living things. Usually between a sentient and a monster or beast. Most of the time there is a greater strength to a lesser, servant to master. There is also a bond of equals. I must admit, I don't know much about that. Bonds unlock certain…. abilities. Each one is different and unique. Yours would be quite interesting, especially if you account for your special dynamic and that he is the same as us."

"Wait what? You don't mean…"

Nattura chuckled. "Yes, he is a death eater, just like you and me. Anyway, to create a bond, simply share your mana with him, and if he is willing, he will share some with you. Then it matters for intention if you want to be a master or equal."

Kenan's head twirled. He came here for other pressing questions. Yet this took precedent at the moment. "Hold on your saying…"

"I'm going to stop you there, boy. You are attempting to understand the strings of the Fates. You lack the knowledge, and the comprehension power to do so. In the end, it will only leave you more confused. For now, simply take the information as is." Kenan was about to speak again "I mean it. To try to understand the Fates is to be omnipotent, not even the gods can do so."

Noctis wanted to rebuke. Then he thought about it for a while. Not Dion, but Nattura’s words. They begged even further questions. Kenan forced his mind from the current thoughts. Another time, and another level of power. For now, he accepted that Dion just so happened to be a Mortem. "I understand what happens when you take a soul. What to do with that soul. Yet what happens when it’s freely given?"

Nattura shook again. Another puff of heated air came out of his nose. "That is…" He shifted to lay down again. Head against the bars. "Its… hmmm. It as only happened to me once before." Again he shifted. This time his eyes hid from Kenan’s gaze. "That was the most potent power boost I’ve ever had. From the information I can get. It's always unpredictable on what those effects are, at least from the stories. In the tales of our kind, It seldom happens."

"Why?" Noctis asked. Even though his mind was quickly approaching the answer.

"Because If a soul is willing. They either have faith in you, or love you. No mortem wants to take from their circle of protection." Inside of Nattura’s mind, a scene started to play. He jumped up quickly and roared. Forcing the memory out. His attention went back to Kenan. "Let us forget this topic, ask the next question boy."

"Okay." Noctis was in total agreement. He had his own thoughts he didn’t want in his head. "This has only happened twice. My sword turned into… well… our eyes. The color of it I mean. The second time, my fire was also changed. I wasn't sure if it was the soul, or something else."

Nattura got real close to the bars. Then sniffed. "I see. For you to do… what was it? Apaollion, Dance of the Soulless Beast. That's it. For you to actually do it was part soul, and part you. Slowly you are awakening the Nonesthic in you. When you awaken, that's a multitude of lessons we will save for another time.

"You are a part of Nonesthic. It affects everything about you. Your skin, the blood underneath. Your bones and muscles are influenced by it. Even your magic is touched. You understand how to go into the plane and take souls, yes?"

Kenan nodded.

"Take some time to practice not going to Nonesthic, but bringing it to you. Don't ask me how, just do it. Your senses will guide you."

"Alight. Before I go. What's this about awakening."

"Simple. It's not special to Mortem. Everything naturally attuned with planes goes through it. Your friend, Jorun, has started the process."

"Is h…."

"Asking the wrong being child." He slithered. "I'm going to rest now" Nattura transformed back into a coil. Kenan thought he's going to leave with more questions than answers.