Silvestro looked back and forth between them. With shaky arms and legs, Nyra pulled out her wand and pointed it at Nepenthe.
"Stay..stay back." She motioned for Silvestro to get behind her.
"I think there's been a misunderstanding…" Nepenthe stepped forward but stopped when Nyra jabbed the wand in the air. Did he smell so bad? Nepenthe subtly sniffed himself.
He crossed his arms and waited, watching Nyra whisper something to Silvestro who stared at Nepenthe in return.
Nepenthe opened the user interface.
[Status: Affected by a potion: "Veil"(5 star)]
The system provided no description or explanation of the effects, but a symbol showed it was a type of unmasking potion. So that's what it was. Nyra could sense the darkness attribute which lingered from the previous use and figured it was more than Nepenthe being affected by it from external factors, but rather that the man himself held the attribute.
"Tell me who you really are," Nyra spoke slowly, carefully, eyes narrowed.
"I'm no one, really." It was not a lie, for Nepenthe maintained the status of a nobody.
It seemed like Silvestro wanted to disagree, but was cut off by the whoosh of wind that swept past after circling him, going straight for Nepenthe. The girl could use a wand and potions, but Nepenthe was unsure if she was a wizard or an alchemist. It was not nice to be on the receiving end of an unpredictable attack.
The air around Nepenthe sharpened to a point nearly visible to the naked eye. A blade of pure air grazed his cheek, leaving a slash of blood.
Nepenthe raised his hand and Nyra tumbled backward, clutching her wand to her chest. She coughed up blood and fainted.
He hadn't even done anything yet….
——
"So, she was punished for attacking me since I'm the summoner. I guess it's a useful thing, just in case of betrayals." Nepenthe watched his hand, opening and closing his fingers as he and Silvestro walked. The village feel was back, aside from some lingering unease in the air.
'The system advises that a way to get along is found. If the hero "Nyra" does not comply, she will be unusable.'
"Yeah, no crap. Isn't it kind of hypocritical of her to hate the darkness attribute when she has it as well? She seems a little hard to deal with."
["The Binding Path"
Secondary Objective Added: Obtain the "Relic of Binding" to reduce disobedience penalty and enable "Loyalty Slots". Failure will reduce future summon compatibility.]
"?" Nepenthe read the words over. Reading the description, "Relic of Binding" was an item for summoners and heroes to improve their overall bond, but that's all the information would provide.
Nepenthe knew he couldn't afford another party member leaving. He had 24 hours left on "Extra-archive" and felt quite confident the mission would only take him 2.
He accepted without reading the terms.
[Core Utility Object: Relic of Binding
Objective: Obtain the "Relic of Binding" and escape the Deadbridge Pass]
"Deadbridge Pass…" Nepenthe muttered.
"..Are you going there?" Silvestro spoke up, eyebrows furrowing softly. He averted his gaze when Nepenthe nodded, thoughtfully.
"You know of it?" Nepenthe asked.
"I'll go with you," Silvestro answered.
"That's not what I asked," he sighed. Nepenthe closed the missions menu, missing the warning labeled high-risk level and possible after-effects.
"You don't know it since you're a new summoner, but Deadbridge Pass is pretty infamous everywhere in [this world]. After the Calamity of The Hollowstar, it became a cursed bridge." Silvestro spoke very solemnly.
"Why? Ghosts haunting it?" Nepenthe smirked, amused.
"Yes," Silvestro answered, just as quickly. Nepenthe felt like the strange one now.
"You know well for a street kid." His eyes searched Silvestro's expression. "And, you're still following me even after all that Nyra said,"
"It doesn't matter to me. You showed me kindness, can't I repay it?" Silvestro looked a little offended that Nepenthe would doubt him.
"You don't have anything I want," the kid would be more useful as a meat shield, Nyra had the right idea. Nepenthe halted his steps and turned to Silvestro.
"I'm not leaving," Silvestro said.
"You're right—you're not leaving with me."
Silvestro's gaze bore into Nepenthe. Nepenthe was getting tired of the staring contest and sighed. Silvestro quickly spoke.
"I just want to help,"
"Help? With what—looking hungry? Shivering dramatically in the background? I already have enough dead weight to carry." Nepenthe forgot to laugh to soften the blow.
Silvestro flinched and looked to the ground, his expression unreadable. "Then…why did you help me?"
Nepenthe had to think for a moment. Was he referring to the gate?
"I'd have done the same for a dying animal," he answered simply. Nepenthe felt the boy was not important enough to pretend otherwise, and it was not like he was a party member.
Silvestro's fist clenched at his sides. But he didn't yell. Didn't cry. He just breathed hard, eyes glassy but burning. He opened his mouth, then closed it again before speaking.
"So that's all I am? Like some stray dog?"
"If the shoe fits." This time Nepenthe remembered to laugh a little but was slightly confused when it only seemed to upset Silvestro more.
"I get it. Have fun on your quest," Silvestro muttered.
"Thanks." Nepenthe waved bye to him and turned to leave. He heard the system ping before speaking as he walked.
'Woah boss, I look away for a few moments and you've scared the kid off,' it cackled.
"He'll be fine," was all Nepenthe offered. "Just direct me to the Relic of Binding."
After the goal had been set, Nepenthe followed the map which always hovered at the top left corner of his user interface. It was sunset by the time he reached the bridge. Nepenthe tried the system again but knew the mission had officially begun when he got no response.
He opened his inventory and took out the Extra-Archive. As soon as it hit the ground, it expanded and shattered, shimmering. Nyra's form slowly appeared with the light until it settled standing on the dying grass. Her eyes slowly opened.
"The Relic of Binding. Help me get it, or we both die. You don't have to like me—you just have to cast with me." Nepenthe watched the falter of Nyra's expression, reflecting the ripples in her heart.
The two stared ahead at the cavern-like ruin at the center of the bridge, the air heavy with ghost light. Atop a cracked stone pedestal floated the Relic of Binding, a jagged and blackened ring of obsidian wrapped in red runes that pulsed in rhythm with a long-dead heartbeat.
"What happened to the kid?" Nyra asked, tense.
"He's not here," said Nepenthe, disregarding how the answer only made Nyra more suspicious of him.
Nyra took a breath and held a hand to her side, in it appeared a midnight blue staff that reached up to her shoulder. Nepenthe was a little worried she'd swing it at him, but she just spun it and motioned for Nepenthe to start walking.
There were no trees around, but a sound like branches scraping against a window or of an old swing being overworked echoed in the distance and rang through the canyon under them. The farther they walked, the more the fog seemed to bunch together and obscure the path. Nyra walked behind and flinched at the unfamiliar sounds.
She shut her eyes only for a moment but lost sight of Nepenthe. She stopped and looked around frantically. In the fog formed a shape or figure that showed no distinct form even when Nyra squinted.
"Nyra…"
"Nepenthe?" She whispered. Nyra inched closer, tilting her head slightly as if to listen better.
It called again. She could see the forming features of a person, and her breath hitched.
"A..Ari?" She called, hesitant. Where the face would be, the fog parted slightly to shape a wide grin.
"Nyra, come closer," it spoke, softly, echoing.
Nyra took a heavy step closer. Just as she reached out, the figure reflecting her, a rock flew past her and hit straight into the figure, dispersing the illusion. Nyra blinked and turned to see Nepenthe.
"She was going to tell me something!" Nyra complained.
Nepenthe figured something was wrong in her head. He gave Nyra an unimpressed look before re-reading the status effect the system showed.
The fog would cause hallucinations of who the heart most desires to see. It was something Nepenthe didn't bother to tell Nyra, assuming a hero—those he considers to be NPCs—wouldn't have such a person. There was that uncertainty he had before walking onto the bridge, but the first few steps assured him he had nothing to worry about. For some odd reason, he had the feeling someone like him was unable to feel so strongly about another.
"If you want to get it over with, walk in front of me." Nepenthe stepped closer, and Nyra took a big step back. "…"
It didn't take long for them to get to the center.
Nyra stood at the edge of the sanctum, staff held defensively in both hands. Her fingers trembled, not from fear—at least not that she'd admit—but from the pressure in the air. Nepenthe walked past her and to the alter.
He stepped forward with the calm of someone too used to walking into cursed places. His eyes, dull and appearing silver like fogged glass, flicked toward her.
"It requires a dual synchronization. Dual casting?"
"No," Nyra snapped, "it would be soul synchronization. It's more complicated, we'd have to match each other's energy flow and emotional state."
"So what?" Nepenthe raised an eyebrow.
"So…" Nyra sighed. "Just get opposite of me and follow what I do.." They took their places, opposite ends of the altar. Nyra held out a palm, Nepenthe followed. The stale air around shifted and blew upwards as a circle formed below them, etched into the ground. They shut their eyes.
[System Alert:
Synchronization Trial initiated. Emotional compatibility: 4%
Warning: Failure may result in partial or full possession.]
Nyra grits her teeth. She could feel his energy—cold, sharp, like needles pricking at her spell. Her magic, warmer and erratic, clashed instantly. The casting circles sparked.
"Stop resisting," Nepenthe muttered.
"Stop being a walking void,"
A pulse of red lighting cracked the floor between them. The relic screamed. Shadows uncoiled from the ground, humanoid, malformed, wearing remnants of armor from a war centuries gone.
"The sync was broken." Nepenthe opened his eyes to glare at Nyra.
"Are you saying I broke it?! You're the emotional equivalent of a corpse!" Nyra glared back.
"Not inaccurate."
A spirit lunged. Nyra spun, swinging her staff and casting a barrier just in time. But it cracked under the pressure and another leapt for her exposed side.
Nepenthe opened the store and quickly purchased a level 2 dagger. As soon as it materialized in his hand, he infused the blade with mana.
He flung it, cutting through the air and slicing the Specter in half, dissolving it into embers.
Nyra looked at him, wide-eyed and trembling. She frowned and cleared her throat.
"You didn't have to—"
"I need you alive. Don't mistake that for concern."
Nyra expected nothing more. They turned back to the altar. The relic pulsed faster and the ghosts circled. Nepenthe felt the overwhelming energy.
"We get one more try," Nepenthe said. "Then we die. Or worse." He glanced at Nyra's way.
They cast again. This time, the air grew still. Their spells met, awkwardly, imperfectly—but enough. The runes around the relic flared and the shadows shrieked before retreating into the ground.
The Relic of Binding shattered into twin streaks of red and black light, one shot into Nepenthe's chest, embedding itself into his interface, and the other flickered…and vanished.
[System Update:
Relic of Binding acquired. Loyalty tether established.
Summon synchronization boost: Active.
Disobedience threshold reduced.
New skill tree unlocked: "Dark Oaths."]
Nyra doubled over, breath shaky. "What did you do?"
"That wasn't so hard, was it?" Nepenthe commented. There must've been some sort of burn, but the girl had to be overreacting.
[Mission success: "The Binding Path"
Additional Rewards: +2000 EXP
User "Nepenthe" has reached level 6
1500/3000 until next level]
"This doesn't make me like you any more," Nyra murmured.
But it would make her obey him. Nepenthe offered a hand, which she ignored and stood with shaky legs. She went ahead of Nepenthe, who walked slowly.
He glanced behind him.
[User instability: Agitated]
What was this strange feeling? His fingers tensed and his head spun, his vision landing into the far distance. He could see Nyra's back, but the longer he stared the more the fog seemed to gather there. Sure of what was coming, he closed his eyes.
He heard someone call out to him, muffled in with his labored breaths. Before he could attack, he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. He opened his eyes.
"..Maybe you're not completely hopeless," Nyra said, softly. She stood in front of Nepenthe. If he could be affected by the fog, perhaps he was not fully a walking corpse.
Nepenthe regained his composure after staring into Nyra's eyes, his pounding heart gradually slowing. He did not want to understand what she was thinking.
Nyra returned her staff, which she had been gripping nonstop, to the unknown place it came from. She took Nepenthe by the arm and gently tugged. Nepenthe, although tense, let himself be pulled.
It was not something he could escape, even here.