Chapter 13: The Bone Pact
The sunrise stretched over Cap-Haïtien like spilled gold, warm and silent, casting long shadows over the rooftops. Peterson stood shirtless in the tiny, cracked-tile bathroom of his home, he keep on staring into the tub filled with water he had poured hours earlier. The medallion sat in his palm, cool and quiet.
He had cleaned the tub, filled it to the top, and waited "Its probably cold " he muttered Now, he was ready. He thinks . He breathed in and out slowly.
With one last breath, Peterson stepped in and laid in the down.
As soon as his back hit the water, the medallion began to glow A faint green shimmer bloomed beneath the surface, curling like smoke. He can feel The warmth traveled up his spine and into his mind. He hears the voice whispered.
"You seems to be ready now young Peterson "
The voice echoed in his head, not loud, not too low either, but present, Like it lives in his thoughts.
"Now… press the medallion to your chest."
Peterson did as told, just Instantly, a surge of light burst through the water, filling the room, He gritted his teeth as his body seized, he felt his heartbeat racing.
The voice grew clearer.
"Welcome, chosen bearer. You have made the pact. From this moment forward, you walk the Veve's Path. You are now the first owner of the Voodoo System."
Text bloomed in his vision like a game screen.
[VOODOO SYSTEM ACTIVATED: THE VEVE'S PATH FULLY ACQUIRED]
[Name: Peterson Joseph ]
[Level: 3]
[Primary Class: Pact-Bound Vessel]
[Unlocked Skills: Basic Combat | Crafter | Summoner | Bestower]
[Inventory unlocked]
[Party System unlocked – 1 Slot Available]
[Daily Objectives enabled]
[Skill Art martial unlocked by default]
The water around him rippled as if it was alive. He gasped, sitting upright.
The medallion, once in his hand, was now gone.
He looked down.
Etched into the center of his chest was a symbol glowing faint green he can see the twin snakes around the three skulls just like the medallion.
The medallion's mark on his chest like a tattoo.
Ten minutes later, Jean-Daniel burst into the room with a piece of bread halfway in his mouth.
"so Pete Did it work?"
Peterson pulled a towel to cover himself, dripping. "I think so, and dude what the heck barging in like that, I'm naked in here."
He yelled.
Jean-Daniel tossed the bread on the sink. "You got new powers now?"
Peterson blinked. "I always get powers, well new skills to be exact."
"No, no—I mean like, more amazing stuff, I wanna see more skeletons."
Peterson grinned. "I can summon, craft gear, bestow powers like mentioned before, and better fighting techniques, Plus, I leveled up last night."
Jean-Daniel whistled. "Alright time to start training then. I also brought Wilkens."
"You brought a what?!"
Just then, Wilkens peeked around the hallway, holding a notebook and wearing a helmet clearly borrowed from someone smaller.
"I brought notes," he said nervously. "Also… some snacks."
"OH! Wilkens you said, my ears still a little muffled " Peterson said.
Then went and look for some clothes, gets dressed up.
"Alright boys let's go " he shouted
They walked to the old playground behind their school—the one nobody used anymore because the swings creaked like ghosts and the monkey bars were one bolt away from collapse. It was perfect.
Peterson tapped his chest. "Summon: Bone Scout."
With a flash, a skeleton emerged from the ground. This one had a bony Mohawk and goggles made from bottle caps. It held a tiny slingshot.
Jean-Daniel laughed so hard he nearly dropped his snack.
"Why are they all weird dude?!"
"I think the system has a sense of humor."
The skeleton strutted around proudly, tossing pebbles at Wilkens, who yelped and ducked. He screamd " Hey!! What on earth!!"
"Okay! Training time!" Peterson announced.
They practiced for hours.
Jean-Daniel sparred with Peterson, helping him harness his "Basic Combat" skill. The more they clashed, the more natural Peterson's movements became, he dodging, countering like a pro, using the flow of a real fighter.
Wilkens noted everything down like a sports analyst.
After a while they got tired of fighting, Peterson went on tested the Crafter skill. He closed his eyes and imagined armor made of old roofing tin and leather straps. A screen appeared in his vision.
[Blueprint: Streetplate Armor – Material Required: Metal x3, Cloth x2]
"Those shouldn't be too hard to find" Peterson exclaimed.
They scavenged through the abandoned playground, they found scraps, and watched in awe as Peterson gathered the materials and fused to form a chestplate that gleamed a faint green.
Jean-Daniel poked it. "I don't know how this is possible but is this Real armor? Like, legit?"
Peterson nodded. "One more skill to test."
He placed his hand on Jean-Daniel's shoulder. And focus his mind , he focus on the flow of the Veve's energy within his body, let flow through the contract he makes with Jean-Daniel
"I Bestow you The Mark of the Veve's Path."
A green light surged between them. Jean-Daniel groaned, then stood straighter.
A symbol glowed briefly across his forearm.
[Current Party Member 1/1: Jean-Daniel Jean]
[Random Skill Assigned: Bullrush (Lv1) – Gain increased power when charging toward an enemy in anger.]
Jean-Daniel blinked. "That's so me."
Wilkens stared wide-eyed. "wait !! Did you just gave him powers?"
"I can only give him one, for now," Peterson explained.
Wilkens pouted. "Not fair."
"You gotta Earn your loyalty badge first," Jean-Daniel teased.
They all laughed.
A few hours later, something shifted.
They were resting in the shade when Peterson suddenly stood. He looked off into the trees. Something moved.
Jean-Daniel followed his gaze. "What is it?"
Wilkens gripped his notebook. "Please don't say monsters."
Peterson's eyes narrowed. "No! I Just…feel like someone is here. Feels like we're being watched."
They stay quiet and observing to see something or someone is going to jump at them, but nothing happened.
That evening after they disbanded, Peterson sat with his mom while she prepared some fish. She hummed as she cut plantains.
"You've been quiet today," she said.
"Don't worry mom its Just school stuff," he replied.
"Are You sure my boy ?"
He nodded. "Yes mommy."
But his mind was racing, think about everything that happened so far, and was kinda looking through his skills since it was invisible to others .
He feels like something was coming.
Something big but he hope this doesn't endangered his family.
As the night fell, he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Jean-Daniel had texted him funny memes and videos. Wilkens sent notes on bone density in animated skeletons like the nerd he is.
Peterson chuckled.
Then he rolled over and closed his eyes.
The medallion might be gone from his neck… but can feel its presence still burned inside him.
And tomorrow?
Tomorrow would bring more trials.
He could feel it.
The Veve's Path was just beginning.
End of Chapter 13