novelraw Chapter 242: The Inbetween
Chapter 242: The Inbetween
Olivia stood still as she felt the changes within her very soul begin to settle down, she did not know why exactly she had suggested going down this path. To form a familiar contract was not something to be done so hastily, yet, she had felt a connection with this old and lonely dragon.
Vithrax had been lost, devoid of purpose and did not know where to go with himself. A feeling that she knew all too well, that feeling of being lost with no hope was something that she would never forget. So she had felt a connection with the dragon.
Even when Vithrax was dozens of times her age she was unwilling to let another being suffer as she had. So Olivia had thought of the contract that she had once read about in her family’s library.
It was a half remembered technique, yet thankfullly she had remembered enough, that combined with Vithrax’s own knowlage of magic allowed the contract to succeed.
It was a simple contract, one drawn up on mutual trust and understanding. Olivia would not abuse her powers over him, she would try her utmost to ensure that he could have as much freedom as possible. In return Vithrax would guild and protect Olivia to the best of his ability.
It was simple, held few true restrictions yet it was that very fact that would allow this bond to succeed.
With it now complete Olivia couldactually ’see’ her soul. This was not something that usually happened until sovereignty, only with exceptions such as a familiar contract did this change. Still she would be unable to effect it much till she reached that level of power.
As it stood right now what she bore witness too was nothing more than an embryonic state, influenced by the vast and ancient soul of the dragon that now resided within.
To her limited vision Olivia’s soul resembled a vast grassy plain, small clusters of trees and tall hills dotted with caves were spread out around it. It was within one of these caves that Vithrax resided. He was currently sleeping, likely getting used to his new state of being.
As a familiar he was not entirely corporal anymore. His true state was now within her soul, so to summon him out into the real world would require effort from both herself and him. Granted it should not be much effort and like a muscle the more they did this the longer they would be able to maintain him in the outside world.
But for now it would be best that he was left to his rest.
Violet and the girls watched as Olivia stood still with a distant look on her face. Her eyes twinkling with excitement and nervous energy. After several minutes she seemed to jerk back to awareness of her surroundings and looked over at the others who were all staring at her.
Violet was unable to hold back her questions and radio fire asked her several things at once. "What was that? Is Vithrax ok? Are you alright? Where did he go? Why did you look so out of it?" She was going to continue but received a tail slap to the face from Luna who looked at her with exasperation.
"Let the girl answer one question at a time Violet." Violet wilted slightly at that but did not protest, seeing that Luna nodded and continued. "Olivia could you let us know what wxactly happened just now?"
The human nodded slowly at her words, taking a moment to gather her thoughts before she explained what she could. "Well we formed a familiar contract successfully. Vithrax is now resting within my soul, it will likely take some time before he is rested enough to come back out." And she sounded confident, her usual shyness no where in sight, she didn’t exactly meet anyone’s gaze directly but her voice was strong and clear.
It was a definite improvement, at least from Violet’s perspective. The girls still peppered her with a few more questions, just trying to get a better understanding of the process. Saddly Olivia could only supply basic answers as she only held a superficial knowledge on the subject. It would be like asking Violet what her companion bond was, she instinctively knew it but putting that understanding into words was a different matter entirely.
Soon no more questions remained and the girls turned back to face the tall doors of the monolith. Afton a moment Violet and the other beasts transformed back into their humanoid forms before Violet moved towards the doors and pushed them open.
The familiar portal greeted them in the now open doorway and he girls did not delay any longer in moving forwards to see what awaited them within.
They soon arrived at a familiar room, 2 portals stood to the left and right. In front of them stood a chest awaiting for the girls to open it.
Their gazes locked into the chest, all of the girls eager to see what new reward awaited them here. Without waiting for the others to be able to stop her, Violet rushed forward and threw the chest open with a wide smile adorning her face.
5 golden orbs flew out of the chest, the orbs flew forwards to settle in front of each of the girls, the golden glow slowly dimming to reveal what lay within. To the girls surprise instead of unique items for each of them, they instead all seemed to receive the same item.
A singular pill floated in the air, a soft golden luster shining around it. As the girls studied the odd pill the system helpfully informed them of its properties.
[Mental Palace - Reinforce the mind, halt any intrusions]
"Hu that’s odd." Violet muttered, yet she did not hesitate and eagerly ate the pill much to her companions chagrin. Yet a moment later violets eyes opened wide in amazement and she blurted out. "Wow! It gave 20 points to intelligence and wisdom!"
Upon hearing that proclamation all of the girls eagerly ate their own pills, all of them feeling the soothing warmth as they felt their very minds expand and solidify at the same time. It was a truly unique experience, yet was something that all would eagerly experience again.
Saddly they had only been granted a singular pill each, they stood still for some time, all basking in the remaining warmth of the pill for some time.
Sadly the feeling did eventually diminish, leaving them feeling normal once again.
It was only then that the girls turned to look at the two portals with curiosity. However, when they saw the scene of the exit portal they all froze in shock and horror.
Instead of the familiar scene of a boring cave mouth leading back into the open cavern, they instead saw a huddle of bloodied adventures being contamtly harassed by a small army of all too familiar creatures.
It was the peculiar 4 armed creature that had ambushed them on their way towards the dungeon, yet that was not the shocking part for Violet and her friends, no. That would be the creature that stood at the back of that army of monsters.
For at the back of the army stood yet another familiar being, one that they had fought and defeated not too long ago. It was the Incarnation of Space.