Companion

Roran woke up with the bright sun glaring straight into his eyes. He immediately groped around him, searching for some water. He found a bottle and took a small sip. Then he entered his Vorshmin to look at the amount of Mana he had recovered over the night. The spirits inside him have already introduced the Mana Vessel to him. It was an orb which fills up according to the amount of Mana. It grows whenever the Mana capacity has increased. Today it had filled up to almost full. This was good. In fact, it was much better than before, because of his Mana regeneration speed doubling.

Roran went back to his physical body and picked up all his supplies. Then, he left, continuing his journey.

The sun was at the peak of its orbit when Roran heard a small whimper from his right. He was instantly alarmed, and slowly approached the source of the noise. However, he soon relaxed. It was only a small monster cub. It resembled a lion with a small twist of wolf, and had spikes protruding from its back.

"Do you want some food?" Roran asked. He took out a piece of dried beef and offered it. The cub nodded, and then instantly gobbled it up. The idea of keeping the cub as a pet instantly surfaced in Roran's mind. Thus, he decided to go and sign a contract.

A contract is an ancient magical technique of creating a connection with a living being. This will make you understand their words and have a near-unbreakable bond. Roran had learned this when he was small, with the old village witch near Mithgurd's smithy. He was captivated by all the amounts of animals in her house, and the witch was very willing to teach him. However, it didn't work because he needed Mana.

Now Roran does. He drew up the most complex one. It consisted of runes and patterns, all weaved into a web. When he was done, Roran gently placed the cub in the middle, and then channeled his Mana into the formation. It responded and shone dimply with blue light. Then something clicked inside Roran.

He felt a connection, faint, but it was there. The cub also felt it and tried to send a message.

"More meat."

Roran laughed at the request, and then replied, "Of course."

Roran fished out another piece of meat. This time, he also took out one of the Spartoi bones. He figured that the cub, which looks somewhat like a wolf, should have interest in a bone.

And it did. The cub loved playing with it.

Suddenly, the cub demanded a name. It seemed like it was annoyed at being called "you" the whole time.

"What about this. I'll call you Sylvian."

Although the cub didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about the name, it grunted assent. After all, having a name was better that having none.

Roran was happy. He had found a companion. He laughed and then said to Sylvian, "Roll over."

Sylvian didn't budge

"Roll over?" Roran's tone is now more uncertain.

Then it dawned on Roran. Sylvian was staring at a hare a few meters away. He wanted to get it.

Roran stood to the side and watch the show unfold.

Sylvian tensed up. He stopped completely for three seconds, and then something unimaginable happened. He opened his mouth, and then flames exploded out, instantly enveloping the hare, and killing it. Roran's jaw fell to the ground. He couldn't believe that Sylvian just blew out flames.

Sylvian happily skipped to the body, picked it up with his mouth, and then dropped it right by Roran's feet. Then it paced around, looking as if it was showing off its kill. Roran picked the hare up, "It seems like we are going to have a great dinner tonight."