Honor

When Bianca finally calmed down, she sniffled adorably. Unfortunately, while Elian wanted to comfort her, he couldn't. Although they were together at the moment, an entire plane of existence separated them.

Feels like one of those weird long-distance relationships…

Thinking in such terms, Elian believed the situation would get better. After all, if Bianca could bind his soul to something, then shouldn't she be able to do the same to herself?

Although, I don't even know how jobs work yet. I was excluded from those classes.

"Why were you even waiting here, Elian? Shouldn't you be preparing to move?"

Bianca's question caught the boy off guard. He could only turn to the piled-up remains of his master. Following his line of sight, Bianca grew agitated.

"Don't tell me you did something so foolish as protecting a pile of bones? Do you have any idea what would've happened if an alarm from the ants triggered?"

Despite the woman's fierce rebuke, Elian replied curtly.

"I know. But I couldn't let them desecrate the honor of the one I serve."

"Honor?"

Like a wisp of smoke, Bianca's body vanished and reappeared standing over her remains. She pointed to them as she glared at Elian.

"What do you see here, my foolish weapon?!"

"I see the remains of a wonderful woman."

"LOOK AGAIN!" she roared.

The boy followed and gazed at his "master". The pile should still have had flesh and blood. The fact that neither was present told of just how long Bianca's tomb had remained sealed. For all her skill, power, riches, and honor, she couldn't even be given a decent grave.

"…"

Seeing Elian remain silent, Bianca sighed as she calmed herself.

"Elian, I appreciate your loyalty to me. Truly, I am grateful. But I have remained bound to this place for over ten years after I passed. I watched myself rot and wither until I was reduced to the state you see there. Beauty? Wealth? Honor? None of that matters once a person is dead."

The boy wanted to deny her words but couldn't. After all, he also understood what Bianca was trying to say. No matter how much honor you bestow on a corpse, it would not bring back the living.

"My Weapon, engrave this command in your heart. You are the last legacy I have. That Forged vial was the only one I was able to successfully make. You must ensure that you live long enough to grow stronger. If you truly wish to follow my will, you will listen. Do you understand?"

Wordlessly, the boy nodded.

I will remain loyal, but I refuse to forsake your remains, Master.

Bianca studied Elian for a moment before rebuking him.

"Elian, although you no longer have a face, your glowing eyes are quite expressive."

I no longer have a face?

At Bianca's comment, Elian began to feel the contours of his face.

This feels like some kind of Great Helm… but it feels like my own skin? So this is my face now?

Amazed by the new sensation, Elian kept patting and rubbing his face. While it was solid like metal, he could feel pressure, heat, and texture.

The sensation feels exactly like skin, but far stronger. I wonder what it would feel like to hug a person?

"Plus, I can feel your emotions to an extent. You were just… You! I am speaking—You, you really are insolent," Bianca growled.

Ah crap, got carried away.

"I apologize, Master. I was just curious. How exactly can you feel my emotions?"

"It's called Psychomancer. A rare third Job. The fools called it a path to immortality." She paused, "And that… was partly why I ended up in this place."

"I see," Elian said crestfallen.

The fact the Bianca died was the elephant in the room. The boy didn't ask. Not yet. Whatever happened to her… she wasn't ready to share it. And he wasn't ready to hear it.

Yet the longer they bonded the truth would inevitably come out. Feeling the heavy air, Elian tried to change the topic with his limited social skills.

"By the way, Master, you're really amazing for having a third job! I don't know much about them. As a Defect, I was excluded from a lot of the classes that deal with the system and jobs. Can you please teach me? I'm sure that with such an excellent teacher, I would learn very quickly."

Delighted by Elian's action, Bianca jumped at the opportunity and became more expressive.

"Hmph! I told you to praise in moderation! Just how many girls have you sweet-talked with that silver tongue?"

Ho? So she feels embarrased? How adorable.

Elian turned and approached his master. Somehow, the imposing presence of Bianca Valestra seemed far smaller than he initially believed.

Was she always this small? Or did I grow taller?

Gazing deep into her eyes, he declared resolutely, "Your abilities and achievements are worthy of praise, so I will continue to do so. I only praise those I admire, Master. No more, no less."

"I-I see… then it's fine. Cough!"

Her body flickered out of sight, then returned with her back to him—as if she couldn't bear being seen.

"Let's move. We can no longer stay here. And frankly, there's no reason to. Just take the golden marble from my corpse. It's a soulgem—that contains my soul. You may take the magic bag. Think of it as my gift to you. Although, you won't be able to anything inside. As for the rest, leave them."

At her explanation, Elian moved to retrieve the valuable object. His fingers traced the smooth surface and marveled at the object that had become more important than his own life. Next, the boy took the magic bag and secured it to his lower back.

"Soulgems have what is called an upkeep. Periodically, I'll need you to have mine ingest monster cores. Those will extend the time I can operate."

"What happens if you can no longer keep the upkeep?"

"The same to a child who can no longer eat. It dies."

"…Then how have you lasted till now?"

Unknowingly Elian balled his fists. The metallic plates creaked softly. Not from anger—just pressure. Like they were under too much strain.

"I sleep. There is little to do so I spent most of the decade in slumber. I only occasionally rouse when something interesting happens. Regardless, it doesn't matter now. We should—just what are you doing?" Bianca asked confused.

"I'll handle it, Master. Just give me a moment."

Against Bianca's wishes, Elian stored everything that belonged to his master—bones and all—into her magic bag. Then he moved to take the bag from Trevor and secured it to his thigh. As he did, he noticed a shining object on the ground: a badly beaten-up coin.

No way?! It survived?

In a hurry, Elian picked it up and quickly inspected it. Bianca appeared behind the boy without warning, curious.

"What is that pitiful thing? A Crown? Why does it look like a wild animal attacked it? Is it yours?"

"Yes, Master. It's something that is immensely important to me."

Bianca raised her eyebrow at her weapon's heartfelt declaration. But she did not press him and simply waited. Elian approached the ants he had killed and began to tear apart their cores. After he did, he quickly took out Bianca's soulgem and held the monster cores near it.

"Elian, apart from the times I helped you, I had been economical with my use—I'm still good for a few days if I refrain from using my abilities."

The boy understood what Bianca didn't say. The red worker ants were, in essence, weak compared to someone like his master. Thus, their cores probably wouldn't help much. But Elian didn't get discouraged.

"I know, Master. But these cores are the very first things I earned with my own power. They might seem worthless, but I dedicate all of them to you—and vow that they will be the first of many. I will hunt the strongest beasts so that you never have to worry about upkeep again."

Even if Bianca doesn't believe me for now, soon she will. I will prove she didn't make a mistake in choosing me.

The promise seemed childish. There was nothing to give it credence. But Bianca made a complicated expression before exhaling deeply. She gazed into the eyes of the metallic golem in front of her and declared with a smile.

"I had expected it to some extent but you already drank the vial. Don't make me regret choosing you, Elian."