Divine Beast Ascension

568 Back in the Practor House

“So, will you let me care for you and serve you?” Herman asked. “I know there’s no need to ask if you’ll care for my clan in exchange. We both know that goes hand in hand. And hearing your origins leaves me with no doubt about that.”

Oli sighed and chuckled at the same time. Defeated. No matter how his mind reflexively tried to create a means to deny the contract, there was no stopping it. And Oli even felt his desire to sign such a contract suddenly sprout and take root.

Before saying another word, Oli carefully held the glass quill in his claw and dipped it in the peculiar ink. Oli let his essence trickle into the ink.

Strangely, Oli realized something else that was going on. Essence wasn’t the only energy being pulled into the ink. Oli felt a strand of his spirit energy getting strung along into the quill with each stroke. *That’s how it binds those that sign…*

When he finished signing, Oli put the quill down. And Oli had no need for pins or knives. He simply poked the tip of his thumb with one of his claws, barely drawing a drop of blood.

Oli pressed his bloody thumb into the signature, which greedily consumed the blood. The ink turned a brilliant purple before it settled down and dried.

Both Oli and Herman sighed softly as they felt their souls shake slightly. In particular, Herman felt what seemed to be a thin, ethereal chain link his soul to Oli’s. And Oli felt that invisible, intangible chain reach out to his soul and surrender itself to Oli.

“... It’s done. From now on, I’ll be in your care, Herman.”

Smiling and inhaling slowly, Herman bowed his head once more. “Thank you, Oli. I’ll do everything I can to protect and advise you. No matter where you go or who you have to face, I’ll be at your side if you’ll allow it.”

.....

Oli poured wine for the three of them and raised his cup. “... To our future, that we’ll carve out from the rotten world around us. And to our loved ones, those we’ll do anything and everything to protect!”

“Here, here!” Herman shouted, tapping his cup against Oli’s.

“I can’t argue with that!” Vloz chimed in, joining the toast.

The three men chugged their drinks in unison, emptying the cups all at once.

Vloz sighed and suddenly got up. “Since you two have enacted the contract, it’s time I take my leave. Speaking on the future and our loved ones, I have a child to get back to.”

“WHAT?!”

While Herman broke out in laughter, Vloz explained, “Right. You haven’t heard just yet. One of these days, I’ll have to introduce you to my son, Volan. But that will have to wait until I can introduce you as Oli, not Vero or Oliver. If anything, I pray to Dominus that you and he get along like me and Rathe.”

“Oh, well, okay. Congratulations, I guess,” Oli sighed, unable to bring himself to even laugh or chuckle from surprise.

“Right, thank you,” Vloz nodded and smiled. “If there’s anything I could ask of you, Oli, it would be to treat Volan as your cousin and brother-in-arms. I can’t force that on you two. But it’s what I long for. If that happens, then I’ll be able to die happy.”

Before Vloz could exit the courtyard, Oli asked, “Who was the mother?”

“... She’s someone I hope you’ll meet sooner rather than later. And maybe fate will be kind and allow her to relocate to Iron one day.” Vloz’s told was mostly neutral, but there was a hint of regret and longing. “Then maybe I can get to know her even better, along with our son.

“Good luck with your siege Oli. And make good use of those battle arts, if you see a need.”

“Will do. Thanks, Uncle Vloz.”

Sharing one last nod and smile, Vloz exited the closed courtyard, leaving the silent formation active.

Sighing, Oli turned to Herman, asking, “So, what now?”

“Now, ‘Vero’, it’s time for us to get to work. I need to introduce the mighty drake that Vloz found during his time in Rot City,” Herman stated. “I hope you’re adjusted to this new form cause it’s about to be put to the test. And if you fail, then I won’t be allowed to hire you.”

“I’ll be fine. Now that I can use soul arts again without fear of getting caught, it would be hard to find a true opponent in the mortal realm. Possible, but hard,” Oli replied, getting up while storing the contract, quill, wine, and cushions. “Am I allowed to know what this test will be? Or is it a surprise?”

Chuckling, Herman stored the table, “Consider the first part a rematch of sorts. After that comes the real test though. And promise me you won’t hold back. I want to see what you’re truly capable of at your current realm. Also, I’m curious how he holds up against you. He needs to test himself against strong opponents just as much as you do.”

Oli wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but he understood well enough. “So it’s a couple of fights? Done. Then, after you, Patriarch Herman.”

“Very well, Vero, Shadow Drake mercenary.”

Sharing sly smiles, the duo deactivated the silent formation. Oli ducked under the doorway as he followed Herman toward another part of the Practor Residence.

“Grandpa! Whoa, who’s that?”

Oli and Herman turned to face the young cultivator. With a hint of a grin, Oli half-bowed his head. “The name’s Vero. I’m just here to meet a few people.”

“I’m Pauller! Are you a dragon?” the young man was staring at Oli’s scales, claws, and wings as if Oli was a golden statue from ancient history. “I’ve never met a dragon before, but I’ve heard they’re crazy strong!”

“Pauller!” A young adult man rushed over and forced Pauller’s head down. “Please, forgive my brother for his lack of courtesy and respect. I’m his older brother, Leon Practor. No matter how many years pass, my little brother’s mouth only grows larger and he loses more control of himself.”

Laughing, Oli shook his head, “No worries! And no, I’m no dragon. I’m just a Shadow Drake, so I’m sorry to disappoint you, boy.”

But Pauller fervently shook his head. “I’m not disappointed at all!”

“Alright, that’s enough!” Herman stated, putting up his stern, patriarchal face. “Sorry boys, but I’ve got to hurry up and bring Vero to the others. We’re already a little late.”

“Oh, this is him!” Pauller ecstatically replied. “He’s the mercenary Melinda is fighting?”

“Pauller! The patriarch said that was enough!” Leon insisted, pulling his brother back and keeping him from getting any closer to Oli.

Shaking his head, Herman sighed, “If you want to witness the tests, you already know where to go. So hurry ahead and let them know we’re on our way. Got that, Pauller, Leon?”

“Yes, sir!” Pauller hurriedly bowed to his grandpa and Oli before scampering off. “Good luck, Vero!”

Leon bowed as well but he didn’t say a word more. He just rushed after Pauller to make sure the boy didn’t cause any more trouble along the way.

Once they were alone, both Herman and Oli started laughing under their breaths. They kept quiet but it was impossible for them to not feel a bit of nostalgia or irony from the drive-by meeting with Pauller and Leon.

While walking through the Practor Residence, Oli took those couple of minutes to think back to his fight against Melinda in that tournament years back. Now he understood what Herman meant by the first test being a rematch.

Soon, they reached the Practor Family’s training building, where they offer private and group lessons to anyone willing to pay up. Only there were no students present that day. Entering the vast training room, Oli spotted not even a dozen people grouped together, chatting. To Oli’s surprise, he didn’t recognize most of the faces.

“Sorry to take so long,” Herman commented. “Go ahead and introduce yourself.”

“I’m Vero, a Shadow Drake. I’ve been looking forward to this,” Oli stated, offering a quick head bow to the room.

“Vero,” Herman continued while everyone inspected Oli’s drake form, “allow me to introduce my family first. These are my three sons, Lyle, Jonon, and Mertin.”

All three men stepped forward, nodding back to Oli while sizing him up.

Mertin’s sharp gaze led him to speak first, “What realm are you in?”

“Can you tell?” Oli asked.

“I can’t… strangely,” Lyle remarked.

“And I can’t either, at least not exactly,” added Jonon, gripping his chin tightly in thought.

Mertin smiled slightly and asked, “I can tell that you’re a powerful elder. But I have a feeling you’re not a peak-elder. So what makes you confident that you’ll be undefeated among the elder realm? And if that’s the case, how come you haven’t joined the Mortal Championship? I’m sure most any king would be glad to train and submit a drake like you.”