Leaving the twins behind, Siu was unsure whether he would find Elder Thane this late or not... Usually, he did not linger around the outer disciples after his duty of training them was done, and it was a long shot to find him now, at this hour. If nothing else, he was ready to look for Dui and use his status as an inner disciple to call for Elder Thane. Although that would probably mean another debt he has to sign up for... But, maybe because he had already had a debt haunting him, when arriving at the training fields, there he was, Elder Thane, leaving the common grounds. Pushing his thoughts down, hurrying towards him, the fox on his head lifted her chin, noticing the change in his mood, looking for the source of the hurry.

  Siu didn't even have to say anything as Elder Thane immediately noticed him, then glanced at the little fox, watching its twitching ears. For half a second, Siu could swear he saw the Elder's eyes twitch, quickly suppressing any type of surprise that wanted to escape his mouth. In the end, what remained was the sole fact that Elder Thane’s eyebrows rose a fraction, questioningly taking in the scene before him.

  “Well,” he said after a pause, “that explains why you are back so early.”

  "Um," Siu blinked his eyes, a bit taken aback, “Sir?”

  “You failed your mission,” Elder Thane continued, already turning and gesturing for Siu to follow. “That was expected.”

  “How do you know already that I failed…? And... It was?”

  “You came back early,” Thane said bluntly, glancing at him with one eye, “The mission, at your level, would have taken at least two days... You just left this morning, which means you overextended yourself to be back so soon. That tends to happen when someone's talent outruns their actual experience.” As he spoke, there was no scolding or disappointment in his voice, but he was clearly trying to lecture Siu, wanting him to understand what his failure meant. “If you had succeeded cleanly and this quickly, that would have worried me.”

  "Ah..." Siu frowned faintly but didn’t argue, and while he was thinking, the fox leaned forward, sniffing the air, more precisely, it was trying to take a whiff of Elder Thane, trying to see if he was a friend or not.

  "You fought... So? Did you win? Or you simply escaped?" He asked suddenly, making Siu smile a little, before nodding his head.

  "I had to win, because her life was also on the line." He pointed at the little one sitting on his head.

  "Mhm..." The Elder nodded again, and Siu soon recognized that they had already left the Outer Disciples zone, heading upwards into the mountains, following a stone stairway that he had never even noticed before. "I have to say, even with you failing my task, with her coming back with you, you gained a greater reward than what I would have given you. But you will need help to finalize it."

  "That's why I came to look for you."

  "I know." He chuckled, apparently in a superb mood that made Siu relax at once. "That's why I am taking you to her."

  "Mast-, khm, Elder Thane?"

  "You'll see." He smiled at him, and their little trek became silent, leaving Siu with nothing else just to count the steps under his feet, soon reaching into the thousands before finally stopping.

  As he blinked his eyes, the trio now stood before a circular house built of sanded, white stone and deep-brown wood, decorated with the carvings of animals. Examining its structure, Siu could feel it wasn't just a simple building, as the essence around here was thicker than in the outer disciples' cultivating alcoves, causing him to swallow and his mouth to feel a bit parched all of a sudden.

  “Don't be afraid,” Thane said with a grin, “you are simply meeting her ahead of time, that's all." Then he knocked on the door, raising his voice, "Delia, come out, I have a favor to ask of you!”

  The air changed at once, Elder Thane's knuckles tapped on the door, and Siu could tell that someone or something had awoken on the other side. When the door opened, a kind of otherworldly warmth rolled outward like a sweet breath, making Siu sway a little. However, instinctively, using the Ox's stance and his own breathing, he quickly adjusted, making Thane nod with approval. The only unfortunate one was the little fox, who now got paralyzed, lying low on his head, holding onto Siu's hair with all her four limbs, shaking, acting like she was facing an even worse predator than the Ironclaw was.

  "Hmmm...? A young one?" The voice asked, and the owner stepped out from behind the door, and Siu finally made out the person behind the strong aura.

  For one, she was shorter than Thane and even shorter than Siu, but to his senses, she was also taller than both of them combined. She was strong... that part he could tell without anyone else stating the obvious. As for clothes, she wore layered robes of soft cream and green, loosely hanging from her body and held together at the waist with a simple cord. Her figure was… generous, if Siu had to describe it politely, rounded in a way that came from not indulgence, but of abundance... She reminded him of the fertility statues he had seen while traveling to join the Sect. Tearing his eyes away from her gently swinging chest, he hurriedly tried to look away, watching her hair instead, which was a pale, earthy brown, worn in a thick braid over one shoulder.

  That was when he noticed that, from her temples, two small, curved, and smooth horns were growing towards the back of her head. Blinking once, he finally could see that the woman's eyes, her pupils, were horizontal, reinforcing Siu's sudden thoughts that she wasn't human.

  “Oh,” she said gently, her eyes lighting up as they settled on him, and then immediately climbed upwards, right to the fox. “Oh my! What an adorable little furball!”

  "Khm," Elder Thane cleared his throat before she had any chance to reach out and try to snatch the fox off Siu's head, “Siu, this is Elder Delia Veldan. She is in charge of handling the disciples' contracts with their beasts. Delia, he is Siu.”

  "The boy you told me about? He is cute." She giggled as her gaze returned to Siu, examining him, “He has a clearer soul than expected... Hm, hm. I approve.”

  "T-thank you, Elder Delia," Siu bowed deeply, not knowing what to really say, “Outer Disciple Siu greets Elder Delia,” he added, cupping his hands.

  “I rarely handle Outer Disciple issues, but I can sense that this will be an exception, hm?” She nodded approvingly, “Saving someone already shows your true personality!” Her eyes flickered as she measured his posture, noticing where the subtle stiffness was still visible, the fading scars, already putting one and one together, “Very good! We need disciples like you!”

  Finally, noticing that the new figure who had appeared was not an enemy and was definitely not hostile, the little fox on Siu's head began squeaking, making the Elder laugh and covering her mouth with a hand.

  “Oh, hush, little one,” she said fondly, reaching out and scratching her head, right behind her ears, tiptoeing to reach her, “You’re doing wonderfully for your age! But you for sure wouldn't have been able to escape an Ironclaw. Don't lie to me... I can tell when someone is honest or not!”

  "Ah," Siu suddenly froze, “You can understand her?”

  "Hm?" Delia’s smile widened a lot, leaning back and stopping scratching the fox's head, “Of course I can. Tell me,” she asked kindly, “did you bind her?”

  "Bind?" Siu blinked his eyes, glancing at Elder Thane, but he acted like he was not even there, not giving any hints as to what to say, “No, she has been pretty obedient, so I don't need to use a leash.”

  As if wanting to say something, the foxy began squeaking again, but just a glance from Elder Delia made her fall silent at once.

  Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

  “Did you force her?”

  “No.”

  “Did you offer her power, protection, or a bargain?”

  "I..." Siu hesitated, trying to think back, “I… told her nothing like that... I think. I did save her and told her it would be alright... I guess? It was a battle to the death, so I don't think I made any weird promises. I was more focused on not dying against my opponent.”

  "Mhm," Delia closed her eyes, taking another deep breath that almost made Siu shiver as the air rushed past him... Then, a moment later, she laughed again, exhaling it through her nose, reopening her eyes that twinkled like stars, "I really appreciate it when people don't lie. It is such a refreshing sensation... You, humans, tend to lie about so many things, even those that don't make any difference. Or to yourselves..."

  "I told you, he is different..." Elder Thane murmured under his breath, and although Delia caught it, Siu did not.

  “But my dear,” she said, ignoring Thane, patting Siu's face like a grandmother, “The fact alone that you now saved her won’t do at all.”

  "Eh?" Siu frowned, a bit confused now... this was worse than dealing with the twins! “Elder? I feel I am being lost in the conversation...”

  “Sssh... Just listen. Between you two,” she said quietly, running her fingers along Siu's face and chest, then reaching back up to tap the fox's head, she began examining the two. She couldn't help but nod her head multiple times, apparently very happy about something, before continuing, “The bond is already there, you just failed to finalize it... Well, understandable, you don't know how.”

  “Really?” Thane asked, a bit surprised.

  “Bonds do form naturally, especially in a life and death situation. Theirs is almost complete,” Delia replied, “There was no coercion made, no imprinting from birth... And most importantly, there was no dominance established between an owner and a pet.” Her gaze flicked to Siu again, still smiling, “You didn’t even mean to form it, did you?”

  "Well, as I am trying to say... That's because I know nothing about it," Siu muttered, almost pursing his lips, “So… No. I did not.”

  “That,” Delia said gently, caressing Siu's face once again, “is what makes it perfect.” Then, before Siu's face would turn way too red, she stepped back and gestured toward the insides of her abode. “Come! Sit down, both of you.” Her eyes twinkled while ushering them in, “We have some explaining to do, and I’d rather not do it while you’re standing on recovering ribs. I'll give you something nice to drink, too! The healing baths are good, but believe me, my tea is even better, ahahaha! Come, come!”

  Siu obeyed immediately, lost in the fact that an Elder could be this direct, and as for the fox on his head, after they sat before a simple, wooden table, she hopped down and curled into his lap instead. Her paws now rested on the edge of the table, watching as Delia served tea for them, even giving the fox her own little bowl to drink from.

  "I know, I know," Delia began before Thane could speak up, giving him something that smelled much stronger than tea. "I know what you like, don't worry."

  "Thanks!" Thane smiled, already raising it to his lips for a small sip, "Aaaahhh... I just can't get enough of this..."

  "Drunkard." She chortled before sitting down, watching as Siu felt himself getting lost in the taste of his tea, sensing that it was indeed washing over him... just as his little fox, who was loudly licking the contents of her bowl. In the end, Elder Delia waited until they were settled before speaking again, being patient with her guests, “In this world,” she began when Siu finally emptied his cup, “everything that exists has the potential to awaken. Did you know that?”

  "I only knew about... beasts," Siu answered, recalling all that the old man taught him. "I mean, animals... not beasts." He added quickly, knowing that Elder Delia might not like being called that...

  “Ahahaha, it's okay, I was once a beast!" She laughed, reading his mind, "As I said, animals, plants, even crafted objects, when exposed to sufficient spirituality, through environment, age, or cultivation, they begin to change. Just as you are also changing.”

  "I see..." Siu muttered, and part of that he indeed knew. Since cultivating, he could even tell the rate of change he was going through, so it made sense for beasts to evolve too... but crafted objects? That was something he had never even heard about before.

  “Most remain beasts," Elder Delia continued, apparently only focusing on animals, "They become smarter and many times stronger, but they remain bound by their instinct. Your word, calling them beasts, is very descriptive of them. But, some of those do cross the threshold into what we call Spirit Beasts.”

  "Like this fox?" Siu leaned forward slightly while asking.

  “Yes, and as you had already seen, they think like a human,” Delia continued. “They understand them too.” Her gaze flicked meaningfully to the fox, slowly finishing her bowl of tea, “And when they grow further… they may become actual Spirits." She smiled, pointing at herself, "Then, we can finally take our human form and start cultivating as everyone else.”

  "Elder..." Siu started but then stopped, thinking it might be a bit rude to ask more, but Delia just giggled while she refilled his cup.

  “I was, once in the past, a simple Moonhorn Cloudbovine," she explained, watching Siu's reaction, but because there was none, showing he didn't know what type of creatures those were, in the end, she didn't go into the details. "I gained my intelligence here and grew up inside the Sect before becoming one of its Elders."

  "Delia was Grand Elder Lin's Spirit Beast in the past," Elder Thane added, “I heard that in the past, she destroyed his favorite pavilion once.”

  “He shouldn’t have tried to rush me,” Delia replied serenely, not even denying it, "But that was in the past."

  "Um..." Siu raised a hand, glancing back and forth between them, "Was?"

  “First, let me tell you about contracts,” she nodded, raising her hand, and suddenly four rotating formations appeared above the table, all exuding different kinds of feelings that were hard to grasp, yet undeniable.

  “First among them is the Mutual Contract,” she began, pointing at the warm, golden colored formation that felt like a spring breeze, “This is a proper partnership, the willing meld of two souls in a beneficial, symbiotic existence.” While speaking, her eyes met Siu’s, smiling at him, “It allows shared senses, along with shared growth, and eventual summoning when the participants grow together and truly become one. Most importantly, it accelerates a spirit beast’s evolution, and in turn, it strengthens the cultivator’s soul and experience.”

  "Is this... what is almost finished between her and me?" Siu asked, making Elder Delia nod with a happy smile, but then, her expression became a bit more thoughtful as she switched to the second formation.

  “Then, there are the Binding Contracts. These are accepted within our Sect and are also very common, often necessary.” She shrugged, continuing her explanation, “This is based on the principle that power establishes control. There are times when a creature may be too low in intellect to understand its own decisions, so it must be... coerced. Of course, over time, trust and growth will replace it and can turn them into a Mutual Contract.”

  "Just make sure that if the beast evolves," Elder Thane chimed in, emptying his cup, "It doesn't outpace you. If the beast outgrows the owner... That doesn't lead to anything good."

  "That can happen?" Siu asked, furrowing his brows, looking back and forth between the two.

  "It can." Delia nodded, becoming serious, "That's... indeed can be catastrophic. That's the fourth version..."

  "Then what's the third?" Siu asked, watching as Delia's countenance turned stern and her warning words made Siu shrink back, without thinking about it.

  “They are the Slave Contracts.” Her voice hardened, “You must understand... these are forbidden in this sect. In these horrible contracts, the beast becomes an object, nothing but a tool, a throwaway resource for the cultivator... Anyone who is found to meddle with this... will not be tolerated to remain part of our family.”

  "And Sects don't let their secrets escape..." Siu muttered under his breath, making Elder Thane nod his head, also warning him about the dire consequences.

  "Indeed... We do not."

  “And lastly… the Reverse Contract.” Delia continued, dispelling the dangerous air in the room, “This one is rare,” she said quietly, shrugging a little, “But if the contract isn't broken, be it for whatever reason, it is catastrophic for the fool who let it reach this state. Think of it as the twin countenance of a Slave Contract, only this time around... It's you who will become a slave to a beast.”

  Before Siu could ask anything, Elder Delia waved her hands, dispelling the formations, waiting patiently while Siu went over everything in his head once again, finally settling down and looking at her with a much clearer look in his eyes.

  "So... I have a Mutual Contract with her?"

  "Almost." Delia nodded, "What remains now is to evoke it into existence. I don't think I had ever taught the method to an Outer Disciple..."

  "Don't they have beasts too?" Siu asked, feeling a bit confused.

  "Even those who do, it's a Binding Contract, not a Mutual one." She answered, tilting her head, "They are too weak to establish a mutual respect with a beast, so... Oh well! I am not going to be stuck on that point, ahaha!" She clapped, looking at the two, "I will help you set up the formation! Aww... I always loved hosting beautiful marriages!"

  "..." Siu was about to say something, but his fox was quicker, beginning to squeak, almost biting her own tongue with the speed she was babbling about something. Yet she was ignored by Delia, who started looking for something in a massive container, almost getting swallowed by it.

  "Don't mind her," Elder Thane whispered, leaning over to Siu's shoulder, whispering to him, "She always likes this... Plus, a contract is not eternal. All contracts can be annulled by the one who made them; it is nothing but a thought for the contract holder. In a mutual contract, it goes both ways!"

  "Ah... that makes sense," Siu nodded, finally understanding why Delia called those who fall into a Reverse Contract to be foolish, "So she and the Grand Elder..."

  "Grand Elder Lin," Thane continued, "He had released her from the contract the moment she reached the level to become an Elder of the sect. It is the custom here, and although not many beast folk live around these parts, those who are cultivated within the Sect do have the chance to take up leading roles within it. So... get used to the thought!" He chortled, clapping his shoulders with a grin.

  "Okay!" Elder Delia returned, holding a box in his hands, "Come... We have a contract to make!"