Chapter 49.1 – The Consortium 1.1

Alex had his mouth wide open and asked, almost shouting, “You mean he found a way to open Magical Voids to the Monster World, instead of the Voids appearing randomly?”

“Yes, and I don’t know how he did that. Perhaps he got lucky or was smarter than he seemed. When it was my time to approach that so-called Hero to get my Magical Orb and my mission, I removed the hood from my head. He turned pale when he recognised me, and I took his beating heart from his chest with my bare hands and stuffed it in his mouth. I faced the Mages in that room, and after blocking the exits, I told them that their plan was going to end that night. Several of them used the Magical Orbs to open Magical Voids that they used to flee while Monsters were arriving. I killed every Dark Mage I could with my lightning bolts and Magic, then I took care of the Monsters. I went in search of Okami, Suijin, and Kagu-tsuchi, and after telling them what I found out, we ordered all the Spirits in this World, our sons and daughters, to kill every Mage that was dressed in dark clothes or that tried to kill or capture a Mage Summoner and their contracted Spirit. We never told why those Dark Mages had to die, but our orders are absolute. Since the beginning of time, every time we give an order, all the Spirits know it is a serious matter, and they never disappoint us. Over several months, Dark Mages and their supporters were tracked down and killed. Hundreds were killed at first sight, and some were killed after we tortured other Mages and found out more and more. One day, we couldn’t find any, and for years, we searched, and I thought we had completely obliterated the Consortium. Until yesterday…”

Alex felt his head spinning, and he asked, in a trembling voice, “Y-your parents… w-where were they, for all that time?”

“After they created the ability for Spirits to make contracts with other beings and to share their Magic, they went through a Magical Void to the Monster World to learn more about it. They haven’t come back yet, but I am sure they can come back when they want to, either by using their godly powers or by crossing a Magical Void again.”

Alex gulped. “But so many years have passed… and they haven’t returned yet…”

Shinatobe made a slight smile. “You think about time in your perspective, Alex. For eternal beings like our parents and us, time doesn’t exist. Three hundred years is just the blink of an eye. They will return when they feel like it, not sooner. Besides, they know that we can take care of this World in their absence. They are probably slowly changing things in the Monster World, and Ghar is the living proof that things are changing. I remember that the first Monsters that came from the Magical Voids were mindless beasts. They didn’t even wear clothes or have a language. Ghar, on the other hand, can use different types of Magic granted by her necklace of Magical Orbs, she is very intelligent, and has a very strong sense of honour.”

Alex slowly nodded and glanced at Okami and Suijin, who were in silence looking at him. He faced Shinatobe again and asked, “I know I am the fourth Hero, what happened to the ones before me?”

“The first Hero came by accident. With the Consortium, I learned about passages between Worlds and the amount of Magic needed to open one passage. I was lucky enough to open a passage to the room of a very knowledgeable woman on Earth, and she came here and made a contract with Suijin. It was thanks to her that Healers learned so much about anatomy and physiology. People learned about war tactics and different types of weapons, and that gave us an enormous advantage against the Monsters. The Khaganat then distorted her teachings and went a little ahead of what they should have. Nevertheless, she did a good job of preparing us. Unfortunately, she died during a battle against the Monsters, and Suijin felt her death, and it took him decades of mourning until he forged a contract with another being. Then, I found your father. The sweet and gentle Yahei taught us physics, chemistry, advanced mathematics, and strange and very different styles of fighting, unarmed and armed. Through his charisma, he united hundreds of people around him, and several others were influenced by his teachings. Then the war with the Khaganat happened.”

Alex slowly nodded. “And he became depressed and abandoned everything. It took him years to overcome what he had to do in the war, and when he decided to return, he brought me here.”

“Yes, and you arrived in a time of peace, except with the occasional Magical Void, and your ideas improved a lot the society. It also shook a few countries to the core, but one can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. It seems the Consortium is back, and that explains a lot of the increase in Magical Voids. That means they are using the dark-coloured Magical Orbs that they were hiding, or they are killing Mage Summoners and their Spirits. That possibility frightens me…”

Alex made a slight frown and asked, “You don’t know if a Spirit is missing? Perhaps we could track down where the Consortium is active.”

“Spirits tend to roam free, so it’s difficult to track them or to know their exact number. Our parents could track them, but not us. I already sent a few messages to see if a Spirit went missing lately, but there is also the possibility that the Dark Mages are active in the Monster World, considering that a few fled there. Too many possibilities…”

“What about the detection of Magical Voids? You still didn’t find a way to predict where they are about to appear or if they are being created?”

“Unfortunately, no. I need to be near to detect a change in the wind, but I can’t predict them nor find out if someone is creating them or if it’s by chance.”

Alex went silent and thought about her words. While the others waited, he remembered something. “Shinatobe, when you first saw a Dark Mage opening a Magical Void to escape you, did any of them open a Void to Earth? Or there were only Voids to the Monster World?”

“I don’t know. Dozens of Magical Voids appeared at the same time, and in all that mess, I couldn’t see. Mages were fleeing, Monsters were arriving, and a few were shooting Magic at me. I killed them all, and I didn’t worry about finding out more. The pain of what I saw was unbearable, and at that time, I only thought about revenge.”

Alex went silent again and Shinatobe waited, biting her lower lip. She spoke after several minutes of silence. “I am sorry for hiding this from you, but it was so terrible that I was having trouble with the memories and the pain I felt when I saw all those Mage Summoners and their Spirits dying. Some of them were my children… You can’t possibly imagine how much it hurts for a mother to see their children dying and not be able to do a thing because it was too fast and I had to find out more... The regret is still eating me from the inside out…”

“I understand, Shinatobe. I suppose you did well by hiding this from me. Five years ago, it would have been difficult for me to deal with all this knowledge. I am older, and I think I am better prepared to deal with this. Let’s wait to see if any Spirit send you a message, and in the meantime, I need to train my Magic and get ready for the worst. Maybe it’s better if we stop here. I am worried enough as it is, and I will probably have a lot of trouble falling asleep.”

Shinatobe slowly nodded and spoke while looking at her hands that were over the table. “I need to be alone tonight. I think I am going for a midnight flight and think about the children I lost.”

Suijin made a slight smile. “I will accompany you in a few moments, if you don’t mind. You shouldn’t be alone tonight. Okami, are you coming as well?”

Okami noticed the sad look on Alex’s face. “No, I want to be sure that Alex is at ease. He is too sad, and I don’t like to see him like this. Unless you don’t want it, Alex.”

“No… I mean… Yes, I would like that, thanks.”

Alex got up, and the others followed him, with Shinatobe exiting out the window, a tiny ball of light again. As Alex went through the door, he saw Anika in the middle of the corridor, walking back and forth with a worried look on her face.

She saw Alex and ran to him, stopping near him when she noticed his sadness. “Alex… Are you alright? I couldn’t calm down. I was worried… What’s the matter?”

Seeing Alex in silence, Suijin took one step forward and placed one hand over Anika’s right shoulder. “Go to your room, my beautiful daughter of the sea. Try to sleep and let Alex deal with his worries. I believe he will be back to his usual self by tomorrow morning.”

Anika tried to argue, but Suijin slowly shook his head, and she turned back. Before opening the door to her room, she said, “Alex... if you need me, I will be right here…”

Alex made a slight smile and managed to answer, “Thanks, Anika. Sleep well.”

Alex went along the corridor with Okami and Suijin, and when no one was in sight, Suijin turned into a small dot of light and went in search of Shinatobe. Okami followed Alex to his room and sat on the chair near his bed.

She made a slight smile as he was taking out his clothes and asked, “Do you need to talk, Alex?”

“Not really. I guess I just need a good night’s sleep. I am feeling so tired right now…”

He changed into a long shirt that reached his knees and went to bed. Okami started to undress, and when Alex noticed what she was doing, he asked, “What is your idea, Okami? I said I was tired, and I needed to sleep.”

Okami continued as if he wasn’t speaking, and when she turned to him completely naked, she shrugged. “I thought you might need some cuddling to forget about your worries. Perhaps you want to talk, considering that you found out about some nasty things. I can’t possibly imagine what is going on inside your head, because I can feel that your thoughts are a complete mess. Don’t worry, I won’t force you or nag you to do anything. I just want to be sure you are okay. Move to the side, give me some space.”

Alex asked when he felt Okami’s butt pushing against his belly, “And why are you naked? Not that I am complaining because you have an amazing body, but it is weird to get in my bed just to talk and to keep me company.”

Okami turned her body around and faced him with a slight smile. She caressed his left cheek and said, “You preferred I was dressed? If you had accepted my invitations to join me during the night, you would have known by now that I never wear anything in bed. I know I tend to pressure you to spend the night with me, but we don’t need to do anything kinky. We never had to. You were the one that thought that I always wanted to have some physical interaction with you, and I let you think that way because it was funny to see you so flustered. Sometimes I become a bit sad because you refused me, but I never intended to force you or to make you angry.”

“Good, because having in my life Shinatobe, you and the other three, is still messing with me. I like the idea of having five amazing women loving me, but at the same time, it makes me doubt if I deserve all that attention.”

“Well, while you were distracted during dinner because of those dancers, Shinatobe told me what the girls said to you in the carriage. They love you, Alex. It’s about time for you to accept that and get ready for a very happy and fun life. Unless… You are thinking about your life on Earth? Didn’t Shinatobe already tell you to separate both lives, because it would be easier for you?”

Alex gave a slight smile. “She did, but… there is a girl in there that I like… and I am thinking about the future. If I don’t get old because of the contracts and I will have a very long life, I can’t be with her for so long. Eventually, she will get suspicious about why everyone around me gets older, and I don’t. There will be a day when I will need to abandon my life on Earth for good, and only live here.”

“For all the years that I have known you, I never heard you say that you liked a girl. She must really be something else. Maybe in a few years, you can tell her about Azurath. If she loves you and if she is indeed special as she seems to be, it won’t be a bad idea to bring her here. Maybe she will be able to use Magic and can also be a Mage Summoner. With a contract, she could live more years with you. Or, and this is just a thought, if Wenammy or Anika get to love her and grant that girl their Magic, she can also have a long life at your side.”

Alex blinked, surprised by that idea. “You won’t mind if another woman is at my side? You won’t nag me to choose only you or complain that there are already enough women near me?”

“I love you, Alex, and I would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to. If you like her and if she likes you, I don’t see a problem with her joining our big happy family.”

Alex asked when he felt Okami’s boobs against his chest, “I am imagining things or your left hand is slowly going down my belly? Okami, are you trying to seduce me or what? Because I have too many things on my mind for you to test my patience.”

Okami placed one finger over his lips. “Shush, don’t argue so much. You need to be cuddled, and I am right here. Shut up and close your eyes. If you want to talk, I am all ears. If you want to sleep, I will make sure you are not disturbed, and I will keep on caressing and cuddling you until you fall asleep.”

Alex gulped when he felt Okami’s fingers caressing his belly button. “And… if I want something else… like… hear you moan?”

“Then I can teach you how to make a woman lose her mind…”

Alex turned a bit red. “Shinatobe… already taught me a lot related to that...”

Okami spoke while kissing the tip of his nose, “I can do some things to you I am sure you will like. Unless you prefer to keep on worrying when you can’t do anything right now, while I am right here, willing to do a lot of things to you. You should be more open-minded, Alex, because you are not the same kid that I met years ago. You have turned into a fine young man, and you have me and Shinatobe at your side for many years to come. Not to mention the other three women that you conquered, and that girl from Earth.”

Alex slowly reached out to Okami’s left cheek, and while caressing her, he said, “I was being a fool for all this time, wasn’t I? You are a very attractive woman, and you are also my sweet and kind Spirit. I got a taste of the increase in feelings a contract creates, and I can’t shake those memories from my mind. Now you are here, and… I want to feel what you feel…”

Okami approached her lips from his. “I am here to please, Alex… Now, close your eyes, and get lost in me...”

Okami kissed him, and Alex felt a surge of Magic coming from her lips that made him feel as if the World had ceased to exist.