Chapter 50: Chapter 50

“Let me guess. Don’t make any sudden movements so it wouldn’t see us?” I whispered to Viex as I looked back at the forest monster that was now slowly making its way towards us.

‘Woman, are you nuts!? That is a totem and not a snake! RUN!’

“Rude fox says run!” I told the princes and started running on ahead.

‘The other way! Cross the river and head towards the forest!’

I skidded to a stop and ran past the princes to cross the river. “Sorry, guys. Wrong way.” My feet splashed through the water and I had to raise Viex just so he wouldn’t get splashed with the water as well. I looked back, Custard was safely in Ren’s arms.

“Why would we even run? Can’t we just knock that guy down?” Nate asked as we all looked back at green king kong knocking down trees just to get to us.

“FOOLS! You guys are powerless in this place!” I yelled at them. Ace was giving me a dangerous glare that I let out a nervous laugh. “I just translated what Viex said.”

‘Watch where you are going, princess!’ Viex warned me. I looked back to the front and tripped on a large log on the ground.

“And this is why I really hate hiking.” I grumbled as I whipped dirt and mud off of my face.

‘Princess, get up! We still have a long way and the totem is catching up!’ Viex yelled. I winced in pain as I forcefully got back on my feet and grabbed Viex. I heard a few grunts behind us and saw that the princes were now facing the totem. Ace had his bow ready, Ren became a wolf, while Nate was flexing his claws and teeth.

‘What are they doing!? Are those three idiots?’

“Guys! We have to run!” I yelled at them but they ignored me as they charged at the best. Unfortunately, they all seemed to pass through.

Ace cussed when he shot his third arrow, but nothing seems to hit. “You!” Ace yelled while looking at me. “Get to the nymphs as soon as possible. We’ll distract this ugly relative of yours.”

“That is not my relative!”

“Are you sure? The resemblance is quite uncanny.”

I ignored Ace’s words as I looked at Viex. “Is there any way on how I can help them? What can hurt that thing?” I watched and screamed in fear as the totem giant was able to make contact while hitting them. I saw how it grabbed and slammed Nate the ground.

I hope he is okay.

“Answer me.” I demanded the fox.

Viex swung his tail back and forth nervously. ‘Physical attacks do not work on it. But spiritual attacks can. Spirits such as your familiar can defeat it.” I recalled the scene with Fical and the evil spirit. Something similar to this has already happened. While they were fighting with Fical, there was this dark shadow coming out of Fical’s back. And it was only Custard who was able to touch it willingly.

I looked around to search for him and found him lying down and hidden between two large boulders, still sleeping. I ran towards him and gently shook him awake. “Buddy? Hey. Our friends are in danger. They need our help.” I said. But despite my efforts, Custard was still asleep.

‘Don’t waste your time on him, princess. He is hurt and his spiritual powers are still recovering. I wonder what could have caused him to go into stasis.”

“I-...” I looked back at Viex and then back at Custard. “He healed me when I got stabbed. He says that I almost died and used his healing abilities to cure me.”

Viex studied me for a few seconds before his gaze fell on my sleeping familiar. ‘Wolf familiar’s were always smart and too loyal for their own good. If we were back above ground, he could have died. Thankfully, there is enough energy for him here to absorb.

Just thinking about Custard dying made my nerves rattles. I grabbed Custard and drew him closer to my chest. I looked back at the princes and bit my lips.

‘If you want to save them, there is but one thing that you can do.’

I looked back at Viex. “What is it? Tell me? But please let it not involve using Custard.” I tightened my grip on my Custard and moved him away protectively.

‘It has been a while to see such close bonds between a tamer and their familiar.’ There was a side smirk on Viex’s face as he said it. “But there is that option. But I wouldn’t even suggest it since I already know your reaction. Instead, I am offering you my service once again. Form a contract with me. It will not harm your contract with Custard, because he is your rightful partner. Instead, it will only make him stronger since he will be able to gain access to my power.’

“Will he wake up if I do?”

‘He won’t. But it will make his recovery faster and I would channel enough energy towards him. But at the moment, I will be doing the fighting and serve as your protector. As much as I want to protect you, I can’t. Only a tamer can bring out a spirit's full potential.’

A determined look fell on my face as I saw Ace and Ren being thrown back while Nate dashed and tackled them both so they wouldn’t hit a broken three with massive splinters on them. I look back at Viex. “If you fight for me then I will accept and take care of you in return.”

‘All I wish is to serve my purpose to your family. Nothing more, princess.’

I stretched a hand out to Viex and allowed him to nick at the skin to draw blood. A familiar feeling coursed through me, similar to the time when Custard took my blood for the very first time. I hugged Custard closer to me in the memory. I miss him. I miss the little guy.

A strange victorian symbol appeared on top of Viex’s forehead before he raised his head and opened his eyes to look at me. “Master, what is your command?’

“Protect us. Drive Iroka away.” At my command, Viex started hunching on the ground as he began to morph. His body began to grow until he was about the size of a regular wolf. His pupils turned red while his tail split into two. Two of his fangs elongated that reminded me of a sabertooth. He licked his lips and straightened up before facing the Iroka.

‘As you wish, princess.’ I heard him speak before running to join the fight.

Iroka was slowly making his way to the princes. His hands reached towards them when Viex used that same hand as a leverage to jump toward his neck. He bit down and took a large chunk of skin from his neck before jumpi

ng down to avoid getting hit when Iroka used his other hand to grab him.

This little bit of distraction gave the princes enough time to get back on their feet. “Stupid, goriila. I’ll show you not to mess with a PRINCE!” Ace raised a hand and made a fist. Nothing happened. “Come on…!” He grunted. A few of the vines from the trees started moving and wrapping themselves around Iroka. Unfortunately, Ace cannot fully control the vines here because they were more alive compared to the plants back in the surface. The only thing that it was doing was distracting Iroka.

Viex jumped once more. His smaller size allowed him to dart and jump on the vines as he aimed for Iroka’s neck once again, but this time he was using his tail and pounded his head. He flipped and bounced on the vines. Ace saw his brief movement and momentarily increased his concentration onto that one particular vine as he catapulted Viex back to Iroka.

Viex’s form suddenly became shear as he passed through Iroka’s body. As soon as he landed on the ground, he walked a few paces forward just to avoid Iroka when he fell on the ground.

In Viex’s mouth, he was carrying some sort of blue wisp that kept on darting back and forth must to escape his jaws. I ran towards the princes to see how they were doing. Ren and Nate suffered a few wounds and bruises, but they were all starting to heal. Ace, on the other hand, didn’t have that ability that his injuries did not heal. But whether or not he felt it, he didn’t show it on his face.

I turned my attention back to Viex, still carrying that weird blob in his mouth. “What is that?” I asked.

‘Iroka. I severed his spirit from his body.’

I gulped. “You can do that?”

‘How else was I able to swap your friend’s bodies the first time we met? In which I apologise for.’

“It’s...fine I guess. That was all in the past now.” I said with a wave of my hand so we would not see how nervous I am right now. Thank the heavens that I formed a contract with Viex.

‘Do not worry, princess. My magic is limited once per day.’

“But you did that to the princes and there were three of them.”

‘I did it in a single phase.’

Alright. I’ll let Viex win this argument. This time. “So what are we going to do with...that?” I asked as I pointed at the struggling blob that was supposed to be Iroka’s spirit.

‘You decide. We can feed him to Custard and he will awaken instantly or we can set him free and have him come after us. Again.’

I thought about it and I did consider feeding his soul to Custard. But I do not think that would be right. For the spirits, it would seem like a murder. “Tell me, why is the totem attacking us?”

‘Spirits are wary of the living. It’s because of what happened years ago when Gija died. Iroka here is one of the totem guardians who awakens whenever it feels the distress of the spirits living all around us.’

“So you’re saying that he was just trying to protect this place.” I concluded. “Release him, Viex.” I commanded.

“What?” Ren gasped beside me.

“Rose, think about it. It might suddenly attack us again.” Nate says.

“PRINCE Ace, talk to her!” Ren says, which made meI look at the princes. Ren and Nate both wore the same worried look, while Ace just stood there and looked at me. “You don’t have an opinion?” I asked him.

“It is about time that you decide for yourself. After all, you are the tamer and you have the connection in this part of the realm.” He simply said, which was pretty weird coming from me. He would usually boss me around, but this time he was actually letting me decide. Maybe he somehow injured his head and became a bit nicer.

I looked back at Viex and focused my attention to Iroka’s struggling spirit. I kneeled before it. “Iroka, I hope that you would believe us when I say that we have no intention of harming this place. Our only goal is to see the Nymphs and dispel the evil spirit inside me. Sorry for hurting you in the process.” I watched as the blue blob slowly stopped struggling as if it could really understand me in its current state. “As soon as I get myself fixed, we’ll be sure to leave this place immediately.” I promised him and turned back to Viex with a nod. “Put him back in his body.” I commanded him.

Viex studied me for a while. His face suddenly softened as if he watched me. His two tails swinging back and forth. ‘I had doubts about the future royal bloodline of the tamers, but I guess I was wrong. You resemble King Varon more than I thought. I just hope that it will not become your downfall in the future.’ As he finished the last sentence, his face fell before he opened his jaw and allowed the blue blob to float back in Iroka’s physical body.

Iroka’s body glowed momentarily as his body started to recover it’s injuries. Then, it started to move. The princes all gathered in front of me to shield me as Iroka slowly made it’s way towards us and kneeled. He was studying me until he grabbed something from the back of his hair and handed me the wooden chalice.

“Is that the chalice? Rose, did you lose that chalice?” Ren raised a brow as he looked back at me.

I looked everywhere but them. “Oh look at that. I must have dropped it when Iroka was chasing us. Oh dear me. I was in such a panic that I did not notice that it must have fallen from my grasp this whole time.” I lied. I really did lose the Chalice when the whirlpool caught us.

In any case, I started moving past the princes as I faced Iroka with a grateful look on my face. “Thank you, Iroka.” I smiled at the monkey beast and I took the chalice from his large hands. Iroka let out a grunt and placed a finger on top of my familiar’s forehead. The same blue light glowed from Iroka’s body and towards Custard.

I bit my lips in delight when I felt a familiar tug at the back of my head as Custard’s consciousness flowed right back into me. When Iroka removed his finger from Custard’s forehead, Custard started shifting in my arms weakly. He yawned and pried one eye open to look at me. ‘Master.’

I couldn’t contain the happiness that I felt that I started tearing up a bit. He was back. My partner is back. “Hey buddy. You rested for a really long time. Well...not really that long but a lot has happened.”

‘I suppose I should stop sleeping and so I can be updated of the recent events?’ He says. I laughed and kissed Custard’s forehead before looking back at Iroka.

“Thank you, Iroka. Thank you for bringing him back. It means a lot.” Iroka simply nodded. His face did not change to let me know that he was simply repaying me for letting him go instead of letting my familiar absorb him.

I set Custard back on the ground and allowed him to run towards Viex as he morphed back into a small fox.

‘What do you want, young wolf?’ Viex looked indifferent and grunted when Custard started sniffing him. ‘Back away!’

‘You don’t smell like an evil spirit now. Why?’

‘I bathed in the spring, that’s why. And you need a bath yourself! Stop sniffing me! That is rude!’

‘But this is my way of greeting and welcoming you!’

‘You are invading my personal space!’ Viex hissed at him and started to jump up and perched himself on my shoulder. ‘Don’t follow me!’

‘Fox, you are invading the master's personal space!’

‘If I were, she would have said something by now.’

Nate came up and carried Custard. “Nice to see you well again, little guy. Now someone will be able to watch over Rose.” He cooed and Custard licked his face to return his greeting. I could not help but smile as Ren and Ace got near Custard as well. Ren patted Custard’s head while Ace simply offered him a nod, which was already something coming from a grumpy PRINCE like himself.

Suddenly, Iroka let out a loud growl that shook the forest. We all jumped back and half expected him to start chasing us again but he didn’t. He was simply looking at the spot behind us.

“Geez. It is rare for you to call me, but when you do, it makes me wish that you don’t. Awaken the whole damn forest, why don’t you?” We all turned to the new voice coming from behind us.

I gasped as soon as I recognized the Nymph that somehow appeared. It was the same Nymph that King Varon and Prince Terrence met. But this one seemed like it could speak the human tongue!

As soon as the Nymphs became aware of our presence, she let out a delighted gasp and clasped her hands together. “Visitors!”