"The ritual process is complete, and it seems like it was successful. At least, I hope it is. Now we wait for it to set. The process is up to Bones. His energy will battle over the dungeon's energy. If he is firm in his will, he will take control of the dungeon core and bind it to himself." Gene says while she looks over the ritual area.
"I thought he already battled the core and won. That, sure enough, looked like he bound the core."
"What Bones did was initiate the battle. The test of wills has only just begun for the boss."
"Hmm, alright. Now what? Is there anything we can do to help?"
"As far as Bones and the rest of them go, we can do nothing. As far as my understanding goes, the burden rests upon your minion. For us, we have much to do. Training, Warlocking, rewarding, and reclaiming land, to be precise." Gene is now facing me. Gone is the tension in her face, and her shoulders are a little more upright.
"About the warlock stuff. You sure you want to go through with that? When you first proposed it, you weren't exactly enthused?" I ask, ensuring I am not forcing her into a situation she can't escape. I know it was her idea, but that was when she was desperate for help.
"Like my people, I am not ready for this life to end. It may not seem like it, but holding the shadow over these lands has greatly exhausted my will. I fear I will slip away if I am not tied to the world. At the time being, a warlock contract might be my only solution."
"How flexible are these warlock terms?"
"I believe that is up to you and me.
"Have you ever considered life as a lich? So far, in my experience, it hasn't been bad."
"Life as a lich would be a great alternative. Do you know how the process works?" Hollow hope accompanies her question.
"Well, no, not really. I thought you would have the knowledge. I didn't even know I was a lich until you told me. I figured I was cursed, or something like that."
"So then that is not an option." The tiny hope she held for the possibility is replaced with her usual formal tone. "In all my years of study, I was never able to find how to become a lich. Only information on dungeon cores was obtainable, and even that took considerable resources to pull off. So if I am to live, my only way forward is through a bond with you."
I take a moment to consider our options. If only I knew how I became a lich or had a clue. Unfortunately, this isn't something that I feel I can intuitively discover like I had with other skills before. I am not sure how warlock bindings work, but it doesn't seem like much of a life for the bound spirit. Then it occurs to me, and I can't help but blurt out my thoughts.
"Do you have to be bound to me? Or could you be bound to a minion of mine or something of the sort…?"
Upon hearing the question, Gene takes some time to think. Her facial expressions show that her train of thought is a positive one. The slimmer of hope she has been contending with leaks into her eyes. Even though Gene has not mentioned her current feelings, I know I need to be more delicate with my words. Years of isolation and disparity have taken their toll on the queen.
"And you would do this?" Gene breaks the silence created by her careful consideration. You would give up more of your own power for my freedom?"
"Sure. What is power if not to waste? You have to use power to gain power. That's what I always say." It's tricky trying to balance delicacy and nonchalance into the same tone. In no way am I getting this right. I have no assumptions that I was a linguist or bard in my former life.
"I don't think you quite understand. Creating a warlock bond with me will give you a direct connection to my knowledge and my power. The control you will have over shadow will be immense."
Although the personal power gains are tempting, Binding Gene to me seems like a form of prison. On the one hand, she could exist as some sort of spirit companion tied to me, or she could bind to a minion of mine and gain a pseudo life of her own.
"If you bind to a minion, will you still have your knowledge and power?"
"I believe so."
"Would you be willing to be my guide and help me learn what you know?"
"Yes. Of course, yes."
"Then I don't see it as a loss. I will gain another powerful ally and still have access to what you know."
"Thank you, T'am!" She says enthusiastically, looking very much relieved. "In theory, binding to your minion will give me a freedom I could never have as your bound spirit. This is so much better than I could have imagined."
She continues to think over the new possibilities. I can almost tell what she is thinking just by watching her face. Lost in her thoughts, she doesn't realize I can see when she gets genuinely excited. Her expression immediately slips into something more melancholy.
"Genevieve, do you have some concerns?"
"No, no concerns. I am very grateful for what you are going to do for me."
"Then why the look of defeat?"
"It's nothing." She replies quickly.
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"Don't make me pry."
"I couldn't possibly ask for anything more." She is clearly torn even though she is doing her best to hide it.
"I will pry if I have to."
"I was just thinking of the possibilities of binding to your minion. Then I thought of the type of minion I would want to be. Maybe a bone wolf or dragon, definitely something fierce and elegant. I couldn't decide on the form.
"Then I thought of the beasts that exist on the shadow plane. There is one in particular called a shade. The shade is unique in that it can replicate anything that it consumes. And then I thought if I could bind a shade, that would be the best possible scenario. However, I can not ask that of you, and I will not."
"And why wouldn't you ask that of me?"
"A shade is not something you can conjure from your death magic. It is a living, breathing creature. The only way to bind a shade to you, allowing you to grant the option for the warlock contract, is if the shade were to become your totem."
"I can have a totem too?"
"Not in your current state. However, I can help you gain this ability."
"So cool." Learning about the chance to gain a totem is super exciting. Seeing the power of Gene's totem makes this possibility even more exciting.
"So why wouldn't you want to bind to this shade of mine?" I ask as if I already have the shade bound to me. I thought a dragon was the pinnacle of totems; however, a shape-changing beast sounds like a win-win. If Gene—the owner of a dragon totem—prefers a shade form over a dragon, that is saying something.
"A shaman's totem is a sacred bond. It is a personal spiritual connection that each shaman should make on their own. The connection will allow the shaman and their totem to grow tremendously. Choosing the wrong totem can ultimately damn your spirit. A shapeshifting beast sounds cool, but it could be completely opposite of your nature, causing both of you to struggle in your growth. By me asking you to pick a specific totem goes against our shaman beliefs. And then robbing you of the same connection with that totem is unfathomable.
Gene's tone becomes stern. "I can not. I will not ask this of you. I didn't even want to speak of it. I wouldn't have even considered it had I not lost control over my thoughts. A lapse in my own willpower. I am very sorry. A wolf. If you let me have a request for my minion form. I would like to be a wolf."
"If one were to bind a shade, how would one do so?"
"Do not even give this any thought," Gene responds abruptly. "I am running out of time. Let us form the warlock bond with a minion of yours. Once that is complete, I will teach you all you would like to know about totems and ways of the shaman."
"Alright, let's do it then." A smile chases after my words.
"Absolutely not. T'am, please do not entertain this thought anymore. It was a moment of weakness on my part that I deeply regret. Not only are you giving up a warlock contract for me, but you are also giving up a minion. There is no way I can live with you giving up your totem for me as well."
"Technically—and I am new to this, so I could be wrong—I don't think you can count the totem as an 'as well.' It is either going to be a minion or a totem. Also, don't sell yourself short. You are a shadow queen. Again, I lack experience here, but I imagine that is pretty strong on the scale of viable warlock spirit options."
"You can't. I can't..."
"A creature that can change seems perfect for my inconsistent nature. If I allow myself to boldly proclaim." I add another counter.
"T'am..."
"I regret not stopping you from talking sooner. I should have said yes sooner. Think of it this way. I gain an awesome shade totem. You bind the shade through the warlock contract, and then I don't even have to train the shade. How is this a bad plan? This is like a win-win-win scenario. Yes, let's do it."
Gene offers no more objections. Just sad eyes, which in this case is more convincing than words.
"Gene." I look into her downcast eyes and put all my persuasion skills into my following words. "I know the totem bind is important to you. It has yet to become vital to me. Nor do I see it becoming such in the future. If I can grant you a better life from here on out, then let me do it.
"It would be more soul-crushing seeing you be bound to a bone wolf form. That is a sad compromise for another life when you could be a shapeshifting totem of power.
"My only request is that you at one point consume a dragon. Particularly one that is as cool as Fury."
With a defeated smile full of hope, she says, "Thank you."
I can almost feel her gratitude. Truthfully there is no other option than the best option when dealing with the rest of Gene's life. How could we settle for anything less? Now, all we have to do is get it done.
"So how do we do this…?" I ask after several seconds of sitting in silence. I would have asked sooner. It just looked like Gene needed a moment.
"First, let me present you with a few gifts. In the scope of things, they pale in comparison. What you have done, and are doing, for my people and me is above and beyond. These items could even help you in your upcoming tasks." Gene drifts off towards the huts and motions for me to follow.