Before Rentaro could resume a meditative position—
[Rentaro, you don't need to sit down like that anytime you want to talk to me. Heck, you don't even need to close your eyes! Just think of the system in your mind and the interface will appear. You need to get used to using the system while you do normal activities. Otherwise, it'll be difficult to communicate with me while walking around a city in the future.]
'Yeah, yeah. Anyway, what is this grimoire? It says it's sealed, so is it ranked even higher than rare?' Rentaro asked as he inspected the grimoire in his left hand.
[Naturally! As I have less authority than the automated commands left behind by the creator, I could only manage to snag one item from the shop after a great deal of trouble. Luckily the grimoire is sealed at the rare rank, any higher and I wouldn't have been able to get it. I'm afraid I won't be able to help out in such a manner anymore.]
[As for what the grimoire is, it was created by one of the twelve Supreme Summoners, the Arch Summoner of the Twilight, Twileigh. The grimoire's rank is beyond your imagination; it even has spirits inside of it, though they seem to be in hibernation.]
'So, I'm unable to use it?' Rentaro questioned with dismay.
[While you are unable to sign a contract with the spirits inside, you are able to bind the grimoire by giving it a drop of your blood and binding it to your soul. However, you won't be able draw upon the grimoire's true power or start unlocking the seals until the spirits controlling the grimoire awaken and you make contracts with them.]
'Got it. So, how does the grimoire function?'
[Any and all of your contracts will appear in the grimoire. There, you can read all the information about your contracted summons, including and not limited to: their bios, abilities, and contract information.] Wilhelm's mannerism almost made Rentaro laugh, reminding him of the television commercials in his previous life.
'Pshh. Wouldn't you have done all of that anyway as The Summoner and Contractor System?'
[I have the same function for statistics on your contracted summons. However, the grimoire offers additional functions that I don't. Once you make a contract with the spirit inside of the grimoire, you'll experience more benefits.]
[For example, channeling elemental abilities through the grimoire will use less energy than by relying only on yourself to channel them. Furthermore, as you unseal the grimoire you'll be able to obtain special skills, formations, and even summons that Twileigh had left as an inheritance.]
[Moreover, it's important to have alternatives to the system functions. You shouldn't place all your faith on the system, it's just far too dangerous in case the system ever faced restrictions in the future.
'Is there any notice as to when the spirit will awaken?'
[A fluctuation of aura from the Grimoire, but it will be in the slightest amount, hardly noticeable. Don't worry about it taking too long, as the spirit should start to awaken shortly after you start cultivating and it senses your aura.] Wilhelm simply explained before moving on.
'Uh-hm! I'm going to bind this grimoire, then I'll try out this "Soul's Calling" Summoning.' Rentaro spoke.
Having learned enough, Rentaro decided to get some work done.
[I'll watch over you in case anything unexpected happens.] Speaking in a protective manner, Wilhelm focused all his attention on Rentaro as the automatic commands maintained the system's functions.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Rentaro mused as he opened his eyes, 'One drop of blood to bind the grimoire to my soul. Wait—how am I supposed to offer a drop? Just bite my finger or something... that seems a bit radical....'
[New inventory item: Sacrificial Knife—A rather normal knife you'd find in a kitchen. Not useful for combat, but useful for offering blood at the least.]
[Pshh. There you go, such a legendary weapon was difficult to procure, luckily it was mandated as a necessary item. Use it wisely.] Wilhelm laughed aloud as he spoke in a comical tone.
'... ... ... ... Nice job... you killed all of my momentum with that....' Rentaro spoke in a sarcastic tone while feigning anger.
He placed the grimoire on the small wooden desk and equipped the "Sacrificial knife," making a small prick on his left fore-finger. A small bit of blood oozed out, of which Rentaro allowed a drop to land on the grimoire before lifting his finger into his mouth instinctively to clot the blood.
Absorbing the drop of blood, the grimoire glowed with a gentle blue light as it enveloped Rentaro's surroundings. A strange golden runic pattern twinkled on the cover of the grimoire before the cover abruptly flipped open, revealing the back of the cover page.
Written on the back of the cover: 'I, Twileigh, am one of the twelve Supreme Summoners known as the Arch Summoner of the Twilight. Despite my fall, the sun and moon will continue on with their everyday cycles. And thus, I can only look towards you to inherit my grimoire. You must first gain the acceptance of Auron—the primary spirit of my grimoire—if you wish to inherit my mantle. If you manage to do so, I hope that as my successor you can forgive my selfishness and help me with my last wish: Fulfill all of my contracted summons' wishes—their true wishes—if you have the chance to do so in the future. I leave them in your care.'
'What does he mean by fulfilling the contracted summons' "true" wishes?'
[Some contracts are simple, while others are not. It isn't uncommon for one party to demand something from the other while making a contract. For example, the summon might have a desire in life, stating that in the future you'd have to help fulfill its desire should you have the chance. In turn, the summon will offer its allegiance to you.]
[Of course, some contracts are made without any complicated deal. Perhaps, both sides have the same goal of reaching the peak of cultivation in mind or maybe they're just seeking an adventure.]
[As for the emphasis of "true" wishes... Twileigh is most likely taking into account that his old summons may desire revenge for him. And so it seems that he hopes you can fulfill their true wishes, not their desire for revenge.]
Rentaro sighed, 'Hah... I can only do my best, huh?'
[Haha. Of course, just don't pressure yourself.] Wilhelm smiled.
Looking at the first page of the grimoire, Rentaro paused after noticing the phrase: "Imprint Soul Signature" with a small hand-print below it.
[Don't worry, just put your hand up to the hand-print. This will finish the process of binding the grimoire to your soul, just like how I've been binded to you soul]
'Alright.'
Rentaro placed his hand up to the small hand-print, his hand clearly overshadowing the print which was only half as large as his own hand.
Immediately, Rentaro felt a surging headache, his heart throbbed, and his body boiled as sweat rippled from his pores.
Shouting aloud, "Ah, agh, damn, so painful. My head feels like it's splitting!"
Although Wilhelm knew that the situation was normal and he'd be okay in the end, seeing Rentaro experience such pain as he watched made him feel useless. He felt as if he couldn't do anything for the brother who gave him a sense of belonging, though he overlooked that he gave the same feeling of belonging to Rentaro.
After what seemed to be two minutes, though it felt like hours for Rentaro, of excruciating pain, [Don't worry, it's almost over. The soul binding has almost finished.]
Most of the pain had subsided by now as Rentaro lay on the small bed. His breaths were heavily drawn out, and he began to feel a tingling sensation and flow of warmth throughout his body.
Worried about what was going on, Rentaro asked in a weak voice, 'Wilhelm, what's going on now?'
Pained by Rentaro's current look, [The soul binding has finished, you don't need to worry about anything else for now.]
[Soul binding with the Grimoire of Twilight is complete.] The automated system command conveyed.
Allowing Rentaro time to recuperate, Wilhelm decided to give an explanation concerning his soul's current state before he'd start firing off several questions at a time.
[After experiencing soul binding, your soul has repeatedly broken down and reconstructed itself, becoming even stronger. Unless one uses special cultivation techniques, treasures, or medicines, most cultivators wouldn't dare to attempt strengthening their souls until the Nascent Soul Formation level.]
[However, as a summoner, you'll repeatedly make contracts. It is up to you whether you make a Soul Contract or a simple Contract. A Soul Contract strengthens the bond between the contractor and his summons, tying their souls together.
[In case one perishes, the other will experience heavy damage to their soul and even to their own cultivation stage. Damage to one's cultivation stage could be temporary, where you can heal it with medicines and time, though it could also be severe, where you have to re-cultivate to the stage you dropped down from.]
[With risk comes reward however! You'll have a stronger synergy while battling together and your elemental affinities will strengthen based on the summon's affinities. Their potential for future evolution will be further strengthened as their souls are reconstructed over like your own.]
[A normal contract on the other hand means that even if one of you perish, the other will only suffer a few minor problems internally. Furthermore, they won't experience the benefits that come with a Soul Contract. Contracts are usually performed when two individuals are working together based on a temporary mutual goal.]
[Additionally, Contracts can end as long as both sides agree or they can be upgraded into Soul Contracts, should you and the summon come to a conscientious agreement in the future. Soul Contracts can't be broken easily, but it can be forced.]
[At Twileigh's level, his numerous enemies had a strong grasp over soul manipulation, to the point they could kill his summons through their soul bond. Thus, Arch Summoner Twileigh forcefully split all of the bonds connected to his soul near his time of death to protect his summons.]
[Breaking a Soul Contract incurs the wrath of those "beyond" who are in charge of watching over the realms and making sure all contracts are upheld. At his time of death, his soul was captured by them and he faced an agonizing pain that would be more accurate to refer to as an intense torture which went on for millions of years until he finally died, or so the records state.]
[Ai. The Arch Summoner of Twileigh was truly a loyal man. His legends were praised by all of the major realms and World Trees fifteen thousand years ago, alongside many other legends. That was at the time the Corrupt War occurred, where a vast majority of heroes sacrificed their lives to protect the World Trees from the Unceasing Corruption. Those "beyond" stayed out of the war, but besides garnering hatred in their heart, no one dared to speak out against such existences.]
[Ahem. Excuse me, I went off on quite the ramble... Rentaro, the two of us have our own journey to start, our own legends to leave. As for what will happen in our time, let's find out together.]
Rentaro nodded, 'Uhm! I'll strive to travel even further than Twileigh one day, let's do this! I've already made up my mind and my next step before starting our journey is making my first contract!'