***Nathan's POV Cont ***
" Foolish being!" The Undine yelled before melting back into the lake.
Waterspouts formed one after the other at the four points around me blocking my escape as they charged towards me.
I charged magic into both my boomerang and my board as I maneuvered myself towards an oncoming spout and threw my boomerang chopping the spout in half, barely escaping intact.
" Not bad " the Undine said as two massive hands appeared from under me attempting to grab my board.
[ No you don't! ]
I ignored the mocking voice of the Undine as I called forth some water control magic creating a bridge over the hands once again barely dodging.
The attacks kept coming and all I could do was dodge.
The Undine continued to mock me as it throwing water attack after water attack at me.
A chunk of my board had been snapped off as I barely missed the onslaught.
[ There has to be another way… Think stupid! ]
I forced myself to concentrate on the attacks in front of me while I tried to come up with a counter.
Waves began to form under me as if this calm lake had become a mighty sea during a storm. Think clouds formed in the air dimming the light from the sun stones up above us on the ceiling.
" How much longer can you survive" The Undine spat angrily.
" I will survive and leave this place" I said as I closed my eyes.
I took a deep breath in feeling the essence of the water particles in the air. The formed behind my closed eyes like a map and sun in harmony with my heart beat.
[ it's now or never ]
" SWELL FOR ME! PULSE AWAKEN!" I shouted as my magic avatar began to form behind me.
It was barely there but the entire form could be seen. It was shaped in the form of a moss covered cocoon with see through tentacles protruding from each section of the outer skin. What disgusted me the most was an open hold that was covered with rows upon rows of sharp teeth. It throbbed mercilessly as if whatever was inside was trying to get out.
The feeling to release my spirit avatar was anxiety. The creature before me that had been pulled from my very foundation of magic was this terrifying. I hadn't even the guts to show my own brother my spirit avatar in fear that he would reject me.
" Oh you have some tricks" The Undine said as the waves became more and more unsteady.
" Enough!" I shouted with my eyes still closed.
The water particles entered my body like as if they were caught in a vacuum causing my body to fill with adrenaline.
I looked all around me for the blue pulsing " heart" that I had gazed upon earlier.
I could feel a massive amount of energy begin to form right under me.
[ Does this thing plan to swallow me whole?! ]
The anxiety inside me swelled as I thought about what would happen if I was to fail here. The spirit avatar behind me began to solidify stealing more magic from me then it did before.
[ I can't keep this up much longer! ]
I groan in pain as I dodged yet another wave.
" There!" I shouted as I found the heart and pointed to it before mumbling an incantation.
My spirit avatar began to twist excitedly behind me as it moaned and extended its tentacles.
" Stop wait!" The Undine cried as it noticed what I was doing.
The blue heart began to move under the water but the tentacles from my spirit avatar were faster gripping onto the heart.
The waves completely stopped my board falling from the air as I landed in the water with a splash.
I was greeted with a massive eye that was staring at me.
" What do you plan to do?" The Undine said as my avatar continued to grip the Undines heart.
I glared at the beast unable to speak as my nose filled with water.
My body was suddenly lifted by a gentle water spout until I was standing on top of the lake. I took in a massive gulp of air clearing my lungs of the water.
My ears, mouth and nose all burnt.
" Can you speak now?" the Undine said.
" I can" I replied hoarsely after a few breaths.
[ I can't hold my avatar form much longer. ]
Sweat began to form on my back as I decided to gamble.
" Submit to me or your heart will be crushed!' I said in a stern voice.
" You have to be kidding!" the Undine said.
I ordered my Avatar to apply a little pressure as the Undine cried out in pain.
Truth be told I could barely keep the form of the avatar right now let a lone crush the Undines heart it didn't seem to notice my bluff as a panicked voice was heard.
" What do you mean submit?" The Undine said cautiously.
" Simple. Become my spirit beast." I replied sternly.
The Undine became quite as it stared at me.
" Now or die!" I said hiding the panic.
" Fine." The Undine said after a moment.
The Undine began to mumble as strings of words made out of water circled around it.
A song was heard inside my head as words began to form reverberating through my soul.
Although I couldn't understand what they said I could feel what they meant inside my very being.
This was the soul bonding of equals.
One Spirit beast.
One Human.
Connected for life.
I agreed to the terms of the agreement before a sudden pain was felt in my chest. A piece of my soul had been ripped from my chest.
I cried out in sheer agony as it floated towards the Undine.
The Undine then moaned as a piece of the blue heart had come apart and ingrained itself inside my chest.
A dull beating could be felt from it as I placed my hand upon it. The memories from birth until now of the Undine rushed into my brain becoming memories.
As if I had become the Undine and the Undine had become me.
Just as I had received the Undine's memories, the Undine had received mine.
This is what a soul bond was truly like. Thoughts, feelings, fears, memories all joined into one. The me which was the previous Nathaniel Tama had died when a part of my soul had been replaced by a part of the Undines.
[ Iker? Is that your true name? ]
" That is correct… You lying little boy" Iker said inside my head.
My avatar at this point had vanished and I felt myself falling.
[ hehe sorry about that..]
Just at that moment a single watery hand caught me. It somehow felt solid under my back made purely from running water and magic essence.
" Let's get you to dried ground" Iker said still annoyed.
As the hand of Iker raced me to the other side of the lake I closed my eyes unable to keep them open.
The rank four spirit beast Iker had become my partner but I had just narrowly escaped with my life. I prayed with all my heart that Loki, Kibbles and the others were safe as I tried to regain my strength.
[ Hang in there everyone I am coming! ]