As I stood in front of death, I remembered the words Dante said to me before I entered this realm inside of the bracelet.
"With all that said and done, there is one thing you should never forget. Your spirit is the one that is being tested and not your actual body."
"So, what? That I am gonna die if I fail?"
Dante disagreed with just his facial expression.
"No. Remember this next words. Spirits wear down the challengers spirits for easy victory and try to figure out the actual meaning behind what they said."
I nodded and felt more anxious but I continued.
Dante nodded and wished me good luck.
—————
With the last words of my mentor said, I tried to understand what could be the actual challenge for me. The spirit said nothing though. But the actions tell me to prove myself that I am strong or stronger.
I have one last idea. I dropped my shield and stood up. The spirit, still charging to me, I started to run towards it without any fear.
With each step of us getting closer to one another, I held on along with the sweats that coming off me. One step closer, I thought that If I fail, that's it. Another step, my possible futures in my own hallucinations.
Then finally within the lance reach and aiming on my chest, I jumped to my side and with all my power…
"Come on!!!"
I put all my strength to my fist, hitting on its chest. The thing is made out of rock so it hurts. I pushed further my fists.
"Haaaaah!!!"
"!!!!"
The spirit was surprised. Or should I say, the eyes had become larger.
But the spirit just used its shield to bash me away.
"Aahh!"
I felt somehow proud with that. For someone not experiencing something like this, I can say I did good.
While I am trying to get up, the spirit approaches and stared at me without doing anything else. The judgement is now.
"…."
"…."
Both of us are silent. Me waiting for it's announcement and it for knowing if I am worthy.
For what feels like forever, it finally shown movement. It got close to me, so close that I can notice the details around it. The small cracks here and there, some possibly old slash on its armor.
Looking at it, the guy is basically an armor with a human figure on the upper half, and a horse on the lower half.
Anyways, it spoke.
"O challenger who seeked thy trials, you have passed."
"What?! How?!"
The head tilted in confusion.
"My trial is to see the strength of a person. The strength of how one can surpass thy expectations placed upon thee. Not thy strength of how one can overwhelm others."
"I see…"
I will take that as my win whatever they thought. The spirit itself agreed.
"By the way, spirit, can you just speak casually? I am not used to things like that."
"Understood. Perhaps this kind of language? Any further questions?"
I nodded to it's words. But speaking of which, does spirits talk? I have to ask.
"Ummm, does spirits normally speak? It's quite surprising that you spoke to me."
The spirit tilted its head again in confusion but it realized what I meant.
"Well, there are some cases when spirits can talk like this. Besides, once a spirit and a human or mortal made a bond, the friends we have will know what we think instinctively. A perk both needs."
I will also ask the same question to Dante.
"Understood. Thanks for answering."
"No problem. So should we start the process?"
It's time to make my first partner!
"Place your right arm to your chest"
So I did.
"O challenger who succeeded in thy trial, I grant you my power and service. I am Varyndor, guardian of the kingdom of Sarellon."
I clenched my hand on my chest.
"I, the challenger accept Varyndor, guardian of the kingdom of Sarellon, as my spirit."
My hand then glowed brown.
"Wait for a bit as the ceremony is finally over. I am in your care human."
"I am also in your care. My name is Lux Ashford. Again, I am also in your care, partner!"
And smiled.