"A deal?" Euric whispered, his words barely audible. "That means we both offer something, does it not?"
"Exactly, little spirit," Shadow nodded.
Euric narrowed his eyes. "What could I possibly offer you?"
Shadow crossed his legs, his movements casual but unnervingly deliberate. "Oh, nothing too important. Don't worry." With a flick of his fingers, the shadows near him coiled and writhed, forming a shifting mass. From its depth, Shadow drew out a small cloth pouch.
The bag soon landed in Euric's hand, leaving no time to react. It felt strange—weightless yet substantial, like holding a shadow itself.
"What's in here?" Euric asked, frowning at the frayed fabric. It was tied closed with a black string.
"Nothing," Shadow replied nonchalantly.
"Nothing?" Euric repeated, confused. "Then what's it for?"
Shadow's chuckle echoed, low and unsettling. "That little pouch will let you capture Asmel."
"This small bag?" Euric's eyebrow arched. Scrutinizing the pouch with more intent.
"Yes, little spirit. That small bag." Shadow's smile stretched wider. "Have you heard of Totems?"
Euric's confusion soon turned to intrigue. "No, I haven't. Is that what this is?"
"Correct," Shadow's voice sharpened. "Totems are special items that have been imbued with Spirit Energy, or a spirit's essence. Some are forged by Artisans, others form naturally with time."
'Totems? Are these Totems then?' His gaze drifted to his bracelets. 'Because if so, who weaved them?'
"Shadow, you said Totems are special? What is so special about this bag?" Euric shifted his attention back to the bag.
"This bag has two manifestations, Storage and Binding. This Totem will allow you to capture the most elusive of spirits."
Euric's fingers tightened around the pouch. A strange feeling prickled his skin, but he shook it off. "Capture... Asmel?"
"Yes, If used correctly, that little pouch shall bind him." Shadow's dark eyes gleamed.
Euric looked down at the pouch in his hands. It looks so simple, he couldn't imagine something like this could possibly hold the monster he saw.
'What does Shadow really want from me?' Euric thought, looking toward his benefactor. "What do you want in return?"
Shadow's expression softened; his smile no less unsettling. "Simple. The day of your awakening is soon to arrive. On that day, I want you to banish Asmel from this realm."
"You want me to do what? Is–is that even possible? Euric stood up, his voice uncertain.
Shadow leaned forward; his tone becoming grim. "Asmel is a greater spirit. If you allow him to stay, he will drain your village dry—crops will wither, sickness will spread, and death will follow. He will grow stronger while everyone you know and love dies." His face twisted with disdain. "We mustn't let that happen."
Euric's grip on the bag tightened. The image of Asmel's mocking smile, the way he taunted his father, flashed in his mind. "You want me to... throw him out of this world?" Euric paused, remembering his father's helplessness. "Not even my father could do that... How can I?"
Shadow nodded in understanding. "Believe in yourself, little spirit. You are more special than you think. And of course, you have me." He smiled, raising his hands. "Though I cannot prove it now, I am far stronger than Asmel. The night of your awakening, meet me in the grove—the one similar to this place." Shadow raised his hands, prompting Euric to look around.
"At that time, the moon will be full, and the energy there will be dense. It will be the perfect time for you to perform the ritual… The Banishment ritual." Shadow smiled.
Euric frowned, doubt filling his mind. "What do I have to do?"
Shadow's grin widened. "I'll teach you two easy rituals. Today I will teach you one. This is a basic binding ritual." Shadow stroked his chin for a moment, before continuing. "This wouldn't normally work on greater spirits. But with the Totem I gave you, it should."
Shadow began to explain, "First, you need four things: Neverstone, a Vessel, a binding thread, and the chant." He pointed to the bag in Euric's hand. "That is the Vessel, and the thread enclosing it is the binding thread."
Shadow's finger pointed to himself. "I will teach you the chant. Now, all we need is some Neverstone."
Euric hesitated. "Where can I get that?"
"Usually, Neverstone can only be found within the spirit realm." Shadow noticed Euric's growing concern. "Worry not, little spirit. I sense deposits of it in the forest. Do you remember the place you passed when running through? There should be a pillar there."
Euric frowned. "What would a pillar of Neverstone be doing in the forest?"
"There are ruins," Shadow reassured him. "Don't worry."
"Alright, once I have these three items, what should I do?" Euric asked, still doubtful.
"Once all are acquired, you must draw a circle with the Neverstone, like it was chalk." Shadow raised his hand and began tracing the air. He drew a circle with smooth, deliberate movements—perfect and unbroken. Inside the circle, he traced sharp intersecting lines, forming a web-like structure, with fine wavy strokes branching from the intersections.
"Once the symbol is drawn, you must activate it with these words." Shadow cleared his throat. "By the seal of the Everdark and the watcher's gaze, Bind the unseen, through the hidden ways. Under the crown of the Ancients' hand, In shadows we call, let the binding stand."
"Repeat that twice. Then place the bag at the center." Shadow instructed. "Once done, all you need to do is lure Asmel into the circle. Be careful—if he sees it, he won't willingly enter.
Euric, sat quietly. Trying his best to process everything he just heard. Could he truly trust Shadow? The pouch sounded like a promising way to help his village, but danger lay at every corner. 'What if I mess up?'
"Why can't you do it yourself? This seems like something too important to trust me with." Euric met Shadow's gaze, doubt and curiosity filling his voice.
"I don't exist in that realm, or else none of this would be needed." Dissatisfaction evidence in Shadow's voice.
Euric's doubts flared. "But why all this? Why me?"
Shadow's expression softened, "I've wandered for so long... stuck in the dark watching the world fall prey to monsters like Asmel. I couldn't act, not until I found you."
"I can't afford to let this chance slip away," Shadow murmured, barely audible, yet Euric caught every word.
'Does he want to go against Asmel that bad?' Eric couldn't help but wonder what he meant.
"Alright, alright." Euric reluctantly accepted. "I am not saying that I have agreed to trick my father, but, if I were to go along with this plan, you must first tell me about the spirit."
"You seem quite knowledgeable about this evil spirit," he added.
"Call it personal experience." Shadow nodded. "Asmel is a great spirit on the precipice of advancing to the next level. He is planning on doing so, by consuming the life energy of the woman, that is why it is important that you capture him tomorrow."
"What's the next level after a greater spirit?" Euric asked with curiosity laced in his voice.
"For now, you don't need to know about that, little spirit. You won't have to meet one of those for a long time if you pull this off." Shadow shook his head. Seeing the glint in Euric eyes shadow proceeded.
"Today, I will cause you to wake earlier so you can prepare yourself. Additionally, I need to reactivate your spirit gaze." Saying this, Shadow stood up causing the table and his chair to disappear.
Shadow first moved closer before grabbing Euric's face. Euric flinched as the cold hand gripped his face
Sharp pain lanced through Euric's eye sockets. 'Why is it always so painful?!' Veins pressed against his skin,
"That's because I am forcing my spiritual energy into the spirit nodes within your eyes. Trying to saturate them in order for the effects to last a long time." Shadow answered after hearing the boy's thoughts.
Once the process was complete, Shadow left no time for Euric to breathe. The sound of a finger snap resounded through the forest as a bright light beam fell on Euric.
"Bye now, little spirit." Shadow turned around.
"Wait wait," Euric panicked. "How am I supposed to recall the pouch from the dream world?"
"Good question. Just calm down and try to direct the spiritual essence to your fingertips. Whilst, you're practicing with your father." Shadow waved, watching the boy vanish through the veil of light.
As the veil of light engulfed him, Euric's mind spun. Shadow's final words echoed in his ears: 'Direct the spiritual essence.' But how in the world is he supposed to do that? The next moment, he was back in his room, clutching at air where the pouch had been.
Slowly he opened his closed hand. There on his palm, a strange small mark sat just below his index finger—a pouch. The symbol was dark, deep violet wisps danced within.
'He acts like this is all for my sake,' Euric thought, glancing at the marking that pulsed darkly. 'But what does he gain from all of this?'