"Let's." Lia said with a smile, rising as well. Well, here we go. I rocked back and stood without using my hands, wiping them on my pants.

  "So, what all does this ritual entail?" I asked.

  "It is fairly simple." Kiltont responded, producing a blade. I narrowed my eyes at him and he smiled at me comfortingly. "All you need to do is exchange blood with each other and acknowledge aloud that you accept becoming the Freyolin's Blessed Champion. Mixing your blood mixes your magic and binds you together in the eyes of the gods." A blood pact? That's way more intense than I had originally thought.

  "What are the upsides to this? Other than joining a noble house." I asked, suddenly having second thoughts.

  "You would be subject to me and me alone." Lia said with an unreadable look in her eye. "I would be the most important person in you life, and you my loyal protector. You would have to obey every command I give, but you would also gain access to some of my magic. Our Sparks will join as one and allow us to share power. Most likely, I will grow physically stronger and you will gain better control of your Spark." My face broke into a grin, doubts assuaged.

  "Hell yeah. I get to help you and get better control out of it? Sign me the fuck up." Kiltont scoffed and shook his head, readying the blade.

  "I cannot believe you would subject yourself to servitude just for a little boost in power." I smiled at Lia.

  "I trust that she won't make me do anything I don't want to. I believe in her, not the system." Lia blushed and glanced at the ground, then back up at me.

  "Thank you for your trust." she whispered.

  "Alright, let's get this thing started, huh?" Kiltont nodded and closed his eyes, breathing deeply. His lips moved silently, and, when he opened his eyes, they gleamed with a bright jade power. He held out his free hand towards Lia, who put hers in his, palm up.

  "Do you, Ameilia Freyolin, accept Marshall Prescott as your Champion?"

  "I do." she said in a strong, firm voice. It didn't waver at all, even when the Chief sliced deep into her palm. He left her standing there, bleeding freely, and moved over to me. He held his hand out and I placed mine in his, palm up.

  "Do you, Marshall Prescott, accept Lady Ameilia Freyolin as your Sworn Lady?"

  "I do." I said without a moment's hesitation. The blade sliced into my palm at my words and I hid my grimace. It stung quite a bit. Kiltont stepped back and Lia turned towards me, hand outstretched. I took hers in mine and felt electricity shoot up my arm into my brain and my voice spoke of its own accord.

  "I swear fealty to you above all, my Lady. I am your Champion." I heard myself say and my eyes went wide as a whole lot of shit happened all at once.

  As soon as the last word left my mouth, I felt my Spark react. It surged up from my core and spread through my entire body, sitting just beneath the skin, and I noticed that there was a roaring heat coming from Lia. It felt like I was standing next to a raging fire on a cold winter's day, comforting and warm, and her caramel skin glowed with a golden light from within, igniting her small body in the darkness. I felt my Spark collect in my chest and charge out towards her. It smashed into my sternum and caused me to stumble towards her a little. She let go of my hand and wrapped her arms around me, supporting my weight as I sagged into her. My Spark felt larger, more powerful than literally five seconds ago. Before the ritual, I had felt no different than I had on Earth, maybe a little stronger and lighter due to how I was eating. Now, though, I the power coursing through my veins in time with my heartbeat was real. I knew I was stronger and faster now, but that wasn't all. I was aware of how my Spark moved, the channels it took to get from my core to the rest of my body. I didn't have time to explore them as a multitude of prompts spawned in my vision.

  New Title: Blessed Champion of Freyolin House.

  New Name: Marshall Freyolin Prescott. By joining the house of Freyolin as their Blessed Champion, you have taken their name as your own. Welcome to Carminal, Marshall Freyolin Prescott.

  Congratulations! You have reached Level 5.

  Soul Ability: Menu: Unlocked.

  Wayfinder Ability: Inspect: Unlocked.

  New Ability: Soul: Menu. Level: Max.

  Summon an interface designed to assist the user in all facets of life. Aspects vary depending on user.

  New Ability: Wayfinder: Inspect. Level: One.

  Focus on your target to receive information. Amount of information received scales with Ability level.

  New Quest: VENGEANCE!

  A Demon has slaughtered your house. Avenge them.

  Reward: Unknown. Failure: Unknown.

  What the fuck?

  I blinked the messages away, each one of them flashing a green check mark as I acknowledged them. I continued to lean against Lia, letting my Lady support me as I recovered from whatever the hell had just happened. I was breathing heavily and slowly pulled back from her, taking my weight under my own power. I looked down at Lia, holding her by the waist. She settled her hands on my arms and gazed up at me, emeralds ablaze with desire, and I gazed back into them, loosing all sense of self as I fell into her eyes. She was warm and comforting in my arms and I could feel our Sparks surging towards each other in waves. They met with ferocious clashes, tumbling and folding and melding into one. Her hands melted into my arms and mine into her hips; I began to loose sense of where I ended and she began.

  "It is done." Kiltont said, interrupting my thoughts. We ignored him, continuing to stare into each other's eyes. I couldn't look away from the beauty I held in my arms. I'd thought she was gorgeous before, but now she was exquisite. The golden light that shone from her came in waves, washing over me with feelings of love and acceptance. "How do you two feel?"

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  "Magnificent." I muttered, taking my right hand from her waist and caressing her cheek. "You are magnificent."

  "You..." My Lady stopped speaking, her voice failing her. She swallowed and tried again, voice strong and full this time. "Pick me up, Champion." I felt a spike of ice enter my brain and I couldn't refuse her order, even if I'd wanted to. My Lady's eyes went wide and she made a noise as I bent and scooped her into my arms, holding her tight to my chest. I could feel her heart fluttering against her ribs as I held her close. The scent of tropical flowers brushed my nose, sending a jolt down my spine. The icy compulsion to obey left me as soon as I had her in my arms, and it was not something I wanted to experience again if I could help it. The feeling was cold and sharp like an ice pick being thrust into my head. I hadn't minded it all that much as the command was something I wanted to do, but it certainly wasn't fun.

  "Wow, being ordered around sucks." I said, wincing and shaking my head clear. "Fuck, that was weird."

  "Are you alright?" Lia asked, her voice full of concern. "Did I hurt you? I hadn't meant to command you, it..."

  "Nah," I cut her off. "it's all good. It just felt like a really sucky brain freeze until you were in my arms. I would really prefer not do that again, though, please and thank you," Her face fell into one of relief and she leaned against my chest.

  "Good; I'll see what I can do about the feeling. I know better than most how awful it is." I shrugged and grinned down at her.

  "It's not too bad if it's something you want to do." She gave me a look and laughed sardonically.

  "Haha. It is terrible, like a shard of ice is being stabbed into your brain. The feeling won't go away until you complete the command, and it grows worse the longer you go without obeying. For tasks that take multiple days, the agony is unparalleled as there's nothing to be done about the pain except work harder. I'm sorry I subjected you to that, but I am told the Owner can adjust the compulsion's feeling. I will have to read up on it." She made arcane gestures in the air with her hands, various pushes and swipes and double taps with a single finger? What? Hold on, I know those movements.

  Lia was moving her hands like she could see something no one else could. Like she was interacting with an interface. A Menu. No way.

  "Kiltont." I said, my voice deadly serious. "You will have to excuse us. My Lady and I need to discuss some things. We will see you in the morning, my friend. Sleep well." I gave him a smile and turned on my heel, whistling for Rosie and leaving the Chief behind. The wolf came bounding over to me and pranced by my side as I carried Lia to the cart and grabbed three bedrolls, handing two to Lia and one to Rosie. We moved fifteen or so yards off, under a tree, and set up our bedding. The sounds of the settled in as we readied for bed, the camp beginning to tire. The guards began their nightly patrols as well. Thank God they volunteered for night duty after I killed the Tyribom. Lia was still gesturing in the air, eyes distant as she sat against the base of the tree.

  "Question for you." I said as I laid down next to her, petting Rosie's back. The fur bedrolls were soft, but it certainly wasn't a mattress. God, I miss my bed. I would kill for my shitty dorm mattress right about now. "Can you see boxes of text floating in your vision?" She started, then relaxed, laughing.

  "Yes, I can. I suppose this is your power?" I nodded, scrunching Rosie's fur in my left hand and searching for Lia with my right. Something was wrong inside, and it gave way to peace as soon as my hand found hers.

  "I'm pretty sure, yeah. It's called 'Menu'. The message said that it would vary depending on the user. I wonder what that means?"

  "The Menu is tailored to each person individually. No two people will have the same Menu." Robot Lady said. Lia's mouth dropped open and she looked at me, shocked.

  "Did you hear that voice?" she asked quietly.

  "Did it say something about a menu?" She nodded. "That's Robot Lady. You can hear her now?" Another nod and I smiled. "Good. Glad I won't be the only crazy one around here."

  "Haha. Very funny." she said as she slipped down the trunk to lay next to me. She laid on her side, head in the crook of my left shoulder and petting Rosie on the other side of me. I wrapped my arm around Lia's shoulder and held her close, pressing my lips to the top of her head and inhaling deeply. The scent of tropical flowers filled my mind, giving me the greatest buzz. She was like pure nicotine straight to my brain and I couldn't get enough. "As though you're not going to be the center of attention anyway." I chuckled.

  "I can't help it. I'm an American. We're larger than life."

  "Mhm." She snuggled into me and laid her hand on my heart. It seemed that was her favorite position, her hand over my heart and my arm around her shoulder. "Sure." We were quiet for a while, each simply enjoying the other's company. I stroked her shoulder as she kissed my neck, basking in the afterglow of the ritual. I could still feel her Spark, though it was far less intense than when we first melded. Our Sparks still intertwined but it was more like holding two of her fingers, not making out. It was still comfortable, though. I sighed deeply, closing my eyes as exhaustion gripped me. I got lost in the sensations of fur and lips and bodies and my breathing began to slow. I drifted off into sleep not long after.

  I woke to a body on mine. It writhed and moved against my side and my hand was soaked with something. A feminine gasp sounded in my ear, sending a jolt of pleasure down my spine. I laid still, trying not to disturb the girl as she pleased herself, though I did move my hand so that one of my fingers hit the right spot; a gasp was my reward. My body reacted as my brain raced. Do I? Should I? What would Jen say? What did Jen do. My thoughts spun in a useless circle as Lia tensed, her tight body clenching around me. She shuddered hard, her breathing ragged on my neck. My body warred with my brain, one half begging me to wrap her in a hug and kiss and touch and love, and the other half screamed that I shouldn't, that I should stay loyal. Loyal to who, though? Someone who betrayed me? Someone who took my love for granted? Lia apologized for causing me a slight discomfort, not even pain. Jen never did that. She never apologized.

  My body tensed as the familiar anger reared its head. Lia gasped and drew away from me as she realized that I was awake, but I threw my free arm around her and locked her in place, rolling onto my knees and staring down at her. At my Lady. At Lia. Burning emeralds flashed for a third time that night, begging me to come closer. I barely noticed that the girl was nude as I claimed her lips, running my hands up her smooth, caramel skin. She was small and thin; I could feel her ribs and vertebrae beneath her skin when I touched her. But, damn were her noises wonderful. She moaned and sighed as our lips moved together, her hands roaming over my body. My own hand began its movements again, a fresh coat of fluid coating my fingers. She broke our kiss and bit my shoulder, screaming into it as her body shuddered hard. My own body was hot and excited, my heart pumping blood to every inch of me, though I maintained my control. I wanted nothing more than to have my way with her, but I restrained. No, it isn't right. She doesn't love me. I don't love her. My hand picked up its pace as my desire and rationality warred within me.

  "Oh, gods!" she whispered, shuddering again. "Mmm!! Marshall... please..." her voice faded away as her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Small hands grasped at my chest and her breathing came in ragged gasps, and I finally slowed my teasing. The scent of syrup tickled my nose as Lia continued to shake against me, gasping and whimpering. "Please, Marshall, I can't..." I stopped my movements and forced myself to calm down, feeling the heat recede as Lia gasped beneath me. Her shudders slowed to once every few seconds, then stopped entirely, and her breathing slowed to normal. I smiled down at her, taking my hand from her and licking my fingers clean. She tasted like fruit punch with a hint of tang. Delicious. Lia tangled her hands in my hair and pulled me down, pressing her lips to mine and entangling our tongues. I broke the kiss after a minute or two, falling to my side and staring at her.

  "Wow." she laughed, giving me a drunken, loopy smile. "Wow. I never thought..." she trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. I smiled and pulled her closer, wrapping my Lady in my arms.

  "Good night, my Lady." I whispered, kissing her on the cheek. She mumbled something I didn't catch as she slipped into sleep. I felt her body go limp in my arms, and I closed my eyes as well.