As they were all waiting for Olive Andrews to bring them the bottles of the unknown alcoholic drinks, Alex entered Earl Kayden’s bedroom, and as Alex sat on the empty chair near the Earl’s table, he spoke, after a deep sigh, “Alex, you know I don’t have children because I lost them during the war to a group of Goblins that attacked this house while I was away, and I completely gave up on having another family. Ever since your father brought you here, I have always considered you my son. That’s why I chose you as my heir long ago. I took proper measures the moment I felt my body getting weak, but I hoped to talk with you before I died. I almost couldn’t, but fortunately, you sent that Spirit of the Water to my aid, and for that, I thank you. I may not have enough time, but I have one favour to ask you. Consider it my dying wish, if you will. I want to talk to your father one last time.”
He then pointed at his closet. “Last time he went through there. Can you go get him for me?”
“I… don’t know how. When I use my pendant, I always arrive at my last location, and this time, I travelled to my rented room at the Adventurer’s Guild in Bouria from my house on Earth. For me to go from here to my father’s Shrine in Nakanojo… I don’t know how I can do it.”
“Alex, Alex… You keep on forgetting one thing… Shinatobe, come here if you please.”
Alex was about to say she was not with him when a tiny ball of light flew to the table. It increased in size, and the little girl form of Shinatobe appeared seated next to him on the empty chair.
She made a slight smile and said, “I changed places with Kagu-tsuchi. He is now near the main road, checking if that Security Force hasn’t come back. I was near the window thinking when you two arrived. It still puzzles me how you can always find out where I am, old man. I remembered of times long gone, Kayden, when I, you, Olive and Yahei were travelling everywhere. I sense you are becoming weak by the minute, and your time is almost ending. I can help Alex go get his father so that you two can talk before you leave this World. It would also be a good idea if Olive and that female Orc joined us.”
Earl Kayden Burke took a slow, deep breath, and it was then that Alex noticed it was becoming hard for him to breathe. “I… think… I know what you are up to, Shinatobe. I just don’t know if Olive will agree with that.”
“I don’t care if she agrees or not; I won’t give her a choice. Let me go get Yahei for you. Don’t you dare die before he arrives!”
“I will do my best, but time is against me. I am feeling rather tired. Alex, can you please help me and put me on the bed? I am not sure if I will be able to get there on my own.”
Alex immediately got up and, with him on one side and Shinatobe on the other, they slowly and carefully took the Earl to his bed and helped him to lie down. He made a slight smile and said, “I had a great life, and I don’t regret most of it, except not being here to save my family. Go, Alex. I will wait right here, breathing slowly and hanging on to my life by a thread.”
Alex put some Healing Magic on the Earl, and his face regained some of its previous colours. Alex then went to the closet and, while grabbing his pendant, he asked, “What now, Shinatobe? What do I do?”
She placed one hand on his left arm and said, “Just close your eyes and think about your Shrine, where your father might be, and I will open a passage. Don’t close the door on the other side and come back with him.”
“I… suppose he will be in his room, meditating, like he normally does after lunch.”
Alex closed his eyes and concentrated. After a couple of seconds, he heard Shinatobe, “It is done. I will wait for you both right here.”
Alex opened his eyes and opened the closet. Upon going into the light and closing the door behind him, a new door appeared in front of him. When he opened it, his father, Sakamo Yahei, was sitting on the floor of his room, with his eyes closed and his legs crossed in deep meditation.
Alex exited the closet and gently touched his father’s right shoulder. “Father, it’s me.”
Since he didn’t move, Alex shook him a little and called him again. Sakamo Yahei slowly opened his eyes and blinked a few times to focus his sight. He stared at Alex with a surprised look. “Ryu… I mean, Alex, considering how you are dressed. What are you doing here? Did something happen?”
“Can you follow me to Azurath? Earl Kayden is dying of old age. His body can no longer sustain Magic, and he called for you.”
Sakamo Yahei quickly got up and took a deep breath. “If my old friend calls for me, of course, I go. Lead the way, my son. Is Shinatobe…”
“Yes, she is on the other side. She didn’t look mad, only expecting.”
Sakamo Yahei slowly nodded and followed Alex into the light inside the closet. When Alex closed the door behind him and opened the new door in front, Shinatobe was waiting with a serious look.
As soon as Yahei Brim got out, she jumped on him and hugged him tightly. “It has been a while, Yahei. How have you been?”
“I am well and in peace, little Shinatobe. I hope you are taking care of Alex in my absence. At least he is not dead!”
Shinatobe grimaced while looking at Alex. “Yeah, it has been difficult! He looks for trouble everywhere he goes! He reminds me of someone I used to know.”
Strange, who could that fool be? What about Okami? Is that crazy woman around here?”
“In the dining room. She will be here in a moment. But for now…”
Shinatobe held the right hand of Sakamo Yahei and walked with him to the bed of the Earl, who greeted him with a big smile on his face, “You look rather dumb with that bald head and those monk garments, Yahei! How has life treated you until now? Did you get rid of your ghosts or what?”
“Some of them, my old friend. You look rather old, you know? Not that you were ever young when we first met, but you look really, really old! It suits you, it makes you look wise!”
“Ahahah! Don’t make me laugh now. I am not as healthy as I used to be, you know? I am one hundred and fifty years old by now.”
Sakamo Yahei gave a pained look, staring at his long-time friend as he answered, “Time flies by when we are having fun… We have so much to talk about, but you don’t seem up to it. Perhaps I can pray for you, and we could talk for a while.”
Earl Kayden frowned. “What, pray to your Gods? No thanks, I would rather pray on my own to mines! I have one little surprise for you that Alex brought, but you will only believe it when you see it! Alex, be a good boy and go call Okami, Ghar, and Olive, will you?”
Alex quickly exited the room, leaving the three old friends to talk about past adventures and current life. He returned minutes later with Ghar, Okami, and Olive Andrews, after telling the others to wait for them and asking two maids to not let anyone go inside the Earl’s room.
As soon as he entered the room again, Yahei got up from the edge of the bed, just in time to prevent a fall to the ground by the jump that Okami made to get to him.
She spoke while kissing him, “Yahei, my dear, how have you been? Did you miss me?”
“Let go of me, you crazy woman! Remember my vow and stop tempting me, geez!”
“Oh, you still do that? That’s a pity…”
She then noticed the lack of colour on the Earl’s face, and she immediately went to him. “Kayden… you are so weak… Shall I go call Suijin to help you a bit?”
“No, my sweet Spirit of the Earth, the powerful Sarutahiko Okami… My time is coming to an end. Don’t be sad, it was going to happen, eventually. In my case, it only took longer because of my contract with my beautiful Spirit of the Wind. Olive, come closer. I want to say one last thing to you.”
Olive Andrews approached the bed with tears in her eyes and kneeled on the floor. “I am here, my love.”
The Earl slowly caressed Olive’s right cheek. “My beautiful Olive… I don’t want you to feel my death, so please end your contract with me, will you? I want you to only have good memories of me. And before Shinatobe annoys you with a weird order, will you be so kind as to make a contract with Ghar over there? She might need your help to live in this World, and perhaps with you at her side, Alex can find out how to prevent the Magical Voids from appearing or how to deal faster with the Monsters that come from there.”
“You want me… to make a contract with that thing? Did the approach of death mess up your brain or what? No way! No, no, never!”
“You say that, but you know I am right. I bet Ghar will surprise you. I got the strange feeling that despite what she is, she is an honoured warrior, just the perfect match for you. You always belonged on a battlefield, Olive. I remember very well how you used to glow with happiness during our travels or in a battle. You only worked as my housekeeper because of me, but I am almost sure that the idea of returning to battle thrills you to the core.”
Olive Andrews cleaned her tears and bit her lower lip. “I… can’t deny the idea of going on Quests and fighting Monsters is not exciting, but doing a contract with that… but if it is your wish…”
“It is my last wish from you, Olive. Unless you want to receive an order and a death warning from Shinatobe, that is. I know that you immediately understood what was about to happen the moment you saw Shinatobe here.”
“Yeah, I knew she was up to something… Very well, I will do it, but if this thing tries to go Monster near me, I will slice her head! Or at least, find someone to do it for me, that is.”
Olive Andrews then held both hands of the Earl, and they both touched their foreheads. She spoke in a low voice, “I, the Spirit of the Wind Olive Andrews, hereby end my contract with you, Kayden Burke.”
“I, Kayden Burke, accept the end of the contract. Thanks for everything, Olive.”
The light of Olive’s Magic enveloped them, and when it dissipated, Earl Kayden made a slight smile. He then glanced at Ghar, who was staring at them from under her hood. “She may be a little surprised by all this. I wonder what kind of face she will make when you go to her, Olive.”
“Well, we will see in a moment, won’t we?”
Olive walked towards Ghar, who quickly hid behind Okami. She stared at Alex and saw him nodding with a slight smile, and she slumped back to her place to the right of Okami.
As she was taking the hood off her head, Yahei almost shouted, “No way! Is that an Orc? A fricking live Orc, shall the Kami forgive my language?”
“Yes, father, indeed she is. She is an excellent fighter, and she can also use Water and Fire Magic. I think it’s because of her necklace that has a bunch of Magic Orbs, but I am not sure.”
Olive Andrews raised both her open palms at shoulder height and raised one eyebrow. Since Ghar didn’t move, Okami gently took her hands and placed them over Olive’s hands, and approached her forehead from the puzzled female Orc.
Upon touching, Olive spoke, “I am Olive Andrews, a Spirit of the Wind, daughter of Shinatobe and Jack Andrews. I accept you as my partner. Do you accept me?”
Ghar made a short and low growl, puzzled by that situation, and Olive sighed, “Ok… let me take control of this then, you dumb Monster…”