Elementalists
Chapter 57 - Contract

Arya was still walking following Mirianne while trying to understand the information she had just heard.

"The Elemental Beast belongs to my mother?"

"Yes, to end the contract with him. He asked me to guide you in the making of the contract"

"Then after your contract expires, what will happen?"

Mirianne turned her head meaningfully as she softly said "I'm going to leave this world"

"Go? Where's where?"

"Okay, I don't know either" he said casually.

Moments later they saw a portal gaping wide in the air, Mirianne sticking her right hand out at Arya. At first he hesitated a little, but after breathing in a few times he immediately grabbed that hand.

The bodies of the two were sucked and disappeared into the portal, Arya felt the sensation of being thrown in a vacuum. Just like when he was using a teleportation tool, as the perceived shock began to subside.

Only then did he dare to open his eyes, a whistling sound just came out of his mouth without being able to hold Arya. The incredible sight made him unable to contain himself, a gigantic gate stood firmly there.

There was a path made of stone across the gate, large trees around it as if staring and giving a welcome to two people who had just arrived.

"Torii?" Arya was still staring at the gate without even blinking an inch.

The dim lighting makes the mystical impression even more thick there, Mirianne allows Arya to look around until satisfied.

"Welcome, at the East Gate Entrance of the Spirit Realm"

------<<>>------

Spirit Realm is the realm where the spirits trapped in this world pass by, there are eight entrances scattered throughout. This place was basically separated from the mortal world or the world of living beings.

There is a barrier that makes the spirits can not casually enter the world of living beings and vice versa, this is not without reason. If sentient beings come into contact with spirits too often, then their spiritual pressure will increase.

It can cause mental and physical damage indirectly, which can end in death. Spirits are also not aggressive existences, they themselves tend to shy away from living beings.

Because it can open the old wounds of their lives, but there are some types of spirits who at some stage like to tease and even kill other living things. This type is commonly called the Evil Spirit.

"Sir, you better not be too far away from me. The aura of your life is very concentrated" whispered Mirianne softly.

"Ahaha how else? It seems like it's because I'm the only living thing here" Arya scratched her head while trying to get as close to Mirianne as possible.

"As long as I'm here, they won't dare to approach"

The life aura that Arya's body emitted was indeed very attractive to many spirits, she could see hundreds of spirits with various forms wandering around them. Some of them after seeing Arya decided to change into a human being and pay respect.

But some others decided to keep hiding and watching so that Arya felt like being stalked by thousands of pairs of starving beasts' eyes. Both of them have been on the road for quite a long time.

But Arya felt that this road did not have a definite end so she asked.

"eeee....Mirianne's? Can you tell me where we're headed?"

"Ahh..sorry sir, I seem to get a little carried away. We are heading towards Purity Garden" Mirianne explained.

"Purity what? What other place is that?"

Mirianne then tells Arya that Purity Garden is the name of the location in the Spirit Realm where new spirits have not been contaminated, the average lifespan of the spirits in that place was still around one hundred to two hundred years.

The age of the spirits was not seen from how old they were before dying, but rather how long they had passed in the Spirit Realm. The average high-ranking spirits are over five hundred years old, some are even thousands of years old.

At this level, their abilities are so high that they can interact with living things. With certain requirements, they will work together. The spirit users of that type are commonly called Summoners.

The Spirit will do their summoning order and take the rewards according to the agreement they have agreed upon.

Each spirit has its own personality, but initially they all have a clean nature. Therefore the appearance of pure Evil Spirit comes from the influence of the spirits around it, if until the new spirit is surrounded by evil spirits.

It was certain that in less than a year, he would be contaminated and would turn into an Evil Spirit. That's why the spirit that just came out of the Purity Garden is at a very vulnerable age, which is around the age of one hundred to two hundred years.

"Isn't it better to contract with a spirit over a thousand years old?" arya's mind while stroking her chin.

"You'd better throw away those thoughts" Mirianne said suddenly to the point of making Arya jump in shock.

"K...ka...did you hear that?!" Arya could not hide the surprised tone from her voice.

"It's very clear, in this place living beings like you can't hide their inner voice"

"Ekh.that's kinda...."

"Again making a contract with a thousand-year-old spirit would not be that easy, not just a living being. Spirits also have arrogance, when they have high abilities, it is very difficult to manage them.

They prefer to live freely and do whatever they want, even more so I am worried if until the Master makes a contract with the spirit of that type. Even those who will absorb your energy, instead of helping you solve the problem"

Arya nodded at that explanation, rightly also thought. Having a high-ability yet unruly Elemental Beast was just as useless.

"So if I make a contract with a new spirit then it will be easier to shape his personality"

"Truely, that's why we went to Purity Garden" Mirianne said happily.

Right after Mirianne said that, Arya's eyes were dazzled by the colorful light in the distance. It was obvious that a very thick aura soaring high into the air came from that location.

"We have arrived" Mirianne's smile raised the spirit in Arya.

------<<>>------

Both of them entered the Purity Garden without any significant obstacles, as the name implies. The place does look like a garden in the eyes of Arya. It's just that the flowers that should be there have been replaced by a collection of spirits lined up neatly.

Some have the form of humans, animals, and also a ball of light. Most of them had empty gazes full of regret that made people uncomfortable to see it for a long time.

After wandering around looking around, Arya's attention fell on one of the spirits with chains wrapped around her neck. He has the form of a full-grown wolf, the spirit turns its back on Arya even as she walks past him.

What makes Arya interested is, the spirit has a sharp eye and not empty like most spirits there. But, he also did not turn his head towards Arya even though all the spirits who did not have blank stares looked at Arya with interest because of the aura of life that belonged to him.

As Arya tried to get closer, the spirit turned its head while making a threatening growl. It makes Arya step stopped, but patiently Arya shows that she has no bad intentions on the wolf.

Finally, Arya manages to stroke the spirit's head, closing her eyes as Arya's hands begin to move slowly around her fine-haired head.

"You look lonely, how about you come with me?" tawar Arya slowly.

He only snored slowly without any sign of responding to the offer from Arya.

"Mirianne how do I make a contract?"

"Have you found what you're looking for?" reply Mirianne while approaching.

"It seems" Arya replied a little hesitantly.

"Are you sure you chose it?"

"It looks like we can't make a direct contract with him sir, this kid has a big sin"

"You mean?"

"He did something really bad in his life, that's why his spirit was chained. If you really want to make a contract with him. The chain must come off first" Mirianne said with her own eyes.

"How?"

"By helping him to let go of what has happened"

Suddenly Arya recalled about the events of the first level 5 Hollow attack, when M said something about the ability to read spirits. What if he does it again? Then Arya slowly pressed her index finger on the wolf's forehead.

And with the instant that Aryan's eyes and spirit light up, a sign of connection between the two began to form.

------<<>>------

Arya slightly staggered after doing Soul Reader, the images that entered quickly made her head dizzy. From what looks like he has managed to enter the subconscious of the wolf.

He found a boy curled up nearby. Arya feels bad after getting a picture of the life she has been through.

"Can you cancel your intention? I'm not the person you're looking for" the boy exclaimed suddenly and made Arya's steps to approach him come to a halt.

Arya did not blame the child for having such thoughts just now, the chains that bound her spirit were not without reason. He had a hard life, his parents often quarreled and made this child hear bad words.

He was also often scolded and beaten to relieve their anger, because of that his grandmother then decided to bring the child. The old woman became the most meaningful person in her life.

When he thought it would all be a happy ending, it happened. His parents were drunk and accidentally killed the only person he cared about the most, because he could not help himself anymore.

The boy made the two old men not befuddled to pay for it, with his hands covered in blood and no idea what to do. She ended her life, the tiny body hanging in the air for three days and three nights before being found by residents.

Arya could not imagine a seven-year-old child going through such a heavy life, killing parents and committing suicide were two very big sins. Making him let go is not easy.

"Everything has happened, regretting it won't change anything" Arya advised.

"Unfortunately I do not regret my actions, even what makes me afraid is because I feel satisfied after doing it" the boy said slowly.

"You know? I have no parents" Arya then sat right next to him.

"Eh!?"

"So I think you're very lucky to still know your parents, yes. But at least you know who they are, but I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful father and foster sister.

If anyone hurts them maybe.I will do the same with you, even if killing it is a bit too little" added Arya quickly.

"Sister? May I know why you chose me?"

"Okay, I don't know either. Maybe we're just being a fool"

She then stood up with a warm smile on her face, Arya stuck out a hand at the child without the slightest hesitation.

"You regret what you did, don't you? How about you make up for everything by coming with me?"

Just when their hands met, the chains that bound the wolf spirit were smashed into pieces. His spirit body shrunk and revealed a wolf child.

"You're done" Mirianne sounded in disbelief.

"Mirianne, the contract" Arya reminded.

"Geez"

Mirianne quickly pressed her palms together, a magic formation appeared under the feet of Arya and the wolf. Once again he came face to face with the boy.

"From now on, please help"

"I'm ju—"

The boy did not manage to finish his sentence, as Arya began to gently rub his head.

"I'll teach you the meaning of real family, and take care of you like a child"

"Thank you, Dad" he said grimly with tears streaming down his cheeks.

Some of her hair began to change color due to the contracts that began to form.

------<<>>------

Mirianne escorts Arya to the East Gate Entrance to return, when Arya has disappeared. Then he looked over with narrowed eyes.

"When are you hiding?"

Immediately dozens of large and terrible figures appeared before Mirianne, they all looked furious.

"How dare you take our prey!!!" sounds echoed horribly in all directions.

"So you guys really want to devour it after the chain comes off?"

Mirianne had known from the beginning, that Arya chose the wolf spirit is not without reason. It seemed like he was able to feel the murderous gaze that was fixed on the child.

"Then with the escape of your prey? What do you want?" asked Mirianne again casually.

"Mirianne you look too haughty, do you think you can beat us all?"

"I? Hoity-toity? Pfft!" Mirianne laughed amusedly at hearing that.

"YOU!—"

"It seems that you are too arrogant to be a thousand-year-old Soul Eater. All right, how about before I go. I'll show you ten thousand year old spirit power, you little snot boys!"

Mirianne's voice turned into a terrifying one, her eyes giving off a bright blue light that made the Soul Eaters there tremble in fear.

"Don't be afraid! He's only alone, if we're together we can" one of them tried to strengthen the other.

"really? Let's see what you can do, hehehe" Mirianne called them to come closer with her index finger.

Fangs sticking out from Mirianne's wide smile, a dense aura emanating profusely from all over the woman's body. This even made the entire Spirit Realm tremble. A spirit equivalent to her right now might only be able to be counted on the finger of one hand alone.

A great explosion occurred when the Soul Eater attacked, less than a minute the entire place was clean with no rest. The incident also caused a crack in the East Gate Entrance.

Author Note :

Torii ( ⁇ ) is the boundary between the area of human habitation and the sacred area where Kami (God) lives. In addition, the building serves as a temple gate.

Torii shape is two parallel bars supported by two vertical poles. The building is generally painted in a fiery red color, and sometimes also unpainted (the original color of building materials).

Although it is more common in the entrance to Shinto shrines, it can also be found in the empire and some locations in Japan.