Chapter 3: Meet the Family

Jackson pushed past the last group of roots and climbed out at the base of a large oak tree. The first was alive with sounds. The night sky full of stars. Jackson took a deep breath and assessed his situation.

He was lost in the middle of the woods, without supply's. Jackson looked around and then noticed something odd. The moon wasn't out yet the area around him didn't seem that dark. It wasn't bright enough to see to far but it was still capable of seeing.

"Hmm, I didn't think you would get such a nice blessing from me. That's shadow eyes. When you contract with a soul there is a chance to augment. It seems your eyes were augmented. You shouldn't have a problem seeing in low light situations." The knight's voice cracked through his mind. The more Jackson heard the knights voice the more it made him feel safe. Jackson looked at the ground and saw tracks from when he ran by the tree. He followed the tracks back to the wood he left on the path. He picked it up and walked towards his house. When he arrived his mother and father were outside with a group of people.

"We should search along the path, he couldn't have gone far." His father yelled.

"What's going on?" Jackson yelled as he walked up.

His mother raised her hands to her mouth in shock and everyone stared at him.

His father stared blankly at him. Jackson knew he probably looked terrible crusted blood stuck to his head and his arm still hurt a lot.

Jackson's mother ran over and hugged him making him groan, his whole body suddenly felt sore.

"What happened?'' his father said as he walked up.

"I was attacked by a timber wolf and then I fell into some old tomb. It took me a while to get out plus I had hit my head and was unconscious for a while."

Jackson's father check Jackson's head and arm.

"These injuries seemed to be healing. It's slow but this only happens when one's contracted with a soul beast." Jackson's father said while examining the large wound on his arm.

"Well a lot happened. Let's wait for everyone to go before I show you that." Jackson whispered slowly prying his mother off him.

"Mom, I'm ok." He whispered.

She nodded slowly and walked back to the small house. Jackson followed as his father dispersed the hunting party and told them he was grateful for the help. Jackson sat at the table while his mother grabbed some stewfrom the fireplace pot. The smell filled the room and suddenly Jackson noticed how hungry he was. His mother sat across from him as he started to dig into the stew, the wooden spoon never feeling like it could get enough on it to satisfy his hunger.

His father sat down with his mother across from him, letting out a small laugh.

"My first contract, I also had a unsatisfiable hunger. It was like a bottomless pit."

Jackson continued to eat as his father and mother patiently waited for him to finish. Jackson stood up and grabbed a second bowl full and sat down but before starting sat back in his chair.

"Now then, I guess you want to know what I contracted with." Jackson said.

Both parents nodded slowly.

Suddenly the knights walked out of the shadow in the corner of the room as if he just materialized.

His father instinctively grabbed for a sword near the door.

"I understand the caution but I mean no harm to you. Jackson is my contract holder." The knight said.

Jackson's father stared blankly at the knight.

"That's not possible, you have to be the same strength to without a contract."

The knight shook his head.

"That's for a contract where both parties are on equal terms, I chose to give up my status to become his contracted. It means that he can contract with higher tiers but there are some downsides. He can't use my full strength till tier four, he also can't contract a second time till he reaches teir one." The knight explained.

Jackson pulled a chair over and the knight sat down, his blue flame like eyes glowing through the visor of his helmet.

Jackson's father held the sword but sat down across from Jackson.

"Ok say I believe you. Why Jackson?"

The knight remained quiet for a second, which felt like a eternity in the awkward room.

"I didn't, the old king did. The ring proves he was chosen. If he hadn't I wouldn't have shown myself and I wouldn't be here."

Jackson's parents looked confused as the ring suddenly showed itself on Jackson's finger.

"By the seven, that's a spacial ring. They are worth thousands of gold coins." His mother said staring at the ring.

"Your half correct, it is a spacial ring but it's a more then that is a contractual ring, it has specific requirements to wear, one being acceptance from the previous shadow king."

This time even Jackson stared at the knight confused.

Jackson's father shook his head, and raised his hand to stop the knight from continuing

"Ok, Jackson. You have a contract it means you can try the exam for the academy in town next week but your only soul power three. The exam is three one on one fights. I don't see you winning against someone with twenty or thirty power."

Jackson's mother turned to his father clearly upset with his blunt words.

"I can tell you that I can give him a chance. A week might be just enough." The knight said.

Jackson's father nodded.

"Fine but you still need to do your chores. You can't train all day."

Jackson nodded and returned to eating stew as his mother and father looked at the knight with a mixture of fear and interest.

Jackson finished his stew and took the bowl outside to wash in the creek behind the house. The night air filled was nice and relaxing. The water reflected the night sky back at him. Jackson turned to walk back to the house and saw the knight leaning against the side of the house watching him.

"Ya know, being able to summon yourself at your own will is slightly unnerving."

Jackson didn't hear a laugh from the knight but he could swear the blue flames showed some kind of amusement.