A New Companion

"W-wha-?!" Charlie got panicky when he saw the pendant broke into pieces. "This is master's memento!"

The pendant was his master's last gift to him. Seeing it broken into pieces felt like he had lost something.

However, he soon forgot about it and was unable to think straight as white mist started to ooze out of the broken pieces lying on the ground. This mist slowly spread out thickly. A couple of seconds later, the mist thinned out.

His eyes almost popped out of their socket when the mist completely dissipated. Right in front of him was a small, chubby silver-haired boy looking to be about four years old. He was draped in black robes and was looking straight at him with black eyes. He seemed familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time to Charlie.

"I presume you are Charlie," the boy spoke first in a matter-of-fact yet childish tone.

"W-wha? W-who?" he let out an incomprehensible stutter, not knowing exactly what was going on.

"The Old Master has created me to be your companion in the event of his death," the boy explained, "I wasn't supposed to come out at this time, though. The mana I've gathered from this space is not yet enough for me to assume an adult form. However, since the jade pendant came in contact with your blood, which shouldn't have happened unless you were in danger, I was released. Thus, Master, forgive me if I am in this juvenile form."

Charlie was silent for a while before he was able to form words, "My master created you?"

"Yes."

"Truly?"

"Truly."

"To be my companion?"

"That is correct."

Silence ensued. The four-year old boy remained staring at the fourteen-year old looking boy bleeding in front of him.

"Wooohooo!" Charlie suddenly screamed in glee, "Finally! I have a companion!"

"Master, before you celebrate, it is better if we treat your wound," the boy grabbed Charlie's arm holding his shirt and pressed it on the latter's wound, "Stay here. I will get a healing potion. Where can they be found?"

Charlie smiled idiotically. It definitely feels good when someone cares for you.

"They're downstairs, on the storage room to the left of the staircase," Charlie happily told the new companion he'd made who just nodded at his words.

The boy helped Charlie so he can sit up more comfortably. He guided Charlie to sit down with his back to the shelf for support. After he secured Charlie's position, he then proceeded to walk away with wobbly steps.

"Are you okay?" Eu Jin asked concernedly when he noticed the boy's difficulty.

"Don't worry, I am fine," the silver-haired boy replied without looking back. "Before I was born, I was formless. As this is the first time I am assuming this form, it will take a while for me to get used to walking."

Without waiting for Charlie to respond, the boy soon disappeared down the staircase. It took a few minutes before the boy returned holding two potion bottles. He put one bottle down on the floor as he squatted in front of Charlie before opening the other bottle.

"Here, drink this first," the boy stuffed the opened blue-colored bottle into his hands. "This healing potion you've created is really of good quality. I've appraised it earlier. The wound on your forehead should be healed in seconds after drinking this."

After hearing his words, Charlie felt happy as he was hearing a compliment from someone other than his master for the first time. He happily nodded before drinking the healing potion.

Charlie emptied the bottle as instructed. Seeing the empty bottle, the small boy took it off Charlie's hand and stuffed the red-colored bottle to him.

"Drink this blood replenishing potion as well. You've lost a significant amount of blood. You can replace the blood you've lost with this."

Of course, Charlie already knew the effects of his own potions. He knew what they were in a glance too. Despite that, he appreciated the thoughtfulness of the boy in front of him. Without further ado, he drank the second bottle.

Drinking the two potions definitely made Charlie feel better. He no longer felt dizzy. His cheeks and lips have returned to a healthy pinkish color as well.

Now that Charlie felt better, he had the time to carefully look at the little boy sitting in front of him.

"You said that my master created you?"

"Yes," the little boy offered a more thorough answer, "I was created from Old Master's mana. He had been nurturing me since he knew of your mana reservoir, but since it takes a tremendous amount of mana to create a sentient entity, it wasn't until now that I came into being. Old Master wanted me to be your companion from the start."

"I only had my consciousness when the old master was alive," the child explained further, "When his lifespan neared its end, he wasn't able to support my growth anymore. However, my body wasn't ready just yet. Thus, he left me with you inside this space. The abundant mana in this space allowed for my growth. Besides that, I think he also wanted to make sure that I am already beside you when he dies. Either way, you dripping blood on the jade pendant where my spirit lies wasn't in the calculation. I've been born way too early."

"Oh, I apologize," Charlie felt guilty when he heard that.

"No need to feel guilty, Master," the boy replied, "I am also glad to be born anyway."

"By the way, why do you call me 'Master'?"

"Although I am your companion, I am still Master's subordinate. I was created by the Old Master this way."

"Can't you just call me by my name?"

"Nope, Master is master."

Sensing that he can't change the boy's mind, he reluctantly acquiesced, "So what do I call you?"

"I have no name," the boy said, "Master can give me a name yourself."

"Hmmm, okay, then should I call you Liam?"

"As you wish."