Rjuka

Silence pervaded the group, and everyone shared the same thought.

Is it finally over?

Luckily, it seemed that most of the action had occurred in their location. Hopefully, there weren't any casualties in the other sections of the forest.

Not even a day had passed, in fact, it had only been about two hours.

Quint suggested, "It's time for us to head back to the village. Is everyone strong enough to walk?"

The group nodded in agreement. Thankfully, they were all okay, aside from some fatigue.

Rentaro spoke up to the others' surprise, "I actually have something I need to take care of. I'll head back shortly after."

Icrin wanted to stay as well, but Astrona's gaze was intimidating enough for him to understand. He was going back with him whether he liked it or not.

Instead, it was Kia-Nian who decided to stay back as well.

Rather than decline, Rentaro decided to accept his goodwill.

Kia-Nian was very different from the other members of the Krose clan—throughout the entire predicament, he looked on with a perplexed empathy, as opposed to hatred.

The others took their leave with short goodbyes, Rentaro would be following after them in a short while anyway.

Next to Rentaro stood Roy, Kyon, and the strange being he summoned.

Of course, Rentaro didn't stay because he wanted to review their stats—he planned on burying Edalas' and Jean's bodies.

Through their soul connection, they all understood one another. Together, they started to dig out some simple graves.

With a soft sigh, Kia-Nian decided to offer his assistance, much to Rentaro's surprise.

It didn't take long for two open graves to be dug out, considering the groups' cultivation.

Gently, they loaded the bodies down, filling them back up with dirt.

It wasn't the most proper of burials, but Rentaro felt it was sufficient enough.

Even if they were enemies, he wouldn't desecrate their bodies. And Rentaro was still plagued with two thoughts.

Firstly, the gift and advice given by Edalas.

And secondly, he saw a bit of himself reflected in Jean.

While Jean acted in a twisted way, there was the same desire—for a companion. Jean found that companion in Edalas, while Rentaro first found it through Wilhelm.

In one way or another, that could've been him.

Naturally, this thinking didn't excuse Jean's actions. It wasn't meant to.

What Rentaro realized, was just how far a person can fall.

He made a short, but important note in his mind.

'No matter what, I mustn't fall to such a level.'

Rentaro wiped the sweat from his brow, before looking towards Kia-Nian.

"Why did you stay with me? And help me bury his body? Don't you feel the same as the rest of your clan?"

Kia-Nian brushed his hands together and shook the dirt off his clothes, his blue eyes glowing a gentle light, "Life is complicated, you can only do what you feel is right. If everyone focuses their attention on hatred and revenge, who will remain to maintain order?"

Rentaro felt an immediate realization, a comparison between Kia-Nian and Wilhelm.

It was Wilhelm who did his best to hold Rentaro and Roy together during the previous catastrophe.

"Let's start heading back now, I'm sure everyone else is impatiently waiting."

Kia-Nian smiled, leading the way back.

It was quiet, but this silence was much more pleasant.

The normal animals and beasts that fled would soon return, bringing back the lively atmosphere.

Finally, they reached the gate, entering the village.

Many were astonished, or more so frightened, as they immediately took notice of the strange being that continued to follow Rentaro.

Unlike before, he didn't have any of the three return to the summon space of the system.

And while the strange being might frighten some, it was far too happy enjoying the sunlight for Rentaro to send him back. Rentaro felt it would just be too cruel to hide it. They were companions now!

In due time, they could get used to seeing it. And should they complain, as Kyon put it:

"This elder will blast them into the sky with a mighty gust of wind!"

Then again, which one of them would dare to stay anything if they were already afraid?

Waving goodbye to Kia-Nian, they returned to Astrona's house.

Currently, the house was empty.

'I guess Elder Astrona and Icrin are out doing something.'

Rentaro felt a bit awkward as he entered with his entourage—it was as if they were some gang raiding a house.

The strange being had to crouch down in order to enter, the children outside watching in terror.

After entering, Rentaro felt relief washing over him as they evaded the prying eyes.

Rentaro never enjoyed being the center of attention, but with how diverse his group was, he learned that he would have to get used to it soon.

"You can just, uh, lie down on the bed."

Kyon was rather tiny, not taking up too much room, and Rentaro was of average stature.

Roy had gotten a bit larger since his new bloodline, and the strange being's company took up quite a bit of space.

'If Wilhelm and Tess could also take form outside, it would be suffocating in here—and that's not even including those in the Grimoire of Twilight. We're going to need a huge house in the future!'

Rentaro pondered quietly, before willing the system interface to open.

[System Notifications]

[Missions Completed]

*

[Survive Your First Deadly Encounter] [Unique] — [Complete]

Congratulatory gift for surviving your first deadly encounter.

[Rewards] [Random Gift x2]

*

[Random Summoning]

Perform a Random Summoning.

[Reward] [2.0 credits]

*

[Cultivation Milestones & Achievements — Elemental Affinity 4]

Fourth elemental affinity.

[Reward] [4.0 credits]

*

Rentaro's eyes lit up in delight, 'Random Gifts?'

The randomization concept was always an attractive concept to most, and Rentaro was no exception.

'Claim all rewards, collect credits as Spatial Credits!'

[Rewards Collected]

[Current Credit Balance] [Syndicate Credits: 14] [Spatial Credits: 15]

Previously in the heat of the moment, Rentaro hadn't noticed the emergence of two new missions, or the fourth elemental affinity milestone.

It being after the battle, attaining a variety of rewards was quite the pleasant surprise.

Still, he couldn't help but think of his left arm, dampening his mood.

He shook his head, 'Maybe the random gifts will cheer me up! But first, I should check out my new companion.'

Before he checked out its stats, he called out in curiosity, "Hey, you never gave me your name. You should already know a bit about the rest of us considering the Soul Contract, why not introduce yourself?"

"Me?" The strange being pointed towards himself, currently lying across Rentaro's bed, though his legs hung down off the end.

"My name is Rjuka, I come from a place of darkness. The only light was the fire that scorched the primary night, accompanied by the breezing winds that chilled the secondary night."

"Primary night? Secondary night?" Rentaro asked.

"There was only darkness, but there were two rotations. The primary 'night' gave us fire, while the secondary gave us 'wind.' Between each rotation was the fusion of the two, strengthening our bodies with smoke."

Rentaro nodded, his curiosity piqued.

Perhaps one day, they would get the chance to visit Rjuka's origin. Then again, how many summons would Rentaro find himself with? That would be a lot of places to visit, but maybe he could have a place that he could call home in each and every one of them!

Rentaro took a quick glimpse at Rjuka's stats.

***

Name: Rjuka

Bio: Enenra Clan (Inferior Smoke Demon)

Contracted by: Rentaro Eccel

Grade: Rare

Cultivation Stage: Affinity Foundation - Stage 7

Elemental Affinities:

Wind — Assimilation Stage

Fire — Assimilation Stage

Smoke — Assimilation Stage

Innate Talents:

[Possession] — Take control of a specified target.

[Willful Transformation] — Rapidly take on or break physical form.

[Physique of the Enenra Clan] — A clan of demons born from the fusion of wind and fire, resulting in the combined element of smoke.