''Shamak!'' A dark mass of smoke shot right beneath the feet of the black-haired boy.
He has been practicing the most basic of shadow magic for the last week for now. Most of the time, he screwed up something, and Dracul had to intervene, but this time it was special.
He properly managed to control his magic. Without assistance! It was still nowhere near the Great Spirit's level. Actually, it wasn't even comparable.
But hey, one little step at a time.
''Hell yeah!'' He shouted with his arms lifted above, making a victory pose.
His shout took the attention of his scaly caretaker. Dracul lowered his head and looked at him with his purple eyes.
Subaru expected something like, ''So, my efforts weren't in vain after all.'' or something along those lines.
''Good job, Subaru.'' But instead, he got simple praise from him that held no mocking undertone. ''Tomorrow, we are going to the second step.''
''Are you going to teach me another spell? Or...''
Dracul shook his head, ''No, it isn't things like that. I will be teaching you spiritual arts.'' A short pause. ''You remember what a spirit is, right?''
''Of course, I do. What do you take me for?''
''An impulsive idiot.'' Dracul answered with a flat tone.
Subaru released an exasperated sigh, ''Are you still holding that against me?'' Which Dracul responded with silence.
''Let's go back, shall we?'' Right behind Subaru's back, a violet-colored portal appeared.
He walked inside the portal and was greeted with the usual sight, purple crystals. He walked back to his usual spot, with Dracul entering not too long after and closing the portal.
Dracul gently placed himself in the giant crater in the middle of the cave and shut his eyelids. After five short minutes, Subaru called out for him.
''Draco, are you asleep?'' He waited...no response.
He got up and walked towards the dragon. He stretched his hands towards his scales.
The rough scales beneath his palm gave him a weird feeling. It was strange but far from unpleasant.
When Dracul shuts his eyes, often, Subaru starts petting him, just like he is doing now. It didn't matter what punishment he gave to Subaru. He just comes the next day and repeats it. This boy was just too determined to be swayed from his goals.
xXx
There is a small orb, colored black, and a thin purple stroke at the center.
Gently floating above a city, hidden from the sight of its residents. It was watching them from afar like this for the past week. Over the past week, it was observed that the city was in bad shape. The food was mainly given out by the church. The food was scarce, so they had to be careful while distributing it.
The equipment of the guards was in bad condition. They haven't been maintained for a long by the looks of them. The edges of their spears, swords, and other blades have been dulled over time.
Their bows and crossbows. Some of them had severed strings, and some of them were cracked.
And lastly, their armors. Almost all of them had dirt and dents, and mostly looked roughed up.
Because of the lack of resources, they had to send small teams of hunters to gather materials. They hunted animals for their meat, leather, and fat.
Gathered medicinal herbs and some other berry-like fruits.
These were the observations it made over the course of a week.
And now it was time to deal with the annoyance that kept touching him.
xXx
With the same dumb smile on his face, Subaru was petting the scales of Dracul.
"Huma." The blue ball of compressed ice hit him square on the stomach.
Subaru let out a pained grunt.
Subaru kneeled in pain. ''Ow, that hurt…''
Ignoring the pain the boy was in Dracul asked a question, ''Did you eat something?''
''Yeah, I ate some of the berries.''
''Good. Then we will be leaving in a few minutes.'' Dracul informed.
''To the same place?'' The Dragon hummed in response.
.
.
.
''So what are we going to do today?''
''I will teach you how to contract with the spirits. You already know how to talk to them or ask for help. And now, I will teach you how to bond with a spirit.''
''Alright! How do I start?!'' Subaru inquired with excitement.
''It should be simple for you. Just call the spirits to you and ask one of them to enter a contract. And after you establish a contract with it, unless there's an additional rule in the contract, you just supply it with mana. That's all. Even someone like you can do it.''
''You just had to add that.'' He let out a sigh.
Subaru brought his hands together and called for the spirits. And soon after they started appearing one after another. Illuminating the part of the forest. After some time, he reopened his eyes, the voices of the spirits filling his head.
''Yo, it's the mean-eyed boy.''
''Hello again, Subaru~''
''How ya doin'?''
''Waaa… it's the Black Dragon.''
After getting adjusted, he opened his mouth ''I want to contract with one of you.'' Subaru exclaimed.
Hearing this, most of the young spirits got excited. They waited for his choice.
Subaru looked and observed the spirits, 'It was supposed to be easy as Dracul said. So, why the heck I can't choose one?!' He cried out in his mind.
After a few short moments, a spirit caught his eye. It was a very small black orb that didn't stand out from the rest with the exception of its color. Subaru pointed at the spirit with his index finger and said, ''You.'' And he opened his palm for the spirit.
The black spirit gently floated above his palm and tried to speak, ''Wh…at..do you wa..nt me…to do?'' The spirit held a timid voice, but from what Subaru can guess, the reason why it spoke like that was because it was a lesser spirit.
''I want you to be my friend, and protect me. Nothing else.''
''Hum…'' The spirit hummed. ''Ar..e you…sure?''
''Yup.'' He said, popping the 'p'.
''Alri..ght then..you'...ll supply me ma..na and…I'll do my bes..t to protect you.'' The spirit said with a happy undertone.
''I..a lesser spirit…of yi..n swear on od…to protect Natsuki Subaru.''
''Oh, I almost forgot. What's your name?''
''I don't ha..ve one.''
''Do you want me to give you one?'' Hearing the offer the spirit excitedly hummed. ''Your name will be… Nix.''
''Hmm..Ni…x I love..it.''
Subaru turned his head towards the other spirits. ''Sorry for making you guys wait.'' But before he could say goodbye a fire spirit approached him, hastily.
''Me too, I want a contract too.'' The red spirit pleaded.
As for Subaru, he didn't know what to do. He can just reject it but that would be too heartless. So, he decided to seek advice from his teacher.
Dracul let out a chuckle before answering, ''It's your choice Subaru. If you think you can deal with two younglings at the same time, go for it.''
After a short pause, Subaru turned back at the fire spirit. ''Alright then, will you be my friend and protector?''
Spirit excitedly went up and down. ''Yes! As long as I have enough mana I will protect you and be your companion.''
''Do you have a name?''
''Sadly no, but you can name me anything you want. I will cherish it from the bottom of my heart, believe it!''
Subaru brought his hand under his chin. 'What to name you…what to name a fire spirit?'
''Found it! From now on you'll be Anka.''
Small fire spirit let out hums in delight. ''Alright. I, Anka promise to accompany you 'till our contract ends.''
*thud*
''Owwww…what was that?'' Something hard fell on Subaru's head. And when he turned around he saw a small violet stone behind him.
''Draco, what's this?'' He grabbed the stone in his hands and presented it.
''It's a gift from me. When you enter a city, ask someone to make a necklace out of it, a bracelet, or whatever you want. It will help you contain your spirits. Or you can just make a one-time usage spell catalyst. It's up to your choice.''
''A gift for me? I am moved to tears o gracious great spirit.'' Subaru mockingly said as he wiped a nonexistent tear.
''Continue being a good student and you may receive more.'' Dracul ended the sentence with a chuckle.
''Now then, let's go back, shall we?'' A violet-colored portal opened once again and the duo, along with Subaru's new spirits, returned back to their cave.
If there is any grammar etc. mistake let me know and I'll fix them.
Have a better day than me.