Amanises stood before her vanity in a pious manner while clutching a charm.
"Mr Fool, I wish that you oversee this Spirit World summoning and contract."
Before she could react, her vision had already been engulfed by red light and her ears by hushed, layered whispers.
Back above the gray fog, in the palace that seemed to belong to giants, Death Amanises sat in her designated seat at the long bronze mottled table which was imbedded with strange symbols and patterns.
Her gaze switched to the seat of honor, then lowered it in reverence.
"Good evening, Mr Fool."
The Fool switched his hand and smiled. "Good evening, Miss Death. What sort of contract do you wish to make?"
So you're not listening to me 24/7? She was slightly surprised as her eyes widened a little.
"I wish to acquire a Storage Spirit to store my Sealed Artifact."
The Fool nodded back. "Alright then, is that all?"
Amanises began contemplating something which had been on her mind for a long time. "I also wished to have a messenger. How many contracts can I have?"
Although there are many ways for her to contact someone and vice versa, not having a personal messenger made her feel poor.
"For your pathway and Sequence, three is the maximum you can hold."
That's a lot more than I thought...
"Should I also seek a messenger? But I only have one contract...
"I would feel bad asking for another one." She was too lazy to blow the whistle, wait, write, wait for the response and then make the journey back to Mr Azik's apartment.
And I'm also self-conscious. What if he thinks I'm nagging?
The Fool's smile didn't drop as he proposed a solution. "You needn't worry about that. I can make you a similar contract for your messenger."
Amanises was delighted to hear that. She didn't know which type of contract Mr Fool could make. Is He also tied to the Underworld like Azik? Or perhaps a God has a personal type of contract.
Either way, she wouldn't mind His intervention as long as there wasn't any danger involved.
But there was a tiny problem.
"Mr Fool, I'm only aware of the Storage Spirit incantation and sadly nothing regarding a messenger. Do you know of one that would fit me?"
She knew that different Spirit World creatures had their own summoning incantation, and that to call upon them one needed to know of it first.
The Fool appeared to be in thought for a second, before replying, "There are numerous Spirit World creatures, but only few fit the criteria for a messenger.
"A messenger needs to be fast. To send and receive a letter instantly, otherwise having one would be useless...
"You can use a vague description, for example:
"The spirit that wanders about the unfounded
"The fast or quick roaming creature.
"This one can be modified based on what characteristics you want your messenger to possess. And lastly:
"The creatures that wishes to be my messenger."
He stopped letting her memorize the incantation.
"The last one is very important as it could minimize the danger level a lot."
Amanises kept the lines in her mind, wondering about which characteristics should be fit for the second one.
Yes, a fast or quick messenger works, but I also want a strong one. What if my messenger gets caught by someone on the way?
Well, if it's fast enough it might be able to run it over...
As if reading her mind, Mr Fool spoke once again, "That is if you want to search for one yourself which is my recommendation.
"In most cases, if a spirit truly wishes to be your messenger then it must have a purpose that fits you specifically.
"When making a contract with a Spirit World Creature be prepared to witness all kinds of requirements. From simple money, to a leg or an arm."
Amanises was surprised. "They can ask for that?"
The Fool nodded. "Spirits are sly creatures. They can have requests that you will never be able to pay off. I recommend that you truly think over the contract, at least thrice."
She suddenly remembered the old saying on earth: One must think three times before speaking.
She couldn't help but agree.
"If you witness the contract and summoning ritual, is there any danger?"
The Fool tilted His head. "Directly—no. As long as I watch over you and you use my name as witness then no Spirit World Creature will be able to hurt you.
"However, don't think that absolutely everything is safe.
"Once the contract is signed, you have to fulfill the other's terms without refusal. Otherwise punishment worse than death may happen."
Punishment?
"I think you know how powerful contracts truly are." The Fool continued as if reading her mind.
Indeed. The only way to truly sign a deal on Earth was through a clear contract. By having a signature and terms, there's no denial about what happens.
She was far too aware how much power such a contract can hold.
"Mr Fool, I am ready to conduct the ritual." She spoke firmly.
The Fool agreed to her statement. "Do the Storage one first. Don't wait until the Underworld contract loses its value."
As he finished the last sentence, Amanises was surrounded by a falling sensation, as she fell back into the real world.
It was already nighttime, and she could feel the abundant spirituality as well as increased strength from Nocturnality.
This small enhancement wouldn't be able to protect me from everything...
As she prepared the necessary materials for the simple ritual, Amanises chanted a small poem for help.
"Oh great River of Souls,
"Grant me your blessings, grant me your grace
"Grant me the power to be one with the dead
"Let me be full of their eternal embrace."
As the last word rolled on her tongue, she felt her own spirituality spike up and become even more potent and slowly seep into the surroundings, turning the candlelight dim and the shadows deep.
She could feel it, she could feel the spirits watching her every move with their curious eyes.
They were far, but they were many.
Could Captain also be watching...?
She stopped for a second and then looked around.
Fortunately, none of the nearby spirits has the dark but powerful aura of her Captain, which only his spirits possessed.
It's safe.
Amanises made the altar on her cleaned study desk by placing a candle in the middle.
She created a wall of spirituality using a silver dagger and began the ritual.
She began in Ancient Hermes,
"I"
Then she switched to Hermes,
"I summon in my name,
"The spirit that roams the Spirit World,
"The one who's mouth could fit one whole,
"The Spatial Storage Spirit!"
As she said the last line, a gust of wind blew inside the wall of spirituality.
Whoosh!
Before her, whips of ethereal matter parted to make way for the creature.
Amanises took in its appearance, as she didn't when Daly would summon it since back then, her spirituality wasn't so strong.
Bit by bit, a head started squeezing out, as if it was struggling to squeeze in from a narrow hole.
In the flash of a second, the spirit was now before the woman, smiling with a row of exposed sharp teeth.
"Hello!"
It greeted her in a squeaky voice, using Ancient Feysac. It was as if a gnome was trying to get her to notice it from the ground between the blades of grass.
Just like she knew of it, the spirit was one regular sized clear ball with a huge mouth that could only smile.
The Spirit didn't have any other notable features than that as it lacked any eyes.
It looks sort of—cute?
She couldn't describe the feeling, but the spirit felt incredibly cute and squishy.
"Do you want to make a contract with me?"
Those words broke Amanises' thoughts as she took out the Underworld contract.
"Yes, that's right. What is your request?"
The creature appeared to be thinking for a second, tilting its huge mouth to the side which looked as if it also tilted the whole body.
"I want a handful of copper pennies to swallow once a week."
A handful of pennies? Hmmm...
"A handful you say? If I feed you a number of 36 copper pennies, would that suffice?"
That was around 3 soli.
"Hmmmm, okay!"
The spirit turned its mouth to the contract and spat on it.
Its saliva splashed right over where its signature was needed, fulfilling the requirement with a sticky, gooey substance that looked radioactive due to its light glow.
"I will be by your side the moment you call for me. You can just think of me really hard and reach out with your hand. I'll swallow it and give you a way into my stomach."
"How nice!" Amanises said as she wrote her name on her side of the Underworld contract.
Once it was written, she felt the mystical connection be formed between them.
By thinking really hard of it, it means just calling out its name in my mind. Wait—
"Do you have a name?"
The spirit seemed dazed as it rolled around, but it quickly regained some sort of clarity.
"Bubble!"
As is said, the spirit creature retreated back into the Spirit World with a small sound that imitated one wiping their hand off of a piece of glass and then popping a balloon made of soap.
"If only all Spirit World creatures were like you." She sighed as she lit the candle one more time.
The rituals may drain her a little, but not enough to request a pause due to Nocturnality and the poem.
She began in Ancient Hermes,
"I"
Then she switched back to Hermes,
"I summon in my name,"
"The Spirit that wonders about the unfounded,
"The one who suppresses the other spirits while being faster than anyone,
"The creature that wishes to become my messenger!"
As she finished the last line, Amanises suddenly felt a chill on her back causing her to break into a cold sweat.
The rest of the spirits that were watching her retreated in an instant as a figure started materializing from the altar.
Instinctively, Amanises stepped back, letting the creature fully manifest.
Whoosh!
Her heart stilled completely, as if she died on the spot.
From the altar, a faint figure could be seen, slowly taking the form which resembled a human.
It wore a dark long robe with muted golden embroidery that formed mysterious patterns, symbols and eyes along the seams and edges, giving it a ceremonial yet regal feel.
The fabric looked heavy but smooth as if made from the most expensive materials that no earthlings could touch.
The patterns could shift if one stared at them for too long, giving the feeling that they shouldn't be observed by the human eye.
As the figure fully materialized, Amanises could see its head.
Long, flowing white hair that looked both aged and young, with gold accessories from head to toe.
Ashen dark skin that looked completely desaturated under the dim light but would find its color again from another angle as if shadows clung to the figure while seeking their mother.
Her face was thin but angular, due to the dead skin her jaw bones seemed protruding, as if one was looking at a dead corpse that had been dried out away from the sun.
Dead eyes that gave no stare, and that looked at everything as if it were a mere insignificant thing.
Eyes that looked at Gods as if they were rats.
The figure fully materialized, and the only description Amanises could think of was—dead woman.
She was a dead woman.
Her gray eyes swept over Amanises, running shivers down her back again.
"D-do you wish to be my messenger?" She asked, tentatively—keeping Mr Fool's words in mind.
It's safe but I can't say that about the requirements…
The ashen woman's eyes switched to Amanises' own, then she nodded.
Amanises wasn't about to take any risks as she used her voice with caution, fearful of the figure.
"What do you wish for?"
Before she could expect it, the woman's bony hand cupped her jaw and closed the distance.
Her rugged voice rang out, as if she hadn't spoken a word in a long time.
"That your soul will end up in the Underworld after your imminent death."
She let the sentence drill itself into the scared woman's head.
Imminent—I'm going to die. She easily came to terms with that fact, as if it was written on the Blasphemy Slate itself.
The Underworld? I've only heard that it exists today and you want me to end up there???
Judging by her words, not every soul will end up in the Underworld after death.
It's either this or the River. What could be the better option...?
She gave the request a long thought.
Could this Spirit want to become my messenger just to send me to the Underworld?
Amanises couldn't really evaluate its strength, but she could feel its frightful aura. No Spirit, no matter how strong or confident it was—would ever approach it.
Such a messenger would make everyone bow down to me! She allowed herself to entertain such a thought for only a second.
Amanises soon felt the bony hand retract under the dead woman's sleeve.
"Why the Underworld?" She tried to ask but the spirit never answered back, only staring at her with its lifeless eyes.
With a sigh, Amanises looked above at her roof, as if she could gaze back at the God who sat concealed by the gray fog.
Not feeling anything back, Amanises took the contract prepared by Mr Fool.
"Oh, mysterious ruler above the gray fog,
"Please oversee this contract."
After hearing the existence's stanza, the spirit didn't retreat, as if she knew what she was getting into from the very beginning. Well, if such a powerful Spirit wanted to be her messenger, then it shouldn't fear the other mighty existence.
Amanises watched as the contract for the messenger wrote her requirements in mystical ink that shone under the faint moonlight.
She then pointed to the bottom where two thin lines were drawn, and then moved her finger to the left line. "Here, your signature."
The dead woman wrote with golden ink that dripped from a manifested white feather.
"Sia Palenque Eggers."
Eggers?!
She was so surprised that she stopped her own signature, but it was already completed by itself, and then turned to the spirit and spoke in a trembling voice.
"Uhm—do you know of any other Eggers?"
Sia Palenque Eggers looked at her with her sunken, dull eyes, "The Eggers family is very known and wide. There are numerous like us."
As she finished her statement, the woman retreated back into the Spirit World without any other word to add on.