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Hayato, after dreaming of his grandpa and remembering his words, had a moment of clarity. With a new approach, he tried the ritual again and finally managed to control the mana. After that, he and the turtle teleported to the nearest town.
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In an instant, we appeared beside a massive rock, a little distance from the town the turtle had mentioned. I stared at it, nervous but excited, my adventure in this new world was finally starting. I couldn't resist and took a step forward.
Hayato:
"Alright, let's go!"
But then I stopped. Looking back, the turtle hadn't moved. There was a faint sadness in its stance. My mind was slow to catch on, but the turtle's words pulled me back.
Turtle:
"I can't go with you... I think this is where our paths split."
Hayato:
"What? Why?"
Turtle:
"Just... look at me. Do you really think I can walk into that town with this huge body? And besides... I'm a boss-level monster. You can guess what would happen if I showed up there."
Suddenly, a deep sadness hit me. I had thought we'd stay together for longer, but in my excitement, I forgot about the turtle's huge size.
Hayato:
"But... isn't there some spell, something to shrink you, or change your shape, anything?"
Turtle:
"No, I don't think so. And if there is, I've never encountered it yet..."
Hayato:
"But there has to be! I'm sure there's a spell out there that can help you. This is a world where magic exists, anything has to be possible!"
For a while, we stayed quiet, both deep in thought. We wanted a solution, but right then, there was nothing we could do. Still, I was set on helping the turtle somehow.
Hayato:
"Alright. I'll go to town, search the library, look at every single book, and even ask all the elders there. I'll find a way. A spell, a technique, a ritual, whatever... You just stay here, okay?"
Filled with a desperate determination, eager to repay the turtle for everything it has done so far, even a little, I took a proud yet humble step toward the town, only for the turtle to grab my collar and pull me back.
Turtle:
"What did you just say? A ritual... yes, there is a way."
Hayato:
"What?! Really?"
Turtle:
"There is an ancient ritual called the soul bond. But..."
Hayato:
"But?"
Turtle:
"Maybe I told you before, maybe not... but for a long time I've been wandering the world, or rather, running."
Hayato:
"Running from what?"
Turtle:
"From the Demon Lord... He wanted my teleportation power and kept sending generals after me to force the ritual. Anyway, it's a long story... but teleportation is one of the rarest magics in the world. You can't just learn it, some magics are too special. The only way to get them is through a soul bond."
Hayato:
"I get it... but where did any of this come from? I don't see how the Demon Lord or your teleport power has anything to do with us."
Turtle:
"Let me... For a soul bond you must give one of your traits to the other. I only have teleportation, and you have nothing else but your human self. If I give you my teleportation, I can technically get your human body."
Hayato:
"Wait a minute! What will happen to me if you take my human body? Do I turn into a turtle this time?"
Turtle:
"No, it doesn't work like that. It's more like sharing, not exchanging... I'd become human like you, and you'd be able to teleport like me. But right now you are..."
Hayato:
"I know, I'm the Demon Lord... Even if I don't want to accept it, he gave me his mana and called me his heir, even if that wasn't his plan. But I'm not him, I haven't been taken over, and you've seen who I am. I don't even need your teleportation... can't we do this without me taking it?"
Turtle:
"No, it can't be one-sided. We don't know if you might get taken over someday. And even if the goddess sent you, we can't forget what happened to the last hero... I just... don't know."
The turtle was right. I wasn't even the goddess's chosen, rather, I was dumb enough to be taken over by the Demon Lord, clueless and barely aware of my own body. I wasn't someone it could truly trust.
Hayato:
"You're right... thinking about it, I'm probably the last person in this world you should trust with this. But we can go to town and find someone else. You only need a human body, you don't have to do it with me, right?"
Turtle:
"Yes, but like I said, I can't just give away such a huge power randomly."
Hayato:
"I see..."
We stood there, completely stuck. No solution, nowhere to go. Silence fell for a while as we both drifted into deep thought.
Hayato:
"But I want to help you. If you weren't there, I'd be lost in the desert or maybe dead... Alright then, let's do this: be my companion. Stay by my side, watch over me, and if I ever misuse your power, stop me."
At last, the turtle seemed better. Its eyes didn't look so hopeless anymore. It seemed ready to agree, but only if we did it the right way. I understood, living alone for centuries in such a huge body wasn't easy. It was a hard, lonely life.
Turtle:
"Alright... I guess we can at least do it this way..."
It carefully cut a bit of its palm with its teeth and held it out to me, signaling I should do the same. I stared, unsure of what to do.
Turtle:
"Come on, this is done with blood. Do the same."
I brought my hand to my mouth and bit it, but it hurt too much, I couldn't do it the way the turtle had, no way. Then I searched the ground for a sharp stone and finally found one. I lightly cut my hand with it.
Hayato:
"Now what?"
Turtle:
"Give me your hand."
I did as it said, and the turtle placed its hand against mine. A flash of light blinded me, and when I opened my eyes, the turtle was gone.