As soon as the words appeared in his vision, a golden ripple shot forward from Zen's outstretched finger and struck the beast between its eyes.
The creature froze.
Its six eyes opened wide. The fierce look on its face disappeared, replaced by what seemed like... bliss. It made a sound, like a high-pitched whine, and its whole body trembled.
Then it bolted towards the rubble.
The creature jumped at the pile fast like its life depended on it, scratching and breaking the stones. Its tail wagged so strongly it made cracks on the floor. In no time, the doorway was clear.
Then it looked up at Zen, panting, eyes filled with devotion as it lowered its head to the ground.
Zen stared. "What... did I just do?"
The beast whimpered, shuffling closer on its belly.
"No," Zen said, stepping back. "Stay back."
The beast froze like someone had hit its off switch.
Zen blinked. Then he looked down at his hand. "Okay. That's new."
[Bond Established: Territorial Guardian]
[New Tool Acquired]
"Tool?" Zen frowned at the notification. "I didn't want a pet. I wanted a towel."
The beast whined again, desperate for approval.
"Fine. Stay here. Guard the…" he looked around. "Just stay here and don't follow me." Zen pointed at the floor. "Understood?"
The creature's tail thumped once against the ground.
Zen walked out into the rain without looking back.
The storm didn't let up. The forest was too dark to see much, and the mud was ruining what was left of his shoes. But through the trees, Zen saw an orange light ahead, flickering up at the clouds.
"Civilization," he muttered. "Hopefully a bed and a hot meal. Maybe a functioning door."
He walked for twenty minutes. The strange sounds of the forest: growls, rustling, things with too many legs kept their distance. Every predator that got close took one look at him and bolted in the opposite direction.
Zen didn't notice. He was too busy thinking about what kind of food he might find.
Then he smelled smoke.
He stopped at the tree line and looked down the hill.
The light he had seen was from the town below, which was on fire.
Bandits on horseback were riding through the streets with torches in hand. Thatched roofs went up in flames. People screamed, guards fought back, but they were outnumbered.
Zen frowned. "When I thought I'd finally rest." He said as he turned to his left. "Other people's issue? Absolutely not my problem."
He'd barely taken two steps when someone crashed into him.
She burst out of the bushes at full speed, looking back over her shoulder, and crashed right into Zen's chest. The impact knocked the breath out of her, and she fell backwards into the mud.
Zen looked down.
She looked young, probably around nineteen. She wore leather armour that was torn at the shoulder and stained with blood. Her silver hair was stuck to her face.
In one shaking hand, she held a broken sword hilt. When she saw him, her violet eyes widened in fear, as if she thought he was another enemy.
"Please," she gasped, trying to crawl backwards. "Don't…"
Three bandits burst through the trees behind her, grinning with their weapons drawn. "Nowhere left to run, little knight," the leader said, spinning a blade.
Zen looked at the bandits, then at the girl, then at the mud now smeared across his shirt.
'Why,' he thought, 'can't I just die in peace?'
He reached down, not to help her, but to move her out of his way so he could leave. His hand brushed her bare arm and he felt a spark.
[Contact Initiated.]
[Candidate Found: High Aptitude.]
[Scanning...]
The girl gasped, and her back arched. The pain in her shoulder vanished, replaced by warmth and clarity. She looked up at Zen, and her pupils dilated. The fear in her expression evaporated.
In its place was something intense… something fanatic.
[Bond Established: The Vanguard.]
[New Tool Acquired.]
Zen stared at the notification. "Tool? I still just want a towel."
The girl rose to her feet, no longer shaking. She turned toward the bandits, and her broken sword began to glow. "Now, where were we?" she asked with a smirk.
Zen ignored her dramatic pose. He looked at the three bandits who were now hesitating, confused by the sudden change in atmosphere.
He looked past her at the three bandits, who were now backing up slightly, clearly confused by the sudden shift in atmosphere.
"I don't know what's going on here, and I don't care," Zen said flatly. "Just move aside and let me leave."
He didn't mean 'die'. He didn't mean 'flee in terror'. He literally just meant: 'step to the left so I can walk past you.'
But the girl didn't hear that.
Through the filter of the Bond, Zen's voice was like a divine command. "The Sovereign demands the path be cleared. The filth must be purged."
"Understood, Master," she said devotedly. "No obstacle shall remain."
She moved, and it was like a blur, a motion that shouldn't have been possible. The broken hilt in her hand extended into a blade, glowing with golden energy.
Slash. The first bandit's sword, and the arm holding it hit the mud.
Thrust. The second bandit launched backwards into a tree like he'd been fired from a cannon.
Impact. The leader tried to run, but she was already there, slamming the hilt of her sword into his chest. His armour crumpled like foil.
Three seconds. That's all it took.
The girl stood among the groaning men, breathing heavily, her skin shining softly with a golden glow. She turned to Zen, dropped to one knee, and pressed her forehead into the mud.
"The path is clear, My Lord," she said with relief. "I await your next command."
Zen stared at the carnage, then at her, rhen back at the carnage. "What," he said slowly, "just happened?"
She looked up at him with adoration in her eyes.
"You didn't have to hit them that hard," Zen continued, looking baffled. "That looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen. And why are you calling me 'Master'? I don't even know you."
The girl blinked, confused by his confusion. "You... commanded me, My Lord. I obeyed."
"I asked you to move." Zen gestured vaguely at the unconscious bandits. "This is not moving. This is assault."
"I…" She looked uncertain for the first time. "I will do better next time?"
"There's not going to be a next time." Zen stepped around the bodies, careful not to get more mud on his pants. "Look, just point me toward the nearest inn. One with hot water, and preferably no fires or screaming. Can you do that?"
The girl's eyes went wide as she listened to his request. "The Sovereign seeks a base of operations, a fortress to plan his conquest."
"Yes!" She scrambled to her feet, practically vibrating. "I know the perfect place! It's fortified, defensible, worthy of your presence!"
"Does it have a bath?"
"It has... water!" she confirmed enthusiastically.
Zen sighed. "Good enough. Lead the way. And stop kneeling. It's weird."