CHAPTER 9

"DID YOU PURCHASE NEW sets of dresses today?" The duke asked.

We were in the middle of enjoying our wonderful dinner in silence when the duke suddenly shot me a question. Luckily, I bought the dresses from her boutique.

I smiled at him after taking a sip of my grape juice. "I did, your grace, but I bought them from a different boutique. I placed the request to pick them up earlier. I'm just not sure if the head butler listened to it," I answered.

"It's quite a lucky day that you didn't bring another stranger as your servant," Caspian said in a sarcastic manner. The duke cleared his throat as he looked at his son.

And I only focused back on the food served for me, instead of looking at him. "I think I'm hearing some things, your grace. Should we file a request to the head priest to bless the estate?" I suggested while I cut the meat on my plate.

Caspian wanted to throw another rebuttal, but Eclipse shook his head to stop him. It suddenly made me wonder if they're going for a different approach this time.

Or maybe the god of peace bestowed a blessing on us that he allowed us to end the meal in a peaceful manner.

I excused myself as soon as the duke stood from his seat. Even if tonight's been peaceful, I still don't plan to stay alone in the same room with those jerks.

Other than the meal tonight, I noticed that the atmosphere from the servants seemed to change. They would usually scurry away whenever they see even the slightest of my shadows, but now they would stop what they were doing to greet me.

This is making me a little uneasy.

"I deeply apologize for my impertinent behavior. I admit that I doubted my lady's way of treating me, but right now, I assure you that there's nothing holding me back. I swear my utmost loyalty to only you, Lady Elisse."

I stopped brushing my hair halfway when Marina suddenly kneeled in front of me.

Is this the outcome of the few hours you took to sulk in your new quarters, Marina? And I thought it would only be her, but Scarlet did the same thing.

"I, too, offer my utmost loyalty to you, and only you, Lady Elisse. I promise to serve my lady with everything I have."

I wasn't sure what had gotten into them to suddenly act this way, but I guess I should be grateful to have at least two people to serve me.

I placed my hair brush down and turned to face them. "Then I shall reward both of you handsomely with the loyalty you swore upon me," I said.

Marina helped me change into my night dress while Scarlet brought the stuff we got from the shop to my room.

"Clear my wardrobe tomorrow and hang the new ones I bought once they arrive. You can rest for the day," I dismissed them.

"Yes, my lady," they answered in unison then left my room.

I called Pandora and Aster as soon as they left. The fox I picked up at the garden became my secret pet. But I only took him because Pandora vouched that he wanted me to adopt him.

I spent the remaining hours playing around with Aster while we waited for the right time to perform the second summoning. Pandora only watched us while he lay comfortably on my bed.

"Pandora, do you have any suggestions on how I can draw the summoning circle in my room without carving on the floor?" I asked, shifting my gaze on him.

Aster climbed down from the couch where we sat then he ran towards the huge window of my room. I sighed. It's still raining, and surely, I wouldn't be able to perform this outside.

"You can use the mana potion as your ink then you can draw it on the floor instead. It will disappear as soon as the pact has been made," Pandora answered.

I pouted as I picked up the bag sitting on the corner of the bed. I rummaged on the stuff I bought then quickly grabbed two bottles of the mana potion.

It was already time to perform the summoning. Without asking him further, I started by folding the huge carpet placed on my floor. Then I proceeded to draw the summoning circle on my bedroom floor using the old makeup brushes I had kept before.

This summoning circle was a little different and a little less complicated than the one I used to summon Pandora, so I was able to draw it faster.

I was ready for the next step when Pandora asked a reasonable question.

"By the way master, you're aware that the spirit you might summon might be older than me, right?"

Right, I should have asked him more about it earlier.

"Well, I didn't know that. It only said that it was an ancient summoning circle for spirits. And you should have told me valuable information like this, you punk," I sneered at him.

"My apologies, master. I assumed that you knew about it."

I clicked my tongue. "I've already drawn the circle, anyway. I might as well try it."

I stood in the middle of the circle, like what the book said. And instead of cutting the skin on my palm again, I resorted to biting my thumb harshly.

I yelped as the pain stung my skin. It wasn't a big wound, but it was stingy. I let a few of my blood drop in the middle of the circle then I recited the same incantation spell.

"Oh, great spirits, I offer my blood and power to you. Come to me at once and help this humble soul."

I abruptly covered my eyes as a blinding light appeared in front of me, and like what happened before, a heavy energy surrounded me.

"A name. Bless me a name." The voice of the spirit was like a wave of thunderstorms filling my head.

I removed the hands covering my eyes and I was beyond surprised to see the spirit I had summoned. It was dark in color and glowed in the darkest shade of red.

Almost resembling the color of my mana.

"Are you, perhaps, an evil spirit?" I inquired.

I wanted to confirm first, but somehow, I was sure it was not since Pandora was just standing on my bed, watching me along with Aster. I'm pretty sure he'll react instantly if the spirit was an evil one.

"I'm neither good nor evil. I am the Primordial Spirit of Nothingness that only follows my master's will."

I glanced at Pandora again. He looked amused with the spirit I had summoned. But Primordial? Is this spirit much older than Pandora? Or are they the same in ancient lengths?

"Will you give me a name now?" And the spirit has some stinky attitude.

I sneered at him. "I hereby grant you the name Ebony." That was the name of my first rabbit toy. My black rabbit toy.

It seemed like the spirit chuckled upon hearing the name I bestowed him. But the name's cool though!

"And you are?"

"Elisse Eveningstar."

"Elisse Eveningstar," the spirit repeated, then a heavy energy surrounded my body. "I will serve you as my master until the day you pass." A strange burning sensation filled my arm as the spirit spoke.

It wasn't too painful like when Pandora's pact bloomed on my back. However, this feels like a heavy energy engulfing the whole part of my arm.

"Does this always have to hurt?" I mumbled breathlessly.

The burning sensation soon disappeared, and the heavy energy that consumed my arm calmed down, as if it was absorbed by my body.

I panted heavily as I fell on my knees. It created a loud thud, but I felt too dizzy to think about the noise it created. I was trying to calm myself when I heard someone knocking on my door.

"Hey, Elisse! Are you alright?" It was Caspian. He sounded annoyed and worried for some reason.

"Pandora, clean this up," I whispered, pointing at the empty bottles scattered on the floor.

But instead of him, my shadow extended and covered the entire floor, cleaning it with the empty bottles. I blinked as I watched it revert to its normal appearance.

"The new spirit did my task. How annoying. Call me again, master," Pandora growled before disappearing into thin air.

The knock on my door was getting louder that I couldn't call for the spirit I just summoned. I must take care of this guy first.

"Yes, young master? Do you need anything?" I asked upon opening the door.

He looked astounded when he saw me. He must've noticed the small drops of sweat on my face and neck.

"What are you doing? What was that noise?" He asked and he sounded frantic. "And why are you sweating?"

I sighed heavily as I unconsciously massaged my temples. His voice rings in my head.

"I had a nightmare, and I couldn't sleep properly because of it. Do you need anything else, young master?" I really feel dizzy. I want to lie down now.

"N-No. Make sure to drink enough water before you sleep." I couldn't see his face properly because my vision was starting to get blurry.

I only nodded my head and bowed silently. I didn't bother looking back at him and just closed the door. I don't wish to faint for the second time after summoning a spirit.

I made a leap towards my bed, and I felt a little relieved when I finally had the chance to lie down. I'll just apologize for my rude behavior tomorrow.

For now, I should talk to this spirit. I wonder if it got absorbed inside of me.

"Ebony. Where are you?" I asked softly as I carefully slipped under the blanket.

My shadow, like what happened earlier, extended towards me.

"I'm inside the master's shadow. I am unable to create any physical form right now, but I can inhabit anything that came from the darkness, like your shadow."

"That's really cool, and somehow inconvenient at the same time."

"I guess it is. Without a physical form, the only way I can exist in the human realm is by entering someone else's shadow, or an empty shell."

"But will I lose mana when you stay in my shadow?"

"You won't, master. I'm a spirit that doesn't need a lot of mana, unlike mystical beasts. But master, you should sleep for now. Your energy is deteriorating."

His voice sounded soothing, like Pandora's. Just a while ago, he sounded ominous, like an evil spirit. But I guess he's right. I should sleep.

My eyelids feel heavy, and I couldn't help but close my eyes, finally succumbing to sleep. I have tons of questions, just like with Pandora. But maybe I could ask those some other time.