Bonded Summoner

Book 2. Chapter 21: The Second Task

“This isn’t something that must be decided today, but they would like to express their interest. After you’ve reached Highlands and things are stable there, you can give your answers to them. For Fhesiah, Bastet is interested in making you her champion. The daughter of Ra, the Sun god, and Isis, the goddess of Sky. She carries several of their traits, but you’ll find that her virtues match well with yours, and her powers are related to the sun and moon.”

Jake was somewhat surprised at this but felt that with Hestia pointing them out, the match was quite good. Though, he also thought Bloodberri, or at least Berri, would be a good match as well.

“That is true, Jake. Bastet was in fact interested in Bloodberri as well. But another goddess expressed a rare interest, and this was a better fit. Echidna, the mother of monsters.”

Jake’s eyebrows rose at that. While there were certain similarities between the two in terms of Dark Lamia being a race almost designed after the goddess Jake guessed, he couldn’t help but feel that this was odd. Jake had read many stories and played games that included Echidna, and almost always they sided with the bad guys, happily giving birth to vile creatures that would destroy everything.

Hestia laughed a little awkwardly. “Well, that might not be too far from reality, but as I said, it was rare for her to express interest. Often her champions are monsters birthed by her that fight alongside those that fight for the Framework, and they don’t have the level of intelligence that Bloodberri has, at least not until they rise high in Tier. Still, her motivations are genuine in wanting Bloodberri to represent her.

She swore a Framework-enforced Oath that her Tasks would never go against Jake’s party’s or my desires, and this is quite significant: gods or goddesses never like to be bound, let alone to something as open-ended with such low-level beings, seeing it beneath them. I can only see this as an act of good faith on her part, as she had done this before you accepted, so long as you are introduced.

Tasks are the primary means for us to guide you to act on our will. It’s both the carrot and stick rolled into one as it were, as failing a Task does allow us to suspend your powers, among other penalties. We can do that anyway, but that has a Price of its own. Even talking with you has a Price, unless there is a piece of business attached along with it, so without a Task, Echidna would have to be vindictive to make things hard for your family, whether or not you accept, thanks to her Oath now.”

Jake said, “Are we able to meet with them before deciding? While we can learn more about the respective goddesses, it feels like especially with Echidna, the details are lacking to make the right decision…”

“I should be able to set up a meeting with them all, and you can give your answers. We can plan for about a month from now as a tentative time frame. For Ophelia, the goddess interested is Athena. Known as the goddess of wisdom and strategy, she’s also always been known as a great protector, a wielder of Aegis, and was a prolific crafter herself.”

Ophelia responded, “I…but wisdom and strategy? I don’t feel I should draw any attention from them there…”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Ophelia. For a young valkyrie, you very much do. Most valkyries your age would be fighting and fucking through the battle lines of a company of warriors, searching for their Chosen. You had many opportunities for dalliances during training, but had a powerful image in your mind of what you wanted. Your cool mind has given you strength in both love and battle.

Maybe your Chosen has rubbed off on you, but wisdom and strategy gained from others are still your wisdom. You are young, and the experience that brings wisdom and confidence will come in time.”

Jake agreed with Hestia’s assessment, and he did his best to send his feelings to reassure Ophelia over their bond. If Jake was good enough to be a champion, he thought there was no way she wouldn’t be, too. All three, or four, girls were brimming with potential, and they all could defeat champions on their own. With champion powers of their own, their enemies wouldn’t stand a chance.

Ophelia showed a determined look and said, “I’ll think about becoming Athena’s champion. Athena certainly embodies things I would like to become.”

Jake couldn’t help but give a sidelong look at Ophelia and Bloodberri. Athena was a part of the tragic myth that cursed Medusa into a gorgon, and Echidna one of her monstrous siblings or cousins. In Medusa’s story, Athena was the ultimate example of a victim blamer, cursing Medusa into becoming a monster like Echidna for somehow ‘tempting’ Poseidon into raping her.

Hestia laughed again, “You can’t trust the Myths of ancient Earth, Jake. While many may hold a kernel of truth, the tales had been twisted to match the author’s narrative, and many of those tales only barely were passed on properly from generation to generation to begin with.

Doesnt my myth from Earth have me as an eternal virgin? I suppose in a myth where my only choices are siblings, cousins, or something close enough to it, that a super-wife goddess like myself might choose to be forever alone in order to keep their dicks away. But I have many choices in the multiverse, and that ship has already sailed, and I even have sons and daughters of my own.”

Fhesiah interjected, “Daughters, you say?”

There was a bit of mirth in Hestia’s voice, “All happily married, demoness.” Fhesiah tsked, “Back to the topic: Athena, Medusa, and Echidna are only tangentially related to one another, and Medusa and Athena are friends, or at the very least, colleagues, today.”

Jake did his best to pretend to ignore Fhesiah’s outburst, but Jake would have to keep that in mind, from now on. Many of those tales were just outright crazy, the supposed godly beings often acting no better than children, and doing things that were unspeakable.

“We got sidetracked. So, Jake has a total of five divine sparks. You may have noticed, Jake, that while you gained a single spell that was similar to the valkyrie’s class when you received my spark, you really haven’t gained much after that, not even things that can be considered that of a ‘battle master.’ [Divine Reinforcement] is certainly fitting, but all other skills gained have been of the [Summoner] type. This has been by design. I wanted to save space in your template, your soul, for a single more powerful skill. We will enhance this with a Divine Spark, and make it even better.

You thought that you already received your limit of divine sparks, but you could say that this is one of the main reasons why I made you my Champion at level 5. Receiving my spark earlier had slowly improved your vessel, making this option possible, now. This will improve the total amount of God Energy your vessel can handle, as well. It will consume the spark permanently, but I think it is a fair trade.”

Jake had wondered about the battle master skills, noticing that all the skills when he became one were really just upgrades of his previous ones, or merges with him having Hearthfire. He had thought that perhaps the reason he had received nothing was that he already had skills in all the areas, but it appears that wasn’t the case.

He knew that this enhancement of a skill was almost the same as enhancing himself, in terms of pushing him closer to godhood. While it enhanced the skill, it also enhanced his maximum amount of god energy his vessel could withstand, after all.

Jake thought about the Divine Spark and nodded that he thought it was a fair trade, too. If he could get a powerful skill, it would definitely be something that tipped the balance a lot more than several weak skills. While Ophelia received several skills in Tier 0, they nearly all combined into a single skill. He felt he had enough capability to attack weaknesses or fill in gaps using his Runic Magic, let alone using humanoid summons.

A heavenly flame shot out of Hestia’s statue and entered Jake’s hearth in his chest. Jake felt the knowledge of how to cast the spell in his mind and found it to be a new spell type: an Aura.

[Aura of Heavenly Flames]

[Allied entities near the vicinity of the caster will be enhanced by the flames of Hestia. Imbues attacks and abilities with flames of Hestia, and reduces the effectiveness of attacks against those covered by the aura. Concentration spell: consumes mana regeneration to keep active, can increase radius for increasing mana cost per second.]

“You’ll find that this ability will be extremely useful in the conflicts to come. Now, a non-permanent usage of the other Divine Sparks is to add one to your [Refuge]’s hearth; we can keep it there until we find another need for it.”

Another flame shot past them, presumably heading for their hearth. He would have to check the change later.

“The last two, we’ll keep depending on your choices about becoming champions. Bastet and Echidna are not fully able to pay the price.”

Fhesiah said, “Now wait a minute, just what kind of budget goddesses—”

Hestia interrupted, “Now, now, don’t go hurting their feelings. Many of Bastet’s champions are less on the combat side, seeking pleasure and motherhood, and she’s had to make many concessions to keep them protected. While one might assume a Champion should be someone capable of fighting the outsiders, this is not always the case.

Even I have Champions that are little more than heads of their communities, and are really only tasked with protecting it: something they would probably do anyway, if they weren’t even my Champion. Bastet has made less… optimal choices, some because she merely wanted to help, and other times because they were simply the most compatible with her. This affects their ability to hold their God’s energy in the first place, and sometimes this was Bastet’s best way to protect a world, even if in the long run, they were not a brilliant choice for the war.

And Echidna, well… her champions were strong, but they aren’t exactly all intelligent. Jake knows very well that even the strongest of beasts have a counter, and [Tartarus] is very good at finding them. You should see it more like they can’t pay the price while keeping one in reserve, rather than that they can’t afford it. In particular, those that are monstrous are difficult for intelligent races of the framework to recruit, let alone for them to provide faith and worship for their god or goddess. Those that are more monstrous and likely to resonate well and worship her often end up on Tartarus’ side instead. This is a rare opportunity for her to find a Champion for her that could expand her influence.”

That mollified Fhesiah and made Jake feel a bit better about the arrangement. It also showed that these two goddesses likely needed their help in some way, the two prospective Champions already earning their own [Divine Sparks], proving themselves capable. Jake thought he could somewhat understand that Bloodberri might be excellent at winning over monstrous races.

“Moving on. The next piece of business is regarding your destination, [Highlands]. In a mountainous world, the beastkin inhabitants live on the many high-plateaued plains. A mostly tribal culture, many are nomadic and move from plateau to plateau and climb across many mountains in search of greener pastures, depending on their beast parentage. Some freely mix among beast types, while others stay with just their kind.

Most tribes have a focus on family and community, with a focus on strength as their respected virtues. Normally, I would think they would do quite well against [Tartarus], but they have a problem: their uniqueness.

Many inhabitants, not just the beastkin of the world, have a unique organ, an [Auril Heart]. This organ prevents them from learning or using magic but produces a unique energy type called Auril. Other living things that don’t have the same organ still produce or store this unique energy in some way, and Tartarus has taken great interest in beating this [Fringe] world.”

Jake was a little confused about how a unique energy could be a bad thing, but realized that this world would be very different from the contested world they had come from. This world would be like Earth but failed its [Trial] and was forced to become contested, a catastrophic event where otherworldly creatures invaded.

“That’s right, Jake. We gods have failed to otherwise prepare their people for defeating their incursions on their own, and thus the world has become contested. Our ability to influence things there is limited, if you think back to what you received when you were initiated. We tailor some of this for each race and world, but we are limited in how we can really affect things and hope that the Framework’s assistance is enough for newly initiated people.

Part of the issue is their unique energy: Auril. Auril is a combination of life force and a person’s inner spirit, their will, made manifest. Those that have advanced in Auril usage can use this energy to physically enhance themselves, but also manifest their spirit into powerful attacks, and even heal themselves and others, if their Auril is suited for it. Really, the usage of the energy is nigh-limitless, with many of their bestial heritage influencing the energy into many different unique types, or even how the energy generally behaves.”

Jake found this energy to be quite interesting. It sounded a lot like an odd combination of [Chakra] and [Will] that he had read about, tied into a special organ. The aforementioned types did not require a special organ, and were more something that people awakened or built in them.

Hestia continued, “Their problem is twofold. The first is that even awakening this energy type is not something the Framework can really help with, as it has a combination of a physical and spiritual component. Very few beastkin successfully awaken their auril heart, leaving them stuck at level 0. Advancing this energy type is challenging once they’ve awakened as well, and even those that joined the Framework and have it assisting them have had difficulty, with few ever reaching Tier 1 under the Framework’s guidance in the history of their Trial. The second is that among the natives, and even those that reach Tier 1, they have a major weakness that [Tartarus] is more than happy to exploit: range.

At Tier 0, this energy cannot even leave their own bodies without dissipating into their air. Conversely, it makes their bodies nearly impervious to non-auril-enhanced attacks, so their people have avoided ranged combat, seeing it as useless. Even the creatures of this world use this energy, so hunting with ranged attacks feels like a wasted effort.

This doesn’t keep Tartarus from picking magic-using opponents, however, and while Auril provides protection against those attacks, they can be worn down. Their best Tier 1 warriors could add a small amount of range to their abilities, but it was still far too little when they were too few. Advancing their Auril Heart to Tier 1 is just too rare.“

Hestia paused to let the information sink into their minds, and Jake thought he could understand or picture what was going on. [Tartarus] could attack with flying creatures like the wyverns, fast-moving ranged creatures like centaur archers, wolf-riding kobolds, or even mixed forces like the ones they faced in the [Fortress Assault]. The ranged attackers such as the casters or archers would whittle their forces away nearly unanswered.

“Not only that, but many of the Tier 1 Auril users were their tribal leaders. When they died, their tribes were left in disarray, lacking effective leadership. So, this is going to be your challenge, your Task. You must find a way to save these people, this world, and integrate them into [The Framework]. They failed their first Trial, so you must help them succeed in this one. Protect these families, these communities, and become a part of them. Grow your strength, and prepare them to become your strength as well. Remove Tartarus from this world.

You will have to solve those two major problems if you are to have a chance to succeed, all while overcoming the stigma that’s already been created by previous [Framework] adventurers due to the fact that we failed them. Not only that, but you must overcome their traditions, which keep many from considering integration. I believe your party is uniquely suited to help, should you find the answers.”

Jake thought that was quite the tall order. Just how could Jake improve the issues with Auril? He thought that if it was teaching people to be effective mages, he would be well-suited. Despite being a beginner himself, he’d helped Ophelia be better at Runic Magic than full mages in the battlegroup, and Bloodberri was already excelling. He would have to learn more about this Auril. Perhaps enchanting might help?

“That leads us to the last piece of business. I mentioned these people would become your strength. To make that so, you must take on the mantle of leadership and start your guild. Of course, I have many guilds, focusing on my different efforts. I want yours to be about raising warriors to protect the sanctity of the family. To have these beastkin be the backbone of your guild, to spread the Hart family mindset across the Multiverse.”

Jake was now a little confused. Just what was the Hart family mindset?

Hestia’s statue didn’t move, but each of them could feel her focus on them when she was talking about them. She started with Jake. “To prepare. To improve oneself and never stop, to make sure that all sacrifices are made in training and preparation, not in battle. To have the resolve to take the risks one needs to take to stand up for their family or others.”

Hestia then focused on Ophelia, “To protect. To use one’s strength and wisdom to protect the ones you love, and those that can’t protect themselves.”

There was now mirth in Hestia’s voice as she spoke of Fhesiah, “To enjoy. All work and no play makes one’s life dull and hardly worth living and fighting for, after all. To have the cunning needed to make your desires reality, without giving up anything.”

Hestia then focused on Bloodberri, but Berri interrupted, “To make babies!”

Everyone laughed, including Hestia, but Hestia continued, “To love. Opening one’s heart to love can be one’s greatest strength, or greatest weakness. Love is kind, and love is good. It’s what holds families and communities together, and it’s what’s needed to defeat the outsiders. Only by caring for others and helping even when there is less profit in it for yourself, can we ever hope to beat Tartarus.”

Jake had a hard time imagining anyone being against these tenets, but perhaps as far as a focus of a guild, it might be a little different. They would have to make a guild that somehow embodied these tenets. Most guilds likely fought the war like a business or military organization, focusing either on the benefits or winning the war rather than individual battles. Individuals would join for how the guild would benefit them, and not really see it as a lifestyle perhaps.

Not only that, but it was easy to see Credits and CP as a measurement of success, but Jake sort of likened it to how easy people got distracted in online games. How in first person shooters, people would rather collect kills rather than capture objectives. The Initiated would flock to earning CP, even if it might ultimately mean an objective is lost. If that was the case, why doesn’t the Framework simply reward them for everything?

“That’s right, Jake. Most join guilds and act as mercenaries, seeking Credits and CP. The answer to your question is that the Framework is not allowed to reward for things other than what it has negotiated with Tartarus. Tartarus will allow rewards for behaviors that it can steer a narrative in its manipulations. For example, it can spawn many of the higher-level Rifts into an area, forcing all the higher-level adventurers there seeking the rewards, while it uses lower-level ones to be ignored by those same adventurers. If there are not enough low-level Adventurers, eventually it might sneak in an assault and conquer a village. The Alliance HQ’s do their best to curb this behavior, but it is not always successful.

This is why I want you to run your guild like a large family or tribe, and ultimately, a multiversal community. You will start with Highlands, and they will spread to the multiverse, a guild that is respected and desired by many, and feared by [Tartarus].”

Jake nodded his head and started to get a little excited at the idea. A guild full of people with Jake’s mindset could do a lot of good. He could do a lot of things to make sure they were successful, and–

Fhesiah snorted, “Didn’t Hestia say they would be your strength, not you, theirs? Still, you got a lot on your plate. Let’s focus on what’s in front of us first. The goddess is still here, after all.”josei

Hestia laughed, “That’s right, Jake. So, with that, I’ll take my leave. Create your guild once you’ve chosen the name using the menu, spending the required CP. Prepare for your arrival, and do not dally. I know Jake would probably like to make a stop for a date, but I’m sure you remember the Apophis champion’s last words, Jake. [Tartarus] knows you are coming to stop it, and it is doing everything it can to make your struggle an uphill one.

I promise you’ll have some time for enjoyment not too long after arrival, so train, prepare, and get some rest, too. I’m sure you’ll manage to find some enjoyment even from your Refuge. Take care, Hart family. Once again, you make me proud of my choices, and I look forward to you completing your second Task and establishing your family and guild within the Multiverse.”

Her spirit left the statue, and Jake thought about all the things he needed to do. Shopping, enchanting, and training for himself and the girls. For the guild, there was planning skills, equipment, enchantments, training, strategy, consumables, crafting and other preparations. There was also how to help save the beastkin–

Fhesiah started tugging Jake out of the shrine.

“Didn’t you hear the goddess? It’s time to celebrate! Most of the guild stuff will wait until we’re about to arrive too, got it? We will have time to plan later. We won’t be able to devise a plan to help the beastkin until we see their situation, so what use is it worrying about? Focus on improving ourselves and relaxing, is what the goddess said, isn’t it?”

Jake sighed, but he knew she was right. Bloodberri surrounded Jake in her wonderful hug, and Ophelia joined too.

Ophelia said, “We’ll work together on it, Jake; you don’t have to take this burden on alone. For now, Fhesiah is right. I think we should enjoy ourselves.”

“Now come on! Ophelia and I are worked up, and I know Bloodberri is so hungry she could eat a bird!”

Bloodberri looked embarrassed and ashamed, and Fhesiah grinned as her tease was successful, but realized that it might have gone a bit too far, as there were now tears forming in her eyes. “Er, I’m sorry, Berri. I didn’t know bringing it up would bother you so much, or I wouldn’t have said it. I didn’t mean anything by it…”

Jake sighed. He knew it was only a matter of time before she hurt someone’s feelings, with her endless teasing and embarrassing others. Berri was now wiping away her tears, looking hurt. She mumbled something that even Fhesiah couldn’t hear. “What was that?” she moved closer, trying to hear.

Faster than Jake could see, Blood’s tail wrapped around Fhesiah, restricting her. “I said I got you!” she laughed, “Here’s what you get for hurting Berri’s feelings!” Jake realized it was clearly Blood speaking, her thoughts reconnecting with him now that her trick was completed. She pulled Fhesiah out of the shrine and into their living room, and began spinning her around as she fought against the bindings ineffectually. Jake couldn’t help but be reminded of seeing how astronauts trained for withstanding higher G-forces. Bloodberri was in the center, and her tail spun Fhesiah in a circle around her repeatedly.

Now that Jake could hear Blood’s thoughts, he wasn’t nearly as worried as he was the first time. She spun her around the room over and over, and just before things got dangerous from the amount of speed of the spinning of the snake's body and demoness, she stopped and set Fhesiah down. She was so dizzy, that she fell over and struggled to get up.

Berri laughed, “She looks so silly! You really got her good, sister!”

Jake and Ophelia looked on in amusement. The punishment really fit the crime, as Berri was a little hurt at bringing up the bird, though he could tell her sister Blood told her to play it up a bit. He could tell she wanted to fit in among her new ‘sisters,’ and was going to work hard at it, along with trying to understand and care about others. Jake still had to wonder about Echidna and how things would play out regarding Bloodberri and her monstrous nature, however.

Still, Jake had a lot to look forward to. They will do their best to enjoy themselves over the coming days.