NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 72 - The Porting Spirit Lugus-Artaios
Upon hearing Hildegard’s interpretation of the engraved inscription, Sophia’s party collectively turned their gazes toward Conra as if on cue.
“Hoho, the ‘heroic egg’, is it?”
Sophia regarded the boy with an inscrutable, serene smile tinged with unmistakable fondness. Unable to withstand that peculiar, lukewarm stare, Conra attempted shifting away – only to encounter other scrutinizing eyes.
“Indeed, as Lady Chazelle’s sole formal disciple, the young squire certainly qualifies as a ‘heroic egg’ worthy of such an appellation.”
Ezio nodded appreciatively with a solemn expression. Fidgeting under their intense focus, Conra turned the opposite direction, meeting Hildegard’s gaze as she affectionately ruffled his hair while beaming maternally.
“Aw, our Conra truly is something special! That divine spirit’s daughter directly manifesting before you signifies her acknowledging you as that heroic egg! She clearly possesses quite the discerning eye!”
“Uwaaah, stop that!”
Rather than deterring her, Conra’s protests only prompted Hildegard to ruffle his hair more vigorously in amusement. Only after employing Sophia’s taught evasion techniques could the flustered, tousle-haired boy finally break free to straighten himself while Sophia examined the stone coffer’s surface before remarking:
“This coffer does indeed seem designed to only open for Conra.”
Sophia had detected some form of resonant energy permeating the coffer’s structure, coalesced in a binding seal to prevent any external forces from prying it open. This energy only reacted subtly upon Conra’s proximity.
‘So forcibly opening it would prove trivial. But I would never resort to such ungracious measures.’
This represented a destined encounter arranged for Conra’s sake. Arbitrarily interfering as his mentor would reflect poorly upon her. At least Sophia sensed the coffer’s contents harbored no malicious intent toward the boy – a conviction stemming from her heightened intuition since manifesting her primordial spirit.
Of course, even if that instinct somehow proved mistaken and something harmful emerged, she would simply intervene to safeguard her disciple – a capability well within her prowess. An honest assessment devoid of arrogance.
“Conra. Enough dallying – why not approach and open that coffer?”
“Oh, yes!”
Responding to Sophia’s prompting, Conra immediately complied, his proximity triggering a resonant reaction within the coffer that Sophia’s azure-flickering eyes instantly detected.
‘I see, that’s how it functions.’
Grasping the mechanism’s principles as Conra opened the lid, he retrieved the coffer’s contents while Ezio and Hildegard leaned in curiously. The object Conra now held prompted their dual exclamations:
“This is……”
“A spearhead.”
Fashioned from what appeared to be bronze, the ancient spearhead had lost its original golden luster – exhibiting the characteristic bluish-green patina of aged bronze artifacts. Yet the intricate silver inlaid designs adorning that azure blade radiated an eerily sublime, mysterious beauty.
“Could this be the very spearhead Ogmios himself wielded before ascending to deific status…!”
As an incurable mythology enthusiast among their clerical ranks, Hildegard goggled raptly at the bronze spearhead clutched in Conra’s grasp – regarding it with the reverence usually reserved for fine art. Presenting it closer at her entranced beckoning only deepened her elated grin until it stretched ear-to-ear.
“So then, what do you intend doing with this relic henceforth?”
“Well, first I should probably have it appraised by a weaponsmith to determine its functional viability. Even an ancient spiritual or heroic heirloom like this requires cautious handling if we wish to avoid accidentally damaging such an archaic bronze artifact during actual combat applications.”
“Hmm. That may not prove necessary.”
“Huh?”
{Conra, channel your inner force into that spearhead.}
The Sovereign Spirit Esras-Hermes, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
“Huh? My inner force?”
{Indeed. That spearhead likely harbors a porting spirit within.}
Conra started at Esras-Hermes’ abrupt proclamation.
“A porting spirit within this…! Well, I suppose if it belonged to a heroic deity during his mortal existence, that would make sense.”
{Exactly. So channel your inner force, life essence or kundalini into it.}
Folding her arms as she observed, Sophia encouraged Conra:
“Follow the Sovereign Spirit’s advice. Have you ever experienced any detriment from heeding such counsel previously?”
“If you recommend it, Master.”
Finally acquiescing at Sophia’s reassurance, Conra focused his druidic, alchemical and runic inner forces alongside the qigong life essence and yogic kundalini she had imparted – directing them into the spearhead.
Shortly thereafter:
Pah-aat! A luminous shockwave burst forth before dissipating, revealing the spearhead’s transformed appearance – its original pale golden luster restored as the bronze blade reshaped itself to suit Conra’s present dimensions, exuding a keen aura alongside a faint, holy radiance.
Observing the stunned boy’s reaction, Sophia quipped playfully:
“It seems you can no longer evade wielding that refitted spear on an actual shaft from now on.”
“Y-Yes, it would appear so, Master.”
As Conra responded while still dazed, an unfamiliar groan suddenly interjected into their exchange:
{Unnh, urrghh.}
Emanating from the spearhead itself, reminiscent of someone rousing from slumber as the porting spirit regained its senses. Prompting the Sovereign Spirit Esras-Hermes to address it first:
{Awake now, young porting spirit?}
{Urghh, who dares call this elder a ‘young’ one…?}
Instantly indignant at the Sovereign Spirit’s flippant form of address despite its evident drowsiness, the porting spirit seemed to finally acknowledge its circumstances – reacting with startled alarm:
{Gah, why is some feckless spell-monger present here…?!}
{Spell-monger, you say?}
{Could it be my latest contractor has also covenanted with a spell-caster?! What an utter catastrophe…!}
Clearly agitated by some perceived complication, the spirit ensconced within the spearhead began bemoaning its plight. Prompting Conra’s bemused query:
“Do you dislike wizards or something?”
If so, that would indeed represent a conundrum – while undoubtedly possessing martial talents in spearmanship, swordsmanship and other combat disciplines, fully half of Conra’s cultivated abilities involved spell-casting prowess.
{Of course not! Since antiquity, exceptional warriors commonly exhibited arcane aptitudes as well.}
“Then your earlier reaction was…?”
{Not the wizardry itself, but the Sovereign Spirits – they constantly corrupt promising martial prodigies, steering them toward becoming mere closeted spell-twisters instead…!}
{Enough with the slander! If anything, you porting spirits obsessively drag those possessing profound mystical insights into interminable cycles of fruitless conflict!}
The Sovereign Spirit Esras-Hermes vehemently rebutted the porting spirit’s partisan allegations. Yet regardless of their escalating squabble and mutual vilification, their surroundings paid it little heed. Sophia simply instructed Conra:
“Ask that porting spirit its name.”
“Ah, yes Master.”
Following Sophia’s advice, Conra addressed the spirit amidst its heated debate and childish bickering with Esras-Hermes:
“Excuse me, I have one question amid your bickering if I may.”
{Hmm, and what might that be?}
“Your name.”
{Ah, I nearly neglected sharing that crucial detail! Exchanging names represents the sacred covenant’s very foundation between warriors – a hallowed pact those petty spell-twisters could never comprehend.}
{You seem to misunderstand a fundamental point – we Sovereign Spirits pioneered all contractual formalities to begin with, did we not?}
As the porting spirit postured arrogantly, Esras-Hermes immediately retorted – triggering concerns within Conra that provoking both domineering entities simultaneously might prove unwise. Nevertheless, he managed to obtain the spirit’s name as Sophia had instructed.
{This spirit’s name is Lugus-Artaios! Field commander of the Bronze Age’s greatest warriors, and the very porting spirit who later accompanied the hero Ogmios! And you, contractor – what is your name?}
“My name is……”
Just as Conra prepared to introduce himself:
“Hold a moment before finalizing that contract.”
{How dare you intrude upon this sacred warrior’s covenant…!}
“Quiet down for a bit.”
Accompanying Sophia’s words, her eyes flickered with an azure luminescence as a scorching afterglow manifested behind her – simultaneously exerting an overwhelming, sublime pressure specifically targeting the spearhead. Instantly subjugated, the porting spirit released a strangled groan.
{Wh-What…manner of…mon-ster…?!}
“Monster, you say? Hmph. Regardless of any so-called ‘sacred covenant’, I happen to be this child’s mentor. Witnessing your appalling lack of decorum prompted me to clarify one crucial point beforehand.”
{And…that would be…?}
“Hmm, you still maintain a rather insolent tone. Quite the stubborn fortitude, I see? No matter. More importantly, you would do well to firmly establish the hierarchical relationship with your contractor. If you intended to subtly invert that dynamic through arrogant flippancy, I shall simply melt you down into the smelter.”
Confronted by Sophia’s smoldering gaze akin to leaping flames, the porting spirit Lugus-Artaios fell silent – until she intensified that searing pressure, prompting audible creaks from the spearhead as it reached its structural limits.
Unable to endure further, Lugus-Artaios ultimately capitulated:
{I understand! I, Lugus-Artaios, shall serve my contractor as a loyal master! I shall never defy our established roles, nor attempt subverting his authority over me!}
As the trembling spearhead’s vibrations subsided, Conra almost felt pity for the subjugated porting spirit – yet refrained from voicing it, recognizing his deeply revered mentor’s defense of his interests.
Sophia simply stated:
“Now, state your name.”
“Yes! My name is Conra Mak Cethanta – son of Cethanta and Calliasta, vessel and disciple of the Paladin Lady Sophia de Chazelle!”
{Very well! From this moment onward, I, the porting spirit Lugus-Artaios, am contracted to Conra Mak Cethanta! Henceforth, I shall aid my contractor in all martial affairs while imparting the ancient lore once wielded by deified heroes!}
As the contractual oath finalized between human and porting spirit, Conra’s surroundings became suffused with swirling inner forces. Observing this scene with a satisfied expression, Sophia abruptly clicked her tongue in mild exasperation:
“Tsk, I told him to state his name, not recount his entire personal history…”
The wry smiles creeping across Hildegard and Ezio’s faces – who had witnessed the entire momentous event alongside Sophia – seemed to reflect: ‘Well, that’s simply Sophia being Sophia.’
+++++
After the scheduled three-day stopover concluded, their ship departed Marseilles once more – Conra never realizing his hoped-for city exploration. He lacked any spare time while adapting to his spear’s refitted head and acclimating to Lugus-Artaios’ tutelage alongside their collaborative dynamic.
The Hiberia-bound voyage initially proceeded smoothly with favorable winds, seemingly destined for an uneventful arrival. Until the appearance of some uninvited ‘guests’ along the way.
“Captain! Unidentified ships are closing in from the port stern quarter!”
The lookout’s frantic alert from the crow’s nest instantly transformed the peaceful atmosphere aboard the passenger galleon ‘St. Maria’ into tense pandemonium across the decks.
Promptly initiating flag identification procedures to discern the pursuing vessels’ registry, the lookout’s subsequent report triggered escalating dread:
“Red background…skull…crossed swords…winged hourglass!”
What began as hopeful expectations of simply encountering fellow travelers ultimately evaporated as the lookout’s descriptions continued, the gathered crew’s expressions becoming increasingly grim. Finally, as if articulating their collective dismay, the lookout’s voice resounded shrilly across the ship’s intercom pipes:
“It’s the Joli Rouge colors―!!!”
Below that grinning skull insignia’s crossed blades loomed the winged hourglass emblem – proudly hoisted atop three rapidly closing pirate vessels now brazenly hunting the Hiberian passenger galleon St. Maria.