The morning sun filters through the dusty windows of Valdris Official Soul Contract Emporium, casting ethereal light across rows of glowing crystal orbs that house dormant Soul contracts. The air hums with magical energy as dozens of hopeful Soul Masters-to-be browse the displays, whispering excitedly about their upcoming annual contract purchase. The door opened and a young man walked through, standing at 195cm with a lean athletic build, black messy hair, red eyes, his mouth was barely open showing Sharp teeth like a shark, his Attire were red jacket with black arms, a deep red shirt, baggy jeans Traveler's pack, and running sneakers. Not to mention he's good-looking That boy's name is Iuo Kurogane and today he's stepping into the souls business as a novice
---
I stand before the Novice Counter, heart pounding with anticipation. After saving up my meager earnings for months, I finally have enough gold for your first Soul contract: 100 gold. The elderly shopkeeper, a weathered man with kind eyes and graying hair, smiles warmly as he notices my nervous excitement.
"Ah, another fresh face! First time contracting, I presume?" His voice carries the wisdom of someone who's witnessed thousands of life-changing moments. "The process is quite simple - you pay the fee, select a contract orb, and let fate decide your Soul companion. Remember, young one, each person is only allowed one contract per year, and there are no rerolls. Whatever Soul answers your call will be your partner."
Behind him, four tiers of glowing orbs are arranged on marble shelves, each pulsing with different colored auras:
Bronze Tier - 75 Gold Coins
"Common Soul abilities guaranteed - Elemental types like Fire, Water, Earth, or seasonal aspects like Spring and Winter. Perfect for beginners!"
Silver Tier - 150 Gold Coins
"Uncommon abilities guaranteed with rare possibilities - Predator types like Tiger and Eagle, or mystical elements like Shadow and Light."
Gold Tier - 300 Gold Coins
"Rare abilities guaranteed with legendary chances - Mythical creatures like Dragons and Phoenix, or spiritual aspects like Angels and Demons."
The shopkeeper's eyes twinkle with knowledge. "Remember, young one, you're not purchasing a Soul's rank that comes with training and dedication. You're purchasing their inherent abilities and potential. A Common Fire Soul can become just as powerful as a Legendary Inferno Soul if nurtured properly. The difference lies in their unique talents and how they grow."
He gestures to a small placard: "All shop contracts provide Apostle or Awakened rank Souls only. Higher ranks cannot be sold due to the sacred bonds formed during ascension."
The shopkeeper leans forward conspiratorially. "Of course, if you're feeling particularly adventurous, there are always wild Souls to be found in the Essence Groves outside town. But those contracts come with... personal costs. The choice is yours, young Soul Master."
Other customers browse nearby a noble's son confidently approaching the Gold tier, a merchant's daughter carefully counting silver coins, and in the corner, a hooded figure examining a map marked with locations of reported wild Soul sightings.
I look and pick a bronze, and the shopkeeper accepts the 75 gold coins with a practiced nod, his weathered hands counting each coin with methodical precision. "Bronze tier - a wise choice for a first contract. Solid foundation, reliable abilities. Can't go wrong with the basics."
He retrieves a bronze-colored orb from the shelf - it's cool to the touch and pulses with a gentle, warm light. Inside can barely make out the silhouette of a tiny figure curled in what appears to be a deep slumber. The orb feels ancient yet alive, humming with potential energy.
"Standard procedure," the shopkeeper explains, placing the orb on a small pedestal at the counter. "You'll hold the orb and pour your intention into it. Don't force anything - just be open to the connection. The Soul inside will awaken if you're compatible."
"Then what happened if the soul refuses?" The boy asked the shopkeeper, who replied with a chuckle "Then I'll give you another can't leave a hard-working boy empty-handed"
The orb begins to glow brighter as iuo approach, its bronze light casting dancing shadows across the counter. A faint warmth spreads through your fingertips when he touch it, like holding a small sun. The dormant Soul inside stirs, sensing his presence.
"Go on," the shopkeeper encourages. "The ritual has begun."
The orb pulses once, twice, then three times each beat syncing with his own heartbeat. The light intensifies, flaring from bronze to a brilliant golden hue, much brighter than expected for a Bronze-tier contract.
The shopkeeper's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "That's... unusual for a standard contract."
Inside the orb, the silhouette begins to uncurl, and tiny hands press against the glass from within.
Somehow iuo ended up with a high-tier bronze aspect, which is Sea Strom, giving me powers of water, lightning, and air "uhhh, this is not normal, correct?" Iuo ask The shopkeeper hummed rubbing his beard it was his 185th time seeing someone getting this aspect so he was not unfamiliar with it
The shopkeeper's eyes widen considerably as the orb's transformation continues the bronze metal casing begins to crack with spiderweb fissures, and brilliant blue-white energy leaks through the gaps. A powerful gust of wind suddenly whips through your immediate area, scattering papers and making nearby customers step back in alarm.
"Not normal?" the old man's voice carries genuine shock. "Young man, Bronze-tier contracts don't produce Sea Storm aspects. That's... that's fundamentally impossible according to our catalog....not" he laughed at his own joke "of course we do boy!"
The orb shatters with a sound like crashing thunder, releasing a concentrated burst of energy that rushes straight into your chest. Iuo feel a sudden weight in his soul - not painful, but overwhelming, like being introduced to three ancient consciousnesses simultaneously.
When the light clears, a tiny figure hovers before him at eye level. She's absolutely adorable - pale jade skin that seems to shimmer like moonlight on water, long hair the color of storm clouds that billows around her as if underwater, and eyes that glow with the blue-green intensity of ocean depths. Her small form is barely three inches tall, dressed in a couldy gown woven from mist and lightning that clings to her form
She blinks slowly, her expression dazed, then looks at iuo with sudden clarity. "...Master?"
Her voice carries multiple harmonics - the gentle lapping of waves, the crackle of thunder, and the whistle of high winds - all in one sweet tone.
Iuo look at her and nodded "y-yeah that me" he smiled awkwardly smiling
The shopkeeper pulls out a thick reference book, flipping pages "Sea Storm... Sea Storm... here! 'Apostle-level elemental aspect combining Water, Lightning, and Air. Rated... rated...' Rated Gold+ tier for bronze soul core. Only 184 documented cases in the last century. And you my boy are the 185"
The tiny storm-haired soul flutters closer, her mist-cloak swirling around her. She studies iuo face with an intensity that feels ancient. "I am Sea Storm. Storm-born, Sea-forged. The moment I felt your presence, I knew I had to answer. Is... is this really happening?"
She reaches out a tiny hand, and a single drop of water materializes on her fingertip, followed by a tiny spark of lightning. "I can feel the contract settling. We're bound, you and I."
Around the shop, whispers are spreading. A Bronze-tier purchase producing a Sea Storm aspect? This is the kind of story that will be told for weeks.
---
and this is how I ended with a daughter of some sort
We walk out of the shop, see Strom soul. I named her Naia, and she was sitting on my shoulder, her hand resting on my head as she got to see the sky "Hey Naia, you ok there?"
The shopkeeper watches you leave with an expression that suggests he's happy another youngester is going in this path of soul masters. He calls out one last time: "Take care of that Soul, young man! And consider visiting the Guild."
Outside, the bustling streets of Valdris unfold before us. The city is a beautiful Radiant of stone and life - merchants hawking their wares, children darting between carriages, and the occasional Soul Master walking proudly with their companion floating beside them. The air is crisp, carrying scents from bakeries and the distant Essence Grove.
Naia's tiny form on my shoulder feels like a warm, pulsing ember of pure energy. Her hand rests gently on my head, fingers barely larger than grains of rice, yet i can feel the power contained in that touch. Her storm-cloud hair flows in a breeze that seems to exist only around her.
She shifts slightly, her little legs dangling over my shoulder, and looks up at the vast sky. The openness clearly affects her - this is someone who's spent who knows how long trapped in that orb.
"I..." Her multi-toned voice carries awe and a touch of uncertainty. "I'm... I'm free. Really free. And I'm with you." She squeezes my hair gently, a gesture of affection. "I'm okay, Master. More than okay. This sky... it's endless. The orb only showed me fragments."
I chuckled "glad you are feeling free Naia"
She leans forward to look at my profile, her glowing eyes wide with wonder. "What should I call you? Master feels too formal for... for whatever this is. You feel like... family."
"You may call me iuo or master if you wish" I suggest
Naia's eyes sparkle like lightning reflecting off ocean waves, and she bounces on my shoulder with barely contained excitement. "Iuo! Iuo, Iuo, Iuo!" She says my name multiple times, testing how it feels, each repetition carrying that beautiful harmony of water and wind. "I like it. It feels warm. Real."
She leans forward, resting her chin on top of my head again, her tiny body relaxing. "I'll call you Iuo when it's just us. But if we're in formal places... Master sounds good too. Balance, right? Like the storm needs both rain and wind."
*I nodded* "that would work"
A young mother passing by carrying her infant bundle of joy and with her own Soul - a tiny winged cat-like creature - glances at Naia and does a double-take. "Is that... is that a Sea Storm aspect? On a bronze contract? That's impossible!" Her Soul hisses in agreement, fur standing on end.
Naia giggles, the sound like wind chimes. "Impossibility is just potential waiting for the right moment, right?"
She stretches her arms wide, and a tiny cloud forms above his head, releasing a single drop of rain that lands on your nose. "Oops! Sorry! Still learning control."
I chuckled "That's alright, Naia"
A carriage clatters by, drawn by what looks like a horse but with ethereal markings. Naia watches it pass, her expression filled with childlike wonder. "The world is so big out here. So... alive."
She tugs gently on a strand of my hair, pointing down the street. "Where to next? That old man mentioned a Guild? And I can feel... others. Other Souls. Some are weak, some are strong. It's like a symphony."
As we walk, a merchant selling fruit calls out, then does a double-take at the tiny figure on my shoulder. "Sea Storm? On a beginner? Boy, you either have the luck of a god or you've made some powerful enemy already!"
Naia bristles at the comment, her mist-cloak swirling more intensely. "He's blessed, not cursed. The storm came because it was meant to!" Her protective nature is already showing. She may be small and young, but there's a ferocity brewing beneath that calm surface.
"Naia cut it out no need for talking badly to people" I scolded Naia looked down and apologize I sighed and kept walking towards the guild
The Adventurer's Guild building looms ahead - a massive stone structure with banners fluttering in the wind, the symbol of a crossed sword and Soul crystal displayed prominently. The sounds of boisterous laughter and clinking mugs spill from its open doors.