"Augh! This is..."
Kelvin felt a burning sensation flare on the back of his right hand. It was hot. Scorching. Like being thrust into a furnace, yet his skin wasn't actually burning.
Instead, something was taking shape across it.
Thin lines of light began to etch themselves into his skin, glowing faintly at first before intensifying. They spread outward in intricate patterns, twisting and interlocking like some ancient sigil being carved into existence.
Clenching his teeth, Kelvin grippee his wrist as the heat surged. It wasn't just pain but the essence of an Imprint.
The glow sharpened, forming a complete mark at the center of his hand. For a brief moment, the light blinked before settling into a dim radiance.
Then the pain vanished.
Kelvin sucked in a breath, his body relaxing all at once as he stared at the symbol now embedded into his skin. It looked like a crest of sorts.
He didn't know what it was but it felt familiar for some reason.
A soft chime echoed.
[Companion Contract Established.]
Before he could react, an unmistakably feminine voice whispered:
"So… you're my contractor."
Startled, Kelvin turned his head to the source of the voice.
Infront of him was a peculiar woman with both hands on her hips. Notably, she was strange.
First of all, her skin was grey. Not any natural human skin tone, she had a distinct, ash-like complexion that seemed almost matte, as if color itself had been drained from her. It wasn't lifeless, though; there was a subtle luster beneath it.
Her black hair was short and styled in a bob-cut fashion with teal inner strands. It contrasted sharply against her skin, giving her an otherworldly presence that felt both eerie and… strangely beautiful. She wasn't particularly tall, barely reaching Kelvin's shoulders, and her outfit was minimal: a dark tank top and fitted hot shorts, paired with thigh-high stockings that accentuated her legs.
From what he could see, her bust was modest, nothing that stood out, but her lower body drew the eye: wide hips, thick, plump thighs, and a pronounced huge backside.
But it was her captivating eyes that grabbed his attention.
Those ruby eyes gleamed with an almost predatory intensity like they could slice through the air. Eyes that showed intelligence, cunning and more importantly, avarice.
Kelvin swallowed his dry saliva.
"Ah! S-so you're my Companion, yes... I'm Kelvin. Kelvin Pierce. Nice to meet you."
The woman merely tilted her head.
"Hm. I wasn't expecting to get bound to such a frail-looking Master. But I can't be picky, can I? Anyway, my name is Sera Aoife. Pleased to be in your service~"
She paused, then added,
"With introductions out of the way, I suppose I should promptly perform my first act as your Servant."
"Your first act as a Servant...?"
"Obviously. I would need to unlock your Mana Core. Thanks to this strange voice-like thing, I already have a sense of your situation, so I'll offer an explanation. Simply put, all living beings have a Soul, and within this Soul is a medium that allows an individual to access Mana, an energy source necessary for Ability activation and related functions. You can think of it as a Conduit," Sera finished with a shrug, as though disinterested.
Kelvin frowned, trying to follow. "A conduit… for Mana?"
"Exactly. Your Mana Core is essentially dormant right now. Without it, your Soul Ability can't fully awaken. My role is to help stabilize and activate it. Once I do, you'll be able to use your Ability properly."
So there was something like that. That explains why my Mana Core was described as Unsealed. By the way, the Servant has to awaken the Master's Mana Core? What kind of requirement is that? This Game Master is really weird.
While lost in thought, Kelvin felt Sera's calm, commanding tone.
"Sit," she instructed, gesturing toward the floor.
Obeying without hesitation, he lowered himself, crossing his legs as she had indicated. Sera crouched slightly in front of him, her ruby eyes narrowing as she studied the crest on his hand.
"Now stay still. This is the tricky part."
"Tricky part?"
"Don't worry. I'm just going to infuse my Mana into you. If everything goes well, your Mana Core will awaken without any issues."
"Wait, hold on... are you saying that there is a possibility that something would go wrong?"
"Not necessarily but yes, there is such a possibility. After all, I am forcibly awakening your Mana Core. Naturally, it's a dangerous process. It might even explode and make a mess out of your body."
"What!? Explode!?"
"Hehe. I'm just pulling your leg. Anyway, let's begin~"
"Not necessarily, but yes—there's a possibility. After all, I am forcibly awakening your Mana Core. Naturally, it's a dangerous process. It might even explode and turn your body into a mess."
"What!? Explode!?"
"Hehe, I'm just teasing. Anyway, let's begin~"
Kelvin wanted to shout at her carelessness, but before he could, Sera placed her grey-skinned hand on his chest. Instantly, his body stiffened, frozen like an ice sculpture.
A startled cry escaped his lips as he felt something stirring inside him. The sensation wasn't painful, nor unpleasant — it was unlike anything he had ever experienced. His soul seemed to awaken, infused with a strange, raw energy.
It spread through every fiber of his being. Kelvin felt his body transforming, as if a miniature star burned at the center of his chest. Waves of heat radiated outward, reaching his stomach, shoulders, arms, legs, and finally, his hands and feet.
It was euphoric.
The sensation was like a high, but infinitely more profound.
After a long moment, the star at his core cooled. The heat gave way to a soothing cold that washed over him, dissolving every ache and discomfort he had carried for years. The cold crept upward, reaching his mind and settling behind his eyes.
His perception changed, too.
This... This is...
Kelvin saw strange particles flowing around him, Sera, and every corner of the room. They hadn't been there before. No, they had always been there, present. He just hadn't been able to see them.
"This… this is Mana?"
Sera's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile.
"Yes. Every living being radiates Mana, but only a few can perceive it naturally. Now, you can. Consider this your first step toward becoming a true Master."
"It's… beautiful," he admitted, though his voice was tinged with awe and fear. "But… it's also terrifying."
"Fear is the first teacher. If you can't respect this power, it will chew you up and spit you out."
Sera tilted her head, studying him with those piercing ruby eyes.
"Now then, I believe there are alot of things to go over. But long explanations are not my area of expertise, so I wonder what I should do." She spoke with the aura of a lazy Otaku. "Let's do something else, yeah? How about we get something to eat. You see, I haven't eaten in a while, and honestly, I get hangry if I skip meals."
Kelvin blinked, utterly bewildered.
Hangry? Is she seriously talking about food right now?
Noticing the look on his face, Sera added eagerly.
"Hey. You don't have to look at me like that! Besides, the body needs sustenance. Even a fledgling Master like you can't fight efficiently on an empty stomach."
Kelvin exhaled slowly, realizing arguing would be pointless for now. He nodded, a bit reluctantly. "…Alright. Food first then what next?"
Standing up, Sera stretched, letting out a yawn.
"Training can wait until your Mana Core is fully accustomed to your Soul. No need to rush things." Her eyes brightened up a bit. "Oh, and while we're at it, why don't we take this chance to explore a bit? Get a feel for our surroundings. There are some rather exclusive clothing shops, interesting streets… and who knows what else we might stumble upon."
Such enthusiasm...
What sort of strange companion is this? Don't tell me I got the legendary seemingly useful Servant who later turns out to be painfully useless! He thought in desperation.
Thankfully, there were ways to deal with such unique characters. One of those methods were like this:
"That sounds nice and all but aren't you forgetting something?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Forcing a strained smile, Kelvin finally addressed the elephant in the room.
"We… we don't have any money."
"…!"
The words hit Sera like a thunderclap. Her eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape, and for a moment it seemed as if the blood had stopped flowing in her head.
She looked as though she was about to faint!