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Coldera
Snow fell heavily upon the ground, thickly layering the earth beneath. Blizzards were usual in Coldera but to march through it with so few layers of clothes that Shun wore would be dangerous to the average person, most likely leading to an icy death. His face became numb quickly. His eyes looked forward with extreme focus and such intent even though it was nothing but snow as far as the eye could see.
"Seek even greater power!"
Shun's mind had completely shaved off any other thoughts except for finding this 'power'. He completely succumbed to this voice that rang in his mind every so often, while he marched away from one village to the next, burning them as he left and taking all kinds of food, which he never had the luxury of eating before, as well as clothes he had never dressed in. Shun continuously marched. However, he hadn't known what he was marching towards. Yet he continued, following this voice that kept calling to him.
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Sedah's Cave
"A person to the north might be forming a contract. It's quite impressive; I haven't heard of anyone being contracted at such a young age." Kagekawa looked up while grasping his chin and glanced at Arthur's confused-looking face, "...I guess I should explain what a contract is. A god will ask a human that's caught their eye to form a contract with them and if accepted then a merging of two souls takes place...that's the best way I can put it out. Once they bond, both of them will grow increasingly more powerful and even share abilities, though this is dependant on synergy...unfortunately, I can't explain what this 'synergy' is in more detail." Kagekawa then narrowed his eyes at Sedah, "...Right, I forgot to mention...it can also happen between a demon and a human."
Arthur then hesitantly asked, "A-Are there any risks?"
"Yeah...if the human dies, then the god will also die."
"You got all that, Arthur?" Sedah asked with an irritated look on his face.
Arthur nodded in reply, understanding the general gist of contracts.
"Now, you damned swordsman. Why did you come to me? Surely it's not just to talk about some low-level contract, right?" Sedah questioned. His voice made it quite clear he was annoyed by Kagekawa's presence.
"You already knew, didn't you?" Kagekawa postured himself as if he were ready to fight at any time.
Sedah let out a huge sigh, "Of course I did."
"Wait, did you just say low-level? Aren't you feeling too confident?" Kagekawa formed a smirk on his face while raising an eyebrow and then continued to speak, "This contract that's being formed is not from a god or goddess. It's definitely caused by a great and powerful demon. I'm sure of it! The animosity and hatred I felt can only be a great demon...it reeks of malice. However, I have no idea whose presence I felt, so I came to you, the only other demon I know, for answers, so answer this question: Who is he forming a contract with, Sedah?!"
"A demon? I'm the only one left in this world. Sorry, but I can't help you. Regardless, I couldn't say who this god or demon is until I sense his magical presence, and right now, I'm too far away. Now I have a question for you, O' great swordsman: How did you sense his presence? We're in Vastos right now, and Coldera is very far, far away."
"I was on the border of Vastos and Coldera, and I sensed it, quickly trying to find the only other demon I know."
"Oh~are you saying this demon could've covered an entire country in his presence? How interesting!" Sedah's face began to lighten up, "And you ran like a chicken as well! Hah! You better not be joking or else I'll kill you where you stand." Sedah replied with a grin on his face and a serious tone in his voice.
"Watch what you say, you false hero," Kagekawa replied with a serious tone, his hand now placed on the hilt of his sword.
Sedah clicked his tongue at Kagekawa. "I forbid you or anyone else from killing this northern boy. I want to see what he does and how he grows! And if you decide to do otherwise, I'll kill you. Simple, right?" Sedah replied with a cold and detached tone. Arthur had never heard such an icy tone come from him before.
"You can try Sedah. Regardless, I'm not going to kill him. Especially not now; murdering a child just doesn't seem to sit well with me. I guess no matter how much time passes, your goal will remain unchanged; you still wish to die in battle, and you hope this boy to the north can develop into someone who can kill you. Am I right in assuming that?
Sedah's goal remains unchanged: wishing to die in battle and as such he must of course find or nurture someone stronger, which he intended to do with Arthur.
"Close, but not quite! I'm going to make Arthur into a great fighter and make him battle against the northern kid." Sedah replied with a smirk on his face.
The swordsman turned to Arthur with a pitied feeling under his blank expresion, "Kid, you know what this means, right? Eventually, you'll have to battle and cross swords with Sedah and may even slay him...that is if you even win against the northern boy. So tell me, kid, can you kill him?" Kagekawa straightforwardly asked the young Arthur.
Arthur felt conflicted; as he grew up, he trained under Sedah. Even though Sedah constantly reminded Arthur to kill him one day in battle, Arthur had not gained a murderous intent to slay him. To Arthur, Sedah had grown into somewhat of a father figure even though neither had presently recognised it.
Sedah's goal began to weigh heavier than ever before in Arthur's mind.
To tell this to a boy to kill the very man who had raised him would leave any child disturbed, and Arthur was not an exception, and with an unsettled expression, he shakily replied, "I-I can't..."