"Kukuku, that was a nice battle boy. Even now as your facing death you have a nice face on. It"s as if you already experienced a lot of life and death struggles, but from your appearance, you"re supposed to be a human boy about ten years old. Yet the skills you have displayed in swordsmans.h.i.+p are not of this world. Was it your own made style? Even your magic capacity is top tier. So strong for one your age. Are you perhaps one of those so called geniuses?"

I didn"t answer the voice but instead, I heightened my senses. There was an unknown being near me and I can"t feel her presence. Is it because of fatigue? While I was thinking about how to detect where the person talking was, the voice continued on.

"I see you are a cautious one. Really incredible for someone your age. No, not even fully grown humans show such promise, I have taken a liking to you boy. I think I might help you with this situation."

Not only did she suddenly talked when I was in a desperate situation, but she suddenly offers me help as well. This is extremely suspicious.

"I don"t even know who you are, and now you suddenly tell me you"ll help me? What is your aim? What do you want in return for your help?"

"Really does it matter who I am? If I don"t help you, it is evident that you will die. So I think it is in your best interest to accept my help."

"Is she threatening me, or is she perhaps taunting me to ask for help?" Still, the way she spoke about death as if it was supposed to be scary made me laugh. Though I didn"t want to have my end here, I did feel more fulfilled now than in my previous life. I would"ve wanted to have more experiences, but if this was to be my end, then so be it. So I couldn"t help but laugh at what she said.

"Hahaha, you make it sound as if death is the worst thing possible. Let me tell you now I know things that are far worse than death itself. Also, you haven"t answered my question, what is it you want from me?"

"I see... You"re truly interesting, it makes me wonder if you"re actually as old as you seem to be. But fine, I will tell you what I want. In exchange for my help, I would want to form a contract with you."

"A contract? Are you a devil?"

"Huh? I"m no such thing as a devil. My race is of an older sort than those devils." The voice sounded insulted by what I said, and the melodious tone turned ice cold.

"Then what are you?"

"I"m an Ethereal!"

"Ethereal? What"s an Ethereal?"

"Oh, I thought of you as a more scholarly type. I would have thought you would know what an ethereal is. Well, by appearance you are just a human child, so it might be difficult for you to learn about Ethereal"s. Hmmm... Seeing as your firewall is about to disappear I"ll give you a basic explanation. I"m from a race that forms contracts with beings that have mana and in exchange for their mana we would lend them our power."

"Why would you need the mana of other races?"

"Unlike your race and most other races, my race cannot regenerate mana. So once we use it we lose it forever. We can only replenish ourselves via the contract."

"So that"s it huh, or is there more that she"s not telling me..." "Will giving you my mana drain me to the point of death?"

"Kukuku, really, such a cautious child. I would not get such a large amount. Well, I will only get as much mana I require to function. If you need me to make a stronger attack then you must give me more mana. Also seeing as your mana regenerates you won"t lose it permanently like me. As long as you provide me with mana I will never betray you. Such is the contract of Ethereals. So what shall you do child? Will you make a contract with me, or struggle by yourself and ultimately die? The choice is yours what shall it be?"

Seven minutes left before the firewall disappears. What should I do? Should I accept her offer? I don"t have the power to survive this. Yet I don"t have any information about Ethereal"s I"m not sure if she is telling the truth or not.

†

No choice then, I already decided when I was reborn I would not regret anything. "Fine, what is your name Ethereal?"

"My name is Tsukiyomi, among ethereals I"m referred to as the eternal moon."

"Then Tsukiyomi how do I make a contract with you?" When I asked that question the air suddenly turned cold. From above the stone ruins, I felt an incredibly strong presence. This was the same presence I felt before, back when I first strolled at the village.

Who knew it would be this powerful up close. I have felt the presence of strong beings before, like the divine tiger back in my old world. But none, not even the tiger, were as powerful as this. I looked up where I felt the presence.

There I saw a girl who looked about thirteen years old, flowing black hair, skin white as snow, and ruby red eyes. She was enticing, she was wearing a white blouse that showed a bit of her chest, and a short red skirt that emphasized her thighs. She was also wearing a black kimono over her blouse which only covered her arms and a bit of her back.

The girl jumped down from the stone ruins and gracefully landed in front of me who was holding my sword. As if I have forgotten everything I was mesmerized by her beautiful facial features. The girl smiled and finally spoke.

"kukuku, have you been enchanted by me?" This voice so this was Tsukiyomi.

"You"re Tsukiyomi? How unexpected by how you talk I thought you would be an old lady." I spoke unconsciously. I thought Tsukiyomi would get mad but instead, she smiled at me gently.

"I may be young for an ethereal but for a human"s sense of age I"m pretty old."

"How old exactly?" It was then Tsukiyomi looked at me while sneering.

"How boorish of you to ask a lady"s age. Well enough of the introductions, your firewall is about to disperse. To form a contract with me, you must speak what it is you wish of me, and if I accept I would acknowledge all your wishes. Thus the contract will be formed. Do you understand?"

"To speak what I wish from her..." "I understand." Hearing my answer Tsukiyomi looked at me appraisingly.

"Very well, make the contract boy."

"Alright, I will make the contract, but stop calling me boy my name is Edge... Edge Regius."

"Umu, As you wish then Edge Regius, you may begin." She truly sounds like a queen ordering me around like this. No time to think about such things only a few moments before the firewall goes out. I inhaled and exhaled deeply before speaking.

"Tsukiyomi, I Edge Regius wish to form a contract with you. Become my sword, my s.h.i.+eld, my partner, and my friend. In return, I shall give you my mana, my sword, and my trust. These are the terms of the contract will you accept?"

Tsukiyomi bowed before me while answering. "Edge Regius I the eternal moon accept the terms of the contract. I shall stand by thee as your sword, your s.h.i.+eld, your partner, and your friend. In return, you shall give me your mana, your sword, and your never-ending trust. Thus the contract shall be forged. As long as you never betray me, I in return shall never betray you. Now to seal the contract."

Tsukiyomi came closer her face was right in front of me. I then felt a soft sensation on my lips. She was kissing me, not only that she even inserted her tongue. Flipping her tongue, licking her teeth, pressing her lips down upon mine. I couldn"t react at all after what seemed like ages she finally released my lips. I looked at her dumbfounded. She then smiled at me mischievously.

"Kukuku, was that your first time? Do not worry for it was also mine." She said so while blus.h.i.+ng ever so slightly. She really looked enticing no wait that"s not the point.

"Why did you do that?!" I screamed at her, Tsukiyomi simply shrugged her shoulders as she answered.

"It was to seal the contract. Wait for a moment you"ll feel it... Right... About now." As soon as she said that I felt a burning sensation on my chest. The pain was momentary and when I looked at what happened I saw a mark of a silver full moon on my chest.

"That is the seal of our contract. Proof that you are contracted to an ethereal, that you are contracted to me. Now then, now that is done and over with I"m borrowing some of your mana to finish off these little monsters."

After she said those words I felt as if something was flowing out of me. It was a similar feeling as to when I use a spell.

"Kukuku, how wonderful this mana is! I haven"t tasted any others but I"m sure this must be high-cla.s.s goods. Now then how about I put you little kiddies out of your misery." As soon as the firewall dispersed the monsters started rus.h.i.+ng toward our direction. I think that the amount tripled from before.

Tsukiyomi faced the wave of monsters and simply waved her hand. She waved her right hand horizontally as if her hand was a sword. After that one simple movement, all the monsters that came charging were sliced in half. It then started raining, yet it was not water that rained down on us, it was blood.