The Greed of Kronos

The Familiar

Three: The Familiar

As soon as the shadow king stepped foot on Dylan’s room, it was greeted with the overwhelming stench. Like a monster with wrath equivalent to a god, it was really unsightly. At first, the shadow king was wondering how on earth was it possible for a three days old kid to have that many grudges from the soul.

But as they conversed, the shadow king abruptly figured it out. The grudge of the souls Dylan killed in his past life was with him in his next life. How was Dylan living to the point of regretting everything? For humans, ending a life has deep reasons. And if one ended a life, it would mean that he’s ready to face the consequences of his action.

‘Is this kid a tyrant in his past life? He’s scary.’ The shadow king thought.

And that ended his pondering moment. The shadow king then got back to reality and leaned closer to Dylan. ‘I, the Shadow King Skia, would like to make a contract with a three days old newborn. Should you accept to be my master, I swear my loyalty to you until my final breath.’

On that day, the shadow king finally found its master and successfully delivered his heartwarming speech that any master would cry. 

Except for Dylan. ‘Shadow King? Aren’t you a f*****g ghost?’ 

Hearing this, Skia twitched and replied with patience in its voice. ‘Please refrain from calling me a ghost. Call me Skia instead.’

Dylan seriously doesn't have any idea if he would take Skia seriously or not. But it would be fine to tease Skia more, right? ‘Whatever, shadow king is just a f*****g fancy name for a ghost. Anyway, you said shadow king? So you hella are a man?’

‘Shadow’s are genderless. You know what? Just touch me so you can be my master, and I can be your familiar.’ Skia finally snapped.    

‘Saying that you want to live a normal life, with the grudges lingering throughout your small and frail body- a little unachievable, don’t you think? You need me, you ungrateful child!’ Skia thought. 

Luckily, Dylan can’t read his mind, and he can’t also read Dylan’s closed thoughts. They can just communicate without talking. 

Hearing this, Dylan laughed nonchalantly. He finally made the shadow king snap. Dylan honestly doesn't know a thing. A ghost visited him, asked about his regrets in his past life, pondered for a whole twenty minutes, and is suddenly proposing a contract to him to be his familiar? What the heck is a familiar? Had he known that he would be reborn, he should have read more books about reincarnation or being reborn. It might have come in handy. 

However, it seems like Skia would be useful for him in his survival days. Skia can scare people who would pester his family at least. Hence, Dylan stretched his tiny hands and tried to reach for Skia. 

As soon as Dylan touched Skia, Skia glowed for a moment. It was not a flashy glow that could blind someone’s eyes. But a gloomy glow, dark blue in color, covered the shadow king Skia. Shortly after, it was as if he was being stretched on any side until he had the form of a black fox. 

‘Greed, huh?’ Skia murmured as soon as it had the form of a black fox. 

Clueless as he was, Dylan asked. ‘The f**k do you mean? Also, you already have a mouth. Try talking.’

“Ahem. It was nothing. Thank you for giving me this form, master. I shall pay you back by giving my utmost loyalty to you.” Skia replied. It already decided to take Dylan as his master. It might as well get used to Dylan’s way of talking.

Shadows are the most loyal familiars that if their masters would tell them to rob a bank, they would. The only thing that shadow treated as an inconvenience was that if they were to kill another species as an order from their master, they would vanish even before doing so. Whether the intention was just for fun or for revenge, they could not mingle with the business of the other different species. It was, of course, a rule made by Skia. 

Hearing this, Dylan stared at Skia for a moment before he closed his eyes and sought for a comfortable lying position. Somehow, making a so-called contract with Skia drained his energy. 

Good thing was that they were communicating even though Dylan would converse with Skia through his mind. He could blabber just fine. ‘What the heck, your voice is still the same. It’s just that talking through your mouth is much more f*****g clearer. Am I the only one who can f*****g hear you when you’re talking?’

Skia then dipped its head slightly and replied. "Yes, I am also not allowed to show myself to other species unless otherwise given permission by the master."

‘That’s good. You are indeed f*****g loyal. I might use you if a shitty person would piss me and my family off, do good.’ Dylan laughed once again while Skia was left dumbfounded. 

Was its master seriously thinking of the shadow king as a ghost even though Skia already explained itself that shadow king and ghost are completely different? 

Nevertheless, it is still an order from the shadow king’s master. It should not harbor any criticism. Hence, Skia once again dipped its head slightly and replied. “If it is master’s orders, I would gladly do so.”

Hearing this, Dylan was left flabbergasted. Skia really was a professional. It seemed like Dylan founded a personal assistant in a span of only three days. ‘Alright, before I f*****g drift off to sleep.’ 

“Yes, master?” Skia listened attentively.

At first, Dylan was silent. Not because he was having second thoughts about whether to ask Skia or not, but because he was seriously getting sleepy. Luckily, before he could drift off to sleep, Dylan managed to ask. 

‘Skia, you formed a shitty contract with me without introducing yourself.’ 

With that being said, Skia tilted its head. “What does master mean? I already introduced myself as the shadow king. Although, you would always call me a ghost.”

As his mind was almost a blurry, Dylan replied. ‘Yes, yes. Shadow king, whatever. But what do f*****g shadows do?’

‘My master’s quick.’ Skia thought. It does not wish to know everything as Skia’s master was still a newborn baby. It would merely cause a headache if Dylan were to know everything right at that moment. Skia wanted to give its master some time to grow before explaining everything. 

It is its first day serving its master, yet it would ask a brazen request already. “Master, can I answer your question next time? It's still not time yet.”

‘...'

“Master?”

‘...’

Dylan was already asleep with his tiny arms above his head and legs widely spread. Seeing this, one would think of him as a normal baby. 

As soon as Skia confirmed that Dylan was already sleeping, it then transformed into a little puppy and rested on top of Dylan’s head. “Sweet dreams, master.”

And that was how a three days old child had a contract with the shadow king.