[Side quest 3: Sign a permanent contract with Zarestia and help her recover all her lost limbs.] [Completed]
Before Orsted could read the system notification properly, he felt a connection forming deep within his soul. A person becoming an anchor for the soul of a great spirit was unheard of.
Even Emilia with her high spirit affinity needed a special glintstone as an anchor for Puck.
'At last....' Orsted rejoiced at his success.
Their contract took form instantly, binding them together permanently.
'I feel my gate connected to her growing closer. I can borrow mana from her forcefully, If I wish so now. It could be a perk created in accordance with the contract.' Orsted contemplated seriously.
Zarestia from this point onward, belonged to Orsted as per their contract. Her mana, soul and her existence as a whole were in his hands. She turned into a part of his existence, making [Rewrite] usable on her too.
Through their connection of soul, Orsted could even perceive her emotions to a degree.
At the moment, Zarestia's whole mind was clouded in pure joy and…
'Affection? It's quite intense too…' Orsted raised his brows.
As Orsted finished analyzing the effect of the contract, a storm of mana shot towards the sky from where Zarestia stood. All four elements danced around the storm, showing themselves off to the world.
The amount of mana Orsted's [Tear stigma] picked, made him stare at the beautiful, yet dangerous mana storm blankly.
The mana storm slowly subsided as Zarestia finished absorbing the two beast arms.
"....."
The pressure pressing against Orsted's body was immense. Just Zarestia's base presence gave Orsted an image of defeat and it wasn't just an illusion.
If they fought right now, Orsted would definitely die here. It wouldn't even be a fight, Zarestia didn't need any complicated move to kill him, she could just crush him with her overwhelming four elements.
'Will [Shadow transfer] even save me?' For the first time, Orsted knew just how much he lacked.
Just looking at the sheer amount of mana Zarestia possessed, it was 30 times more than Orsted's current limit.
"I can sense it."
"...!" Orsted felt his heart jump for a beat, he couldn't even feel when Zarestia had teleported before him in a flash. It was eerie, his enhanced senses were beyond the abilities of a human or demihuman, but he still couldn't even pick a trace of her movement.
"....What did you sense?" Orsted focused on her words.
"My light sphere, it's that way." Zarestia confidently pointed towards where they came from, the Sixth-city, Azamiki.
"....." Orsted's eyes widened.
Zarestia's senses were correct and it was frighteningly accurate.
'That lizardman is done for, I was even thinking of sparing him since he worked so hard for me.' Orsted gave up on his subordinate immediately, he knew the priority.
Zarestia appeared relaxed, not rushing towards her light sphere, unlike her original self. Her smoldering gaze locked onto Orsted with vigor.
"....." Even without any predictions, Orsted could feel Zarestia's overwhelming happiness firsthand transmitted to his soul.
"I can feel our contract..." Zarestia placed her face flat on Orsted's chest, listening to his heartbeat. Her hands clasped behind his back tightly - she really wanted him to feel the emotions flowing through her whole existence right at the moment. Even a fraction of it was enough.
"We are family now, right?" Zarestia spoke while rubbing her face gently on his chest. She believed it to be so - it was her fate to meet Orsted.
Orsted patted her head in reverse: "I considered you a family even before signing the contract."
Zarestia shuddered slightly in Orsted's embrace. A blush slightly appeared on her cheeks, as she buried her face into his chest thoroughly.
Zarestia continued after a while, as Orsted patted her soft white hair.
"I'm really, really grateful that I met you, Orsted. Now...I don't even want to consider what would have happened, if I hadn't met you." Zarestia clasped Orsted's clothes, her eyes shone in a brilliant light as she watched Orsted's face.
Orsted smiled slightly: 'So she thinks of our contract as a sort of forming a family? I like that idea...'
Orsted felt a little happy internally - today, he gained a new family member.
'I think it's time to take a step further with our relationship. I hope you never forget this sensation, Zarestia.'
Orsted held Zarestia's chin gently, her cheeks felt unnaturally hot to his fingers.
Was it due to the volcano nearby? Orsted wondered.
"Umm." Zarestia cooperated with Orsted's action, her eyes shone as if to say that she would do anything he wished.
Zarestia naturally stood on her toes as Orsted brought his face near to her's. Their lips met in a sensual, yet gentle connection.
The heat of her mouth, breath and body rose by a level, which Orsted felt immediately. Her heat was taking over his body.
'She...' Orsted frowned.
Zarestia kept pushing her face and body forward, as if trying to deepen their connection.
Her actions led Orsted to realize that Zarestia's physical strength actually surpassed his now. His body was being pushed back by her.
'Really...' Orsted had to initiate breaking the kiss due to her action, he was even enjoying it at the beginning unfortunately.
"Haaa.....haaa....haaa." Zarestia hung on Orsted's body as if all energy left her physique.
'....So she wants me to carry her again.' Orsted looked through her intentions and sighed internally.
The sun began rising from the horizon, signaling the start of a new day.
With Zarestia pointing the way towards her light sphere, Orsted used [Wind dragon slayer mode] to fly faster.
Hanging off his back, Zarestia held a grin for a while now.
"I always wondered how it was for those males and females, I didn't know it would be so heart pounding..." Heat rose up to her face, as Zarestia remembered the sensation of her lips meeting his.
"Well, usually." Orsted answered with his mind already diving towards his future.
After a while,
Zarestia continued: "With you as my anchor, my wind element will recover the lost power within 2 to 3 years..."
"Hmm?"
"Ugh, since we are family, I won't hide it." Zarestia spoke seriously and gathered Orsted's attention.
"I'm going to throw my light sphere across the cascades of the Great waterfall. I made up my mind two months ago, I won't back down!" Zarestia caressed Orsted's scales on the neck, with a serious expression.
"....Do what you want." Orsted knew her well and was sure that he couldn't convince her anytime soon.
'A disappointment, that light sphere could have been used in many places. I will try to change her mind once later.' Orsted thought.
Originally, he planned on purifying it with [Rewrite] and then allow Zarestia to acquire it. But due to their growing relationship, her aversion towards the light sphere has climbed up to the level of disgust.
Zarestia would have kept her distance from it, if it weren't for the initial contract with Orsted.