The sky was lit with the sun's first rays, three figures stood at the edge of the meadow. A well rested and energetic Nid was doing some light stretching. Standing with him were Andrasyl and Emerwyn, who were there to see him off. This was the day of Nid’s departure and the start of his long journey. Yet drawn on the dryad and wood elf’s face, was irritation.

"Today is the day! I'm finally gonna start my quest." Nid said, excitement drawn across his face.

“That may be the case but thee needs to move out now.” Andrasyl commented, her usual calm not present.

“She’s right Nid, crossing Agiri Mountains in the dark would be suicide. Now where the hell is that fireball?!” Emerwyn fussed, as his eyes scanned the meadow.

“He said he just had to do something real quick.”

The night before while Nid was preparing for their journey. Santelmo came to him and asked to be released from the pact. He promised to be back, but needed to go back to his place and prepare. In Mahiterra, releasing a summon from a pact meant that they could teleport back home. Releasing a summon from his pact is done by casting ‘Unbound’, sub-spell under the summoning spell. Trusting his new friend, he freed Santelmo from his pact.

“Well he’s taking too long! You’re going to waste precious daylight.”

As if on cue, the fire elemental came blasting through the field. Santelmo was quite fast, closing the gap within seconds. Upon reaching them his flame died down, and was now really dim.

“Are you okay?” asked Nid, concern present in his eyes.

“Yes master, I was just tired from flying for too long.” answered Santelmo with a weary smile.“Would you be so kind as to re-enter a pact with me?” the summon added.

“Of course! You’re my summon now remember?” smiling at the tired fireball who’s flames lit a bit brighter upon hearing him.

“Thank you master! As a token of my appreciation I present you with my treasure.” he spewed a black ring.

“This is my heart, I offer it to you as proof of my fealty.” he offered with his head down and white eyes closed.

“Are you gonna be fine without it? I mean this is your heart right?”

“Yes master, normally, us elementals place our hearts in our territories. Which is why when we are unbound we can teleport back to our places immediately.”

“That means you can no longer go back to your place?”

“My place is alongside you master.”

“Stop calling me master, I have a name. Are you really sure you want to give . . . . ” noticing the look of determination from Santelmo’s face, he accepted the gift.

“If you’re really sure, then all right! Thank you Santelmo!”

Upon closer inspection, the ring was like dark and lustrous obsidian. The fractures in it were like fields during drought. These cracks glowed as if magma flowed inside the ring.

“This is beautiful, but won’t you be in more danger if I carry it around?”

“Don’t worry about it master, it’s not that easily destroyed.” reassured Santelmo, “besides if I die for you, it would be a good death.”

Nid seeing the loyalty and determination in Santelmo’s eyes, accepted that he won’t be able to change the summon’s mind.

“Fine! I’ll keep it, you’ve just placed a lot of pressure on me.” Nid said with a smile.

At this point, Emerwyn and Andrasyl pushed them to go. The irritation in them now replaced with a pleasant smile.

“Go now! You can talk while running!” Emerwyn said, while slightly giving Nid a push.

“Okay! Okay! We’re going! We’re going! Jeez! Just let me get some fire going for Santelmo to snack on.”

Nid pulled out a torch in his backpack, and lit it with flint like rock. As soon as the flame erupted, Santelmo immediately started sucking the fire. Making the summons dim body glow brighter bit by bit. Afterwards they all set off, Emerwyn and Andrasyl accompanying them until the edge of Gar’osi Forest.

They traversed the forest nimbly, like acrobats. At times, Emerwyn and Nid would race to a certain tree they’ve visited before. This was their backyard, they know the place in the back of their hands. It was past noon when they reached the edge of the forest.

“This is as far as we go, at least there’s still daylight, are you tired?” Emerwyn asked. “If you’re not then, better climb Agiri mountains fast. You wouldn't want to be ambushed in the dark, as I was.”

“Who knows if they’re still there? Haha.”

“This is not a joke young one. If Emerwyn was not able to defeat them all, you might have a hard time yourself.”

Emerwyn let out a sigh, “. . .Andrasyl . . I was injured even before I met those creatures. . . .” he explained trying to preserve his dignity though was ultimately ignored.

“Hmp! I’m not the one who almost died out there am I?”

“We better get going master. Light’s going to fade soon, we need to play it safe.” informed Santelmo, while looking at the light in the sky.

“You better not weigh him down, fireball!”

“Young one go! Explore! Have your fill of what this world has to offer, just don’t forget us. Santelmo, fire elemental of Nid, keep this dark elf safe for us.”

“Yes mistress! Master and I will come back here in one piece after we’ve done our quest.”

“I guess this is goodbye for now.” Nid ran towards Andrasyl wrapping his arms around her waist. “Thank you! Take care, I’ll be back!”

He then faced Emerwyn and gave him a quick jab in his body, “Take care of things here while I'm gone.”

Emerwyn put him in a headlock and ruffled his head in retaliation. "I was the one taking care of things here in the first place, you slacker. Hahaha."

"Hahaha. I'm not supposed to, I'm the boss." Slipping out of Emerwyn's hold "we better get going!"

They picked themselves up, and headed for the world outside. "Bye!" Nid shouted, while their figures get smaller at every step taken. Soon their silhouettes fade no longer be on sight.

"I guess it's the two of us again." Emerwyn stated with melancholy.

"Thee can go outside, this one is not limiting you to go out and explore." Andrasyl said, staring at the wood elf.

"Nah. My wandering days are over, I've found a new calling." He answered. "besides it wouldn't be much of an adventure if I go with them."

"Hmm. perhaps you're right." She smiled " let's go back Emerwyn"

They smiled at each other, as they turn and walk back to the meadow.

Meanwhile Nid and Santelmo continued on their journey. Nid looked a bit down the weather after leaving, silent and aloof. His summon not wanting his master to be sad, tried to ease his woe.

"Master, with me around you don't have to worry too much even if it gets dark. I'll light the way. Fufufu."

Nid snapped out of his inattentiveness, " huh? Oh. .uh . . Yeah. . Great."

"Are you having second thoughts master?"

"No, it's more of . . It's my first time out of the forest after I came here. I'm a bit nervous I guess, well. . That and I'm a bit homesick after leaving. Hah. ."

"I see. For me it's a bit different, I was born out of the essence of fire in Y’mona volcano. I’m one youngest of the fire elementals living there, as well as the weakest. I would always get teased for being born small and weak.”

Nid felt sorrow in Santelmo’s heart, having no home even if he was born in this world. Even if Santelmo had a rough life in his homeland, he was trying to console him.

“I only had two magic spells instead of fire mastery that most of my kin are born with. I was an outcast, which is why I took the first chance I got to leave my past away. That chance was given by you master, it’s also why I don't mind if you have my heart. So being homesick is not an issue for me, I only hope you’ll still keep me as your summon even if I am weak.”