I sit there staring at the floating creature for another few seconds. Impatience clearly visible on its draconic face. My brain keeps firing thoughts at me non-stop, but I’m still unable to process what’s going on. Finally, I realize that I haven’t been breathing and take a deep breath.

  I smile weakly. “Um, I’m sorry?”

  The creature zooms around in a wide dramatic circle, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, you’re sorry? Then I guess it’s okay that my freedom has been stripped away from me.” It starts speaking to the space around us as if there is an audience. “It’s okay everyone, he’s sorry. It’s not a big deal at all!”

  Guilt weasels its way into my chest. “No, really I’m very sorry. I didn’t realize that I was taking your freedom away from you. I didn’t know that you didn’t want to bond with me.”

  The creature stops mid-circle and just stares at me. “What part of zipping away from you, dodging all the other spirits and trying to escape shouted ‘hey, I want to bond with you’?”

  Huh, that’s a really good point… All the other spirits were just sitting there, but this one was actively dodging me. I rub my head, feeling ashamed of my lack of thought. “Well, to be honest I thought that was part of the trial—also I was having a really hard time thinking because I was running out of oxygen. I really am sorry, is there a way to undo the bond and put me back in the trial?”

  It looks at me for a few seconds before turning its body to fully face me. It sighs deeply, then shakes its head. “Nope, no way to cancel the bond without grievously hurting both of us. I guess we better make the most out of it and you really need to step it up on your progression because that’s the only way I’ll grow.”

  I’m surprised by the sudden shift in tone from the creature, but decide that I should just go with it for now. “Um, yeah, okay. By the way, I’m Camden. What’s your name?”

  “I don’t have one yet. Weapon spirits usually receive their name from their first bond and that’s you. So, whatcha got? Also I reserve the right to veto any stupid names you try to give me like leafy, or drago, or anything like that.”

  Hmm, well there go my first two name ideas. I ponder it for a few seconds but really nothing is coming to mind. It’s a dragon plant weapon spirit, I feel like that is a super niche group and there should be something pretty obvious to name it, but nothing is coming to me right now. Do I want the name to fit more in line with my class? Or do I want to think of something a little more original for it? Based on the other weapon spirits, this little guy will far outlive me.

  I clear my throat and raise my hand a little bit. “I have an idea, but if you don’t like it just let me know and I can keep thinking on it. How do you feel about ChaLong?”

  Its eyes flash and a wide smile cracks across its face. “I love it! And you could call me ChaCha as like a nickname and all of the other spirits will be soooo jealous! Hey, you’re smarter than you look!”

  Yeah, that was definitely an insult to me. “Great, I’m glad that you like it. Um, by the way, where are we?”

  ChaCha stops his rambling and looks around. “Oh, this is my Spirit Space. All of my power originates from here and the stronger the ambient mana becomes here the more power I will be able to reflect into your world. Since my name is sorted out, I guess I should learn more about you and what you’re looking for in a weapon spirit.”

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  He pauses for a second looking at me like I’m supposed to say something, but I just sit there looking at him not sure where to start. The silence drags on for a few seconds and finally I shrug. “I use a monk’s spade.”

  ChaLong nods his head thoughtfully. “Okay, that’s a unique weapon, but I don’t think it will be a problem for me to turn into something that will be useful for you. What kind of mana do you use?”

  “I have a major affinity for water and minor affinities for earth and wind. My inheritance utilizes primary wind and earth though.”

  He thinks for a second. “Yeah that should work, those are all components of my plant mana so there should still be a pretty good resonance between us. Hopefully this isn’t a deal-breaker for you, but the longer we are bonded, the more your mana will take on plant properties.”

  I nod along, but in my head I am ecstatic. “Yeah, that should work. My class is based around tea and herbs so I think having plant aspects to my mana will actually help me progress nicely.”

  ChaCha smiles widely. “Good, this is all working out then. Last thing, I don’t know how familiar you are with growth type spirits.” He pauses for a second, so I shake my head letting him know that I’m clueless. “Well, we start off just as weak as a common spirit, but we are able to grow even stronger than a legendary if certain conditions are met. Those conditions are different for each spirit, but for me it's to build a really strong garden here in my Spirit Space.” With that he gestures to the empty fields around us.

  “As you can see, I’m starting from scratch, so I won’t be much help to you early on. But, if you bring me spirit herb seeds or clippings that I can propagate then I will be able to grow stronger quickly.”

  I ask a few questions. “Does the strength of the spirit herb or the size of the clipping make a difference in how strong you get? Also, do you need me to do anything other than get the herbs?”

  ChaLong seems happy with my questions, as if he wasn’t expecting me to take his growth seriously. “Size of the clipping doesn’t really matter, it needs at least two buds on it for me to properly propagate it, but the strength of the spirit herb is the number one importance from the get-go. Since I’m really weak right now, I can’t handle anything rarer than an uncommon herb, but as I grow that will change.”

  Since I get herbs on a monthly basis, it should be pretty possible to save some clippings for ChaLong and still be able to brew some teas for my own growth. That train of thought leads me to one last question. “After the herbs grow in your garden, am I able to harvest any for my own use?”

  ChaCha thinks for a long time before answering. “No, you can’t harvest them.” My face drops, there goes unlimited herbs for my training, but before I can fully wallow the dragon keeps talking. “But I can and I can manifest them in your world.”

  My eyes widen and the toothiest grin I’ve ever made spreads across my face. The possibilities flash through my mind at the insane growth I will be able to experience once we get ChaCha’s garden going. I will have to think hard about the first herbs we pick out because as soon as they grow I will have access to a much larger reserve of resources.

  I look at the young dragon, he seems a lot happier with our new arrangement after we’ve had the chance to talk. I don’t think he was expecting me to take his growth so seriously, but his Spirit Space will be the key for both of our improvements.

  I give him a bright, genuine smile. “ChaCha, I think this partnership will grow into something very profitable for both of us. I will need your help picking out some herbs real soon.”

  I stop for a second and look around. “Also, how do I get out of here?”

  The dragon holds up his pointer finger as if telling me to wait. Then the world goes black and I find myself lying on the floor of the trial room Croff left me in with a new monk’s spade lying by my side. The shaft of the weapon is made out of a dark green woody material. The blade is made out of a pale metal and looks like a curved draconic tooth with an orchid flower stamped out in the middle of the blade. The hook on the bottom is made out of the same pale metal, but it looks like two crossed leaves with their stems wrapping back around the shaft. I admire the weapon for a few more seconds, swinging it around a few times to get used to its weight and length. ChaCha, you make quite the nice weapon.