The Married Life Of Immortals

As Bane moved to follow Madam Dory, he noticed that Wei Nam Lee wasn't following him. Turning back, Bane gave the other boy a questioning look. "Don't like rats?"

Wei Nam Lee chuckled but shook his head. "Sorry, that's not it. I just have a lot on my mind after meeting Senior Mizuage. It's kind of like meeting an idol if you know what I mean?"

Bane nodded. "I see, and I suppose you are now thinking about tomorrow, right?"

Wei Nam Lee returned the nod. "Yeah, so I think I will just meet you there in the morning. I want to pour over my notes so I don’t look like a fool tomorrow. Plus, with your new body, some rats shouldn't be a problem for you."

Bane smiled, then put his hand out to Wei Nam Lee. "Thank you, seriously. Because you're willing to help me, I’ve already gotten a lot stronger, even if I am still in a child's body."

Wei Nam Lee took Bane's hand with a smile and shook it. "Don't worry. I just want you to be able to finish the quest I gave you. If you can do that, then any amount of effort on my part will pale compared to what completing this quest will mean to me."

With that, Wei Nam Lee let go of Bane's hand and left. Bane sighed, then turned back to the store where Madam Dory was still standing, but she was giving Bane a curious look. It almost felt like she was trying to probe him with some magic, so Bane put his hand up to stop her.

"I would advise against trying to scan me or look into my mind or body with any kind of magic. There is a sleeping bear inside of me that doesn't like to be disturbed," Bane explained, and Madam Dory smiled.

"I have heard about that. No, I was just trying to see if you had any fates that aligned with the stars, but even that seems to be blocked from me. You do have a fate, but what it is, or where it will take you is unknown to me at this time," Madam Dory explained, then waved one of her yellow sleeves for Bane to follow.

Inside the shop, a sense of mysticism and wonder filled the air. Shelves lined with various jars, bottles, and trinkets, each seemingly more peculiar than the last, surrounded them. The shop had a quaint charm, with the scent of incense and herbs mingling in the air. The walls were adorned with celestial maps, astrological charts, and hanging lanterns that emitted a soft, ethereal glow. In one corner, a large, ornate telescope pointed towards a window that offered a glimpse of the night sky.

"Dorlidia's Astral Emporium," Bane read from a sign above the counter, which had a moon and stars on it.

Madam Dory, despite her childlike appearance, moved with the grace and authority of someone much older. Her oversized yellow robe swayed as she led Bane deeper into the shop. Her personality seemed to shift like the wind; one moment, she was serious and contemplative, the next, whimsical and playful.

They reached a door at the back of the shop, leading down to the basement. "Before we go down there, you’ll need a weapon. The rats in the cellar are no ordinary pests," Madam Dory said, her voice suddenly taking on a more serious tone. "Do you have one?"

Bane shook his head. "No, I don’t."

Madam Dory smiled, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous light. "Then it’s a good thing I have just the thing for you." She led him to a cabinet in another room and opened it to reveal an array of weapons, each with an otherworldly aura. "These are Astral Soul Weapons. Each one has a soul bound to it and will scale with its owner. Choose wisely, for the weapon you select will form a soul contract with you."

Bane's eyes widened as he looked over the weapons. There were swords, spears, daggers, and even more exotic weapons like chakrams and war fans. Each weapon seemed to call to him differently, their souls reaching out to him.

One weapon, or a set of weapons caught his eye: a set of throwing knives that looked as though they reflected the glow of midnight. Bane walked over to reach for the knives, but as he did, what looked to be a pair of shortened katanas beside the knives shook slightly. Bane moved his hand in the other direction to the swords, and when he got close, the knives shook. Bane frowned at this and then tried to grab a mace that was sitting on the other side of the swords, and both the swords and knives started to shake.

Noticing this, Madam Dory started to laugh. "This is interesting! I have never seen an astral soul so willing to submit, let alone two! Do you know anything about these weapons that have seemed to chosen you as their master? Do you know the value of such a thing? I had only planned on lending you them-"

At the mention of being only lent out, both weapons burst into light and then absorbed into the plain red circle on the top of Bane's hand. When the light faded, the number had changed from a one to a three.

Cold sweat started to form on his back as he slowly looked up into the shocked Madam Dory's face, though it didn't last long. In the next second, Madam Dory grabbed Bane, and dragged him out of the room, slamming the door behind them. After that, Bane got on the floor and put his head down.

"Madam Dory! I am so sorry!" Bane apologized profusely, all the while going crazy inside. He had wanted both, but that was clearly not what the woman had intended. Now, he had taken more shit without even meaning to, and had yet to finish the job!

Madam Dory let out a sigh. "Get up. It was not your fault, but I had to get you out of there before any more of my collection tried to jump ship! Just what kind of ability do you have that lets you form a contract with a soul just because they want to?! You should have had to drip some of your blood on them at the very least!"

Bane slowly stood up, still feeling a mix of confusion and awe at what had just happened. Madam Dory regarded him with a mix of curiosity and exasperation, shaking her head slightly.

"Well, now that the deed is done," she began, "I suppose I should tell you about the weapons and the souls within them."

She led Bane to a small sitting area surrounded by shelves filled with ancient tomes and odd artifacts. With a wave of her hand, a couple of chairs slid out, and they both sat down. Madam Dory took a deep breath before beginning her explanation.

"First, let's start with the throwing knives. Their name is Agarta, the Drunken Swashbuckler. Agarta was once a legendary rogue, known for his skill in throwing knives and his uncanny ability to hit any target, no matter the distance or obstacle. He was also infamous for his love of alcohol, which earned him his moniker. His soul imbues these knives with his exceptional marksmanship and a unique ability to alter their trajectory mid-air, making them incredibly difficult to dodge. However, Agarta's soul also carries his love for drink, which might occasionally cause the knives to behave unpredictably if not handled with a steady hand."

Bane listened intently, absorbing every detail. He could feel the faint presence of Agarta within him, a playful yet deadly spirit eager to showcase his skills.

"And the short swords?" Bane asked, his curiosity piqued.

Madam Dory nodded. "Ah, yes. Those are known as Kyōka and Yume, the Twin Blades of the Moonlit Night. Kyōka, the Resplendent Flower, was a master swordsman who wielded the power of the moon. His blade is sharp and precise, channeling lunar energy to enhance its cutting power. Yume, the Dream Weaver, was Kyōka's partner, and her blade carries the ability to cast illusions, confusing and disorienting her foes. Together, the Twin Blades create a harmonious balance of power and trickery, making them formidable weapons in the right hands."

Bane felt the distinct presence of Kyōka and Yume within him as well, their energies intertwining yet distinct, ready to aid him in battle.

Madam Dory leaned back, her expression softening. "These weapons have chosen you, Bane. That is no small feat. The souls within them must see something in you, something worthy of their power and trust."

Bane nodded slowly, still trying to wrap his head around the magnitude of what had happened. "Thank you for explaining, Madam Dory. I promise to use these weapons wisely and honor the spirits within them."

Madam Dory smiled a hint of amusement in her eyes. "I'm sure you will, Bane. Now, let's deal with those rats in the cellar. They may not be as glamorous as astral soul weapons, but they're a nuisance that needs to be dealt with."

She stood up and led Bane to the basement door once more. "Remember, the rats down there are not ordinary. Some of them might have absorbed a bit of spiritual energy from the environment, so be cautious."

Bane nodded, gripping the handle of the door. He could feel the energy of Agarta, Kyōka, and Yume coursing through him, ready to be unleashed.

As he descended the stairs into the dimly lit cellar, the sounds of scurrying rats reached his ears. The air was thick with the musty scent of old wood and damp earth. Bane took a deep breath, focusing on the task at hand.

"Alright, let's do this," he muttered to himself, drawing one of the Twin Blades, Kyōka, the Resplendent Flower. The blade glowed faintly in the darkness, illuminating the area around him.

The first rat appeared, its eyes glowing an unnatural green. It was larger than any rat Bane had ever seen, its fur bristling with energy. Without hesitation, Bane hurled one of Agarta's throwing knives, watching as it curved mid-air, but to Bane's dismay and horror, the rat caught it between the toes of one of its paws.

This was the moment that Eve decided to speak up in Bane's head. "I don't think these are normal rats."

'Oh for the love of god! You are so helpful in these situations!' Bane raged back as he was forced to dodge his weapon that was thrown back at him.