Chương 390: Chapter 363. Harry The Owl

" An... An owl? Are you an owl? Where did the T-Rex go?"" Ow... My head... Why'd you have to hit the tree so hard? My legs are still shaking from the tremor it caused..." I took a look at the scene in front of me, the owl continued to stroke its head with his wings as if they were hands. its feathers were brown, like the bark of these trees we're next to, with black dots that formed a pattern that looked like small candle flames all around its body.

Its eyes were a pale-yellow, it was so pale that I could confuse it for the color of a full moon. Wait!... It's wearing glasses too? What an interesting bird to look at..." Hey, are you okay?" The owl's teary eyes began to glare at me as he noticed that I was still here." No! No! I'm not okay! First, I get dragged here! Miles from my home! Then, a Human comes along because I guess I was unlucky and was chosen for the random encounter! And now!

After I tried to scare you off, you punch the tree I was hiding on, and I land on my head! You absolute brute! What the Elders say about you lot is all true!" It seems that I've made the owl go on a rant, I can see the tears running down its eyes as it glares. That fall must've really hurt him. I can see a bump forming on the owl's head. I feel pretty bad about hitting the tree now. I guess I should help him out..." Hey! Wait! What are you doing!?" I raised my hand and started to channel my mana." You barbarian!

Savage! Brut-"" Holy Heal." The Spell left my palm and softly sank into the owl's body. I could see the fresh bump on his head reduce in swelling immediately. I could see on the owl's now surprised face, that the pain was gone and I can see it asking itself "why?" inside its mind. It was almost comical to see the expressions on its face shift. I think I should take the moment now to introduce myself." I think an introduction is in order.

My name is John Ericsson, I'm a Paladin, like I said before, hence why I could heal you right now. Could I ask for your name now?" The owl looked at me with surprise on its face, then it started to understand the words I used." M... My name is Harry..." Oh... It's a boy... I thought for sure that it was a girl judging by his voice... I guess he must be young? Or he just naturally has a high voice?" Okay, nice to meet you, Harry. Now, with that finished, could you tell me where the T-Rex went?

I thought that it might've wanted me to show my strength to form a Contract with me, but then it disappeared."" T-Rex? You mean the Ancient Drake?"" Ancient Drake? Ah... I'm also an Otherworlder, where I'm from, that creature was called a "T-Rex". They were extinct in my time though... But we've been able to recreate what they look like and with that, pretty much every kid I knew and know of thinks that they're really cool. The species was called "Dinosaurs" by us as well. Are you getting any of this?"" An...

Otherworlder? And... A Paladin?" Harry was surprised by my being an Otherworlder apparently. Or is it my being a Paladin? Either way, he looked shocked by them both. I wonder if I'm ever going to get an answer?" Hey! Come back down to Gaia, Harry." /Snap! Snap! / I snapped my fingers a few times to get his attention back, it seemed to have worked." Wait... Mr. Paladin... I mean... John... What are you doing here, then?"" Well... I have a 2nd Job, it's Summoner. I was Meditating and then I found my way to you...

Or that T-Rex first." Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there." There was no T-Rex, John." Harry finally started to explain things." John... I'm... I'm what's called an Illusionist Owl."" You can make illusions then? That's your ability? Cool."" Yeah... Cool..." Harry didn't seem to think of my compliment as anything special. This made me wonder why?" Are you okay? Do you not like being able to cast illusions?"

I asked the question in the most direct way I could. It looked like the question made him somewhat uncomfortable." I... I do like being able to use Illusion Magic... Even if I'm an amateur in comparison to the Elders."" What do you mean "amateur"? I thought the T-Rex was really there after all."" No... I mean, yes. I can make it appear that something is there, but the most Skilled of us can make you smell, taste and even feel the illusion.

I've heard stories of Owls that were able to cause men to die in battle with illusions of swords and axes piercing their enemies. The Elders say that it's possible to do. But I'm a "late bloomer" in comparison to my age group."" Well, how do you get better at illusions, Harry?" Harry looked at me somewhat tentatively before he answered." By... Using them... The traditional way is to study and train... And form a Contract with a Summoner."" You can get stronger just from forming a Contract?""

Technically yes, a Spirit can gain a power boost based on the quality of a Summoner. However, this is based on many different factors. The biggest being the Quality and Quantity of the Contracts that the Summoner has made... Has no one explained this to you?"" Yes, but Lily didn't really... Explain it well..."" Lily? Wait! Queen Lily!?"" Yes, Lily, the Rose Queen of the Spirit Forest. She's my 2nd Contracted Spirit." Harry was surprised to hear those words from me." That would make sense...

She's quite isolationist when it comes to Humans... Or at least that's what the Elders told me." With that out of the way, I think I have the perfect solution to Harry's problem." So, Harry, in short, you're only missing out on being Contracted to a Summoner, if that's the case, why not form a Contract with me?" Harry's eyes shifted from a neutral stare to a glare again." What?"" It's just that... Queen Lily isn't the only one who wants nothing to do with Summoners anymore.""

Do the Illusionist Owls have an issue with Summoners? Why?" Harry's expression continued to leak distrust and a bit of anger. He took a moment to calm himself before speaking to me." It's because of what Summoners have made us do. We spend our lives perfecting our Skills and what do we get? Summoners seek us out to create specific illusions for them!"" Specific illusions? Like what?"" Like naked mates!"" WHAT!?"" And then... To hear what you guys do to them... Indignance isn't even a strong enough reaction!""

And then... When they've finished with what they wanted... They wish to chase a stronger sensation... The things I've heard from my Elders... Disgust isn't a strong enough reaction or word to use." It looks like Harry is reliving some very traumatic memories... To think they'd ask for something like that? What the hell is wrong with people?" Because of such things... The breaking of a Contract became a must for us!"" Yes, that's understandable."

Having to think about what the Illusionist Owls must've gone through is quite sickening... While I was thinking about that, another thought crossed my mind." Hey... Harry... How old are you?" This was the wrong question." What!? Do you think because I sound young that's an issue!? I'll have you know that I'll be 7 this year! In terms of years for an Owl, I'm already much older than a 20-year-old Human! Besides, us Illusionist Owls can live for millennia!"

I think I remember reading somewhere that owls reach sexual maturity around 1 or 3 years old... So, I guess he isn't lying. Having said that... I still think something like what I'm imagining is a bit too much to be telling a 7-year-old... Or younger depending on when these "Elders" told him these things." Okay, I apologize for assuming you'd be too young."" Right!" Harry seemed to accept my apology with a standoffish reply. I'm glad that he's not really angry anymore... But this still isn't over."

So, having said all of that, why would it be a problem to Contract with me, if you're able to break it whenever you want?"" Because I won't be able to break it until I'm brought back here, in the Spirit World. Some of my Brothers and Sisters are still in Gaia. Forced to be used for their Contractor's sick thrills. How could I possibly subject myself to something like that?"" Well, you wouldn't be."" How can I know?" His question was a puzzle to me... I needed to think for a moment..."

See, you have no answer for me!"" What if we Contract and then you speak to the other Spirits I'm Contracted to? Then you can make your decision. Even if I were to break this promise to you, there's no way that Lily would just stand by while I abuse you, right?" Harry cocked his head to his left side, like a dog who doesn't quite understand what he's seeing. I could see that he was thinking hard about my proposition." You really won't go back on your word?" Harry looked at me with the look of an unsure child...

Yeah, looks like even if he's a middle-aged owl, he's still a kid in Human years." I won't, I swear on the God who granted me her Favor." I stuck my hand out for a handshake. It took a minute, but eventually a quite soft and warm wing entered my palm. I could feel Harry's mana pour into me to begin the Contracting process. I did the same and in no time at all, I've gained a new Friend.