"Master?" Masaru said in a low voice, his eyes locked onto the little girl standing before him. Just moments ago, she had been a terrifying creature—radiating fear, hunger, and madness—but now she appeared as nothing more than an innocent child. And yet, her presence was no less overwhelming. In fact, her aura had grown even more intense, pulsing with a power that surpassed what she had previously displayed.
Then it struck him—Akane had mentioned she was a familiar. Not a normal one by any means, but a familiar nonetheless. Had she suddenly become contracted to him? Masaru wondered. Was it triggered by something unknown… or was there something deeper at play here?
