"Like you said, you are a scholar and I am a warrior. You would be more versed in the use of words, and from your appearance, you are definitely more experienced due to your age. Although I do pride myself on my intelligence and talent, I do not wish to be deceived."
Ashvale studied him for a moment before replying, "I agree to this, Mister Artifact." Whatever plan he had to swindle his way out of the situation was now gone.
"Both Pseudo-masters have agreed to this pact. Should either of you lie, I am obligated to inform the other."
Both of them nodded.
Ashvale then said, "I can tell you are a smart young man, so I won't drag this out longer than necessary. I will willingly give up my master right."
Balmore was shocked. "Nobody in their right mind would give up such an artifact, even if their chance of dying was high... I mean 99%. As long as there's even a little chance of getting it, they would go for it."
"Well, I am a different man. As long as there is life, there is hope. I would rather live than waste my life. The only way I could have won through words was if we hadn't agreed to that pact and most of the ways you know I will not and vice versa. I can't win a fight either, so there's no point throwing my life away."
Balmore still looked at him sceptically, so Ashvale finally asked the artifact, "Mister Artifact, am I lying?"
"No, he is not lying. He did plan to deceive you, but given the condition you placed forward, he changed his mind."
"I see," Balmore said, pausing for a moment. "So what do you want in exchange? I am very sure you wouldn't do this for free."
"Yes," Ashvale replied. "You will owe me one or more favours... combined, they must be worth my half of the artifact. And should we meet again, we will go our separate ways and not try to kill each other."
Balmore paused for a few seconds. "I want to add that you cannot tell anyone about the artifact." He honestly wanted Ashvale to forget the meeting ever happened. he would only remember owing a favour, but not why. However, even he knew that Ashvale or anyone for that matter would ever accept such a condition.
"I accept," Ashvale said. "Mister Artifact, please send me back to my body and cut the connection."
"You no longer have a body… your body was destroyed in the journey here," the artifact replied.
"So, can you create another one?" Ashvale asked, his voice edged with something close to fear.
"Not unless I am fully recovered," the artifact replied calmly.
"And you can't begin recovering until the issue of having two masters is resolved?"
"Correct."
Ashvale let out a sharp breath. "I'll be damned… Can you shove me into another body?"
"No. Not unless the owner of that body is both willing and compatible with your soul frequency. That would be extremely difficult to find in such a short time… and I can't hold your soul much longer," the artifact said flatly.
Ashvale frowned, his mind racing. "Then what were you planning to do if I won?"
"Your soul frequencies are close enough. The loser's soul would be grounded, partially devoured by the victor, and I'd absorb the remaining energy to aid my recovery."
"How lucky," Ashvale muttered sarcastically.
"Oh no, not luck," the artifact corrected. "I never said your souls matched... only that they were close. The reason for that is because you're both linked to me. This was never about chance."
Ashvale's eyes narrowed. "Could another person link with you?"
"Impossible. The only reason it worked out before now was because I was split and I have no intention of going through that experience ever again. Besides, I doubt anyone else here could handle the connection."
At that moment, Balmore finally cut in. "So what do I gain if I devour him?"
"Your soul would strengthen meaning enhanced talent, enhanced traits, maybe even entirely new ones. But this would unfold gradually, to keep your mind from breaking under the strain."
"Hey, hey, hey…" Ashvale raised a hand. "Let's not rush to soul-devouring just yet, alright?"
"I don't see any other option," Balmore replied, tone cold and practical.
Ashvale locked eyes with him, thinking for a long moment before speaking again. "What if… instead of one destroying the other, we could share a body? that should be possible right?"
"No... as it is I will have to strengthen his body just for him to be able to keep a link with me... adding you to the equation is unrealistic." The artifact countered.
"What if instead of destroying anyone we all just combined... we are going to combine anyway, albeit more violently... right?" Ashvale proposed.
The artifact paused. "In theory… yes. With our three-way connection, it should work."
"Any real advantage?" Balmore asked, scepticism in his voice.
"Plenty," the artifact said. "Since no energy would be lost in conflict or absorption, the fusion would guarantee new traits. And with mutual consent, your combined soul would be stronger... far stronger, without the risk of madness even though it would be instant."
"But?" Balmore prompted.
"But my recovery will take longer since more energy will be expended to improve your body," the artifact admitted. "That can be easily offset with enough energy from resources you gather. The more serious issue would be personality clashes… though in this case, that might actually help."
Both men spoke in unison, "Explain."
The artifact didn't hesitate. "Ashvale is cautious. He weighs risk before making a move. Balmore, on the other hand, is for lack of better word reckless."
"What do you mean reckless?" Balmore asked, clearly offended.
"Your plan involving your father was reckless," the artifact said bluntly. "It could have ended disastrously… It did but you managed to reduce the damage by improvising and rerouting several times. You could have avoided it entirely by simply leaving and changing your representative later. The only reason you're still alive is luck."
"As for Ashvale, the moment he realized the odds were stacked against him, he was willing to give up a powerful artifact like me. That kind of thinking might not always win wars… but it sure does keep people alive."
The room fell silent for a beat as the weight of the words settled over them.
"Together," the artifact concluded, "you might just balance each other out."