Ever since this world existed, Iferes have been roaming it. They were the first to appear, and would be there until the end of time.

Some called them animals, some called them monsters. Others called them devils and spirits. The truth was, Iferes were living beings like any others. In a way, humans were Iferes too, although they had a superior intellect than most.

They came in all forms, and were countless. New ones were discovered every day, on the deepest parts of the oceans, or the highest summits. No matter where you looked, no matter how hostile and inhospitable, they were there.

The old books said that once, countless years ago, in the era of legends and myths, Iferes and humans lived in an endless war, against each other, and between themselves. Blood was shed every day, and all living beings fought for survival.

Then, suddenly, the twelve Mystic Iferes, the most powerful of them all, decided it was enough. They were tired of seeing their kind slaughter each other. They wanted to end it, but realized it was impossible to do so without the consent and help of the humans.

As such, those Mystic Iferes chose a human each, amongst the most powerful of their kind. The humans were also tired of the endless struggle for survival, and, together with the Mystic Iferes, announced that era had come to an end.

But, how should they make it happen? Words were not enough. Two of the Iferes, masters of the elements of space and spirit, joined their power, and created a contract. A contract so powerful that not even the Mystic Iferes could break it. A Spirit Contract. Once bound by a Spirit Contract, neither of the two parties could break it, nor could they harm each other in any way. Even the thought of doing so would be erased the moment it appeared. The only way to escape the contract was the death of one of the beings who signed it.

After the creation of the Spirit Contracts, the world met an era of peace. Conflicts still existed, but now, they were solved in a different way. The twelve Mystic Iferes disappeared from the world, and the twelve humans became the first rulers of what were now the Great Kingdoms. With time, history faded into legends, and even those became blurry.

Millions of years passed, and the world evolved. Technology developed, humans and Iferes became partners. Humans had the intellect, while Iferes had the power. They lived harmoniously, and were happily ever after.

...

"Uff..."

With a sigh, Drake closed the book, and put it into his backpack. He loved to read it when he was a child, and loved it even more when his mom read it for him before he went to bed. When he was young, he might have believed that there was a happy ending, but not anymore.

Giving his old house one last look, he put the bag on his shoulders, stepped out, and locked the door. Who knew how long would it be before he returned home?

Pulling up a cab, he entered the vehicle. It was a triangular-shaped wooden structure, powered by an Ifere species called Rootler. In fact, the whole cab was the Rootler. This Ifere looked like a ball made of vines and twigs, and was exceptionally strong. It's most incredible and useful ability, however, was the fact that it's body could take almost any shape, and walk on nearly any surface, including vertical ones.

It's partner, the second party on the Spirit Contract, was probably the owner, or a worker of the cab company, and was a long distance away.

"To Blue Coral University."

"Rrrr... Ach."

The Rootler made a small rumbling noise, and started moving. It was incredibly smooth, since the vines that made up most of it's body would find every fault on the road, and fill it, ensuring that the rest of it's body, where Drake sat, would always stay perfectly stable.

Looking outside, Drake was lost in thought for the entire journey. Cars, powered by electricity, other Rootlers, and many other humans and Iferes passed outside. Blue Coral was a huge city, with skyscrapers touching the clouds, and everything one needed, but silence.

Drake's house was in the north sector of the city, in a somewhat wealthy part of it. He never had any problems with money, thanks to his mom's job, but that wasn't much of a consolation. He would have preferred to be poor, but still have her. No amount of money in the world could fill the void left by her death.

She had been an engineer on one of the many copper and iron mines around the city. It was also where she met his father, who was just a miner. He had died when Drake was only four, in a landslide. She had died a few years after that, attacked by a wild Ifere. Drake didn't know which. Hundreds had died that day. The cause of the attack? A nest of underground Iferes had been destroyed during the digging of a new mine, which many engineers, including his mom, had advised against. The owners of the mines went bankrupt, but that didn't bring any of the dead back.

Shaking his head, Drake expelled those thoughts, because he had arrived. After paying the Rootler, he entered the huge, almost cathedral-like building that was Blue Coral University. Students of all ages entered and left the campus. Iferes weren't allowed inside after a nasty incident a few hundred years ago, when the university was first created. Surprisingly, the rule was still standing after all those years.

Greeting those that he knew along the way, Drake went straight towards the professors' wing, and entered an office. An old man, with grey hair, and a wrinkled face, greeted him with a sad smile.

"So, you made your decision."

"Yeah. I finished my classes, and graduated, like my mother wanted, but this life isn't for me. At least not yet. Thank you for everything, grandpa."

The man nodded, and got up, before giving Drake a tight hug. His mother's father, Caleb, had been watching over Drake ever since he lost his parents. He tried to make him give up on his crazy idea many times, but it was useless. Still, up till now, he had a small hope his grandson would think better.

"Then, at least have you thought about my offer?"

"Of course. I can't leave without taking your present. Haha!"

Both of them smiled, and left the room. Caleb guided Drake to one of the many side buildings around Blue Coral University. There, they took an elevator down, until they arrived in a series of labs. Many scientists, and Iferes of all kinds were there. That was the only place in the university where Iferes were allowed.

Some of the Iferes were companions of the scientists, while others were test subjects. His grandfather took him across the rooms, until they arrived in one where two women in lab coats were handling some kind of liquid. When they saw Drake, they dropped what they were doing, and smiled sweetly.

"So, you decided to go forth with that crazy plan of yours, hum?"

"You know me, Celia. I can't stay still."

"Hehe. So, have you made your choice already?"

Drake nodded seriously, and Celia and her colleague looked at each other, before taking off the piece of cloth that covered a cage.

"So, which one will it be?"