The book woke up when I placed Sybil on top of it. A flood of information came to me.

[Quest completed: Find Sybil.]

[Rewards distributed: Soul Refinement Scripture Vol. 1-3, Auxiliary Art: Soul Reading, Auxiliary Art: Contracts]

[Host: James Hudson

Race: Devil

Age: 16

Cultivation: Tier 2 (1/4)

Cultivation Arts: Flint & Tinder Art (Tier-2)

Battle Arts: None

Minor Daos: Soul (22%), Devil (20%), Fire (14%)

Inborn Ability: Soul Eyes (Suppressed)

Auxiliary Arts: Blacksmithing (1), Soul Refining (2), Soul Reading (3) Contracts (3)]

[Quest: Attain Sybil's approval.]

[Reward: Realm portal to Tier-2 pocket world 'Tutan World' and access to book 'Exploiting Pocket Realms']

[Host must gain Sybil's approval through his own efforts.]

[Host is in a subservient contract. Purging contract from the host.]

[Meow, you can't cancel this cat's contract stupid book.]

[Purge failed. Changing the contract to be equal.]

[Contract as equals established.]

[Congratulations host has a new companion: Jurrath, Aspect of Mischief]

[Aspect Contract: Host must cook for Jurrath. In exchange, Jurrath will have a chef.]

[Meow, stupid book. He is a chef.]

[Host occupation changed to chef]

[Meow, excellent book.]

I was at a loss. It seems this mischievous cat even swindled my Codex. Even the Codex now had me listed as a chef. I am a young noble, not a chef!

"Meow, right, you are a chef," said the cat.

I ignored the cat. I looked at the little silver seed that was Sybil. Somehow I had to bind with it. I placed it in my hands and poured a bit of Soul qi into it.

A flash of light flooded my room and soon a sleeping beautiful little woman was in my hands. She was only 2 inches tall, fitting in the palm of my hand. She had insect-like wings on her back. She soon awoke and flew around looking at me questionably.

"Hey! Why did the stupid book choose you?" said Sybil.

"Hey, stop calling my Codex stupid! It has a great taste for choosing this young noble!" I said.

"Watch out! The mighty Codex of Souls is now in the hands of a little devil, barely even in the Knight realm," said Sybil.

"Listen! I bet the previous hosts are rolling in their grave."

She laughed eying the cat.

"So will you join me little beauty? The Codex says I have to get your approval," I said.

"Hey! Why do you deserve my approval devil?" said Sybil.

"Because I am a chef," I said.

"Meow, right, he's a chef," said the cat.

I wiped up a delightful meal for the little beauty, hoping to impress her. The little beauty enjoyed the meal and became elated.

"Hey! I acknowledge your efforts and approve of you," said Sybil.

[Quest completed: Gain Sybil's approval]

[Congratulations host has a new companion: Sybil, Aspect of Hope]

[Reward distributed: Realm coordinates to Tier-2 pocket world.]

What is a Tier-2 pocket world?

"Meow, Tier-2 pocket world means it's a world that only allows strength up to the peak of Tier-2."

"What happens if a Baron enters this realm?" I said.

"Meow, it restricts them to the peak of Tier-2 when inside of it."

"Listen! The cat is right, rarely would anyone at Tier-3 or above enter because people like you could kill them."

"Word, so if I go to this place I could become king? Why would anyone ever leave?" I said.

"Meow, you can't grow past Tier-2 there."

"Listen! It's much harder to raise Dao comprehension in a Tier-2 pocket world than a realm such as the Xertzul Abyss," said Sybil.

"People there spend their entire lives to reach the Knight realm. Where you are only 16 and not even very talented and a Devil Knight."

"Little pixie, my devilry is profound. Do not look down on me!" I said.

"Why would the stupid book reward me with a portal to a pocket world?"

"Meow, the stupid book wants you to get one of its pages," said the cat.

"Look! The stupid book only issues quests to help itself," said Sybil.

[Codex issues quests to foster host's growth. Please ignore the Aspects.]

[Chain quest issued: "Investigate the Tutan World."]

[Meow, this book has always been stupid ignore it!]

[Listen! Ignore the book, it's a glorified McGuffin!]

"Jurrath are you a part of the book like Sybil?" I said.

"Meow, you found me out! But you are forever chef!" said the cat.

[Can not change Host's occupation from a chef.]

"Hey! You let the stupid cat swindle you to being his chef when he is an Aspect of the Codex… You are a terrible host… That's like letting the servants run a house!" said Sybil.

I was livid. No wonder the stupid cat found me and started following me around. He was an Aspect of the Codex all along.

He made me sign that contract before I awoke Sybil. That way I wouldn't find out. I got swindled into being his chef forever.

No wonder he could read my thoughts, I bound the Codex to me. It had an intimate connection to me and could read my thoughts. The fat cat hoodwinked this young noble!

"Meow, this cat's too smart for you chef," said the cat.

"Meow, this cat's skill is Illusion Dao. I am not a fighting Aspect. So you better stay out of trouble!"

"Sybil what can you do? Jurrath seems powerful," I said.

"Listen, I can heal you if anyone injures you. Much more useful than the stupid cat that only knows how to eat, steal, and turn things into dogs!"

"Meow, this cat isn't a thief!" said the cat looking innocent.

"Hey! The stupid cat even blusters as a powerful demon, faking a 'hidden strong demonic aura'. His six-legged look is even fake! He's nothing but a mischievous fraud!"

"Meow, you're a fraud pixie. I don't know why I bothered to go get you. You're the least fun of the Aspects!" said the cat.

"Watch Out! His dog skill doesn't work on anyone who believes it will fail. So he blusters around having a mysterious 'fake demonic aura' on him."

"He turns the weak-minded into a dog first, giving him credibility as 'powerful and mysterious'."

"Listen! He attacks no one because that would give him away."

"Meow, stop letting him know this cat's playbook!" said the cat.

"How many Aspects are there?" I said.

"Meow, not sure," said the cat.

"Look! The book has existed for a long time. Much longer than you could comprehend," said Sybil.

"Aspects like us are born from the book. There are innumerable Aspects."

"Do you guys know the location of any?" I said.

"Meow, you are too weak to look for more Aspects! Be happy you are lucky enough to have two. Most hosts to the book have never even seen two," said the cat.

"Listen! You should read over 'Exploiting Pocket Realms' before heading there," said Sybil.

"Well, I guess that answers things," I said.

Let's dive into my quest rewards.

I looked over the [Soul Refining Scripture], as a Baron level Scripture it was much more comprehensive than the [Flint & Steel Art] I was using before. It would allow me to create a second Soul Servant with the [Electros Tortallis Art]. It required understanding of the Electric Dao and a turtle demon beast soul.

I could even refine souls to create skeleton minions with this scripture! This young noble can become a necromancer now!

I would put learning the [Soul Refining Scripture] behind him for a while. It seemed before he could start it he would have to glean insight into the Electric Dao.

That would require closed-door devilry and much study. I wasn't ready for that commitment when the [Flint & Tinder Art] could already take me to the top of the Knight realm.

The Soul Reading Art was more of an auxiliary art than a battle one. It let me look through the memories of recently departed souls. Soul searching someone who was still alive was much more difficult.

It was easy looking through the memories of a soul after I refined it and made it docile. The Soul Reading Art would serve me well going to such a strange place as the Tutan World.

"Why does the book want me to learn another Dao? I thought I only needed to learn Soul Dao to improve my devilry fast," I said.

"Meow, Daos have many complementary aspects. You learn supplementary Daos to improve your understanding of your primary Dao," said the cat.

"Listen! The books stupid but it wouldn't give you anything that wasn't helpful to you in improving your Soul Dao," said Sybil.

"Look! Only through doing that could you help repair it. It is a selfish book, remember?"

"I guess," I said.

I looked over the Contracts Art. The book engraved it into his head. I now knew how to establish contracts that bound the users by their souls. I could now officially start my organization!

I wonder what I should name my organization?

"Meow, call it cat's Sou Chefs," said the cat.

"Shut up, stupid cat!"

I finally could go against the cat that had bullied me for so long. Now that I knew this cat couldn't turn me into a dog anymore. I would no longer stand for its none sense. I would put this cat in its rightful place!

"Meow, you still don't understand. You are a dog," said the cat.

I quickly found myself a dog again.

"Listen, even if you understand the workings of the stupid cat's trick you can't escape the technique. You do not understand your Dao or the Illusion Dao enough to break it," said Sybil as she shook her head. Her host was so weak.

"Meow, just remember you are a chef," said the cat.

I must one day learn the Illusion Dao if only to make sure I would never be a dog!

"Oh, great and powerful cat lord. I will serve you faithfully as a chef!" I said.

"Meow, as long as you understand chef," said the cat.

~~~

Sybil was rolling her eyes. She didn't know how her new host got swindled by such a mischievous cat. She must stay by his side and make sure no one else takes advantage of him. Sybil had an upright and responsible personality.

That's why the book told him to find her and not Jurrath. Jurrath had no regard for civility. He would be a corrupt influence on his host. Decreasing the chance they would repair the book.

Together the two Aspects made a wonderful team, though. Sybil could restrain Jurrath.

~~~

I should go check on Kyle, it's almost been three months and I should have my first delivery of fel shards.

"It's time for this young noble to have his first official follower!" I said.