The sudden noise made Silf flinch so hard she almost fell out of the chair. She'd instinctively grabbed the sides of her head, curling forward protecting herself.
Her master quickly moved to comfort her, rubbing her back gently. She cringed at his touch but relaxed once she realized he wasn't going to hurt her. She offered a modest smile. It was hard given the current situation, but she managed. She still wasn't sure how she felt about everything going on.
Living here, with Magnius, probably meant a better life then she'd ever known. But what about once the collar was gone? Where would she go? She had no real life skills or experience outside of manual labor or servitude.
Magnius paused looking up from the scroll. "It'll solve all the current problems at hand." He said, returning to writing. Periodically dipping the quill in an inkwell. "Silf will have a permanent place to stay. You'll be resolved of ownership and I can further my studies, eventually leading to her freedom." He said calmly motining to Silf.
The mage looked up and directly to Silf. "That collar defies my current understanding of how Runes should work." His voice deepened. Like he was issuing a threat. "And I want it." He stood setting the quill aside at last. "But I can't have it without also having you." He moved from behind the desk.
Silf's eyes flashed yellow with fear. Her hand gripping at the collar that hugged her flesh. She felt a cold chill run across her flesh as he approached. It was terrifying how drastic the shift in his voice had been. She felt rooted to the chair. What was about to happen?
Magnius was now holding the scroll out for all to see. He released it yet it stayed in place. Hovering in the air. She couldn't read but could tell whatever was written on it wasn't written in Rune.
Runes were a common sight. Anything magical had them engraved somewhere. This was the commonly used language between the different races she knew but she only recognized a few letters.
Magnius then pulled a quill from thin air. No, teleported it. It was quick but she saw as the one he now held had materialized, the other on his deck had vanished. That only confirmed her suspicions of his power. He made it look effortless, trivial even.
"This is a Contract Codax." His voice was suddenly calm, soothing, caring again. "If you will allow me, I'll take ownership of you," He began. "But that choice is yours to make."
Silf looked between him, Zyom, and the still hovering scroll. She didn't even know what a contract was. It seemed important, powerful even. Even still, there was a problem. One she wasn't sure she could resolve herself, "Sir, I'm illiterate," She said gingerly, feeling her hands grasping the robes at her lap.
Magnius sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "It figures you can't read." He said solemnly. There was a pause before he continued again. "Let me explain then."
"This is a magically binding contract. If you sign it, it is a guarantee of your safety, care, and of your eventual freedom." He pointed to each line of text as he spoke. She assumed to indicate which line meant what. "It's an unbreakable promise. As long as you're in my care, I will be forced to provide these things."
"It outlines that I can not hit you, deny your basic needs, Sell you, or refuse any reasonable request without proper consideration." He then turned to the scroll and began to write once more.
The parchment didn't give despite not having any visible support. Nor did the quill rip or stab through it. "And now," He said, pulling the quill away. "It promises a proper education as well."
Silf felt her jaw go slack. "An education? You'll teach me to read and to write?" This was a joke right? No way this was real!
Magnius nodded with a soft smile. "Yes, Silf. I'll personally ensure you're taught to read, write, basic mathematics, and if you have the aptitude for it, magic as well."
Magnius offered the quill once more. Waved a hand and the scroll moved closer to her. "The Codex doesn't need you to know how to write. A simple line will suffice."
Silf cautiously took hold of the quill. She looked to her master for permission. Would he actually allow it? He nodded. Her eyes shifted. From yellow to a bright vivid mixture of blue and green.
Like the sky on a cloudless summer day. Grass covered with the cool mist of an autumn morning. "The choice is yours to make Silf," Zyom said, setting a hand on her shoulder.
She stood. Quill in hand. This was it, right? She was about to make the design of a lifetime. A promise of freedom. A future. A life of her own. Freedom was a promised future held before her now. Not a fleeting delusion or passing idea.
But something held her back. Could she trust that what he said was written here was real? Maybe it was a trick or some sort? "Wait." She pulled her hand away, just inches from setting ink to parchment. "How can i trust this isn't a lie?"
"A reasonable question." He answered, crossing his arms. "In truth, with your inability to read, I can't dispel those fears. All I can offer you is my word. For what little value that may hold. You don't need to sign right away. You can think about it. My offer will stand. In the meantime, however, your options are limited. You'll be left in my care no matter what, at least for a short while."
Silf swallowed thinking about her options. If the choice was her's, and it truly seemed it was, then her options were to be sold again or live here with Magnius as her new master. "Then can I make a request sir?" Magnius nodded. "No giving me commands."
Magnius closed his eyes considering the request for a moment. "I'm afraid I can't. At least not in such a simplistic fashion. Circumstances may arise where I'll be left with little choice but to give an order, be it for your own safety or something else unforeseeable."
Silf lowered her gaze. He sounded sincere enough but still. It cast doubt on his honesty and trustworthiness to hear his refusal. She considered maybe taking more time to think about the offer but he began speaking again.
"I can however promise no commands for personal gain or that would put you in danger. As well as promise not to infringe on your own personal freedoms of choice. That way you'll be free to come and go as you please, dress however you want, and the like." Magnius said reading to add those conditions to the contract as well.
Silf nodded, watching as he took the quill back and added that to the contract as well. Conditions were better than outright refusal. It led her to believe he was being honest at the very least. She could trust him. It was honestly better then expected considering she had no real say in the matter.
"If we're all in agreement then?" Zyom asked. No one disagreed. "I assume the contact can't take effect unless you've taken ownership?"
Magnius nodded, producing a single gold coin. A Slavers coin. She recognized it right away. How could she not? "Correct." They both looked to Silf asking an unspoken question. She swallowed and nodded in turn.
Silf watched as Zyom, her current master, took the coin and felt ownership exchange from Elf to Human. The collar glowed and it felt warm. She closed her eyes as the magic washed over her, like warm water.
Opening her eyes, and looking at Magnius, her new master. She felt it. He was now her master. Her owner. The man whose orders she would have to obey. Willing or not. Now wasn't the time for those sorts of thoughts.
Offering the quill back, Magnius quickly pointed to a line drawn across the bottom corner of the parchment. "When you're ready."