When I saw that the 5 were beside us and that the rest were still in black and white, I thought I was going to die.
Shit.
I jumped and got between Igor and the hostess.
When she saw my reaction, the hostess laughed.
—Don't worry, I won't kill you. We better change places.
The hostess snapped her fingers and we appeared on individual couches.
To my left was Igor, in front of us, sitting also, the hostess and behind her the 4 guards seated. But the guards stopped being calm and relaxed. They even seemed to be talking to each other, but I couldn't hear what they were saying.
—Well, now, Igor and Caelum. What do I do with you? Especially with you, Cam? Can't you go on with the game without asking so many questions?
I smiled. I was nervous. I could feel a drop of sweat slip off my face.
With the corner of my eye, I saw how Igor remained serious and serene. As if he was used to looking death in the face. I am however almost trembling with fear.
—You don't have to be so nervous, Cam. I don't bite.
—It says who, if she wants, could kill me without being able to do anything.
I answered the hostess.
—Well, I won't say it isn't true, but I won't. I brought you here for another reason.
I swallowed the little saliva in my mouth and relaxed a bit.
—I brought you because I want to make a pact with you.
—Excuse me?
—A pact is something that is made between two or more people. The moment someone breaks the pact dies.
—A very permissive pact, I see.
I was surprised that it was Igor who spoke. When I saw him, I was surprised by the nervous smile in his mouth.
The hostess leaned forward putting her head on her hands.
—Well, you're right, but what if I tell you the answers to your questions.
Hearing that impressed me. If what he says is true, I don't mind not telling, but...
—Two things. First, how do we know if you're lying or not? And second, why would you answer?
Some of the 4 guards in the back smiled as they heard my questions. The 4 of them kept commenting among themselves, but I couldn't hear them. They didn't help my nerves much.
The hostess smiled at my questions. She sat in her seat and spoke to me.
—Well, first, you're gonna have to trust me. And second, because I don't want to spread certain rumors, plus, I bet you'll get far.
I smiled from the state of nerves. If this were a bet, to accept is to make an all-in. I'm not sure you're telling me the truth, but if what you're telling me is really the answers to my questions, I could understand all this madness.
—Are we the only ones you've done this with or are you going to do this?
Igor asked to my surprise. But of course, if you can't say anything, you can do this with everyone.
That's a good question, Igor.
—You are the only ones with whom I have done it so far. If in the future I do it with someone else I will let you know. And, you will also have to trust me for this. Well?
I lay down on the couch weighing it down, even though I already had the answer.
—I'm in.
I said as I was still lying on the couch. I raised my arm to make it clear that it was I who spoke.
—I'll make the pact in exchange for the truth. You must make a pact with me that during the time you answer questions you can only tell the truth.
The guards made impression faces, it seemed they didn't expect me to say that.
Suddenly a feeling of fear and terror began to sweep through my body. It's like my whole body is asking me to move, but I can't move. When I saw the psychotic face and smile on the hostess' face, I realized she was out of her mind.
Have I played too much with luck? Have I come this far?
At one point that feeling disappeared from my body and I realized that all that time I had kept my breath.
'I almost peed my pants in fear.'
----------------
You have received a new skill:
-Mental resistance (D)
----------------
When I saw the little screen that had appeared in front of me, I freaked out a little. This is crazy. Letting the message disappear, I noticed that the hostess had relaxed.
The hostess was still smiling, but now she didn't give me the feeling of fear. I don't know if it was because of the skill or because she was no longer directing that feeling at me.
On my left Igor seemed to be breathing more calmly as well.
—I will make both pacts. But in return only one can stay. I will only tell one of you the truth. The other I will put back where he was.
I went to complain, but Igor spoke before I could say anything.
—I am leaving. I have already decided to follow Caelum. Even if he knows the truth I don't care as much as he does.
Listening to Igor impressed me.
—But you also want to know, it's not fair to leave just like that.
Igor smiled at me. It was the first time I saw such a sincere smile coming from him.
—I don't need to know the truth. Before I came here, I was a murderer and, no one had ever been kind to a murderer as you were to me, no one had ever trusted a murderer as you trusted me. Besides, now I too can come closer to fulfilling my dream.
Igor left me speechless. I didn't know what to say.
The hostess clapped her hands.
—Then you'll be in black and white until I finish talking to Cam. Ciao.
And a white light took Igor away.
—What a good friend you have, Cam.
I smiled as I listened to her.
—I'm sure the bastard didn't want to be alone with a psychotic like you.
The 5 in front of me laughed.
—Nice to see you again 739.
The old man greeted me from behind.
—The earplugs were to stop listening to this psychotic?
The old man laughed at my comment.
—You've already called me psychotic twice. You're being a little rude Cam.
—Excuse me, hostess.
—You seem to be talking like you always do.
—I'm so nervous I can't even keep quiet.
My leg was shaking. I wanted to finish quickly.
—Well? How do pacts work?
The hostess got up from her chair and approached me.
With each step closer I was sweating more and more. I couldn't move for fear of annoying her.
When she stood in front of me, she took my right hand and pricked my middle finger.
When two drops of blood came out, she held them in the air in front of her.
Then she pricked her middle finger and when two drops of blood came out, she held them in the air as well.
—First pact. I, The Goddess, promise to always tell Caelum the truth about any questions he asks for the next hour.
What? Excuse me? Did she say Goddess? Is she really The Goddess? Although well, I guess that makes sense, but... I'm freaking out, in front of me I have a Goddess. I don't know why I'm still impressed.
Then a drop of his and a drop of mine disappeared along with a glow. As I finished, I felt a prick in my stomach. When I lifted up my shirt there was a red dot above my navel.
—With that the first pact is closed. It's your turn to say that you promise not to say anything I tell you until I tell you otherwise. And make sure you say it right.
In those last words I understood: 'If you say it wrong, I'll kill you.'
I nodded my head. I took a breath and began.
—Second pact. I, Caelum, promise not to say anything The Goddess tells me for the next hour until she tells me otherwise.
As I finished those words, I noticed how part of me was being sucked out. I felt more tired each time. When I finished the drops glowed again and another red dot appeared on top of the previous one.
Several messages also appeared but I did not have the strength to read them. Before I fell to the floor, the Goddess held me and supported me on the chair, at the same time I noticed that I recovered my strength, as if her hand gave me energy.
—Well, the pact is made, now let's start.
—What happened to me?
—When you made the pact, you used magic force. Which drained all your reserves and I replenished you with mana.
I sighed.
Not only skills, but now magic as well. I don't even know why I'm surprised.
After I had collected my thoughts a bit, I began.
—Goddess?
—Yes, surprised? Although this is not my true form. But you're not ready to see me yet.
The girl in front of me certainly didn't look anything like what I had in mind as a Goddess.
—You say that The God wants to remove us from Earth, but you want us to stay. Why?
—God and I created everything in this world. When we created beings capable of bringing out the best of the Earth, we were very proud. But we did not consider the mental evolution you would have. Wherever you look you can find how the human being has colonized the earth, and rather than living in harmony, the human being looks like a parasite.
Listening to the Goddess I must admit that the human being has not done very well. Deforestation, climate change, wars... I fully understand that God wants to eradicate us.
—That's why God wants to do away with human beings... I am also upset, but I have faith that you will realize what is happening around you and change. I not only give you a power to fight for humanity, but also to turn humanity into something better.
Is Goddess putting the future of humanity in us?
I looked up from the floor, looked at the 5 in front of me and saw how they were smiling at me.
Are they crazy?
I sighed. They give me nothing but work and pressure. Give me a break, will you?