The light coming from the crater on the cave's ceiling slowly became brighter; the starry monochrome cover was gradually being pulled back and replaced by bronze, orange, and yellow. This signified that the end of the full moon's reign was approaching.
"We should hurry," Loraleigh said, peeking through the hole in the temple's roof. She whirled on her heel and returned to Leofric. "The pen you are seeing is writing a contract for us. Soon as it finishes, you can read it and request anything that you want to revise."
"I see," was Leofric's frugal answer. As considered when he talked to the wizard, Draz,
He watched and waited for the pen to stop writing. Scribbles and scratches, the pen wrote a dot on the paper gleaming in gold light its last offer and acceptance. The draft contract agreement flew in front of his eyes before settling in the air.
Contract Agreement:
1. Aiken Swithin, a human, will sign the contract with Loraleigh, the spirit of greed, until his desire is completed or until his death.
2. Aiken Swithin, a human, will make use of Loraleigh until his desire is completed or until his death.
3. Aiken Swithin, a human, should only give orders to Loraleigh, the spirit of greed, that would not harm her as a spirit.
4. Aiken Swithin, a human, and Loraleigh, the spirit of greed, should only revise the contents of the contract before signing it.
While Leofric reviewed the contract agreement, the letter gleamed in blue light, which made it easier to read inside the dim-lit temple. When his glance landed at the last condition, he talked inwardly, 'This is most likely a slave contract. The only difference is, only my death as a contractor will release her from the agreement.'
Leofric picked the pen floating beside the paper. Since all he needed was to gain the strongest aid, he began signing the contract with little thought. "I am signing—"
"No, wait." The paper and pen dashed in her direction. Loraleigh looked through the conditions thoroughly and said, "I would like to add a condition."
Immediately, the pen positioned itself on the paper. "The contractor should do all means to let me meet Emperor Leovic Eadwig Sigeberht of Zephania." After some scribbles and scratches, the paper returned to Leofric for another review and consideration.
"...His Majesty is a busy man."
"That doesn't mean I won't meet him once, no?"
Leofric could not speak immediately. Instead of answering and telling the truth, he said, "...I have signed it."
The paper immediately rushed in Loraleigh's direction the second he finished signing. Soon as it halted right before her, she grabbed the pen. "Great. I will sign it, too." She beamed.
The pen disappeared upon Loraleigh, completing her signature on the contract agreement. The glimmering golden paper rolled and circled around wildly in midair. The temple sucked air that came from the crater and the entrance of the cave.
At least it was how he saw it.
It glowed brighter… and brighter that it temporarily blinded Leofric. He closed his eyes and brought a hand to his face to protect his vision. The calm breeze changed into a strong wind that constantly slapped his face and pulled his hair threads backward.
And until it evolved into a small tornado that whirled in a settled spot; it was in a place where the paper was circling around.
The wind grew stronger… and stronger. The debris of the rundown temple flew in the tornado's direction. Leofric had to hold his feet tight on the crumbling wooden floor of the temple so that the wind would not blow him away.
A second later, an unexpected loud flash exploded in front of him. Leofric turned his face away after spelling a shield barrier between himself. When it disappeared into thin air, so did the scroll of their contract agreement.
"That sealed everything. If we were a minute later, we couldn't have made it," Loraleigh voiced. She lifted her chin and peeked through the crater to see the dawn's arrival. When she came back to look at Leofric, she asked, "What are your plans?"
"I have to return to the empire after uniting with my knights."
"I can help you with that." Loraleigh ran her hands in the air and a big floating projector opened.
Leofric's eyes widened. The floating viewer showed the parts of the wild forest of Zeph. It was an advanced magic spell called 'spectator'. Through it, the chanter could look around a place from different viewpoints of the livings: either humans or monsters.
No one in his empire could do it yet. A mage must chant a long phrase to use advanced magic spells. But all she waved a hand in midair.
'If Draz is with me, he would freak out.' Leofric remembered the lone wizard of his empire. Draz was a geek for magic, and the people of the palace knew how he could go crazy for spells, element holders, and spirits.
"I think I saw them," Loraleigh reported. She swiped through different perspectives from the spectator and stopped when she noticed one which had a group of people camping in a cave. "Actually, I can sense them near," she added.
"Where are they?" Leofric asked.
"Just a few hundred meters away."
...
The contents of the signed 'Contract Agreement' between Aiken Swithin and Loraleigh:
1. Aiken Swithin, a human, will sign the contract with Loraleigh, the spirit of greed, until his desire is completed or until his death.
2. Aiken Swithin, a human, will make use of Loraleigh until his desire is completed or until his death.
3. Aiken Swithin, a human, should only give orders to Loraleigh, the spirit of greed, that would not harm her as a spirit.
4. Aiken Swithin, a human, and Loraleigh, the spirit of greed, should only revise the contents of the contract before signing it.
5. Aiken Swithin, a human, should do every means for Loraleigh, the spirit of greed, to meet Emperor Leovic Eadwig Sigeberht of Zephania.