"Let me be the testimony, Mam!" Kevin suddenly stated, to everyone's surprise.
"If you fail to retrieve the girl's soul from that creature, I will surrender myself to you!" He bowed his head and further added, "You are free to do whatever with me!"
"You, keep quiet!!" Kyra glared at him, pressing his hands so hard that her nails almost dug in his skin.
"What? Do you wish to continue arguing with her?" Kevin instead barked at her, and Kyra almost lost her cool.
"I am negotiating Kevin! Not arguing!!" Kyra glared at him. For hell's sake, why wouldn't people trust her and let her do her job!
"Oh, shut up!" Kevin rolled his eyes, "And for how many hours? No wait do you need an eternity for it?" He questioned as she sneered at him and added, "Don't forget that soul will vanish like air in less than 10 minutes!!"
"But how can we trust this bitch?" Kyra uttered, gritting her teeth, and Lady Winter blinked in disbelief. Bitch? Wait, none ever dared to even badmouth her! But, here was this little girl, giving her such a cute nickname! Haha, she wasn't angry but amused by her boldness.
Kyra bit her tongue, cursing for crossing her line but she still didn't surrender in fear. "What if she agrees and later acts like there isn't a soul inside? What if she tricks us to surrender and worse, kills you for your stupidity?"
Kyra's theories further raised Lady Winter's liking towards her. She was a rare spirit and would sure dominate the world she was wished for, and that thought only made her smile widely.
"She is right!" Anna came forward and agreed with Kyra. So did David as they didn't believe in any of her words. She was just too awful and if they were escorted by reapers like her, they didn't wish to die!
"Yes, she is right!" Lady Winter mumbled with a smirk, "I was actually planning to do the exact thing, haha!" She chuckled only to receive glares from all of them.
Were these morons unaware of the powers possessed by a grim reaper? Or were they actually unafraid of death? She thought looking at them, as they continued spitting poison at her with just their looks.
"What do you want us to do then?" Anna questioned, taking a step forward. They were actually running out of time, and she didn't like playing mood balls with this grim reaper. So did everyone else!
"Oh, well!" Tapping her fingers, Lady Winter smiled, "Wait until my team is here! They will escort each one of you for glaring at their Majesty!" She stated pointing at herself, clearing her position in the afterlife realm.
Chills ran down Kyra's spine, her face paling as she realized who this lady was actually! If her knowledge was true, Majesty was a leader-level position in the hierarchy. So, she was the leader of the whole... Grim Reaper Cult? And she gasped looking at her.
And, as Lady Winter waited to see her beg for mercy, cry holding her knees, too bad, even after recognizing her status Kyra continued glaring at her. She was greatly impressed!
"I already said," Lady Winter smiled at Anna, "Wait until my team is here!"
And before Kyra could grumble, someone landed from the afterlife realm just like her. Her assistant Diana, unlike her, wore a black veil connected to a cap that covered her face, and her pencil skirt perfectly matched her black jacket paired with a white shirt.
She rushed to her side and whispered something in Lady Winter's ear. Passing the tab, she greeted the others with a smile, who bowed back in courtesy.
"We needed to confirm if you were theories were true, so sorry for the delay," Diana mumbled, bowing her head and everyone, specifically Kyra stared at Lady Winter in disbelief.
So she was just buying time? Well, she would have said it without trying to be so mean and cold!! She sneered crossing her arms.
"Well, I was just doing a personality test, Ms. Yang!" Lady Winter answered her grumbles, as she intently looked at the report.
So, they time traveled through something called trance? And, perfectly captured their culprit? She was beyond impressed by now.
"Is this your plan? I mean the whole mission?" She asked passing back the tab to Diana, and Kyra nodded since it was true. She had planned the 90% of the things and needed to take credits.
"We helped in patching some of her loopholes!" Kevin couldn't help but add, as 40% of the things were altered by him. Oh, Anna as well of course!
Lady Winter chuckled shaking her head, "I like you two. I really like how your personalities contrast each other!" She expressed but they only stared at her, not happy at all! They would have been if she had complimented them separately, instead as a pair!
"I must say you guys did well." Lady Winter commented passing back the tab, smiling at the pair she added, "You guys, unlike other Knights agents, think differently, and I must laud you for your bravery!"
"Though I was joking about escorting you all," Crossing her arms, she added, "You guys just cannot contact us like this! I just showed you a glimpse of the consequences if any other Grim Reaper attended your call in my place," Looking at Kyra, she continued, "hence god forbid, next time you try connecting with the afterlife, go through the procedures mortals, specifically your organization has to follow!"
"Am I clear?" Kyra and others immediately nodded, mostly apologetic that they almost cursed her for being mean. She was just trying to teach them a lesson and they learned well.
"Specifically you, sweetheart!" She exclaimed pointing at Kyra who immediately bowed her head.
"I am sorry, your highness!" Kyra murmured like a puppy, "Situations just tied me up with this solution. We had no other ways of saving that girl."
"I know." Lady Winter patted Kyra's head. She had read the report and found the gruesome idea of Knights leaders to clean up this case. But, this girl stood true to her grounds and she was glad to meet someone as chivalrous as her.
"Now, Now," She looked at the moon, mainly speculating the time, and mumbled, "Should we bind our contract?"
"Is that necessary?" Kevin was the one pleading this time. He wasn't sure how the afterlife worked, but they all have been badly hurt already, specifically Kyra and he just wished to end things in peace. Without anything being sacrificed or worse, dead!
"I see your concerns, but this a rule Mr. Brown." Lady Winter explained, "For the mortals to meet us, they need to form a parlay, a contract that benefits and deceives no harm to us. After all, there are wicked creatures in your land, and this is a mandatory step that ensures our safety!"
Kyra nodded understanding her point. She had read during her research that back in the 1900s, immoral creatures summoned these moral protectors, and tortured them for their needs. So, to protect themselves, a parlay has been laid in the summoning procedure. And, though she had chosen a shortcut to summon them, this step was compulsory!
"So, Ms. Yang, we have heeded your call and we collectively agree to help you! But, only at the cost of a contract, a term that would protect us from your immoral thoughts, and also the future which is void without you. So, on your call, we bind a parlay to you for eternity!" Lady Winter declared and the sky started to glow in mystical blue, mainly signifying that they were willing to help her.
"A thing dear to you will be in our guard, safely protected in our royal chambers. And, if you use us for your selfish benefits, now and even in the future, it would be used against you, destroyed to pain, torture, and virtue you with the right morals. This embezzlement will ensure to bring you back on the track, worse lead you to your final breath, to your death!"
Opening her palms, Lady Winter asked, "So, do you agree with our terms?"
Taking a deep breath, Kyra joined her palms and nodded, "I do!"
Soon, a mystical twine wrapped their palms, symbolizing that the contract was successful. The sky shined in blue, satisfied with the outcome and they withdrew their hands.
"So, what do you sacrifice and present us, Ms. Yang?" Lady Winter questioned, partly curious about her sacrifice. This girl was a wild wayward, her actions compiled only her mind, and she greatly admired this aspect that many believed to be her disadvantage. Once committed, she would do anything to bring her thoughts into action. And, that reminded her of her mother she once met in the afterlife.
"To gain your trust," Taking a deep breath, Kyra declared, "I am willing to give off my magic, my power that completes me!"
Everyone gasped, while Lady Winter smirked, surprised by her words. She truly wasn't expecting such a sacrifice but Kyra did her job. She had gained not just her trust, but maybe also her afterlife authorities that were keenly observing this situation.
Magic was Kyra's living source, without it she would be as good as dead. So, if she was willing to sacrifice such a great price, none would suspect her. That means, she had passed the moral standards they had set for procedures like these, and proved her intentions void of any hidden agendas.
She had also heightened the moral standards for the upcoming summoners, and Lady Winter smiled happily in contentment.