A young familiar woman stood was seated on the King's left hand above the dais. I couldn't take my eyes off her. Not because of her beauty, I wasn't attracted to that sort of thing, but because of the memories I had of her. If my memory serves me right, she was a Light mage; the only Light mage in the last thousand or so years.
Everyone in the large hall room was chatting with friends and colleagues, exchanging greetings and the like, while I was looking around.
"Hey, Eron." I whispered. "Can you help me do something?"
No. I go where the sword goes.
'So brutal. Why can't you even let me explain what it was I want you to do?' I thought. 'I could just gift away the sword to the First Princess and be rid of you for good.'
"You know, I'm going to have the sword a long time, so you're going to be around me quite a bit. We're going to need to learn to get along." I said, still somewhat whispering, as I searched the room for a quiet place devoid of people to nest myself.
Do we now? Time passes faster for me than it does you, so you would think that. The truth, however, can be devastating. It may be quite some time for you, but it would be a flimsy fling for me that won't last much.
And then, when you're dead, I would rid your corpse of the sword and be on my jolly way.
"Can we make a pact, then?" I asked.
Depends. I normally don't do pacts with lowly human scum, but seeing as you're different from them, I can make an exception.
So, tell me, what is this pact you wish to make with me?
"I would like for you to be a protector of mine for ten years, after which, if I am still alive, the sword will be yours." I made my way out of the crowd and lodged myself in a corner far down the hall room where there was no one else.
Just ten years?
"What, is it too small? Do you wish me to add more?"
Are you stupid? Of course not. Ten years it is. So, today a pact between Eron the mighty and Jason Xilmoa, wielder of The Sword of The Nether has been made: in ten years, Jason Xilmoa will hand over ownership of the Sword of The Nether to Eron, provided Eron acts as his protector for the specified period of time.
"Correct." I said.
You have made a pact with the Wyvern Eron, do you wish to use the skill Pact?
Yes. No.
'Ah, so that's what the skill really does. Exactly as the name implies. Yes, use the skill.'
Requirement not met for skill Pact.
'Requirement? Nothing about a requirement was mentioned in the skill details.'
Requirement for using skill Pact with a Wyvern: Blood of User and Wyvern must be spilled, and with this blood a handshake made.
'Oh, is it because I'm using the skill with a Wyvern?'
"Hey, Eron. Let's make the pact official." I said.
What do you mean? I have endorsed the pact. It is official.
"I mean a blood pact. This way, we cannot deny it, should it come to it."
You wish for me to cut myself, for a lowly pact?
"Um... yes?" Uncertainty filled my voice as to whether he was asking angered or not.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha...
He laughed like that for quite some time, he even rolled over and fell down my head. Though, when he did I couldn't see him, I couldn't also feel him anymore.
It has been so long I was harmed, or the suggestion made. Certainly never by a human too, see. I will take up your request. Do you have a blade with you?
"I would rather no blades. We are in the Royal Palace."
Yes, yes. Some humans more dignified than others and all that. Here, open your palm.
I did as he asked and a cut immediately appeared crossing my palm from both sides, tainting it with blood. I winced in pain as this happened, but made sure to keep it quiet.
Alright, how do we do this? I've cut you and I've cut myself too.
"We have a handshake, it's that simple."
Alright, then.
He immediately turned visible back again, extending out his bloodied paw. My head sent dangerous signals at this.
"What the hell are you doing?!" I screamed in a low tone, enough to serve the danger to him on a platter yet not too loud as to attract the attention of anyone who wasn't looking this way. Lucky for me, I couldn't see anyone looking. "You are to remain invisible in public!" I screamed through my teeth.
Paranoia. You have me as a protector now, what is there to fear?
He immediately took my hand in his own, mixing both our bloods in that handshake and for a moment, I felt a strange rush flow inside me.
I suddenly found myself somewhere else. Somewhere bright, like I was looking at the sun. Yes, it was the sun. Then, a figure blocked the sunlight from hurting my eyes too much. It was Mother but, she was younger than I remembered her to be.
"Darling, can we keep him? He's all alone. Just look at him." She took me in her arms as she said this. I fit perfectly as she carried me, which meant I was small. Like a baby. Turning my head, I could see Father off to the side, also a lot younger than he was now and holding hands with a little girl. That little one must have been Leanna.
Suddenly, the light faded and I found myself back in the Palace at the same moment I had left, it was as though I never left at all.
'What was that?' I thought. But I quickly pushed those thoughts aside as something lingered on in front of me during this handshake.
Requirement for the skill Pact has been met. Do you wish to form a pact with the Wyvern Eron?
Yes. No.
'Yes.'
Pact successful.
The conditions of your contract with Eron are thus: Eron would be charged over your protection for ten years, after which you will give up The Sword of The Nether to him as payment.
Requirements for termination of contract have not been met.
Congratulations! You have successfully entered a contract with a Wyvern! Who woulda thought.
Experience points +2000
Experience: 6800/7200
At this, Eron once again turned invisible and landed on my head. For me, it was a miracle that we were not noticed just now. I swept my eyes around the large hall room and they met with the First Princess'. She was staring directly at me, her gaze questioning. This could only mean one thing: Eron had been spotted.