"What did you just say?" Yusuf questioned Gates.
"Of course, you heard me right. Currently, it's not in my possession, but as long as we sign the magic contract and I've been assured my life is not in imminent danger, we can go get it and go our separate ways," Gates said, looking nervously at Yusuf.
Yusuf was a character who would do anything to save his younger sister. Although the possibility of attacking Gates had increased significantly now that Yusuf knew of the object of the trade, Gates put his trust in the key details of Yusuf's character. He was not just an assassin but a mercenary, one that could be swayed with the prospect of a better deal. But this was not a deal anymore.
"A life for a life," Yusuf replied, grasping the point of this deal, to which Gates put on a smile.
"Yes," Gates said, slightly nodding his head to deny divulging any more information, to which Yusuf picked up on.
The Life-Jade flower was even rarer than the unimaginable strength that the stupid protagonist had above all else. Its power rested in two things: the ability to heal someone at the brink of death from a fatal injury as well as rejuvenate said person. But if that were all, it wouldn't be so sought after by all. Its fame, and the reason why it was sought after, rested on its second ability: to cure all diseases.
Yusuf raised his hands, a plain white paper appeared, and with it, a quill.
"Write," Yusuf said, as he gave the magic contract to Gates, relieving Gates of the tension in his heart, mind, and body.
After writing the conditions for both parties, Gates put down the penalty for both of them as death. Its conditions were as discussed before but now with more details such as the object of trade, a condition that states that Yusuf will not try to kill Gates until he has returned back to his home, the identity of Yusuf and whatever they discussed and will do to get the flower will be kept secret between them.
Yusuf read through the contract and channeled his mana through it, accepting its terms and penalty before giving it back to Gates, who pricked his finger with the quill and let a drop of blood fall on the contract. This was another alternative for those without the ability to channel mana; their blood contains a bit of mana, so the magic contract accepts it in this way also.
"Whew," Gates let out a relieved sigh, holding himself from dropping to the ground. Yusuf noticed this and realized that he had forgotten truly the age of this child. He spoke with a maturity that wasn't normal for his age and concluded a deal that most wouldn't even if their lives weren't on the line.
"So where is it?" Yusuf asked, taking a step back and removing his killing intent. If what the young Gates said was true, then his sister would be saved. No amount of jobs he would take would get him a chance like this.
"Oh, soon enough, and lucky for both of us, it rests here in the Alpine Forest," Gates said, looking around while opening up his hands wide like it was the answer to everything. Yusuf looked at him like he must've gone crazy.
Gates knew this wasn't as satisfactory as his former killer wanted, so he changed the entire outlook, remembering the Life-Jade flower from the book. It was found in the middle of the twin hills by the protagonist, but it looks like he would have to take it right now and then find something else to give that dumb protagonist.
"Okay, let's go... however, I'll need your assistance if we're going to get there and back before my disappearance causes a problem, albeit a minor problem," Gates continued.
"What would you have me do?" Yusuf questioned.
"Three things: first, a sensory spell that requires low mana usage; second, a minor flight spell to allow us to get there quickly; and last, clean me up, will you?" Gates requested as he made his demands. His fatigue was rising slowly, and if he wanted all this to end, he would have to be quick.
"Hm, you... it's as though you know the extent of my skills, it's weird," Yusuf said as he tried to understand the oddity that was Gates Amon.
"Ah, don't mind me. I'm just giving my demands. If any of them is above your skill level, it's alright," Gates said, knowing fully well that all of which he had mentioned were within Yusuf's skill level.
"I see, it's not a problem. What should I look for?" Yusuf said as he chanted the spell for minor flight and clean, as Gates got cleaned up and levitated off the ground. Yusuf chanted the spell for sensory ability.
"The twin hills of the Alpine Forest... be careful. Finding the hills isn't the hard part; it's what's inhabiting those hills that's the issue," Gates said, warning the mid-class mage.
"The orcs..." Yusuf said, remembering those green maniacs of war. The orcs of the Alpine Forest were even worse savages than the ones of other areas, living among other creatures and monsters with different powers. These orcs ventured out to fight and battle with these monsters regardless of whether they could win or not.
However, one thing these orcs hated more than a coward was a mage. Spotting Yusuf and the young Gates would not be a welcome worth their while, and they knew it.
As they flew over the large expanse of the forest in the dead of the night...
"So, young Gates, what's your plan when and if we get spotted by the orcs?" Yusuf questioned as he himself thought of a plan to escape. No, there was no escape until what they came to get was in their hands... Gates smiled,
"Simple... you fight while I go get that darn flower."