Leonar let out a sigh as he looked at the sphere, trying to gauge how much he could trust this mysterious voice.
"So… what exactly do you want from me?"
The voice paused, as though surprised by his question.
Why wasn't he agreeing to the contract right away?
Didn't he realize his life was on the line?
With a sigh, the voice replied, sounding almost frustrated:
"I was created to contain the darkness that threatens to consume all worlds. And you… you have the chance to help me stop it."
That was the only explanation the voice could think of to give Leonar.
Leonar frowned, grinding his teeth as he listened to the vague answer.
"Darkness that threatens everything? That sounds… pretty vague."
The sphere's voice responded a bit defensively, as though impatience was beginning to seep into its tone.
"But it's the truth."
Leonar glanced at it skeptically, hesitating.
"So, I suppose you want me to be the one to stop this darkness."
"Yes."
The answer was firm, with no room for negotiation.
Leonar, however, was still unconvinced.
"And what's in it for me?" he asked with a hint of sarcasm, almost mocking the importance of his own world.
Although he couldn't hear it, the voice let out a laugh at that.
Did this human really not grasp the gravity of the situation?
"If we don't stop this darkness, every world will be consumed, including yours!" the voice shouted, her tone balancing between desperation and frustration. "Just make the damn contract with me already!"
But Leonar, unfazed, moved to one of the empty chairs in the room, sat down, and looked at the hourglass.
The sand continued to fall, marking the time he had left.
"I still have time," Leonar said calmly, watching the hourglass. "I want to hear exactly what your terms are."
The voice was silent for a moment, clearly surprised.
Why didn't he just agree to the contract and get it over with?
Was he really that foolish?
After being trapped here for months, was she really having to explain herself like this?
"What kind of power would you give me?" Leonar asked, genuinely curious, and the sphere seemed to hesitate before answering.
'Well… it makes sense that he'd be interested in that,' the voice thought before replying:
"I specialize in controlling the most powerful element of all."
'The most powerful element…?' Leonar thought, raising an eyebrow.
If there was one element that grabbed Leonar's attention, it was fire.
He didn't know why, but there was something incredibly satisfying about watching flames burn.
And before he could fully imagine himself controlling fire with his hands to turn his enemies into ashes…
The sphere's voice shattered his fantasy by adding,
"Of course, water."
"Water?" Leonar muttered, disappointed.
He immediately imagined himself shooting tiny water streams at goblins, a scene that almost made him laugh at how ridiculous it was.
Did this voice seriously expect him to stop that so-called darkness by spraying water like a squirt gun?
That was absurd!
Noticing Leonar's disappointment, the voice tried to justify herself, sounding a bit nervous.
"I admit, in this sealed form, it may seem… pathetic. But if you make a contract with me, I assure you that water's power will surprise you."
Leonar thought for a moment, and the way the voice was trying to sell herself reminded him of those persistent salespeople who would list every possible advantage to convince you, even if it wasn't entirely convincing.
Sensing his skepticism, the voice insisted, her urgency growing.
"For heaven's sake… Just make the contract with me and get me out of here! Help me escape this place, and my powers will protect you. It's easy to understand, isn't it?"
"So that's your goal…" Leonar said, eyeing the sphere.
"Of course! I've been trapped here for months, waiting for someone strong enough to conquer this dungeon. Unfortunately, I see you beat me at that ridiculous game, and while your intelligence may be lacking, I still need you!"
The voice had said all that so fast that Leonar barely caught everything she said.
But one thing he was sure of:
The sphere had just insulted him!
Leonar leaned toward the sphere, whispering in a mocking tone.
"If it's been so long since you've been here… why haven't those dark creatures invaded and destroyed everything yet?"
"Because of the damn barrier protecting this dimension," the voice replied, sounding slightly annoyed. "It keeps them out, but it won't last forever. It could break at any moment, and then they'll destroy everything in their path!"
"All right, all right, I understand," said Leonar, trying to calm her. But the voice, agitated, shot back desperately.
"Your stupid questions are driving me crazy!"
Leonar let out a small laugh, enjoying the voice's frustration.
Leonar obviously wasn't going to turn down a contract that would probably guarantee his survival. However, his plan was to see if he could lower the terms of this alliance a bit. But upon realizing that the threat involved total destruction if he did nothing, he understood that he had few alternatives.
With a sigh, and casting a last look at Damian, who was arguing with the rest of the group, he nodded slowly.
"All right, I'll make the contract."
The voice sounded relieved, and even a little satisfied.
"Perfect. I'll forgive you for trying to test me," the voice declared.
Then, in a formal but very fast tone, she continued,
"Now, if you agree to lend me your body, I'll grant you my power. You can use it to stop the creatures threatening to destroy everything or for your own purposes."
Leonar, perhaps due to the headache he'd developed from having this conversation with the voice, responded almost automatically.
"Yes, I accept."
Then, a thought crossed his mind, and he frowned.
'Wait… what does she mean by lending her my body?'
At that very moment, a blue window appeared before him, displaying a simple yet revealing message:
[Contract with Eleonora successfully made]