Quentin's deal.

Returning to Brakebills I made a beeline to my room and deposited the demon sealing boxes in my room, setting up the soul condensation feature and extracted the baby Chthulu's tears before returning to the prowl some hours later.

As I walked down the path to the academic building, I checked the time as Eliot caught up to me.

3 pm.

Neat.

"Visiting Quentin in the infirmary are we? You're softer than I thought." He smiled smugly.

"Well, he is a friend." I admitted begrudgingly, "And more than that, he's a part of our quest. Not to mention, he assaulted someone with battle magic."

Yup. This is episode two. Quentin get's caught after Penny snitches and puts the blame solely on Quentin's head. In retaliation, however, Quentin assaults Penny with a force push.

"Didn't think he had it in him." I admitted.

"What are you talking about? He didn't use battle magic." Eliot cleared.

"Wait what?!"

"No. He just tried to get handsy and got thrashed by Penny."

Oh. So that's what happened. Because this time I saved the class from the Beast's attack, Quentin didn't get to see Kady cast battle magic. Hence he never figured it out and had to resort to physical violence.

And he had no hope of beating Penny barehanded, being the pussy he was.

I chuckled as we walked into the infirmary and spotted Quentin and Penny leaving.

Surprisingly, he still managed to hurt Penny enough to warrant some medical treatment.

It was mostly nail scratches, but still.

I was joking when I called him a pussy but he seriously went all pussycat on Penny huh?

Penny saw us coming over and scoffed.

"Here comes your posse, pussy."

"At least he has friends, Penny." I replied.

"What do you have? And don't say 'Your Mom'... "

Penny just rolled his eyes, not dignifying my question with an answer, grabbed his scarf, and left us with Quentin.

"So.... How did it go?" Eliot asked.

"Not well, I can tell. From that face you're making." I guessed.

"Word spreads fast when your life is over." She sulked, grabbing his things with a sigh, holding back tears.

"It's going to be fine." Eliot comforted him, putting an arm around his shoulder.

"No it's not! It's all over for me!" Quentin cried, shrugging his hand off in anger, and began to storm off.

"Don't say that." Eliot assured.

"They're bringing in a specialist." Quentin replied.

Eliot let out an 'Oh' that betrayed the utter inevitability of the situation.

I smiled and waited, biding my time.

I'll hit him when he is most vulnerable.

"Yeah, thanks. Ominous." Quentin snapped.

"I'm sorry."

"You know I-i keep telling myself that somehow this is better. Not knowing... " He gripped his books tighter, his voice cracking, "Because who would want to know th-th-that magic exists." He sniffled.

"If there is nothing you can do about it."

"I don't know what to say... " Eliot whispered.

"Yeah. Cuz nobody wou-would rather not know, you know?!" Quentin almost broke from that.

"Who would see colour and want to go back to black and white?!"

He sucked in a cold breath and regained his bearing.

"Look you don't have to make me feel better. We basically just met each other."

"Well I bond fast. Time is an illusion." Eliot walked in his path, blocking him.

"Look don't go out there and be the old you."

"How, Eliot?" He asked, despondent.

Ah, this situation is so familiar to me. The lowest point where I jump in and steal their loyalty or whatever I wamt with a choice few words.

"I go back there and I'm... A depressed super nerd."

" How about I find you and I don't say magic is real, but I do seduce you and so lift your spirits, that life retains it's sparkle for years to come."

"I didn't know you were a Leprechaun, Eliot?" I teased to confused looks from the two of them.

"Magical dick at the end of the rainbow?" I explained.

"Oh shut it you." He wagged his finger at me turning back to Quentin.

"Yeah um... That sounds nice. Thank you." Quentin said, as we fell into an awkward silence.

Quentin broke the silence.

"Is there a way to not get wiped?"

Now's my chance!

"With a specialist? Unfortunately, no-"

"Yes." I interjected.

The both of them looked at me and I elaborated.

"It need to be precisely done, but there is a way. But for that, I will need you to do something for me." I explained.

"What? If it will help me not get wiped-"

"It'll stop you from getting expelled in the first place. But at a cost. You'll need to sign a Word As Bond with me."

Quentin thought for a moment and Eliot raised an eyebrow.

"Another secret of yours?"

I nodded.

"What if it fails?" Quentin asked.

"If it fails, we can add a condition in the word as bond to nullify the contract in the case." I assured.

Quentin nodded.

"Alright. I'll do it. What do I have to do?"

"Let me explain... " I said, my eyes glowing blue.

.

"Can't steal from you, can't reveal any of your secrets, including that future sight power of yours, and I have to do one thing you order, no questions asked..... is that it?"

"Yup. You wanna go ahead with it or nah?" I replied.

"What are you going to ask me to do?" He asked suspicious.

"Just a spell, no questions asked, or gather something for me or some other small thing. Nothing like 'kill yourself' or 'chop off your dick!', so don't worry." I assured.

Quentin nodded and pressed his bloody palm onto the contract in the toilet outside the counsellor's office and I handed over the Emerson's Alloy.

Quentin eyed the alloy curiously and pocketed it silently.

"If the Emerson's Alloy can stop spells, then why do I need all the psyche games? Acting nervous... telling them I stole it.... it's so bizzare. Can't I just wait and let them wipe their own mind?"

"It's necessary. Also the alloy can stop someone from casting a spell on you but the can still rely on other means of attack."

"I.e., they can't slam you into a rock but they can still slam a rock into you." Eliot said.

"And it can also be stolen. Magically or otherwise." I added.

"Still it's pretty useful. I don't know why everyone doesn't have one." Quentin commented.

"It's expensive to make. And it messes with your personal enchantments." Eliot explained.

"That." I pointed, pushing him on, "Now go. You're late to your appointment."

"Alright, alright, I'm going." He said, and walked out, as Eliot patted my shoulders.

"I'm going wring those secrets out." He smiled, "One of these days."

"You'll try." I smiled back, "Or you can sign a Word As Bond."

"No way jose." He raised his hands, "I still need to steal your heart away!"

I jerked back, clutching my heart, acting exaggeratedly, "Oh no! The cringe!"

Eliot smacked me, and we both burst out laughing.

After that, I gathered my contract, and bud him goodbye, returning to my room.

I jumped on the bed, pumping my fist in the air and smiled wide.

Slave contract get!

Now, the protagonist of this world is in my pocket.

_______________

The extra chapter for 400 powerstones as promised.

Sorry for the shorter chapter.

Regular chapter is late.

One more chapter till Arifureta.

Next extra chapter at 600 powerstones.