Vision 3 - Contract (2)
Exhausted, my eyes looked into hers, searching for something, and then shifted to glance down at her hand. I did it in a quick back-and-forth motion.
Surely, she wasn't serious, right? I questioned. But then my mind wandered to the moments when she had teased me—so many times.
Thinking that its a chance, I took her hand even before she could say anything. I looked into her eyes like a knight, my hand feeling the softness of hers. It was as if her hands were made of marshmallows as if she didn't even have bones in them.
Taking a step back, my eyes shifted to the ground as I bowed slightly, bringing my face almost to her hand, and then I kissed the back of it.
"M'lady, could this lowly existence have the honor of receiving help from a beautiful and charming higher existence like you?" My tone was soldier-like, asking for grace from his queen.
It was still very cringe. I waited for Persephone to reply with her usual teasing remarks, but I got no response. Feeling the awkwardness of the pause, I slightly raised my head to look at her. She had a somewhat surprised, kind of, expression.
She wasn't shaken or anything, just surprised, maybe. I guess she didn't expect a lower existence like me to actually do it.
"Okay, let's leave this island," she said, snatching her hand back and folding it below her chest.
Surprised by the sudden absence, my eyes momentarily snapped to my hand, and I missed the shift in Persephone's expression.
Feeling the muscles in my back, I stood up straight and took a breath. My eyes snapped back to her as they fluttered, and I licked my dry lips. "Yes. So, help me build the boat."
I took a step back and turned around, walking toward the bamboo stalks scattered on the shore.
"We don't need a boat. I have a better idea."
I had only taken a few steps when I heard Persephone's melodic voice and turned around—without even realizing it—to look at her. Confused by both my action and her words, I asked, "A better idea?"
"I have a skill to fly."
Good for her. I snapped internally without saying it out loud. If she had a skill like that, what did it have to do with me? One of my eyebrows raised slightly, and my thoughts followed. She wouldn't just leave me here after everything, right? Well, I am almost sure. She wouldn't... right?
As weird thoughts swirled in my head, a sly smile formed on Persephone's face as she flicked her hair over her shoulder, sending it cascading back.
"Let's make a contract."
When she spoke the word "contract", I felt like a hammer had hit me. My eyes arched into a frown, and I realized what she was trying to say. She was thinking about making 'The Contract'.
I took a step toward her and pointed at her with my eyes as I asked, "You are talking about making a Soul Contract?"
"Yes," she said, lifting her head slightly to maintain eye contact.
"Haven't we already..." I gulped. "...umm..." My eyes moved around, looking here and there. "I don't think we should play with it like that."
Talking about the soul brought back the memory of what had happened on the cliff a few hours ago. I tried to maintain a neutral expression but could feel my face growing hot.
Also, a Soul Contract is a serious matter. It's exactly what it sounds like—a contract between souls. The involved parties would be able to use each other's skills, according to how much their bodies could handle. Of course, it would only work if the holder of the skill allowed it.
The contract would connect our souls, and we would also be able to feel each other's emotions to a certain extent. It would make us vulnerable to each other; even lying would become difficult, as one would be able to sense it. That was why only truly close people made Soul Contracts.
I just couldn't understand why she was doing all this.
"Why help me so much?" I lifted my head to restore the balance of our usual height. "Why are you even still here? You said this meeting was just a coincidence." I spoke while taking a step closer, my eyes squinting as I moved my face closer to hers, close enough to feel her breath. "I know you can tell. I don't trust you that much."
I asked the question that had obviously been on my mind. I had wanted to ask before, but I didn't want to question her—otherwise, my head could roll. But a Soul Contract changed things.
Persephone held my gaze, never looking away, and then she bit her lower lip. Even in this situation, it looked extremely seductive. She looked away, avoiding my eyes.
"I know it seems confusing now, but you'll understand when the time is right. Even I'm not too sure how to tell you." Her eyes met mine again, desperate for trust. "And besides, you don't need to worry. I won't get in your way. This is just fun. I brought up the Soul Contract so we could trust each other a little more." Her desperation faded into a simple smile. "Didn't I already tell you before? You have your secrets, and I have mine."
I have so many other questions as well, like: What was a Quasar-level higher existence like her doing on Teraa? Or, why was she so different? I was confused as to why I had never seen her in my dreams before because she obviously wasn't some useless existence. But just as I wasn't going to tell her anything, she had no obligation to answer me.
A weird, understanding look took over my face as I stepped back, walking away from Persephone. If I had to choose, I don't want to make the Soul Contract with her. But then I looked at all those bamboo stalks lying around.
It might seem like a stupid reason, but there is no way in hell I am trying making that boat again. And searching the whole island for the faint hope of finding a treasure that could help me in this condition seemed even more stupid.
I thought about everything and could only agree that, in this situation, making a Contract was closer to my convenience.
"Okay. Let's make the Contract."
Finally, I decided and turned to face her. Persephone looked up at me, and surprise suddenly adorned her face. Why is she surprised? She was the one who proposed it first.
"I'm not going through the experience of making that boat again. You might have enjoyed the show, but it was way too exhausting for me."
I told her that while shaking my head in defeat. A smile appeared on her face—a relieved smile. Then she lifted one hand, extending it toward me, and I followed, holding mine centimeters away from touching hers. She pushed her hand toward mine and touched the tip of my index finger with her own.
"Just think about making a Soul Contract with me."
Being the dreamer—and probably the sole dreamer of this world—I obviously knew how to make the contract. So, it didn't take long for the message to start appearing in front of me.
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[ The Soul Contract has been requested. ]
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A white slate-type tablet screen appeared again, but this time it shimmered with black designs, a smoky hue, and text.
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[ The Lower Existence 'Arthur Xanders' and Quasar-level Higher Existence 'Persephone' have agreed to make a Soul Contract. ]
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There it is. Now I'm sure. She is Quasar-level. She's definitely the real deal. Higher existences have five levels, and Quasar is the highest.
As the contract formed, I felt a slight electric shock. It was like when blood suddenly flows through veins after the body goes numb.
Suddenly, the world became white, like before, but this time, instead of a small black dot, a large black flame—rising up to the sky—covered half the world around me.
It was as if the flame was trying to consume my still-white world. The sudden mystical, horrifying scene felt like cold water, and I realized this was just my mind trying to synchronize the contract.
As the realization settled in, the flame somehow became docile. Instead of consuming, it fused with the white world, forming stars. Then the slate-screen appeared through my blurred vision.
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[ The Soul Contract is Completed. ]
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The contract was completed without any problems. To be honest, I was worried something like last time would happen again, but fortunately, nothing did. And I experienced yet another otherworldly feeling, as I hadn't known that Soul Contracts showed these kinds of things.
Dreaming about other people doing this and actually experiencing it are really different. Persephone looked stupefied, which suddenly changed to a complex expression—like she was intensely thinking about something—and then she quickly shook her head, denying her own thought, I assumed.
After all the theatrics, her eyes finally wandered to me, and suddenly—as if she realized something—her posture changed.
"Too bad," she said with a dissatisfied face, resting it on her palm.
She was trying to make it seem like she was disappointed that nothing had happened like on the hill, but now I knew it was a fake look.
It was because of the Soul Contract that I could feel it now—a warm, giggling sensation. I was starting to get a grasp of when she was faking her expressions to tease me.
I guess making the Soul Contract was a good choice.
And, since Persephone could feel my emotions too, her expression changed yet again—this time, annoyed, as a vein bulged on her forehead. A weird, crooked smile formed on her face.
I bet she's annoyed that I can tell when she's trying to tease me. And, as if in sync, her words reached my ears. "Aren't you feeling a little happier than you should?"
Happy? Yes, I was feeling happy, but above all, I was feeling proud. Ever since I came to this world a few hours ago, I've felt a variety of emotions. It was an extremely unexpected situation. Even now, I'm still thinking I'll wake up and this will just be another dream.
Everything feels so unreal. It was similar to when I experienced my first dream. But now, with all that I remember and with the BTDW text file, I was confident.
But the wall I've built around me for so long was shaken by this seductive and beautiful woman. I felt defeated against her. It wasn't even a fair playing field to begin with. She's just that gorgeous and bewitching. But now, I feel like I've gained some power.
So, hell yeah, I'm happy.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I feigned ignorance, rolling my eyes with half-closed eyelids and raising my eyebrows.
I shrugged it off coolly, like an innocent man who had no idea what she was implying. Playing dense is always the best option, but I'm sure the smile on my face said otherwise.
Persephone just acknowledged defeat at this point, looking like an exhausted mother—after all the banter—as she said, "I feel it, you know."
Indicating that she could feel my happiness because of the Soul Contract.
"Good," I spoke, making it obvious that she should feel I'd one-upped her this time. Then I tried to focus on the Soul Contract between us, and again, the window panel appeared—colors switched from before—a black slate tablet screen with white designs, text, and hue.
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[ The Soul Contract ]
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Information: The Soul Contract formed between Lower Existence 'Arthur Xanders' and Quasar-level Higher Existence 'Persephone'.
Basic Terms:
1. Lower Existence 'Arthur Xanders' and Quasar-level Higher Existence 'Persephone' will be able to share some of each other's emotions.
*The extent of emotion each promisor feels depends on the trust they have with each other.
2.Lower Existence 'Arthur Xanders' and Quasar-level Higher Existence 'Persephone'. Among both, the promisor with higher stats will be able to share some of their skills with the promisor with lower stats.
*Sharing will only be possible if both promisors agree to it.
*The extent of the skill the promisor with lower stats can use is based on how much the promisor's body can handle.
**There is an exception under certain conditions.
3. Lower Existence 'Arthur Xanders' and Quasar-level Higher Existence 'Persephone' will not be able to make new Soul Contracts unless both promisors consent to it.
4. Should it be willed, the Higher Existence may entrust a fragment of her essence—neither bound nor entirely free—to dwell within the vessel of the Lower Existence.
5. If one perishes while the other remains, the survivor shall bear the memory of their bond as an indelible mark upon their soul.
6. Lower Existence 'Arthur Xanders' and Quasar-level Higher Existence 'Persephone' are not allowed to terminate the contract unilaterally.
7. Forceful breach of the Contract will be subject to a penalty.
8. The penalty for breaching the Contract will be death or a significant reduction in overall stats.
*Penalty can be changed by both promisors' consent.
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The penalty was quite severe, in my opinion. I was also surprised by the basic terms—there were quite a lot of them, actually.
"It looks more like a marriage contract," I spoke unconsciously as my mind tried to take in the information on the screen.
"Then I guess we're married," her teasing remark came as if she'd been waiting for it, and then it just kept coming.
"So, will you be taking us somewhere for our honeymoon anytime soon?"
"..."
"I'll need some time, and oh, it'll be better if the destination is a hill province. It'll be even better if we can see a lake through the balcony."
"..."
"You'll be ravishing me. Oh my~."
A cold chill ran down my back, but I held it in and didn't let it show on my face. What's the use of knowing what's coming if I can't dodge it? Before, I thought I'd gained something to level the playing field, but she just took the level system and shot it through the roof.
Persephone had a smile—prideful—and it looked down on me as if saying, Why don't you try to counter now?
"Fine," I just turned around to walk away, with an annoyed face, shrugging my shoulders. But then, suddenly, a question came to mind. I turned back around and asked, "Hey, when did you think about making the Contract? Before I started collecting bamboo, or after I was exhausted?"
Persephone's body flinched slightly, and her queen-like, prideful look faltered.
"After, obviously. I wasn't trying to waste your time. I just wanted to see you work up a sweat."
All expression died from my face, leaving a stoic look with a slightly open mouth, and I glared deeply into her eyes.
"Wait! I swear I'm not lying," she held out her hand, creating a fake, invisible shield between us.
I closed my mouth as frustration became obvious on my face. "The Contract."
"Tchh..."
She clicked her tongue at that, folding her arms back. It was obvious she hadn't told me before on purpose.
"I wasn't just trying to make you work for nothing," she said, perhaps because of the Soul Contract, I knew she had just decided to tell me the truth. "If I'd asked you about the Contract before, you wouldn't have agreed to it."
I opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn't argue against that. She was right. If it hadn't been for the exhaustion after trying to make the boat, I wouldn't have agreed to it. I might have considered searching the island instead.
"Forget it. Now I'm mentally exhausted," I released pent-up air from my mouth. I could just sigh at this point; it was becoming extremely tedious to think about anything anymore.
Let's just go with the flow. It's not like I can change it. I consoled myself. Even though I've dreamt a lot about this world, that doesn't mean I know everything. There wasn't much information on Contracts between souls that I could remember. It was just that rare—nobody made them that often.
"Okay, let's go then."
"Okay."
I decided not to think about it anymore. I needed to look forward. I needed to form a plan, but first, let's get out of here.
I was about to try using the flight skill when suddenly, Persephone in front of me became faint, as if she was disappearing. A beam of light shot from her and went into my body.
"Wha—?"