Chapter 4: Contract
"Only fate knows," Deus said to him.
The silence of the place was almost suffocating, broken only by the faint, rhythmic ticking of gears, like distant clockwork turning in the dark.
After a long pause, he spoke, his voice calm yet firm. "I'll accept, but on one condition."
"I'm willing to hear any condition," Cassiel voice steady, almost inviting.
His expression hardened, a resolute edge to his words.
"When all this is over, you must return me to Earth. No tricks, no delays."
Deus, who stood behind him, appeared startled by the condition, while Cassiel remained silent.
"We cannot guarantee that," Deus admitted quietly, his gaze fixed on the professor. "Your condition is beyond our power."
He turned slightly, locking eyes with Deus. "Then I won't do it."
Deus's face tightened, his expression a mix of frustration and concern.
"You must understand, there are—"
"I accept your condition." Cassiel interjected sharply, cutting Deus off. His sudden agreement left Deus momentarily speechless, his eyes widening as he glanced upwards, as though looking towards some unseen presence. After a few moments, Deus lowered his gaze, his expression resigned.
"If that is your wish, then so be it," Deus said softly, his voice carrying a note of reluctant acceptance.
He absorbed this with a quite note. Trying to read Deus expressions.
It seems they've agreed to my terms.
"Yes, we have." Cassiel responded smoothly, picking up on his thoughts. "Now, let us formalize this arrangement."
"What sort of arrangement?" With puzzled.
"Look before you."
He turned his gaze forward, his breath catching in his throat. Before him, a grand, circular elegent table and chairs appeared out of nowhere, as if conjured from the very shadows. Deus stepped forward, his movements graceful, positioning himself beside one of the chairs with the air of a valet preparing for an honored guest.
...Ah!
Understanding dawned on him, he approached the table. As he did, Deus pulled out the chair in a gesture that reminded him of the service he once received in an exclusive, Luxury restaurant. The memory made him hesitate for a heartbeat, then he seated himself, settling into the chair with the air of a man ready to negotiate.
A single sheet of parchment fluttered down from above, landing gently on the table before him.
"This is...?"
"A contract."
He picked up the parchment, scanning the intricate, flowing script.
———————————————————
Contract of Agreement
Parties Involved:
First Party: Cassiel
Second Party: ■■■
Purpose:
The Second Party agrees to undertake the mission assigned by the First Party, under the condition outlined below.
Condition of Agreement:
1. Upon successful completion of the mission, the First Party must return the Second Party to Earth.
2. The return must occur without delay or alteration to the specified destination, regardless of any unforeseen circumstances.
3. No external party, including any higher or lower entities, shall alter or void this agreement.
Terms of Completion:
The mission shall be considered complete when the Second Party fulfills all the objectives set forth by the First Party.
Failure to Comply:
1. First Party:
Should the First Party fail to meet the condition of returning the Second Party to Earth, all obligations of the Second Party shall be null and void. Additionally, the First Party will be subject to [consequences/punishment], as determined by the Second Party or the entity above the First Party.
2. Second Party:
Should the Second Party fail to complete the mission or abandon the task without just cause, the following penalties will apply:
A. The Second Party will forfeit any rights to return to Earth or to negotiate future conditions with the First Party.
B. The Second Party will be bound to the service of the First Party indefinitely, with no further opportunity to alter the terms of their servitude.
C. The First Party reserves the right to impose additional punishments but not limited to the loss of powers, confinement, or eternal servitude, as deemed appropriate.
Signatures:
Cassiel
---
■■■
---
———————————————————
After reading the contract, he placed the parchment back on the table. "It seems fair enough." quietly, his tone guarded.
"Do you accept these terms?"
Closing his eyes, he nodded. "Yes. It's fair."
"Excellent." With satisfaction evident in his voice. "Please sign there."
The professor opened his eyes, find a pen now resting beside the contract. He gave a soft, humorless chuckle. "You do enjoy your theatrics, don't you?"
Cassiel's laughter was soft, "Haha, a little flair never hurts."
With a resigned sigh, he picked up the pen and signed his name with a flourish. As he placed the pen down, he glanced at Cassiel's section of the parchment, expecting to ask for his signature—but then he saw it.
The name 'Cassiel' seemed to write itself, a quill of light tracing each letter with an eerie precision. Watching the ethereal ink flow across the page, he felt a chill run down his spine.
"It's quite unsettling, isn't it?" Deus said quietly, noticing his reaction.
He shuddered, hugging his own arms. "That's really giving me a goosebumps."
As soon as the signature was completed, the parchment lifted into the air, hovering at eye level before him.
Why is it just floating there?
he wondered, staring at the contract in confusion.
"The agreement is now sealed." Cassiel intoned solemnly.
Without warning, the parchment shot forward, directly at his face.
"Arghh!"
The shock sent him sprawling backward, the chair splintering beneath him. His heart pounded as he scrambled to his feet, hands instinctively clutching his face. There was a strange sensation, an unsettling feeling, as if the contract had not just touched him but seeped into his body
"Are you all right?" Deus asked, a hint of concern threading through their voice.
"Yeah, I'm fine, but—wait... What?" He blinked, glancing around, his mind struggling to process what he had experienced. The round table and chairs that had materialized moments before had vanished out of thin air.
"Hah..." sighed heavily, "Why do you have to pull stunts like this?" rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a headache.
"You have to endure this since Sir Cassiel like to do this." Deus tone a blend of apology and amusement.
"Hah..." He let out a long breath, shaking his head. "You've gotta be kidding me."
"Was that too much?" Cassiel's voice was almost teasing, though there was an undercurrent of genuine curiosity.
"Of course, it was!" he snapped, still feeling the residual shock from the experience. "You guys have a bizarre way of doing things."
Cassiel chuckled, the sound like the distant chime of a bell. "I admit, I'm guilty of indulging a bit. But since you're the last one we're sending, I thought a grand gesture was in order."
His brow furrowed as he caught the peculiar phrasing. "Wait, I'm not the first one you've sent?"
Cassiel's silence was telling, and he glanced at Deus, but Deus's gaze was distant, as though focused on something far beyond this realm.
"What are you hiding from me?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing with voice laced with suspicion.
Deus's voice cut in, urgent and commanding. "The contract is sealed. It's time to depart."
A sudden, piercing sound shattered the air, like glass breaking under immense pressure echoed from behind him. He spun around, and his eyes widening in disbelief. The darkness behind him had fractured, a vast crack spreading like a spider's web. From within, a brilliant, almost blinding light poured forth, its radiance cutting through the shadow like a blade. It wasn't just light—it was a doorway, a portal forged from the broken surface of a colossal, shattered mirror.
He stared, heart racing, struggling to comprehend the sight before him. It defied all logic, all reason. A rift, a gateway, hanging in the air, its jagged edges gleaming like the shards of a broken dream.
"Time is up. Farewell, until we meet again," Cassiel's voice resonated with an air of finality, pulling him back to the present.
He whirled around, desperation in his eyes. "What—"
Before he could finish, a powerful gust of wind roared from behind him, not pushing but pulling, a force like the unyielding grip of a black hole. He turned back just in time to see the portal's light intensify, the gravitational force within it yanking him off his feet, dragging him inexorably towards its glowing depths.
He tried to brace himself, feet sliding against the ground, but the pull was relentless, a force of nature that could not be denied. Before he could react further, Deus's hand shot out, gripping his arm, anchoring him against the powerful draw of the portal.
He looked up, confusion and fear warring in his gaze. "Deus—what—?"
Deus, his face calm and composed, raised his free hand to level of his lips. With a gentle exhale, he blew something into the air. Golden dust swirled around them, sparkling like a thousand tiny stars before coalescing into professor's eyes like stardust.
"Urgh!" He squeezed his eyes shut, pain lanced through his eyes as the dust settled on his eyes as if fire burned behind his eyelids.
Deus's grip loosened, released his hand. He forced his eyes open just enough to glimpse Deus's serene face, almost sorrowful expression.
"I wish you success," Deus said softly, his words a whispered benediction.
And then, with a final, irresistible tug, the portal's pull overwhelmed him. The world blurred, his senses reeling as he was sucked into a swirl of light and shadow. The fractured mirror sealed behind him, the rift mending itself with a shimmer, leaving no trace of the doorway that had never been.
"Do you think he will succeed?" Deus's voice echoed in the silence that followed, his tone pensive.
"If he fails, they will ■■■." Cassiel replied, his voice carrying a weight that seemed to bow the air around them. "But if he succeeds, he must face the harsh truth that awaits him on Earth."
....
Darkness enveloped him, a suffocating void that pressed in from all sides, as if he were drifting in an endless abyss.
Chirp—! Chirp—! The sweet, trilling song of birds pierced the blackness. His eyes fluttered open to find himself staring at a canopy of verdant leaves, the dappled sunlight filtering through. He realized he was lying beneath a towering tree, the rough bark against his back, a gentle breeze whispering across his skin. The air was fragrant with the scent of wildflowers, and the distant murmur of a river mingled with the rustling of leaves.
Ahhh...
The tranquility was so profound peace, a deep-seated urge to simply close his eyes and drawing him back towards the soothing embrace of sleep.
No! Snap out of it!
He slapped his cheeks, the sharp sting jolting him awake. He pushed himself to his feet, his eyes widening as he took in the scene around him. Rolling hills stretched out in every direction, a patchwork of verdant meadows, wildflowers, and groves of trees. The sky above was a deep, vibrant blue, unlike any he had seen before.
He looked up and froze. A massive airship floated above, its sleek silhouette cutting through the sky. Above it all, the sun blazed an impossible shade of blue, casting an otherworldly glow across the land.
Am I in other world or in 1900s?