Neighborhood sister

Dion watched her carefully, searching for any sign that she was even considering his offer. But the woman only regarded him with a faint, amused smirk, like this was all some kind of entertainment for her.

"You're serious?" she finally asked.

Dion nodded once. "Completely."

She let out a short chuckle, shaking her head. "You're either reckless or desperate."

"Both."

That made her pause, eyes narrowing slightly as if reassessing him. Dion wasn't sure if that worked in his favor or not, but he held his ground.

Then she crossed her arms. "Then we make it official."

Dion blinked. "What?"

"The Oracle allows binding contracts, doesn't it?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "That way, you can't back out later."

His stomach clenched, but he forced his expression to remain neutral. It wasn't like he could back out in the first place. Compared to her, he was just a Hollowborn—one step above powerless. If she wanted to enforce their deal through sheer strength, she could.

Still, putting it into an Oracle-bound contract was something else entirely. It meant there would be no loopholes. No second chances. If he failed the mission, he would serve her for a month, and there would be nothing he could do about it.

She was watching him expectantly, waiting for his reaction.

Dion took a slow breath, his mind drifting—just for a second.

She was familiar to him, wasn't she? Not just from their recent encounters at the mission shop, but from much further back. He had been young—four, maybe five—when he had known her. Back when he still had a family.

She had been older than him, but not by much. Just another kid in the neighborhood. She hadn't been Awakened then, either, so she couldn't have been more than thirteen or fourteen at the time.

Every child in their district had liked her. She had that sort of presence—like an older sister who looked after everyone, even if they weren't particularly close.

What was her name again?

Dion frowned slightly.

…Selene.

Yes. Selene.

His eyes refocused just as he felt a light tap against his arm.

"You're spacing out," she said flatly.

Dion blinked, shaking off the moment. "I was just thinking."

Selene raised an eyebrow. "And? Are we doing this or not?"

Dion exhaled slowly. He had already thrown himself this far in. There was no turning back now.

"Fine," he said. "Let's make it official."

Selene's eyes flickered with something—surprise, maybe—but she recovered instantly. Without another word, she lifted a hand, and the air between them grew heavy.

A translucent screen materialized before them.

It was unlike the standard Oracle notifications that flashed across the mind's eye—this one had presence, a weight that pressed against Dion's senses. Lines of glowing text unfolded across the interface, listing the contract's terms in sharp, unwavering script.

Binding Contract Proposal

Issuer: [Selene]

Recipient: [Dion]

Terms:

Recipient must complete the mission assigned.

If the recipient fails, they will serve the issuer for one month.

The issuer holds the right to determine the nature of this servitude, as long as it does not result in permanent harm or death.

The contract cannot be voided unless both parties agree.

Dion skimmed through it, his expression unreadable. The moment he accepted, the Oracle would acknowledge it as law. There would be no room for excuses. No way to take it back.

Selene studied his face, arms still crossed. "Last chance, kid. You don't have to do this."

Dion barely hesitated. "Can I even back out in the first place?"

Before she could answer, he focused on the contract.

The screen shimmered in response, awaiting his decision.

Then—

Contract Accepted.

A thin thread of light shot out from the interface, weaving around his wrist before vanishing into his skin. At the same time, a notification settled at the edge of his vision.

[Contract Bound: Failure to uphold the agreement will result in servitude under Selene for one month.]

Dion flexed his fingers absently. He had expected to feel something, but aside from the Oracle's confirmation, nothing had changed.

Selene, on the other hand, just smirked. "Guess you really are desperate."

Dion rolled his shoulders. "Guess so."

Selene let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "Well, I hope you don't die too quickly. Otherwise, I'll be missing out on a good servant."

Dion scoffed but said nothing.

He had already made his choice.

There was no turning back now.