Before Zoya opened her eyes, the two curious women had already turned questioning gazes on He Xi.
When He Xi recounted everything he remembered about the Black Robe Person's talk of "vessels" and Lily "willingly accepting the gift," Flora's brows remained tightly furrowed.
Not until He Xi finished describing Lily's final appearance, with half her face covered in black substance,
did Fivik speak thoughtfully. "Pact Master?"
Seeing He Xi's confusion, she explained, "You can think of them as people who borrow power.
"Borrow it? From whom?" He Xi pressed.
"Pact Masters are a rather unusual sort of being.
"The source of their power is unlike that of us mages, who build it up step by step through understanding and learning the world's rules.
"And it's unlike sorcerers, who rely on their innate bloodlines and talents.
"They sign a pact with some powerful being.
"Though it's called a pact, it's really more like a transaction.
"Pact Masters can gain power that would normally be beyond their reach.
"But remember, enjoying power early comes at a cost. Often, that cost far exceeds what you put in."
Hearing this, He Xi inexplicably felt that it sounded familiar.
Why did it sound so much like taking out a loan?
Enjoy it now, then pay it back bit by bit.
But remembering the news he'd once seen about people who borrowed small sums and never paid them back, he asked jokingly, "Could someone borrow the Sect Master's power and refuse to pay the price, leaving the Sect Master unable to do anything about it?"
Thwack!
A sharp smack came from his own forehead.
Fivik pulled back her small hand.
She said fiercely, "Where did you get such a dangerous idea?"
"Remember, a mage's power comes from within. It may be slow to build, but it's