Page 27

This was a contract. In an age when Arcane arts flourished, it was the best and most common means of forming an agreement.

"I want each of you to promise that, during Frostmoon, you never saw a single arcanist. And Eugene is now under my custody." Odovish calmly watched Nagg and the others.

Elufiel observed everyone from the side, her expression unreadable. She was no longer a soul newly awakened in another world. She knew that in Kanado, an arcanist was like a ghost walking along the edge of hell. Under years of "guidance," people feared their power and regarded them as evil heretics.

Yet Eugene had planted a seed called "doubt" within the Lionheart Mercenary Group. Gwendolyn had fallen in love with this arcanist, and Charles had vouched for Gwendolyn's account in the name of a knight. From then on, the Lionheart Mercenary Group was inevitably tied to Arcane arts by countless threads. Perhaps one day they would face investigation by the Holy See, but the question had already been planted. What exactly were Arcane arts? What exactly were arcanists?

Nagg's face turned livid. He could not imagine being practically threatened by an arcanist into signing a contract. He saw the looks his members gave him, looks urging him to make a decision. Reason told him something was strange about this, while instinct told him this was a dangerous mage. Agree to his demands, or face consequences he could not bear.

Odovish was in no hurry, but the soundless silence was the best threat. Winter sunlight streamed through the glass windows, and tiny motes of dust drifted through the air.

Elufiel reached out and grasped at the sunlight. Pale golden rays slipped through her fingers, casting a patchwork of shadows. Odovish glanced at her and suddenly wanted to touch her long ears adorned with ruby studs. His fingers twitched slightly, but in the end, he restrained himself.

"I agree." The three words were almost forced through Nagg's clenched teeth. He did not know what punishments the mage's contract scroll contained, only that from this point onward, even under interrogation by the Holy See, they could not reveal a single word in violation of the contract.

"Very good." Odovish's lips twitched, though anyone could tell it was not a smile. "Come, sign your names, and that arcanist named Eugene will be free to go."

The members of the Lionheart Guild signed their names one by one. The mage muttered an incantation, and the parchment immediately caught fire, turning to ash in an instant.

Eli watched as the ash was thoroughly shredded by the mage's tiny Wind Blade, remaining silent. He walked over to Elufiel and had just begun to say something when Odovish took the elf by the hand and led her out of the dining hall.

"The unconscious man upstairs should be awake by now. Let's go have a look. What do you want to know?"

"I want to hear their heartrending love story," the elf replied with a smile.

Eli watched the mage holding Elufiel's hand, so naturally, as though he had done it hundreds or thousands of times before.

"You don't have a chance." Charles spoke behind Eli. "That divine caster looks at him differently from how she looks at you. I really don't know what those arcanists did to make divine casters lose their heads over them. Gwendolyn was like that, and so is this Elufiel."

"I just... met her a little too late," Eli muttered in defense, though he knew it was a far-fetched excuse.

In the room upstairs, Eugene had already awakened. Gwendolyn clung to him and wept excitedly. When Odovish pushed open the door, the two were speaking softly.

"Miss Gwendolyn, could you give us some time to speak alone?" Odovish asked from the doorway.

They turned their heads. There was a trace of unease in Gwendolyn's eyes, while Eugene watched Odovish and Elufiel with wariness.

"I thought I would at least receive a friendly smile," Elufiel said. Odovish shrugged. "Sorry, it seems your smile was ruined by my contract. Would you like me to smile on your behalf?"

Gwendolyn stood up, a faint flush of embarrassment spreading over her face. "Sorry. I just..."

"All right, Miss Gwendolyn," Odovish said. "Your group members have all signed the contract. Now it is your turn."

"What contract?" Eugene's voice was still somewhat hoarse. He looked at Gwendolyn. "Is it because of me?"

"I think it is because of love," Elufiel said, tilting her head.

"Mage Eugene," Odovish said, "before you rush to assign blame, some of your actions have already violated the Council's Seclusion Precepts. Do you have any objection to that?"

"..." Eugene looked at Odovish. He could not discern this man's identity, but he could confirm one thing from his words: this was someone well acquainted with certain secrets of mages.

"Who are you?" he directly voiced the question in his heart.

Elufiel looked at Odovish, but he did nothing.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Odovish asked, puzzled.

"I thought you would pull out some kind of identification token again," the elf replied.

"Lista's only mark of identity is magic," Odovish said.

Elufiel was still waiting for the mage's explanation when Eugene seemed to vaguely realize something. "You are from Lista's Inner Ring?"

Odovish tacitly acknowledged his words and gave him a mage's salute. Eugene's expression turned solemn. He threw back the blanket, climbed out of bed, and returned a more formal salute to Odovish.

"Greetings, sir."

Elufiel was surprised by the change in his attitude. Odovish did not immediately respond to Eugene, instead taking out another scroll for Gwendolyn.

"I need you to fulfill your promise."

"Sir." Eugene called out again, nervously.

Elufiel glanced at him. "She already promised me that she was willing to pay any price."