"I, Aluric, Seventh Prince of the Kray Empire, accept the oath of Keyrin`Len, Second Princess of the Elven Kingdom," I said.
For the first time since becoming a half-elf, someone other than the academy dean had learned my real name. I felt a strange sense of relief and shifted my gaze toward Keyrin, who was staring at me with clear disbelief before looking down at our joined palms.
"Little leech, lying during a blood oath is very dangerous. You'll be dead in a few seconds, so tell me your talent instead of taking it to the grave," Keyrin said with a laugh.
She kept watching our hands, waiting for the chains that sealed the oath to fail to appear.
"If I die right now, then my talent will remain a secret. That would be the best farewell gift I could leave you, Princess Keyrin," I replied mockingly, not taking my eyes off her.
Unlike her, I was certain I hadn't broken the oath.
"Don't you dare address me as princess if you don't want to die a painful death," she snapped irritably, still staring at our joined hands.
I chose to ignore her words.
Everything around us was silent. Not a single movement, not a single witness—only the enormous tree above our heads. From the outside, we must have looked like some strange pair frozen in a handshake.
A few seconds passed.
But the chains still didn't appear.
Now it was my turn to grow wary.
The lack of reaction could only mean one thing—the oath was incomplete.
"Did you tell the full truth about yourself?" I asked, watching her carefully.
"Yes, leech. Everything I said was true. Unlike you, who apparently is still trying to pass himself off as a prince," Keyrin answered mockingly.
I wanted to argue, but another thought caught my attention. Could the oath have failed because I hadn't completed my own introduction? But altering the words carelessly could ruin it entirely.
"Perhaps you're right... then how do I complete the information?" I asked.
"Give me your hand," Keyrin said irritably. "I'll cut yours, you cut mine. We'll strengthen the oath. It's the only way."
I held out my hand.
The blade slid easily across my skin.
Then I drew the knife across hers.
Blood dripped onto the ground.
We clasped our palms together once more.
"Now listen carefully, little leech. If you make another mistake, nothing will save us. Only the death of one of us," Keyrin said seriously before beginning her part of the oath.
"I, Aluric... Seventh Prince of the Kray Empire... half-elf and chosen of the Goddess of Chaos, Hes... accept the oath of the elf standing before me," I declared.
At that very instant, the expression on Keyrin's face went blank.
And the chains appeared.
Black. Heavy. Almost alive.
But something immediately went wrong.
Chaos magic began flowing through them.
And instead of sealing the oath, it distorted its very foundation.
I felt a foreign presence brush against my consciousness—brief, sharp... and then instantly gone.
The chains began wrapping themselves around Keyrin's body.
"You idiot..." she hissed before her magic was completely suppressed.
She dropped to her knees, clutching at her throat, where a thin magical chain had manifested.
"What did you do to me..." she forced out with difficulty.
"I didn't do anything," I replied calmly. "Let's figure this out."
But her gaze had already changed.
Fear had appeared in her eyes.
"What did you just do to me?!" Keyrin shouted, stepping sharply backward.
"Nothing. I asked you to calm down so we could understand the situation," I answered evenly.
"You're either stupid or lying," she hissed.
"Then explain what you think happened," I said.
Keyrin fell silent for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts.
"You... or your power... altered the foundation of the oath," she finally said.
"That's impossible," I replied at once.
"For ordinary people, yes," she said sharply. "But you're a cursed swordsman. And it seems your Goddess of Chaos interfered."
I frowned.
"Hes? Why would she do that?"
Keyrin exhaled, her voice turning colder.
"She doesn't need a reason you or I are capable of understanding," she answered.
"Do we have any options?" I asked.
"Yes. You acknowledge me as your servant—and the elves declare war on you," she said with a smirk.
"Not an option," I replied calmly.
I fell into thought.
The bond between us prevented her from going too far away. That restriction was quickly becoming the core problem.
And then I remembered the academy's elite dormitory—a place where servants were permitted.
"There is one option..." I said slowly.
I shared the idea with her.
Her reaction was immediate.
Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she shot me a sharp look.
"Are you an idiot?!" she nearly shouted.
"Do you have a better suggestion?" I asked calmly.
She fell silent.
"Fine. Then techniques. You may choose two," she said, returning to business.
"I need offensive and defensive dark magic," I replied.
We walked toward another tree.
A light elf greeted us there.
"What magic do you use, half-elf?" he asked with open disdain.
I glanced at Keyrin.
She immediately stepped in.
"Min'Lo, leave us."
The elf departed.
"Seven Tormentors—a shadow technique that reflects emotions," she said, handing me a book.
"Call of Blood—a forbidden technique that creates shields from blood," she added, though she didn't let go of the book.
"Swear you won't use it against light elves," she said quietly.
"I can't," I answered.
She released the book.
A portal opened.
"Three days. At the academy," Keyrin said.
I smirked.
"I'll be waiting. Try not to be late... otherwise I may hire another servant."
She flushed instantly and shoved me straight into the portal.
A moment later, I found myself back on the street.
And I couldn't suppress a smile.
Now I had two new techniques.
And one dangerously unstable bond I still needed to understand.
A long night awaited me.