[Character: Aura]
Race: Unknown (Suppressed)
Status: Alive (Contracted)
Condition: Malnourished / Mana Sealed
[Affection]: -57 (Hostile)
[Trust]: -31 (Suspicious)
[Loyalty]: 0 (None)
Thoughts about you: Very suspicious. Doesn't know how you know what you know, but doesn't think you'll tell her if she asks. She is willing to cooperate with you if it gets her out of this hellhole.
Ronan stared at the screen in front of him.
This was new.
Up until now, the system had been centered around him. His status, his skills, and even the mission with Iris had all centered around him at its core.
But this was different. External.
The system labeled her as a character.
His eyes focused on the numbers.
[Affection]: -57 (Hostile)
[Trust]: -31 (Suspicious)
[Loyalty]: 0 (None)
Wow, that's bad.
But it was to be expected.
What really surprised him though, was the 'thoughts about you.' He could see what she thought about him with a surprising amount of detail.
A small grin crept on Ronan's face.
"Interesting," he muttered.
"What?"
Aura's voice cut out.
Ronan blinked once, and the screen in front of him disappeared completely.
Before he could answer, the door creaked open, and the guide walked in with a piece of paper. It had runes like the last, but even Ronan could tell these were different.
"Tier 3 mana contract like you requested, sir."
"Both parties cannot do anything that may directly or indirectly harm each other."
Aura read through the contract I had written.
"That is correct. This should allow you to trust me a little more."
Aura nodded silently as she glossed over the rest of the contract for what felt like the 10th time.
The contract listed a few crucial details.
Ronan will ensure Aura's safety and will not reveal any of her secrets.
Aura will cooperate with Ronan and not act against his interests. She will also act in line with his interests if he specifically requests it.
Aura will not pry into information about Ronan if he does not wish to tell her, and vice versa.
Both parties are forbidden from directly or indirectly harming one another.
There were other small rules, but those were the important ones.
"This feels too clean," Aura muttered.
Ronan simply shrugged.
Aura glanced up at him.
"Do you seriously expect me to believe there aren't any traps in this?"
"If there were any traps, you'd be able to find them. I'm sure you know how mana contracts work, yes?"
Aura glared.
"Of course, I know how mana contracts work."
"Then?"
Aura sighed and picked up the pen.
She read over the contract one last time before she wrote down her full name.
Aura Acheron
She took a knife and cut horizontally on her hand. The guide looked confused. Humans usually didn't cut a wound that large into their hands when signing mana contracts – only a drop of blood was necessary.
This was a tradition of high-blood demons.
Aura's blood splattered against the paper.
And the runes ignited.
A singular rune flashed on both of their palms before it disappeared instantly.
For a brief moment, the mana in the air distorted.
Then it was over.
That was anticlimactic.
Aura stared at her palm.
"So this is what a mana contract feels like…"
"Get used to it."
The guide turned to Ronan and gave him a firm handshake.
"Pleasure doing business with you, sir. If you ever want to buy another slave, simply ask for me. The name's Green Goblin."
Seriously, Green Goblin?
Ronan's diplomatic smile cracked.
Cough. "Yes, thank you, Green Goblin."
Green Goblin walked over to Aura with a guarded stance and inserted the key into her chains. Instantly, the binding chains slipped off her wrists, and the mana in the air started pooling around her.
With a nervous smile, Green Goblin took a step back.
"Well then, I'll see you both out."
➜➜➜➜➜
After returning to the red light district, Ronan led Aura back to the carriage.
Combo stood there, smoking a cigarette with a carefree expression on his face.
"Oh, esteemed customer. You're back. And it seems like you brought a lil girlfriend back with you, eh? I'll say, she's a little dirty for someone who works in a place like this, but who am I to say– eep!"
Combo jumped back as Aura directed killing intent towards him.
"W-woah now, missy. I was just joking. N-no need for that."
"Say it again," she hissed. Mana surged in her palms.
"Aura."
Aura's gaze didn't leave Combo.
"Stand down. I do not wish to cause a commotion here."
Aura gritted her teeth but nodded.
On the walk back to the carriage, Ronan had filled her in on the basic details, so she knew he had snuck out to get her. That raised even more questions, but she knew he wouldn't tell her, and she couldn't repeatedly pry due to the contract.
It eased her mind a little that he didn't mean her any harm, however.
"He's irritating," she said with a glare. "And a pervert."
"Haha… I get that a lot," Combo said with a gasp as she released her killing intent.
"Get in," Ronan said as he stepped into the carriage.
Aura hesitated.
"I've never been in a vehicle like this before."
"Well, there's a first time for everything," Ronan replied.
Combo looked like he was about to say something insulting to Aura, but after seeing her shudder, he wisely kept his thoughts to himself.
Aura stepped into the cart cautiously.
Magic circles instantly flared, and the cart started floating.
Aura let out a light yelp, which she then instantly covered her mouth to hide, as if that would undo the sound that already came out.
A low hum filled the air.
And they shot forward.
(AN: I apologize for reposting these chapters, but I posted the wrong ones earlier. I realized this a little late and had to delete them and repost the correct chapters. Again, sorry for the inconvenience.)