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Chapter 25: Retainers and the Contracts
Under the veil of twilight, shadows danced across the rooftops as Leornars moved swiftly, avoiding attention. Two figures trailed behind him. One was radiant and sharp in appearance—Bellian, adorned in metal-coated trousers and a silver-plated, long-sleeved shirt. His jet-black hair shimmered slightly under the moonlight, and his twin swords—one a longsword on his back, the other a katana at his waist—clinked softly as he moved.
Trailing farther behind was the large inferno wolf Ascian, with jet-black fur, crimson glowing eyes, and an unsettling, calm demeanor as it dragged a half-conscious young man by his collar.
That young man was Zaryter Daternmum.
---
Far away, in the elegant halls of Theocracy of Lurtra Castle, Stacian Von Gremoriah sat quietly in the dining chamber. The silver moonlight spilled through the tall glass windows, illuminating her as she sipped coffee while poring over financial documents and plantation records. Her calm routine was abruptly interrupted by a loud thud from the main entrance.
Her eyes narrowed.
She put her cup down with practiced elegance and, in an instant, vanished using Shadow Movement—blitzing through the air at Mach 8.
She arrived in the main corridor, armed with nothing but a kitchen knife. What she saw made her pause.
"…My Lord?"
Leornars stood with his usual cold composure, tossing Zaryter's limp body to the ground.
"Heal him," he said flatly. "He's useless if he dies."
Stacian blinked in mild surprise. "Isn't this the clown I slapped last time?"
"His name is Zaryter Daternmum," Leornars replied. "He has something I want."
With a raised brow but no further words, Stacian knelt and began casting healing magic over the injured man. Gentle green light enveloped him, and his breathing steadied.
Zaryter groaned as consciousness returned. He opened his eyes, confused. The luxurious ceiling, polished marble walls—definitely not where he last remembered being.
He turned—and yelped.
"Aaaaahh! Creep!" he shouted, clutching his dragonian tail, which Leornars had been casually observing.
"…Creep?" Leornars repeated, genuinely confused.
"Shout later. Heal first," Stacian said coolly, handing him a bowl of water.
Still dazed, Zaryter muttered, "Why didn't you kill me?"
Leornars folded his arms and sat with practiced grace. "Because you're useful. If you don't want to live… then dedicate that life to me."
Zaryter froze.
The weight of those words hit harder than any blade. His face faltered between joy and sorrow.
"I… I don't know what to say."
"It's just a 'Yes' or a 'Yes'," Stacian added with a sly smirk.
Leornars glanced at her, narrowing his eyes. Why is she encouraging this? Is she trying to stack more retainers onto me? What's her angle…?
"…I can't," Zaryter muttered.
"Huh?" Stacian blinked.
"The Black Acers… they promised to cure my little sister if I brought Leornars to them."
"Cure her?" Stacian asked.
"She has the Trilulial Curse. Only Dryiands can heal it… and they're nearly impossible to find."
At that moment, Leornars' mind sparked.
Dryiands… where did I hear that? He closed his eyes, digging into his vast memory. Then it hit him—their first conversation.
> "My name is Stacian Von Gremoriah. I'm a Dryiand."
Leornars opened his eyes.
"If I healed your sister… would you serve me?"
Zaryter's eyes widened. Hope flooded his expression.
"I… I'd give my life for you!"
"Good," Leornars smirked faintly, "Because my retainer here—Stacian Von Gremoriah—is a pure-blooded Dryiand."
Stacian stepped forward and revealed her true form—black horns and ethereal black wings shimmered into view.
Zaryter nearly fainted.
"An… an actual Dryiand?!"
He leapt up—only to immediately collapse in pain.
"Don't worry," Stacian said sweetly, "I healed your wounds. But per orders, I left the pain."
Zaryter groaned. "Seriously…?"
---
Soon, the trio walked to the castle garden under the night sky.
Stacian knelt on one knee, pricking her finger with a needle. A single drop of blood fell onto the grass.
Leornars followed suit.
A radiant red magic crest formed between them—complex, glowing symbols circling their bodies.
Zaryter stood aside, watching in stunned awe. A Gremoriah and an Avantris… light and darkness… bonding? That's… impossible.
Memories began to flood Leornars' mind—Stacian's past, her pain, her loneliness. He saw it all. Meanwhile, Stacian winced, a nosebleed trickling from her exposure to Leornars' fragmented memories.
A glowing red crest appeared on Leornars' back hand. Another bloomed above Stacian's chest.
"…The contract is established," Stacian whispered, wiping the blood away.
Zaryter stepped forward and knelt next. The process repeated. As their memories connected, Leornars felt Zaryter's silent grief. The pain. The burden of protecting his sister.
A blue crest etched itself onto Zaryter's neck.
"The contract is complete," Stacian confirmed.
Leornars stumbled slightly and sat on a nearby rock, his mind spinning.
> New skill unlocked: [Purgatory]
New skill unlocked: [The Sage]
New skill unlocked: [Light Magic]
New skill unlocked: [Healing Magic]
New skill unlocked: [Threads of Abstract]
New skill unlocked: [Phantom Illusion]
New skill unlocked: [Gate Keeper]
New skill unlocked: [Fire Bolt]
Level: 32
Speed: Mach 9
City-level lifting strength: Unlocked
Precognitive Thought: 2 Parallel Minds Active
The system voice echoed in his mind like a gentle storm of power being born.
---
A few hours later…
In Leornars' quarters, Stacian folded her clothes quietly on his bed while he worked at his desk.
"My lord," she said softly, "I have a question."
"I was waiting for you to ask," he replied, not turning around.
"We could've played dumb. Pretended not to know a Dryiand. Let Zaryter lead us to the Black Acers."
"I thought of that too," Leornars admitted, "But Zaryter's strength is significant. If we let him go… and he returned to them, our odds would collapse. I've already killed two. There are only seven… now five."
"So… you're keeping him as a resource?"
"Yes. But more than that… I want to meet his sister."
---
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Durmount…
The new heroes had completed their training. With cheers and farewells, they scattered across the land, ready to protect the world.
Among them stood one lone figure—Kyle.
He clenched his fists, watching the others depart.
Then, without a word, he leapt over the castle walls and sprinted southward, his armor clattering with each step.
"I'll kill you, Leornars. Just wait for me… I'll kill you."
His eyes burned with vengeance.
And he was headed straight for Lurtra.