"Yes. I did tame him," Nolan said, his voice steady as he turned to Lyra.
Lyra's brows furrowed. "But Master… that isn't wise. You shouldn't. Who knows if he might defy you—after everything you've done?"
Nolan's eyes glinted with quiet certainty. "Don't forget, the contract is absolute. He can't break it. Even if he's immortal, he'd lose his life if he tried. And with his current strength—even in his true form—he wouldn't win."
Lyra hesitated. "Yes, Master, but…"
"There's no 'but,' Lyra." Nolan's tone sharpened. "You're wiser than you think, but we need him. If the world turns against me one day—if Celia, Linda, or any of you are threatened—I'll need an army, and a powerful ally like him could decide the battle. If another divine beast or deity descends to challenge me or destroy this world, he'll be there to add to our strength. I don't expect to use him lightly, but I won't ignore an asset like this."
Lyra bit her lip, eyes cast down. "Yes, Master… I understand."
