"Fine. I accept."
Leo figured this was a solid start. Three favors from Onyxia could change everything.
Like having her help me take down the Night King. That counts as one, right?
"But I can't promise to set you completely free," he added, spreading his hands. "I still don't know how that mysterious force bound us together in the first place."
That was the truth. His system had no "release mount" button, and even in the game there wasn't one.
"You don't have to worry about that," Onyxia said.
She extended her hand and a sheet of parchment appeared out of thin air. She bit her fingertip, letting a single drop of dragon blood fall onto the page. Words in glowing script instantly formed across it.
"This is a Dragon Blood Contract. All you have to do is press your bloody thumbprint on it. If, after I complete the three tasks, you still refuse to free me, the curse will kill you."
"Even if you can't physically release me, as long as you truly want to in your heart, the binding force won't let you control me anymore. In every way that matters, I'll be free. Fair enough?"
Leo stared at the parchment, hesitating.
"What's the matter? Scared?" Onyxia sneered. "Or did you never plan to free me at all? Typical human—always lying to get what you want."
"Who's scared?" Leo shot back, annoyed but calm. "I'll sign. But I have conditions too."
"Before you finish the three tasks, you can't sabotage my plans or cause me trouble. And after you're free, you can't turn against me or against humanity unless they attack you first."
Simple logic: if Onyxia got free and decided to burn the world or conquer it, he was screwed. She needed limits too.
Onyxia paused, then gave a cold laugh. "Fine. As long as humans don't provoke me, I won't go looking for trouble. Happy now?"
"No. How do I know you're not lying?"
That set her off again. "Deception is your people's favorite game! I am the Black Dragon Princess—I do not lie to a mere mortal!" She was practically hissing. "I'll add those words to the contract. If I break them, the curse strikes me too. Satisfied?"
More glowing text appeared on the parchment.
Leo nodded, bit his own fingertip, and pressed his bloody thumbprint onto the page.
The parchment burst into flames and crumbled to ash.
Instantly Leo felt a strange new connection between them—something deep, invisible, and unbreakable.
A flash of relief crossed Onyxia's face. When she looked at him again, her expression had softened just a fraction.
"Contract complete. Have you decided what three things you want me to do?"
"Not yet," Leo said.
"Good. Tell me when you decide." She turned to leave.
"Wait—where are you going?" Leo asked quickly.
Onyxia glanced back, a small smile on her lips. "You said I can't be locked in that empty void anymore, and you don't need me right now. So I'm going to do my own thing."
"Your own thing?"
"I want to travel this world. See what it's really like." She gave him one last look. "Don't worry. The Dragon Blood Contract binds me. If you need me, just say my name in your mind and I'll know. I'll come."
With that she leapt, landing lightly on a high tree branch.
Leo watched, stunned, as she bounded from treetop to treetop and vanished into the forest.
A few moments later a huge black shadow rose from the distant woods and soared away into the night sky.
She just said she wouldn't appear as a dragon in front of people… Leo thought, shaking his head.
Still, a small smile crept onto his face as the exact wording of the Dragon Blood Contract appeared clearly in his mind.
Every line was burned into his memory.
Onyxia had written the contract based on their conversation… which meant there were plenty of loopholes.
Three favors in exchange for freedom?
Onyxia, you're still too naïve.
All he had to do was give her two tasks and never ask for the third. She'd never be free.
Or make the final task "stay by my side forever."
Let's see how you get out of that one.
Leo chuckled to himself, half-amused, half-guilty.
Humans really are the worst.
He pushed the thought aside and started planning how to build a real relationship with her—one where she'd want to stay. No tricks needed.
Because damn… that human form of hers was breathtaking.
Then his mind drifted back to the red comet hanging in the sky.
It showed up four years early.
That had to be because of him—the butterfly effect.
If the comet was here now, Daenerys might hatch her dragons any day.
Time to cross the Narrow Sea.
He needed to meet her early, build trust, and lock down his "duke's son from the distant east" backstory with real witnesses.
Plus, he had other preparations to make.
Like… buying some Unsullied.