Bound by Oath
There were many types of contracts in this world, but three were the most common.
Demonic Contracts: Deals forged in blood with demons, binding the signer to dark forces.
Divine Contracts: Ritual pacts sanctified by gods, mainly used by churches and holy orders.
Magic Contracts: The most accessible, ford through mana and written symbols, allowing for flexible, enforceable terms.
This knowledge flickered through Lara's mind as she processed Ethan's words. Her golden eyes bore into him, unreadable, but her thoughts raced.
A magic contract could, in theory, ensure their separation and protect her brother. But trusting a noble to uphold it? That was a different matter entirely.
Ethan sensed her hesitation. "Why are you hesitating? Isn't this a good idea?"
Her glare snapped to him, sharp as a blade. Ethan flinched. Just for a second, a phantom pain crawled up his burned skin, his body tensing with the mory of fire.
That montary weakness only made Lara narrow her eyes. She was still unpredictable, still dangerous.
"You think I'd trust a noble's word?" she said coldly. "You people always twist your promises."
Ethan swallowed his frustration. He knew she had every reason to doubt him, but he needed this contract more than she did. Without it, he had no guarantee of survival.
"You'll dictate the terms," he offered, keeping his voice asured. "I'll write them exactly as you say."
As a Nobel contract's were surprisingly common among them thus from a young age how to make a contract was thought to them by most households that could thech them . Ethan was no exception he rembered this from the original Ethan's morys.
So he could probably make such a contract.
Lara remained silent, analyzing him. No sudden lies, no obvious traps. But he was a noble—there could always be a hidden clause.
"I don't believe you," she said bluntly.
Ethan let out a slow breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "Then we use a third party."
Lara frowned. "What?"
"The God of Contracts, Rules, and Order," Ethan explained. "We bind it under his na. If either of us breaks it, we'll face divine punishnt. No loopholes. No tricks."
For the first ti, Lara hesitated, not in suspicion, but in thought.
Divine Contracts were rarely used outside the church, but they were absolute. If Ethan agreed to that... he couldn't escape the terms, no matter what tricks he had up his sleeve.
It was tempting.
Still, she wasn't ready to accept it just yet.
"Fine," she said at last. "Let's lay out the terms."
Ethan sat up straighter, ignoring the pain flaring across his burned chast and shoulder. His mind was already working ahead.
"If we're doing this, it should be clear," he began. "We both agree—"
"First," Lara cut in, "we can't take revenge on each other. No direct or indirect harm. No hiring assassins, no scheming in the dark."
"Agreed."
"Second," she continued, voice firm, "we won't search for each other. That ans no spies, no information gathering, no interfering in each other's lives."
Ethan nodded. So far, nothing unreasonable.
"Third," she said, eyes narrowing slightly, "we can't expose what happened here to anyone. No spreading rumors. No telling your family. This never leaves this room."
Ethan hesitated for half a second but then agreed. He had no reason to reveal this humiliating event to anyone.
"And one more thing," Lara added, voice quieter now. "If we—"
She cut herself off, eyes flickering with sothing unreadable. Embarrassnt? Uncertainty?
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "If we what?"
Lara's fingers curled slightly, but she forced herself to speak.
"If we et again in the future, and if... sothing happens between us—" her voice turned sharper, defensive, "—whether it's by fate or accident, the contract won't punish us."
Ethan blinked. "Sothing happens?"
Lara's expression darkened. "You know what I an."
Ah.
Ethan fought the urge to smirk. He wasn't foolish enough to tease her about it—not when she could still burn him alive. But deep down, he understood why she added that clause.
If, sohow, their paths crossed again, and sothing changed between them... the contract wouldn't act as a barrier.
That ant if they beca allies, if they were forced into another situation, or—even more absurdly—if anything intimate ever happened, they wouldn't be punished by divine magic.
Although Ethan doubted sothing like that would ever happen he knew nothing was absolute in the world so he didn't have any problem.
It was a rare mont of practical foresight rather than emotion.
"...Fine," he agreed.
Lara exhaled slightly, though she hid it well.
Ethan extended his hand, calling forth his mana. Golden symbols etched themselves into the air, forming a complex, interwoven sigil. The contract took shape, bound by the authority of the Eternal Arbiter.
"By the laws of Order and Judgnt," Ethan recited, voice firm, "let this contract be sealed."
Lara reached forward, her own mana intertwining with his. The sigil flared brilliant white—a sign of divine recognition.
The contract was made.
They were bound.
No more revenge. No more interference. No more lingering grudges.
And if fate ever brought them together again... they would deal with it when the ti ca.
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