"Huu… haa…"
Dustan sat rigidly in his chair, his fingers tapping nervously against his knee.
The dimly lit room was silent except for the soft hum of the enchanted lamps lining the walls, casting eerie shadows that flickered across the stone floor. Across from him, lounging with an almost predatory ease, was Raven Nightshade—leader of the Order of Shadows.
Raven’s sharp, dark eyes studied Dustan with an unsettling intensity, his lips curving into a smirk that held no warmth.
"You seem tense, Dustan," Raven said smoothly, his voice as soft as silk yet as dangerous as a blade. "Relax. This isn’t an interrogation... rely a conversation between two like-minded individuals."
Dustan swallowed hard, his throat dry.
"You... you said you had sothing to talk about," he muttered, trying to keep his voice steady. "About Ashfelt."
Raven leaned forward slightly, his fingers interlacing as he rested his elbows on the table.
"Yes. Your dear friend, Ashfelt Zephyr. Or should I say... your master?"
Dustan flinched at the choice of words.
Raven’s smile widened.
"I know he has you under his thumb, Dustan," Raven continued, his tone turning colder. "I’ve been watching, observing. You’re too cautious around him, too obedient. It’s almost... unnatural." He tilted his head. "And I suspect it’s because of sothing deeper, sothing binding."
Dustan felt a cold sweat run down his back. "What... what do you an?"
Raven chuckled darkly. "A Soul Contract, perhaps?"
Dustan stiffened, his eyes widening in shock for a split second—just long enough for Raven to notice.
"I see," Raven murmured with satisfaction.
"Of course, it’s not visible, but I can feel it. That aura of submission, of forced loyalty." His voice lowered dangerously. "I imagine it’s quite... suffocating."
Dustan clenched his fists, keeping his mouth shut. Raven sat back, exhaling in amusent.
"But I’m not here to scold you, Dustan. Quite the opposite. I’m offering you an opportunity—a way out."
Dustan’s eyes flickered with interest despite himself.
"What... kind of opportunity?"
"A contract of your own," Raven said, his voice almost hypnotic. "One that binds you... to ."
Dustan stared at the man, his mind racing. "Why ? Why not Elma? She’s—"
"Elma?" Raven’s expression darkened. "Let show you sothing."
He snapped his fingers, and the door behind him opened. Two of his subordinates entered, dragging Elma into the room. Dustan’s stomach twisted at the sight of her—frail, barely conscious, her eyes sunken and empty. Bruises and scars lined her arms, and she seed barely able to stand on her own.
Dustan shot up from his seat. "Elma!"
Raven waved a hand dismissively, and the subordinates let go of her, letting her slump against the wall.
"She’s useless now," he said coolly. "Broken beyond repair. Whatever Soul Contract Ash forced on her has made it so that she remains tight-lipped about everything. Torture does nothing but drain her. If I put any more pressure on her, she’ll perish."
Dustan felt a lump in his throat. "Y-You did this to her?"
Raven arched a brow. "No, Ash did."
Dustan’s breath caught.
"He squeezed everything he could out of her and discarded what was left," Raven continued, his eyes boring into Dustan’s. "And if you think he won’t do the sa to you... you’re delusional."
Dustan stared at Elma’s limp form, his heart pounding.
"He got rid of the previous you," Raven whispered, his voice like venom in Dustan’s ears. "And you... you’re just another disposable pawn."
Dustan’s mind reeled.
He looked back at the black crystal shard on the table.
"If... if I take this contract," he said hesitantly, "what happens next?"
Raven’s smile returned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "You serve , Dustan. And in return, I ensure your survival. No lies, no blackmail, no being cast aside like yesterday’s trash."
Dustan’s hands trembled as they hovered over the shard.
His thoughts were a whirlwind.
’Ash lied to ?’
"Before I agree," Dustan said shakily, "there’s sothing I need to know."
Raven gestured for him to continue.
"Is there so sort of footage in the room where all the recordings are kept in the staff quarters?"
"Hm? How do you know about that?"
"Word goes around… and I’m not the only one you’ve interrogated." Dustan fought to stay calm as he spoke. "You sensed another Magia Signature there, right? Maybe it belongs to an accomplice and you’re trying to identify that as Ash."
Raven was silent for a mont as he stared at Dustan.
’Ash... has footage of ... blackmail material. If he’s lying about that, I need to know.’ The boy swallowed.
Raven’s eyes glinted, and he leaned forward.
"Footage?" He let out a laugh, low and sinister. "I wish there was so kind of footage… perhaps a hidden one… but the schematics of the Recording Storage Room had no place for another set of recordings or footages."
In essence… there was no secret recorder in the room.
’What…?’
Dustan felt like the floor had been ripped from beneath him.
Ash had been lying this whole ti.
The grip he thought Ash had over him... it was all an illusion.
Raven seized the mont. "Now tell , Dustan. Will you turn against him? Will you join ?"
Dustan swallowed hard.
His eyes flickered between the seated inquisitor and Elma’s broken body. Raven was right—Ash used people and discarded them.
And if he didn’t act now, he’d be next.
A shaky breath escaped his lips.
"Fine... I’ll do it."
Raven’s smile widened in triumph. "Good choice."
Dustan reached out and grasped Raven’s hand. As soon as his fingers closed around it, a dark aura enveloped him, and he felt the chilling tendrils of the Soul Contract sink into his being.
Except... it wasn’t binding to the soul Raven assud.
Dustan had another.
They both stated the terms of their agreent, and it beca binding on them.
Raven’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the ritual complete, oblivious to the deeper truth lurking within Dustan’s dual soul.
Dustan opened his eyes, feeling the cold weight of the contract settle inside him.
He t Raven’s gaze and forced a smile.
"What do you want to do?"
Raven chuckled, rising to his feet. "For now? Tell everything you know about Ashfelt… including exactly how he ties into the White Death Incident and the murder of Gerald Lockwood and those guards."
"...."
"Start talking now."
Dustan sat in the dimly lit chamber, his expression carefully neutral as Raven Nightshade leaned in closer, his piercing gaze searching for any cracks in his composure.
"I’m waiting…"
Raven began to show signs of impatience, but the boy remained still.
Dustan kept his face impassive, but inside, his thoughts churned with clarity.
’Elma... she’s an Otherworlder too. It all makes sense now. Ashfelt had hinted that there was another person who altered the events of the White Death incident—the true culprit, the real White Death.’
Ash didn’t tell him because he had so sort of Soul Contract with Elma, which explained why he was so secretive regarding their affair.
’As for Gerald, he already explained the details behind why he had to kill him. I’m still not sure he was being completely honest, but… I have to believe him.’
That was one thing about Ash.
He could twist the truth... but he never fully lied.
Dustan silently pieced it together.
’Elma’s silence, her broken state—it wasn’t just due to Raven’s tornt. She had a reason to protect Ash, a contract she willingly made. She wasn’t so innocent victim; she was part of sothing much bigger, sothing darker.’ Your next chapter is on .Côm
And Gerald... Dustan clenched his fists under the table.
Ash had predicted this mont. He had told Dustan about Raven’s inevitable interest, that the Order of Shadows would try to get to him.
"Play along, buy ti," Ash had said.
And Dustan would do just that.
"You’re awfully quiet," Raven murmured, his dark eyes narrowing. "What’s going through that head of yours, I wonder?"
Dustan forced a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his head.
"I’m just... thinking. You’re asking a lot, Raven. And, well... it’s not like I have much of a choice, do I?"
Raven’s smirk deepened.
"Exactly. You’re starting to understand how the world works. Good." He leaned back in his chair. "But I need sothing more than just silence from you. I need... cooperation."
Dustan feigned hesitation. "And what if I say no?"
Raven’s eyes turned cold, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Then I have no choice but to implicate you, Dustan. I know you’ve been involved in things you shouldn’t have. And once I bring that to the academy’s attention... well, let’s just say Ash won’t be able to protect you from behind bars."
Dustan felt a chill, but he didn’t falter.
’Raven has no proof.’
That’s why he needed Dustan in the first place. If he truly had sothing solid, he’d have already made his move.
’He doesn’t know about my fight with Arius last night. He’s bluffing.’
Dustan’s lips twitched into a nervous smile.
"I... I see." He sighed, pretending to be weighed down by the choice. "Look, I need so ti to think about it, okay? I can’t just turn my back on Ash overnight."
Raven studied him for a long mont before exhaling in frustration.
"Fine. But don’t take too long, Dustan." He stood, pacing toward the window, his back to Dustan. "Ti is running out, and I can’t afford loose ends. Neither can you."
Dustan nodded, standing as well. "Right. I’ll... I’ll think about it."
Raven waved his hand, dismissing him.
"You’re free to go."
With a nod, Dustan walked to the door, his steps steady. As he exited the chamber and the heavy wooden doors shut behind him, he released a slow, silent breath. His heart pounded in his chest, but his resolve remained unshaken.
’I won’t betray Ash. Not now, not ever.’
Ash had given him strength, shown him a path forward.
With his knowledge of the plot’s future, Dustan knew that sticking with Ash was his best bet for survival... and for getting stronger.
Besides, Ash treated him like a friend—manipulative or not, that ant sothing.
********
Back inside the chamber, Raven Nightshade stood still, staring out the window into the darkened academy grounds. His fingers curled into a fist, his jaw tightening.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath.
Dustan wasn’t breaking as easily as he’d hoped. And without tangible evidence, he was running out of options to pressure him.
He turned, his cloak billowing behind him.
"Looks like I have no choice," he murmured to himself. "If Ash wants to play gas... I’ll face him head-on."
His lips curled into a dangerous grin.
’This ti, no holds barred.’
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