When the plea finally ended, Freja was crying her eyes out, her entire body covered in bruises. She lay face-down, restrained beneath Seraphine.
Thomas was crouching with the system screen in front of him, positioned directly before Freja’s face. Seeing her cry, beg to be freed, and apologise made a knot tighten in his throat.
Evelyne simply watched the scene in silence from a short distance away. Just thinking about what he was doing made her uncomfortable.
Thomas signed the contract. Then, slowly and gently helping move her right arm, Freja cried out through tears:
"It hurts! Don’t move it! Please... don’t move it..." Her voice cracked.
"I’m sorry. I’m being as careful as I can."
He subtly took her index finger, which was covered in her own blood, and guided it until it touched his palm. Then he told her:
"Please swear loyalty to , and swear that you will live for and because of ."
After speaking the words the contract required, he added his own:
"I promise I’ll take care of you. I won’t do anything like this again. I just need your help, Freja, please. After this, I’ll help you recover."
"I don’t want to...", she replied between sobs. "Please... let go..."
Thomas swallowed. Guilt was consuming him, but he didn’t want to ask for her to be hurt again.
’Compared to this thod, using a sedative won’t make feel nearly as guilty.’
Seeing that she still refused, he said:
"The longer you take to accept, the longer you’ll suffer. Just accept it and we’ll take you to the hospital imdiately—you’ll stop suffering."
Seraphine shifted her body and tightened the hold restraining Freja. The pain in her shoulder made Freja scream even louder. Evelyne grew frustrated at the sight and, clicking her tongue, stord away from the area in irritation. She couldn’t stand the idea of supporting him.
The screams echoed throughout the forest.
Then Seraphine eased the pressure, allowing Freja to relax and catch her breath. Thomas repeated:
"Please swear loyalty to , and swear that you will live for and because of ."
Freja fought not to give in, but no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t break free. Her body ached everywhere and whenever she tried to use her gift, they hurt her again.
Her tears grew heavier and she spoke in a broken voice:
"O-okay... okay, I swear... I swear... I swear, please... just stop..."
The blood contract was fulfilled.
Thomas’s hand glowed with an intense red light as it absorbed a small trace of Freja’s blood into it. No one else could see the contract sealing itself, and the digital screen of his system updated before his eyes.
[SYMBIOTIC BOND COMPLETED]
Entity: Freja Krakenheart
Class: CHIRA
Gift: Cephalopod Evolution
• Can manipulate and create multiple tentacles at will, as well as increase the thickness and length of each one. Also possesses extraordinary physical strength.
Rarity: SSR
Rank: B
Status: UNSTABLE
[BUFFS APPLIED (ACTIVE):]
Dominion 1
Endurance 1
→ Cephalopod Evolution effect toward the Bearer: ACTIVE
[Stabilisation Missions: AVAILABLE]
’Perfect, it’s done...’, he thought with relief. ’By the way... what’s that "effect toward activated"? It always shows up...’
He stood up and, as usual, imposed all the prohibitions he gave his dosticated heroines, making sure none of them could expose him. Once finished, he nodded toward Seraphine and said:
"Take her carefully, okay? She’s part of our team now. ssage when she’s being treated."
She nodded, and despite Freja’s pained complaints, Seraphine carried her in a princess carry and leapt between the trees until they disappeared into the forest.
Thomas let out a deep breath and instinctively looked at his hand.
Evelyne approached from behind him with her arms crossed. She waited a few seconds before finally speaking.
"What will happen to her?"
Thomas stayed silent for a mont before answering.
"I’ll take better care of her. That much is obvious." He turned around and began walking along the path.
Evelyne glanced at him silently, then looked back toward the road ahead of them—the long walk back to the city.
Evelyne walked beside him as the sound of crickets and insects filled the forest. Each step made the dirt and stones crunch beneath their feet.
"Will you do the sa thing to Inori?"
Thomas stopped for a mont. The thought made him nervous. Then he continued walking, rubbing the back of his neck lightly as he said:
"I think... today was enough. I need to rethink my plan... I’ll take a few days to think things through calmly."
Evelyne looked at him from the corner of her eye in silence. Then she turned her gaze back to the path ahead, which would be a long walk back to the city.
◇◆◇
When he arrived at his apartnt that night, after completing his main mission, he quietly closed the door. He didn’t want to alert anyone, but to his surprise, Iris was waiting for him.
"Brother!"
She ran straight into his arms. Thomas felt uncomfortable, but he suppressed the feeling and hugged her back before lifting her up.
"Hey... did you have a good day?"
"Yes! My teacher congratulated for getting great results on my exam! And a friend gave a bracelet. It’s pretty, right?", she asked, showing him her right wrist.
"It is. Very much so. Congratulations on being so smart." He pretended to be warm with her, because holding her only brought his guilt back. "I know you have an incredible future as a heroine, Iris. You’ll be amazing."
She laughed while excitedly continuing to tell him things. Thomas smiled falsely for her, playing his role as the older brother, but at so point his ears stopped listening and his attention drifted away. He just nodded automatically.
Freja’s screams echoed in his mind.
Her tear-streaked face.
Her begging for rcy.
Her groans as she was beaten, unable to defend herself.
All because of him.
He didn’t think about how he had almost been caught by the police, nor that he had been monts away from being separated from Iris forever.
He only thought about the guilt and remorse of torturing a heroine.
At one point, he imagined blood covering his hands while he held his younger sister.
His focus drifted away. Iris repeated his na, calling him, but he didn’t hear.
Until she grabbed his cheeks and shook him.
"Snap out of it!"
Thomas returned to the present and looked at her.
"Huh? O-oh, sorry. I’m tired, Iris. Sorry."
"Umm..."
He set Iris back on the ground and asked:
"By the way, where’s Angel?"
"Showering. She left dinner ready for you on the table."
Thomas looked toward the dining area. His al was wrapped in plastic beside a note that read:
If it got cold, use the microwave. Take a shower, eat, and go to sleep. :)
"She thought you’d co back late", Iris comnted, peeking over the edge of the table because of her height.
Thomas picked up the note and stared at it silently for a few seconds.
Then he whispered:
"I see..."
◇◆◇
While finishing dinner in his room, a ssage arrived on his phone. It was Seraphine.
"She’s resting now. She’ll spend the night here. All her injuries have already been healed, but she wanted to stay the night."
"Thanks for the help, Seraphine..."
"It’s not like I can refuse you, right? But it’s fine. Anyway, I’ll share Freja’s contact with you. I’m heading back ho."
"Alright, thanks again. I’ll send everyone a ssage in a mont."
"Okii
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