Chapter 472 – Subverted Expectations… Twice?

Asterios made his final check over everything and nodded confidently.

“Let us start, then.” He met Noir’s decisive gaze. “We’ll be going through an altered version of the Contracting Ritual that bears draconic influence, and therefore allows us to merge both types of bonds into one, so follow my lead closely even if you are knowledgeable about this kind of magic.”

“It combines both?” She tilted her head, a small frown decorating her forehead. “Does that mean I’ll end up in your entourage?”

“Yes,” he confirmed with finality. “Last chance to back out.”

The short Dragon girl snorted. “Like I have any other sensible option.”

“Let’s just say you’ve grown on me a tiny bit.” Asterios smiled softly. “I’m still prepared to get rid of you at any moment given a good reason, but I think I’m willing to come to some sort of an agreement that leaves either side not interfering with each other.”

Staring at him impassively, it was obvious her gifted brain was racking itself over any way this could be some kind of a trap, as much as it analyzed what was her true stance on this entire situation. She had been led forward with the knowledge that everything was heading towards one singular end result but, all of a sudden, more paths opened up, undoubtedly causing her to question her previous decisions and words.

Naturally, Asterios knew someone of her cunning intellect would reevaluate things after being presented with such an option. To be honest, it was kind of a test. One to see how much, deep down, coming along with this ritual was out of her own free will, not just pure resignation and submission to the strong. Familiars worked with their Summoners much better when their intentions aligned.

“I want to continue,” Noir declared, her expression unchanging regardless of the inner turmoil inside her mind.

And there it was.

Want.

Not going to or will.

Minute details, but they changed so much.

“What do I do?” she added quickly, not giving him time to ponder over useless things.

“Connect to the formation with your mana,” Asterios instructed, showing proper composure that she could rely on.

Her Onyx Heart made itself apparent, a dark aura leaking out of her circuits. The blood beneath her feet switched from red to black, causing them to take a brief look at it. The shadowy liquid had shifted only around the passages that drew the lesser flame, taking up about one-third of the whole array.

Following suit, Asterios allowed both of his Hearts to soar free. Crimson aura seeped out of his body, then mixed with onyx energy. Additionally, a trace of golden light coated it in a radiant soft golden layer. His irises remained majorly red, with ferocious outer rings of black, and with miniature flecks of gold swirling behind his vertical pupils.

As for the blood, it displayed a similar reaction. The fluid was dark crimson, broken by tongues of deep onyx, and slightly illuminated by a golden coating. According to the division, it made up the remaining two-thirds of the circle, boxing the other one in from all sides.

“Noir the Nightmare, are you willing to enter a contract with me?” he called out to his partner.

Her attention snapped from the glimmering lines to him, surprised at being addressed with the title she had introduced herself with.

Recollecting herself, she straightened up. “I’m willing to form a contract with you, Asterios… Crimsonheart?”

Unexpectedly, she looked a bit guilty for a split-second there due to not learning a matching way of calling him.

He snickered lightly. “Asterios Hestizo. Hestizo is my family name. It comes from a human lineage, however, as does my adoptive mother.”

“You haven’t been given a moniker, then?” Noir raised a brow at him.

“I haven’t been a True Dragon for long.” Asterios shrugged. “And my home realm still doesn’t even fully know about my identity. Only a few other ones have seen my true glory. I haven’t checked if they started calling me anything out there.”

She looked pensive for a moment, then nodded to herself. “I’ll be the first to give you one, then.”

A shadow of a smile graced her lips before disappearing immediately, her quiet declaration still registered by Ast’s acute hearing.

“Now begins the phase where we exchange favors,” he guided them forward, showing no signs of paying any mind to that. “My demand is obvious. You’ll listen to my commands as my summon and aid me to the utmost of your abilities. However, I can assure you that I’m not going to abuse my position unless you force me to. And I don’t mean by being assertive, disagreeing with me on things, or other normal conduct. I’m talking about truly interfering or sabotaging our matters.”

Processing his words carefully, Noir inclined her head. “I agree to that. Now’s my turn, right?”

Gesturing at her with his palm, he gave the Dragon girl a moment to form her requirements without a rush. The glowing formation accompanied her internal musings.

Soon enough, a flash of clarity glimmered through her dark irises, perhaps bearing a shadow of a tidbit of conspiracy.

“I wish for the right to challenge you repeatedly for the prize of my freedom from these binding restraints if I succeed,” the sly woman declared with the first honestly thrilled grin since her arrival.

Asterios stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Wouldn’t this be the same if we fought to the death?”

Noir actually chuckled and wagged her finger at him. “Oh, no, I’m not betting on that with the off-chance of you pulling something mind-blowing again with that monstrous regeneration of yours, like reviving from the dead every three full moons or some other bullshit.”

That drew a snicker out of him too. She truly was crafty.

“It sounds fine, but only if those are official duels with a selected referee since I don’t intend on being on alert against your sneak attacks and devious assassination plots at all times of the day, month, and year,” he countered. “I’m too busy for that so my apologies but I can’t play with you this way.”

She laughed at his own thoroughness. “Deal. I’m going to beat you fair and square. Which doesn’t mean I will be honorable during battle, but this is supposed to resemble our first bout.”

As the very cores of their beings aligned with that agreement, the ritual formation glowed stronger, bathing them in that strange mix of red, black, and almost white from below.

“Perfect.” He examined their immediate surroundings. “We made the circuit with our blood, so we don’t need to drop it onto the patterns. This is where I would draw a special sigil on our foreheads and place a kiss on yours as a show of my trust, but there’s one more step that we need to weave into it.”

“Me drinking it,” Noir noted, certain of her answer.

Not a surprise considering that part related to the draconic side.

“Correct.” Asterios was going to summon a chalice, however he was suddenly reminded of their lecture in Rosewind’s academy. “Please, accept my offering.”

Unsure what he meant, her brows furrowed a tiny bit. He wondered for a second if this also was one of these mysterious coincidences, him playing his role in this grand cosmic arrangement of their spiritual union too. Stifling a chuckle, he took a step closer to the confused girl and leaned down, pitching his head to the side a tad and exposing his neck more noticeably.

Noir understood the gesture in a flash, her nostrils flaring ever so slightly, most likely out of some instinctive reaction deeply ingrained in her racial lineage. It was momentary, but Asterios felt like her body was about to lunge at him, jolting indiscernibly, her jaws probably aiming for his neck, and she fought back against that urge.

Taking a deep and calming breath, she rested her left hand atop his right shoulder and her right palm on his left arm before bringing her face forward. He took note of her incredibly sharp fangs in the place of canines, and the next moment, those feral daggers pierced into his skin, making him shudder.

Surprisingly, the two stinging points were located atop his left shoulder, not in the crook of his neck as he had expected. The crimson liquid flowed out of the punctures just as well, and she pulled her teeth out, starting to tentatively lap at the escaping lifeforce. Its almost immediate stop caught her off guard as she once more was reminded of his ungodly rejuvenation.

Fortunately, she consumed enough in that short time.

Pulling away while gazing into his eyes with a trace of what he hoped was a tinge of newfound respect in hers, Noir licked her lips off. Asterios reached out, making her jerk back. However, she hastily returned to her previous position, unwilling to show any more signs of doubt after his own display. Still, her fierce pupils narrowed into thin needles and her frame shivered lightly when his thumb ran over her mouth, scooping the remaining blood off.

Keeping his composure and showing the expected amount of leadership, he unhurriedly traced the mark over her forehead, carefully pushing away her fringe with his free fingers as the pointer used the scarlet liquid as ink. Satisfied with the result, he copied it onto his own skin and glanced at his companion. She blinked once, a little absent-minded, then nodded to confirm that it looked right.

The magical formation churned out more brilliance as Asterios modestly cupped her cheek and leaned down. He could swear he felt her chin lift noticeably as he neared Noir’s hair, then pressed a chaste peck to her forehead after correcting the angle of his approach. Not warmth but heat spread through his body and circuits, a local spiritual storm circling them both, drawing on the three colors below their feet.

A short while later, the reaction subsided and he took a step back. Opening her eyes, she gazed up at him for a few seconds, then started examining herself, looking her figure over like there were some considerable changes there that she had to review. For sure, she had sensed their essences linking together and exchanging just as he had.

“Did it work?” Noir asked, but he was fairly certain she was mostly positive about the answer.

~Can you hear me, Noir?~ Asterios addressed her through their mental bond.

~Oh. Yes, I can. This confirms it, then, right? I’ve joined your entourage?~ the feisty girl inquired curiously.

~No doubt about that. I can recognize the connection. Both bonds settled correctly.~ He smiled at her calmly. ~It makes me wonder, though. Does your own entourage hear this or is our conversation private until we somehow express our will to open it up, if that’s even a thing?~

~Ah.~ She stilled in front of him. ~Uhmmm… Could you… Keep this to yourself... At first?~

Ast’s forehead crinkled a smidgen. ~You don’t have to immediately share all your secrets with others or me for that matter. If there’s something you want to save for now, just let me know.~

~My mother insisted on evaluating every potential candidate for my draconic retinue, claiming that I should fill it with strong and compatible followers who wouldn’t defy me… But her requirements were quite strict… And she killed almost every candidate so far… Therefore… I currently have none…~ Noir explained, a shadow of worry unable to hide from him in their joined minds.

That explained her need for the ritual’s affirmation and inquisitive undertone. She knew the theory to the last word, but the practical application was a different case. And to think she was this powerful already without drawing energy from her attendants. How strong would she get after gaining access to Ast’s full might by deepening her bond?

He shook his head, dismissing such thoughts from his mind right away. That wasn’t how he wanted to accidentally have her picture his character. Efficiency and potency of progress were not the most important values he held in his heart for all his partners. And she had just shared a vulnerability with him.

~Then we are more similar than you would think.~ Asterios sent a cordial chuckle her way to evoke a sense of reassurance from his new friend. ~It took me a while to start up, and I was extremely selective for most of that time, inviting a person or a few, out of which the cardinal ones you can see on the sidelines, only recently accepting anything below an Aide to work for me. Don’t feel anxious about it, things will solve themselves naturally. And if they won’t, we’ll figure something out together.~

Her pretty eyes locked onto his as she kept her face indifferent in a strong fashion, but her mind released a massive sigh of relief.

~Thank you… Asterios…~ She inclined her head honorably.

The girls on the sidelines must have sensed that they were done with their tests after the ritual and moved closer, surrounding them in a loose circle, happy smiles adorning their lips.

Well, mostly.

A certain Grea or such tried to portray a scowl or something in the likes of, but her excitement was palpable too.

“Congratulations on your new familiar,” Tina spoke for everyone, beaming at him.

Meanwhile, Noir frantically attempted to find an angle where no one was gazing directly at her, covering her forehead with her forearm. Those motions only drew more attention to her and practically everyone stared in puzzlement.

“Don’t look.” She kept releasing low growls, grimacing at them meanly.

“Why?” Miria tilted her head cutely.

“Because it’s humiliating, idiot!” The Dragon girl seethed through her teeth, quickly shooting Asterios a glance to see if she went too far with the cussing again.

“Too bad.” Grea snickered, earning herself a snarl too. “It’s not your forehead you should be concealing but your tits.”

Baffled, Noir blinked at her emptily, peering back at the scarlet-skinned female like she was crazy. Then, she glanced down at her top and found a crimson glow piercing through the material of her clothing, forming a red spot around the middle of her sternum. Even more confused, she tugged at her collar, glancing down into her cleavage.

Her face shot back up so quickly that she almost gave herself a whiplash.

“Wait, what?” She gaped at her new master with a lack of understanding. “I’m not a Slave?”

Asterios smirked cleverly. “Familiar as well as a Servant, or did you miss that bit?”

“That wasn’t a figure of speech?” Noir’s expression was a mix of incredulity and awe at being outwitted. “I don’t have to crawl my way up from the bottom?”

“Asterios isn’t lying about doing things differently,” Althea commented, and the fact that she had didn’t cause an adverse response from her mortal enemy due to all the shock.

“Is that how things are normally supposed to go?” Silvia asked, wondering about the hierarchical ladder and its vertical progression.

“For most True Dragon recruits, it is. They are almost always shoved amongst the lesser Slaves to simmer down there in humiliation for a while. Their conquerors often draw satisfaction and pleasure from humbling the losers that way since these bonds are frequently the result of overconfident duels,” their new draconic expert summed up.

“And some wonder where the hate comes from.” Tia made a motion resembling rolling her eyes.

“That’s not just cruel but totally abhorrent.” Miria snarled to the side.

“I was ready to climb my way up to Aide and minimize the amount of time spent in the lower ranks by making sure I presented my strengths and advantages of being in that role, but this is too unusual.” Noir seemed a tad lost. “Although, in the grand scheme of things, I guess it doesn’t change that much, just advances the schedule considerably, putting the worst behind me.”

“You should not be so certain about that,” Bryn chimed in with a secretive smile. “How confident are you that Master will follow any of your other predictions after turning a bunch of them on their head already? His unique methods aren’t limited just to positive aspects.”

The winged lady hit the nail right on the head as their new ally finally had an epiphany. Cursing herself inwardly, she knew she should have made the realization way sooner. So many of her beliefs and expectations had been blown out of the water by now that she couldn’t be sure of her plans anymore. She needed to analyze his behavior from the ground up if she wanted to have a chance to plot accurately around his person.

Seeing how out of depth his new comrade was, Asterios clapped his hands to capture everyone’s focus. “Girls, don’t bully your junior too much on her important day. Everyone needed a period to adjust. Some of you more, some less. Let her enjoy learning about the privileges first before the possible disadvantages or punishments, if there are any.”

“Right!” Noir jumped in place, abruptly coming back to reality. “You almost made me forget! I challenge you to a duel!”

“Already?!” Miria yelped.

“Knew it.” Grea shook her head. “She isn’t the type to follow others willingly. There’s only one thing on her head.”

Asterios rubbed his eyes, an exasperated sigh leaving his lips. “Okay, what do you have in mind?”

“The first person that makes the other one achieve an orgasm is the winner!” The cheeky female points at him with a sure grin.

Her words seemingly echoed throughout the wasteland as deafening silence descended upon them, not a living soul uttering a single peep.

“Hold on.” Grea’s brows rose in mild amusement. “I retract my previous statement. She might be onto something.”

“No,” Asterios gave his answer rapidly and resolutely.

“W-What? So quick?” Noir flinched back as if physically struck by his instant rejection. “You didn’t even give it a thought!”

“I don’t need to think about it in the slightest,” he replied firmly. “Why would I ever have sex with a total stranger when I have eight mates?”

“Ha, so you are a coward!” She laughed at him in a belittling manner. “Mother was right, you guys can’t last longer than us at all!”

The pitiful looks the other females directed at her were completely missed.

“It’s not a matter of cowardice.” Asterios didn’t intend to rise to the taunt. “It’s a matter of respect, loyalty, and faithfulness. I’m not going to displease the girls I love by acting on your whim. In the grand manner of things, they are what means more to me, not you. When choosing the theme of your challenge, select something that isn’t going to insult them.”

“I’m not insulted.” His demon mate raised her hand. “As long as I get to watch you put the brat in her place.”

“Besides,” he ignored her input, his gaze still locked on his opponent, giving her an evaluating lookover. “This doesn’t sound like a category you should be so confident in considering you are still… inexperienced.”

The snickers from the experienced ladies didn’t escape her this time.

Noir’s cheeks burned crimson as the impression of sheer fury took over her visage. The wild swing she threw at Asterios was more than announced, allowing him to move out of the way with ease, the fuming True Dragon flying past him and skidding to a stop. She lunged back at him and they began a savage dance in all directions while she huffed and cursed to the entertainment of their audience.

Asterios had a feeling that it wasn’t going to be as easy to handle her as he might have initially thought.

He had his work cut out for him.