NOVEL WEB Chapter 65 - Contract Part 2
Novaris. Sax (June). 905. AGC.
Nodel. Waxing Crescent 🌒. Day 8.
When she had heard the name Vinci the day before, Rose immediately knew who they were. How can her teachings not inform her of one of the most powerful families on the planet? She had learned about the Magus Empire and their rise to being one of the strongest forces on the planet. So, hearing she had been dealing with someone from that family began giving her a bit of insight into just who this gnome was. And hopefully, he was from one of the smaller branches in the family, and her lowly self hadn't done anything silly.
Rose had done something silly. She was trying to get into a contract with the child of one of the current leaders in the empire. This Alyx Vinci was directly connected to the main family, and she had gone trying to make demands of him. She wasn't even a paladin yet. Sure, she followed Sol, but ranks, and the intricacies of politics still mattered. And essentially, it was like some random stranger trying to talk to a prince and asking for their help! Things like that just didn’t happen.
The only saving grace Rose had was the fact that the gnome had been interested in what she had offered. Oh, and also the fact he wasn't some egotistical maniac that would call for reparations for Rose having offended his honor or something. So, since he hadn't denied her right away and even offered her assistance in figuring out who he was, there was no reason to back out. After all, the gnome was one of the top experts when it came to souls regardless of his low power rank, and as if that wasn't enough, he was the chosen of two deities, making him one of the best choices when finding someone to help Jasmine.
Having decided to go along with the current events, Rose went to the Temple of Xitrix around mid-afternoon. She had sent a note informing Alyx to meet her there. The temple was a sturdy structure made of marble and looked just as imposing as its clergy were serious about upholding their tenants.
It was well known that the followers of Xitrix could not lie. To lie was to die for them, no matter how small the lie was. Which was something that even Rose found to be crazy. She knew the whole church was as fanatical as they could come, even if this fanaticism allowed them to work with many governments around the planet. It helped even more that they were all walking lie detectors.
However, to be fair, the whole lie detection thing had more to do with taking an oath of truth in front of them than any actual ability to tell lies from truth. Either way, the temple was rather bare except for a few decorations and symbols used to represent the god. Symbols like gavels, bloodied scrolls, or scales.
Walking in, she spoke with the front attendant about her reason for being there, and she was told to sit and wait for Alyx to arrive.
Alyx showed up a bit after she arrived, and with both of them there, they approached the attendant again. They were taken to a bare room with a simple round stone table and three mildly comfortable wooden chairs. After sitting, they were joined by a Cleric of Xitrix, who wore their customary robes. These robes were black and white, though the white wasn’t pure like Zefree’s clergy but had more of a golden shine to it. The robes made the cleric look more imposing and important than the aura of freedom Zefree’s pure white gave.
The cleric himself was a refined orc, instantly telling Rose their mother had spent most of her pregnancy in a civilized place. His tusks barely showed, and overall, he didn't have the rough features of his wild kin. As he came into his room, his brown eyes scanned both of them, and he sat on the third chair, adjusting his black and styled hair before addressing them.
“Hello, nice to make your acquaintance, Alyx, Rose.” The orc said with a bit of a gruff yet rather refined voice as he nodded towards them individually before continuing,” I have been made to understand you wish to make a contract, but that you would like said contract to be enforced directly by our god. Is that correct?”
An answer that Alyx and Rose nodded to.
“Very well, do be advised that it will cost extra. Otherwise, let us begin. How about you tell me the overarching premise of this contract and the important points you wish to emphasize.” The orc said as he took out some parchment and a quill, which Rose assumed was mana-infused ink.
From there, Rose looked over at Alyx to see if he wanted to contribute, but the gnome quickly shut it down.
“You wanted this contract, so it's up to you what to put on it. Just make sure to remember what we agreed on. Don’t worry, I will make my opinion known if I don’t like something.”
Thus, the next six or so hours were spent discussing the contract.
Rose began by giving the overarching premise of what the contact was about. There was a pair of twins with some soul issues, and they were looking for someone to assist them. This sentence had drawn Alyx’s attention, as Rose had said it was one person. Or maybe he had just assumed.
Rose had been expecting Alyx to say something, but he didn’t do anything besides the stare he gave her. Either way, she continued by saying that the issues were rather unique, and they were scared of the consequences that revealing them to the wrong people might bring.
This brought the talk to the main points of the contract.
First, Alyx needed to maintain the privacy of any information related to the twins. He also needed to ensure the twins' safety and would not do anything that would harm them. Any decisions involving the twins would be brought up with them first, regardless of what decisions they were. Of course, many of these clauses were discussed further to ensure they were helpful and wouldn’t make issues for either side.
They also discussed Rose’s involvement in the whole thing and how she would work for Alyx’s party to the best of her ability until Alyx left the city. This involved detailing what leaving the city meant as if they went out into the wilderness, it was technically leaving the city. Another important issue was Rose's safety and ensuring she wouldn’t just be some throwaway pawn in missions.
As the hours passed, many topics were discussed. All the while, the cleric took notes and made clarifications. Finally, one of the most important topics discussed was the involvement of the gods and the punishment for breaking the contract. Regarding the gods, it was discussed that unless otherwise agreed, neither Sol, Axel, Abzul, or Xitrix would learn of any information discussed about the twins. In fact, that specific clause was one of the most important ones, as it would be enforced directly by the World Crystal.
Another important point was that the contract could be dissolved as long as the twins, Rose and Alyx, agreed and were under no duress to do so. Afterward, they discussed punishments if a side broke the contract.
If Alyx broke the contract, he would instantly forget anything and everything involving the twins and Rose, all the way back up to the point where he got that first note from Rose. If Rose broke the contract, Alyx would keep all the knowledge regarding the interactions with the twins and Rose but would be unable to share it with others.
Rose was a bit confused as to why Alyx had wanted that specifically, but apparently, the gnome was more interested in the knowledge than anything else. It had really thrown Rose off as she didn’t think the gnome was in it for just the information alone. Something that was further emphasized when the cleric finally finished up the contract.
The contract was thirty pages long, showing how much detail it had. Once it had been completed, Rose and Alyx had not only signed it but had also been required to add a drop of blood onto it, along with infusing it with some of their own and their patron's mana. The cleric then spoke up and mentioned the total cost would be 1000 gold pieces, making Rose’s mouth open as she stared at the orc.
Thankfully, Alyx just handed over a pouch with the amount, which sent Rose on a coughing spree, especially as he annoyingly muttered, “This soul better be worth it. Otherwise, I am going to be mad.”
Once the gold had been completed, they were taken to another bare room with a golden and black scale statue. The cleric placed the contract on the golden scale and the gold on the black scale. Then the orc yelled out some words in the language of creation that Rose did not know before the scales glowed golden and deep black, and both the contract and gold disappeared with a flash. After the items vanished, the orc turned to both of them, smiled, and confirmed it.
“The contract has been accepted and it is active as of this moment. I wish you both luck in your endeavors, and thank you for your business. Now, unless you have any other questions, I would be happy to escort you out.”