Forced Underlings

I watched as everyone walked up and dripped a drop of blood onto the blood seal. Each time it would glow slightly before dimming once more. Once everyone had finished, Adel continued: "Okay, now say activation word, and it will start the end of the binding process. But everyone should know that it is slightly painful."

I looked at Adel with a look that said couldn't you have said that earlier!? But I guess if she did, someone might have chickened out. I sighed and looked at everyone, and asked: "Are you ready?"

"Boss, do it! We can take it! This pain will be nothing compared to what you had to take when you saved us." Steven spoke up first. He was already gritting his teeth, waiting for the pain. It was so obvious how tense he was even before he felt anything making his expression kind of funny to the point that I almost laughed. 

"Yes, Boss, Steven is right. We can take this." Even Hailey was saying the same thing. I closed my eyes and as I said: "Seal!"