Story 13 Paladin of Shadows Chapter 4

The contract formed between our souls and Freya bit her lower lip with a shudder as I felt a connection forming between us for a moment as the contract was concluded with her domain etching a skill or magic into my Falna. 

After a long moment in which Freya looked at me with husky lidded eyes she said slowly. "Roll up your shirt for me to give you a quick update." She ordered with no discussion going to be allowed on the topic and I quickly did so. 

As I obviously wanted to see what I got out of her warrior domain in the contract we made.

[Jake Barris Lvl 1]

[Stats]

[Strength- 0 I]

[Endurance- 0 I]

[Dexterity- 0 I]

[Agility- 0 I]

[Magic- 0 I]

[Development Abilities-0]

[Skills]

[Birth of Domains-] [Allows user to make a contract with a god or goddess via a vow or contract to allow the user to gain a skill/spell that doesn't take a Falna spell slot in the domain in which he contracts with the god or goddess.]

[Valhǫll-] [Warriors including the user of this skill of the matching Familia of the user, passively recover mind, stamina, and from wounds with much greater efficiency.]

[Magic-]

[Valhalla's Rest] [Short Chant] [In the echoes of the ancient lore, Restore, renew, Forevermore, By the Vanir, by the Sacred Tree, Healing now.]

Freya hummed in thought as she looked at the skill before smiling as she looked at me and spoke. "I was expecting some grand berserker skill, or otherwise something far more direct to be used in combat... But a healing spell, and a passive skill that costs you no mana to everyone in your Familia that's reasonably close to you heal in all manners?" She shook her head with a wide smile coming across her face as she looked at me in delight.

"Jake Barriss, you are going to be the star of every expedition our Familia ever leads into the dungeon with that passive effect." Freya said before looking at us all more seriously. "Because the dungeon kills it's victims more than anything by grinding them down and taking them down with their endless hoards." She warned us while still giving me a look of appreciation.

And it seemed that was enough for Alpha as she cut in softly. "It's been an eventful day... And I imagine the following one will be even more eventful, so let us retire for the night so we may work to get ourselves a home tomorrow within Orario while still registering as adventurers."

Freya sighed and nodded in understanding as she said gently. "Then get yourselves a couple rooms to get some sleep within. I will see you all in the morning bright and early." She finished in dismissal and I left the room with the members of the Seven Shadow's following behind me.

With Freya giving me money... Money that somehow instantly fell into Zeta's hands without me even noticing, Alpha had firmly pushed me into an open room while the rest had went to go get the extra room.

"So is this where I die?" I asked wryly as I Alpha's bright blue eyes stared at me with intensity before she took a breath and spoke.

"No... I would never kill you." She said bluntly with her eyes closed as she continued after a pause. "I am aware of my status as someone bound to you. I am not against it and neither are the others in truth... As at our core, we are the Seven Shadows, and we are the Shadow of the person we follow." 

I took that in as Alpha's eyes tracked my form and I brushed a hand over my face as I wondered if I should bring up Cid before remembering how they were just yeeted into my lap from the Company and thus bringing up their old lives which had no further meaning would only bring up bad feelings... So instead I shifted gears and said firmly. "Then I will likely need your help in getting some combat skills trained up."

She blinked and looked at me before chuckling and saying quietly. "Very well. That will not be an issue, besides the time we will be spending in the dungeon to acquire the funds for Gamma to restart her businesses here in Orario." 

And before I could react Alpha gently pushed me backward onto the bed behind me and I froze as she climbed atop my lap and looked down at me with her eyes but inches away from my own. "Jake... That goddess Freya is going to need a firm hand even with that contract you bound her up in." She whispered with her nose all but against mine as she held the deep eye contact with me.

I swallowed at feeling her weight upon my lap, and I answered likewise quietly. "I am well aware Alpha. Now why did you climb onto me?" I asked wryly and in the deep pools of blue that were her eyes I saw a mischievous light in her eyes as she leaned back with her backside landing firmly in my lap and I realized that she had somehow... By some fucking black magic had undone my button-up shirt and had removed it in the space of the three sentences that were shared between us.

"Jake Bariss, I have a question... That must be answered." Alpha whispered into my ear and I nodded as I felt one her soft hands caressed my chin before moving to my ear and playing with it as she looked down at me from her position atop my lap. "I saw the way you looked at the rest of the Seven Shadows... Besides myself and Zeta, you trust the others and put your back to Delta without an issue. Yet I make you nervous." 

Her eyes hardened as she leaned down closer to me and with our lips all but touching and her form plastered against my own she said firmly. "I am not your enemy alright." 

Now Alpha was hot, and I admittedly loved how she pressed herself against me in order to keep me honest so she could read me better... Or maybe she had some kind of dommy mommy elf thing going through her head, I don't know. 

But instead of saying I didn't fear her or anything... I 'showed' my lack of fear in the most primal way a man could to a woman. 

A crisp clap rang out as my hand smacked onto her soft bottom under her dress making her blue eyes widen and I kissed her cheek as I spoke with a smile. "I was a bit nervous being bound to a strong woman like you I admit. But I know you won't hurt me... Anyway, goodnight and I hope you don't let Delta sneak into my bed." I finished and then in lieu of slamming a door or something in her face to get the last word I just buried my face into a pillow.