Fate

Zeris grabbed another twig and tossed it into the crackling fire.

He attempted to maintain an appearance of composure, but the beads of sweat forming on his back betrayed the pressure he felt.

After asking that question, Azura had been silently observing him.

'Did she hear what I muttered?' he wondered inwardly.

To him, she remained a dangerous variable, so it was best not to provoke her.

'Maybe my little comment from earlier offended her….'

Then, she tilted her head and calmly declared, "Let's form a contract."

Zeris released the twigs he held, his gaze filled with surprise. It wasn't necessarily a negative proposition, but he sensed that this "contract" was far from simple.

"Can I decline--" he began, but before he could finish his sentence, she hurled a medium-sized rock at his face.

"What was that you said?" she retorted sharply.

The rock whizzed past striking the branch behind him.

"...Nothing," Zeris stammered.

"Good."

Azura stretched her body and continued:

"Don't worry if you accept the contract then I'll tell you everything I know about this world, truthfully."

Zeris thought it over for a second and nodded. Knowledge was one of the key factors that he needed to survive.

"Alright, what will the contract be about?"

Azura wore a playful smile.

"It's nothing major. You simply need to stay within a twenty-foot radius of me at all times."

Zeris froze.

What kind of contract was this?!

"So, can we now discuss the actual terms?" he pressed, unable to conceal his frustration.

"I've already said it."

"This isn't a tease?"

"No."

Azura's smile grew even wider as she observed his growing exasperation.

Zeris noticed her amusement but still ventured to ask, not expecting a favorable response, "Can I withdraw from this contract?"

It was too dangerous for him. Zeris thought that she had already given up on the fragment but seems like this was an opportunity for her to take it back if he accepted it.

Azura maintained her smile.

"Nope. The contract has already been established, and there's no use attempting to escape it."

"What do you mean–" Zeris halted midsentence, his thoughts drifting back to when she had left earlier.

In just a short moment of her absence, the corruption inside him exploded, but it was once again calmed by her presence.

Were they perhaps linked by an invisible thread, similar to what he had witnessed in that projection?

Azura patiently waited for Zeris to contemplate the matter. Eventually, her patience waned, and she considered divulging the answer herself.

'How long is this idiot gonna ponder for… Should I just tell him myself?' She mused to herself.

While waiting for Zeris, she subconsciously blurted out the answer he was searching for.

"It's because you stole my fate..." she murmured aloud.

Zeris's eyes widened at Azura's unexpected words.

The weight of her words hung in the air, filling the space between them with intrigue and uncertainty.

"What do you mean?" Zeris inquired, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

Azura paused for a moment, her eyes fixed on the flickering flames of the fire.

'A bit more…' She thought, trying to increase the suspense in the atmosphere and stirring up Zeris's curiosity even more.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Azura met his gaze with a tinge of seriousness. Her voice carried a weight that made Zeris lean in, eager to absorb every word.

"I've already told you about the Seed of Corruption," Azura began, her voice measured and deliberate. "It is a catalyst, a pathway to obtaining power within this realm. It guides you, reveals your true nature, and presents trials that will test and shape you."

Another pause, deliberately prolonged, to heighten the tension between them.

"But there's more," Azura continued with her same playful tone. "The fragment you took earlier was a trial specifically designed for me. It was my path, my fate within this dangerous world."

Zeris felt a mix of emotions welling up within him. There was no malicious intent in her words while she explained it to him.

'It almost felt like she's happy that it happened….' He thought and looked over. Her face was still brimming without a hint of worry.

"So," Azura's voice trailed off, "In a way, you have stolen my fate. The trials that were meant for me, the growth and power I was meant to achieve—they are now lost to me."

Zeris sighed.

"So you want me to stay with you and repay you?"

She blinked and put a hand to her chin.

"That's not a bad idea…" She dozed off.

"Please focus."

"Ah right," Azura straightened her back and continued, "I forgot to mention because the fragment was meant for me, it will reject you as the new host."

Zeris raised his hand to his chest and asked, "Is that the reason why, my corruption was raising after you left?"

"That's right, if I didn't come back in time then that dark mist probably would've consumed you and returned to me."