Acquiring Another Subordinate

'Serve or die' was what Seyton heard. The beginnings of fury built up within him. Even if the youth in front of him was stronger than he was, there was no need to demean him so, was there? A lofty Eighth Tier magician like him was being threatened so blatantly. No one else in the world would be able to acquire him whether through bribery or coercion. What Nine said next wiped out all of such thoughts from his mind.

"If you are willing to work under me, then this prince will help you get back your lover," she said gently.

Her voice coiled around him like a venomous viper, causing the Duke's back to be soaked with cold sweat. His heart chilled. Not a single Vampire that was still alive today, other than the ones who had abducted her, knew about her existence. The youth in front of him had somehow been able to piece together clues just from his mansion alone. Although he shouldn't have been able to solve the problem that had been plaguing him for centuries, somehow, he had the feeling that the beautiful youth in front of him would be able to accomplish what he couldn't.

Such a young youth, but he was already so treacherous and scheming. Looking at the shallow smile on the other's face, Seyton briefly felt like he was about to enter into a contractual relationship with the devil. By letting slip that he was a prince, Seyton could already tell that the other was accustomed to power. By talking about his lover, there was a subtle threat there. Carrot and stick. If he accepted, then he would receive the carrot. If he didn't, then he would receive the stick. The various implications that the other had managed to convey through his tone alone chilled him to the bone.

More than that, he trusted his instincts. He nodded slowly, his mask regaining its usual calm.

"My name is Nine Destan, Crown Prince of the Cosmos Empire. Vampiric Duke, Seyton Mort, do you accept?"

Seyton dropped to his knees, willingly this time. Hand across his heart, he made the Vampiric salute, swearing loyalty to Nine. He pricked his heart with his finger, and a drop of pure blood essence flew towards Nine, sinking into her skin.

"I, Duke Seyton Mort, hereby swear to loyally follow and serve my Master, Nine Destan, until death, should Master help me regain my lover."

[Life bound contract with 'Seyton Mort' formed.]

[Seyton Mort]

[Malnourished (Hungry, Weakened)]

[Skills: Shadow Shifting (Advanced), Body Tempering (Advanced), Shadow Steps (Advanced), …]

Nine scanned the screen that popped up briefly and dismissed it with a blink of her eyes. She felt the familiar bloom of magic, causing her to hum as she randomly decided where to place it. Nine reached towards him and popped open his shirt, startling Seyton at her sudden gestures. Numerous thoughts immediately flew into his mind. Disregarding him, she brushed cold fingers on his collarbone gently, the swirl of magic blooming and blossoming under her finger as it was set down. Similar to Shade's it was a silvery hue of her magical signature, swirling and expanding oppressively.

Seyton held in the gasp that threatened to leave his mouth. This strange phenomenon hardly ever occurred. To his knowledge, this had only ever happened twice even in the Vampire Courts. A loyal retainer to the primogenitor, as well as one more general under him. No other had appeared since then. It had been theorised that when a Master and subordinate had souls that resonated, as well as being sufficiently loyal, they would be able to form such a bond.

However, they had just signed their contract. How could it have appeared so fast? Even the primogenitor and his two loyal servants had only acquired such a bond after years of deep loyalty and service. Seyton was greatly puzzled but accepted it in stride. He would be lying if this event didn't fill him with expectations. Somehow, he felt like his Master could do anything he set his mind to.

"How many Vampiric royalty are there?" Nine asked.

Seyton paused as he thought. "If I may ask, what year is it currently?"

As Nine relayed the date, Seyton nodded. "It has been 418 years since I've gone into sleep. Before I slept, there were seven left. Please forgive your subordinate for not having more information," he said, bowing at the waist. He was the very picture of gentlemanly, but he carried no signs of arrogance or pride, as compared to earlier when he first woke.

Nine could see that his gestures were sincere, causing her to exclaim in admiration inwardly. Seyton had immediately slipped into the role of a subordinate with a great amount of ease. If she didn't know better, she would have assumed that he had been a servant for all his life.

"If Master permits it, then would you allow this subordinate to recall his subordinates to get more accurate information?"

"How much do you trust your subordinates?"

"They have already sworn loyalty to me before I went to sleep. They trespassed in my mansion, and I kept some of them. You need not worry that any of them will try to harm you," Seyton said, his smile genial.

"Very well. I allow it," Nine said, wanting to get the information as quickly as possible. It was good that he already had subordinates of her own. She would be able to use them since they were already bound to Seyton and start her plans for an information gathering group.

Seyton quickly sent a message to the Vampires under him who had sworn loyalty, asking for them to return as quickly as possible. Then, he hesitated for a brief moment before deciding. "Master, did you use the full might of your magic against me just now?" he asked, his pride on the line. As a Eighth Circle magician, being unable to handle the purely magic pressure that his Master had emitted had greatly damaged his pride.

Nine studied his face and body language, looking at him deeply. "Since you belong to me, I suppose it doesn't matter even if you know," she said, gradually expanding her sphere of magic containment.

The pressure in the room gradually increased, causing Seyton to feel as if he was having trouble breathing. The weight of magic pressed against his chest, making him heave for breath. Contrary to what humans might have thought, Vampires still needed to breathe. Their hearts still beat, circulating the oxygen that was filled with magic into their blood. Without it, they would end up crippled, even though they would still be alive. But what better was that than death, if they couldn't use magic?

Nine noticed this and retracted her magic abruptly, causing Seyton to stagger on the ground as the respite caused him to inhale oxygen greedily, his mask shattered. He quickly composed himself and his mask reformed to its perfect and flawless state, causing Nine to admire his resilience once again.

"I still haven't used all of it, but I'll tell you that I can use up to the Tenth."

Seyton looked at her with dazed eyes. He felt like everything his Master did was to break his flawless mask. He looked at his Master doubtfully. His master was human, wasn't he? He didn't even look like he was out of his teens yet! What was this? A teenager who was able to use Tenth Tier magic. He silently reaffirmed his decision, causing the magical signature to pulse, sending feelings of warmth through him.

He felt like his entire worldview was shattered. Suddenly, he felt like the long years he'd spent as a magician had been useless. He was still only in the Eighth Tier.

Sensing his distress, Nine reached up and patted him on the head, making Seyton feel like tearing up. He was being comforted! With a blank expression, no less.