"Ew! Stay away from me."

"Valac Noctis!? Isn't that the useless waste o-"

"Wow! I'm so famous." A chuckle left Valac's lips as he finally managed to stand up. His body however was still screaming from pain.

"That's not the word for it, Noctis. You are infamous. Also, don't f**king hit on my sister."

Valac let out a half-laugh, half-groan as he shifted his weight, still feeling the sting in his ribs from the earlier fight. His attempt at standing straight was met with a striking thunder of pain run through his body, but Valac fought to keep his grin intact.

"Infamous, huh? Sounds way better than useless."

Nico rolled his eyes, crossing his arms as he glanced down at Valac. "No, I meant infamous in the way a plague is."

"Charming as ever, aren't you?" Valac muttered, bracing himself against the cave wall.

F**k! I have a mission tomorrow.

Ixia, eyes wide and teary, was still holding onto Nico's arm, as if she was holding onto her life. She looked over at Valac, her brows knitting together as though she were trying to figure him out. 

"Thank you... really. I don't think anyone would've come. The Shadow Forest is under Duke's command so it's hard to think that there would be bandits here."

Smart girl. Pretty, too. Oh well… Snap out of it, Valac.

"See, Nico? That's called appreciation." Valac grinned, looking over at him. "Maybe you should try it sometime."

Nico huffed, his gaze narrowing. "Don't push your luck, Noctis. I didn't come here to stroke your ego."

"Could've fooled me," Valac shot back, unable to resist. "Coming to save me like some dashing knight in shining armor. I felt like a princess."

Nico's face hardened, but a reluctant grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You're delusional if you think I'd willingly go out of my way to save you. I was here for my sister."

"Oh my! You wound me, Leitzier." Valac gave a mock bow, wincing as he did. "I thought you loved me but I guess, rescuing the infamous Valac Noctis was just a bonus. Lucky me."

Nico's face twisted in disgust. "Ew! Stay away from me."

A sudden pain hit Valac's abdomen, making him grunt.  

After a beat, Nico shook his head. "You look half-dead, Noctis."

Valac gave a dry laugh. "It's a talent. Not everyone can look this good after nearly getting ripped apart by bandits." He paused, eyeing Nico with a gleam of humor. "Besides, I saved your sister. That counts for something, right?"

A tense silence settled over the cave, broken only by Ixia's soft sniffles. Nico looked away, his expression unreadable, before turning back with a sigh. "You're not wrong."

Valac's brows shot up. "Not wrong? Are you really Nico?"

"Shut up! Don't let it get to your head." Nico's gaze turned steely. "But yeah... You saved her. And where I come from, we don't let debts go unpaid." He stepped forward, his expression serious, an almost regal air surrounding him. "Valac Noctis, as a sign of my appreciation for what you did today, I wish to swear a mana oath to you. Please allow it."

Valac blinked, the smirk fading. "Wait. A mana oath? You know it's for an entire lifetime, right? You'll die if you go against me."

"I know. You heard me right." Nico's voice was heavy. "If it weren't for you I'd have lost my only family."

Valac's usual snark died on his lips as he stared at Nico, eyes wide.

I made Seraphine swear the oath out of fear. But, this is unexpected… The quest brought a lot of benefits than it was supposed to.

I wasn't expecting a mana oath. Partnership, sure. Not, mana oath.

"Nico, that's… damn, that's actually—"

"Gratitude," Nico finished, giving Valac a pointed look. "Something you apparently thought I lacked."

Valac chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Go ahead, Nico Leitzier. I will allow it."

Nico didn't waste another breath as he got down on his knees.  "I swear on my life and my magic that I will serve you faithfully, Valac Noctis. I, Nico Leitzier, will never betray you or your trust." 

A tingling sensation filled the air, and Valac felt the oath settle around him like an invisible armor, an unspoken promise that couldn't be broken.

"Thank you," Valac quipped, rolling his shoulders back with a cocky grin. "I'm glad to have you as an ally."

Nico muttered something under his breath. "You're the most infuriating guy I've ever met, you know that?"

Valac only laughed, wincing at the sharp pain in his side. "Yeah, well, hate to break it to you, but you're stuck with me now, thanks to your fancy little mana oath."

Nico's expression softened slightly as he got up and turned away to support his sister, muttering, "Don't make me regret it."

Valac's chuckle turned into a genuine smile. "Thanks, Nico. Are you free tomorrow, by the way?"

"Why?"

"The Duke has asked me to come to Shadow Forest again tomorrow for subjugation. It would be nice if you could bring mercenaries. I have to go to Moonlit Cavern too. And, next day I have to get back to Duchy for the heir selection test."

Nico shot Valac a flat look, as if gauging whether the guy was actually serious or just plain insane. 

"You're kidding, right? After getting torn apart by bandits, you're planning to waltz right back into the Shadow Forest for subjugation of monsters? And, you're throwing Moonlit Cavern into the mix? Valac, do you even want to live? Or, are you just plain crazy?"

Valac shrugged, wincing at the sharp pain that lanced through his ribs. 

"It's all in a day's work, my friend. Besides, the Duke's orders aren't exactly optional. Are you coming or not? Is it too much trouble?"

Nico shook his head, rubbing his temples as though Valac was the cause of a permanent headache. "Trouble? More like you are the trouble." 

Nico glanced at Ixia, still clinging to his arm, then back at Valac with a reluctant sigh. "Fine. I'll get some mercenaries. Just don't die on me."

Valac gave him a grin. "Lol, sure. And don't worry, I'll make sure you regret it in the best way possible."

"Can't wait," Nico replied dryly. "You're a walking disaster."

"Yeah, but I'm your walking disaster now, remember? You swore an oath to this princess, remember?" Valac shot back, still grinning through the pain.

Nico rolled his eyes but didn't deny it, and a brief silence settled between them, broken only by Ixia's occasional sniffle. She looked up at Valac, her expression a mix of concern and lingering fear. 

"Are you… sure you'll be okay? Please don't get hurt "

Valac's expression softened. "For you, princess, I'll be better than okay."

Her cheeks turned a shade pinker as she quickly looked away, and Nico glared at Valac with a look that could've peeled paint. "Keep your charms to yourself, Noctis."

Valac just chuckled, hands up in mock surrender. "Aww, I feel jealous though you have such a cute sister. Anyway, see ya. Gotta go back."

"Anyway, before you go. Why do you want to go to Moonlit Cavern, anyway?"

"Oh that! I accidentally drank Haldor's Venom."

"WHAT THE FUCK!?"