CHAPTER 20: The Pledge

"So, why do you specifically want us to be your companion?" Cellica asked

"You have something that you want that i can exploit and you have the strength to be useful in the future" Kyle says casually and calmly. Melissa is still furious at Kyle as she bares her fangs at him.

"Now tell me, did you plan this ahead of time when we attacked the both of you outside the forest of doom?" Cellica asked once again.

"No, ever since the witch told us to deliver this letter to you. " Kyle said while summoning a black cube and revealing a small black envelope before handing it to Cellica.

"I already planned it ahead but i was caught off guard when you ambushed us" Kyle chuckled as Cellica hides the envelope in a trinket hanging in her bracelet.

"Space Trinket, portable storage that stores items to another pocket dimension and the weight won't bother the user as long as there's space in the dimension. That's quite rare and i've only seen a couple of things like that" Kyle says with an interested tone in his voice

"I thought the both of you were summoned not too long ago. How do you know what my trinket does by glancing at it?"

"I'm actually a seer, someone who can see the future." Kyle explained

"That doesn't explain how you know the inside intricacies of these rare trinkets, a seer can only peek in the major events that are gonna happen in the future" Cellica said

'Damn, didn't think that through. I forgot that she has seen a seer before' Kyle coughed awkwardly before clearing his throat.

"What? did something get stuck? maybe your lies are starting to leak through" Cellica just smiled.

"Yeah, men are usually large liars. That closed eyes of his make him more suspicious" Melissa blurted out

"Don't expose him like that, we still need him" Cellica fakely scolded Melissa before chuckling at Kyle who seems to be hurt emotionally.

"So 'companions' what are your plans if we agreed to the pledge?" Cellica asked while making sure that the word companion is being emphasized.

"I can't tell you yet. It's a piece of important information that only my companions can hear" Kyle shot back as he emphasized the word my.

"I see…does this involve the use of my sacred weapon"

"No comment"

"Hmm….since you didn't correct me that means that it has something to do with my sacred weapon."

"I didn't agree nor disagree. It's just one of your 'assumptions'.." Kyle says as Isaac seems to be silently sleeping without slumping to the wall or to Kyle. Seeing this.

"A classic case of a loner with no friends, with no one to lean on during a travel" Kyle said while glancing at Isaac who is tightly gripping his katana.

"It seems that he doesn't trust you, he is still keeping his guard up even knowing that i have no hostility to him anymore" Cellica says

"Just shows why you cannot be trusted if even 'your' companion doesn't completely trust you" once again, Mellisa says with full of distrust and suspicion. As Cellica picked the tea from the table. The overturned table was removed and replaced with a new one while the rug which was spilled with tea and cupcake was removed and also has been replaced.

"I think it's just he cannot trust anyone, i don't know what he experienced before being summoned but it must be tragic. He was just willing to trust me enough to follow my plans since he doesn't know anything about this new world and he's afraid of death." Kyle sighed before pouring the tea into his cup as the aromatic smell of the leafs and herbs lingers in his nose.

"Well, i think he didn't fear death. When i aimed my rapier and knives at him. He wasn't panicking or shaking in fear. He remained there calmly. What exactly happened to him? There's no way someone wouldn't panic or be at least fearful if someone aimed their weapon in their necks" Cellica asked calmly before sipping tea. It would take hours anyway before they reach the capital so at least talking to someone who she hated will at least be a good time killer

"Ohh, interested are we" Kyle smirked

"Well i don't know the exact details but he was forced into inhumane torture where he was stabbed, beaten, and drowned over and over again for months or years. This is the truth of us cursed weapon wielders, either we will be consumed by the ego or tortured to god knows when" Kyle added before flashing a smile.

"Now you don't doubt us yeah?" he asked cheerfully

"I don't. Either it's another lie of yours or the truth i don't care. I just hope that your story won't be as boring as gazing at the moving grass." Cellica said while glancing at the window to see a patch of green grass as the wind blows.

"Of course you wouldn't, now about you. It's not fair for us to be the only one sharing our stories" Kyle said

"Our? you just shared your companion's story" Melissa said while eating a piece of cake before wiping her mouth with a white cloth.

"You got me there" Kyle chuckled

"I will tell my story if you tell your story how about that?" Kyle said to Melissa

"I don't share my story with anyone i don't trust. Especially towards you" she pointed at Kyle before eating the cake once again

"Fine, i guess i need to entertain you with my stories. I might be able to find a way into your heart and trust me" he winked but the ladies merely glanced at him before gazing outside the window.

"I'm actually a time traveler who comes back in time to stop the incoming disasters" Kyle said seriously but both Melissa and Cellica chuckled

"Pfft..sorry…pfft..hahah..I mean really?" Mellisa asked sarcastically while hiding her laughter.

"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not"

"It's not about believing you, its more about that reversing the flow of time is impossible. Only the god of time can do that" Cellica said

"Hahahahahaha….sorry. Even the 'God' of time can't do that. Except for the 3 almighty gods, all of the other gods are once mortal. They only achieve divinity because." Kyle stopped midway. Sweats appearing all over his body and his body shakes in fear. He felt the extreme dread coming out of nowhere. He feels that if he continued, his very being is gonna be obliterated. He felt shivers that he has never experience before as he gritted his teeth. It didn't last for a second but it felt like an eternity.

"Haha…dammit" His voice becomes ragged and he felt nauseous. He holds his head before a sigh comes from his mouth

"What happened?" Cellica asked, surprised by the sudden change in Kyle. Kyle seems to be out of it before he nodded.

"N-nothing. I'm f-fine" he smiles

"I see…" Cellica said confused by what happened.

After that incident. Kyle remained quiet for hours as both Cellica and Mellisa started talking to each other. Isaac wakes up as he yawned before gazing at the window.

"I want to eat cake once we reach there" Mellisa blurted with excitement in her tone

"Sure sure, foods are the only thing in your mind. Are your thoughts purely made with hunger and craving for eating. I'm surprised that you are not fat yet. " Cellica sighed

"I never get fat, we beastman converts the food we eat to energy and aura, unlike humans who convert it into their jiggly fats like Duke Tennyson. Every time he walks, he resembles a humanoid slime" Mellisa says as Cellica chuckled

"You can't say that, you will get punished" Cellica scolded her before laughing as she imagined a fat noble walking.

"I'm really envious, you can eat whatever you like and you will never get fat"

"How long is it gonna take us to reach the capital?" Isaac asked with his calm tone while his expression remained deadpan.

"hmm..about an hour" Cellica answered.

"What happened to Kyle? He is being awfully quiet" Isaac glance at Kyle who continued gazing at the grass outside the window.

"I also don't know, he was explaining something about the gods before cutting midway. He has been like that for hours"

"I see.." Isaac stands up before raising his feet and kicking Kyle in the side as he slammed in the door of the carriage.

"What the hell was that?!" Kyle quickly stands up before grabbing his shirt while glaring at Isaac.

"A wake-up call, you seemed out of it. You need to get yourself together, we are an hour away from the capital" Isaac stared at Kyle calmly as Kyle gritted his teeth before removing his hands from Isaac's collar as he sits back down before dusting off his own shirt and shorts. He sighs before calming himself down

"Forgive me, and thank you for the wake-up call but it would be best! if you don't kick me!" Kyle glared at Isaac.

"I guess a slap would also do" Isaac shrugged

"Shut up, i was just thinking about something" Kyle said before moving his eyes to survey both the ladies.

"I would like to make the pledge right now" Kyle said with urgency in his voice

"Why are you hurrying? I need to think about it" Cellica said annoyingly

"We don't have time. I feel like something bad is gonna—a loud roar echoed through the plains. A large black shadow covered the red sun. The flapping of its wings can be heard as black flames incinerated the grass and the ground. Gazing outside, Kyle can see a large black scaled dragon with wounds in every part of its body. Its eyes are bloodshot as it opens its mouth before breathing out fire towards the carriage.

"Wind Magic: Dragon Breath Wind" Cellica sliced the door open with her rapier before a large amount of wind circled around her body as the large black fire reaches her. With a swing of her rapier. The black fire was reflected back by the wind but it didn't reach the black dragon.

"Change your sacred weapon to a bow!" Kyle shouted

"How am i supposed to do that?!" Cellica asked without taking her eyes off the black dragon who continued on spitting black fireballs from the sky. Melissa howled loudly before her red hair started floating with the wind and her eyes glowed with bright red while her sharp claws extended. She crouched before jumping in the air before spinning as red shockwaves emerged out of her claws as it crashes towards the black fireballs. Large explosions painted the sky as each of the fireballs was destroyed before Melissa falls to the ground, still baring her fangs towards the black dragon.

Luckily the black dragon seems to be just a hatchling and severely wounded. If it was a normal black dragon, just the black fire breath would be enough to incinerate them to dust. Still, a dragon is still a dragon. It might be weakened but as long as they don't have a way to attack it. They would still die.

'That damned Leonard, it should be a month before the dragon hatches. What did he do and why is it so large?'

"Repeat after me, Leustruem elef yvoenn tras lof" Kyle said to Cellica.

"Leustruem elef yvoenn tras lof" Cellica said halfheartedly, she doubts it's gonna do anything but to her surprise. Her rapier started glowing before changing its form to a bow made with silver with runic letters all around it and green jade-like material is wrapping itself in the bow with a simple black string to pull the arrow.

"What?…What! how did you do that?! how…" Cellica stared at the bow with a confused look on her face.

"We don't have the time! Aim your bow to that black dragon and cast a wind spell. It would turn into an arrow" Kyle said

"Fine, once this is done. You will explain everything you know" Cellica threatened as she aimed the bow towards the black dragon.

"Wind Magic: Wind Arrow" a green arrow appeared in her hand as she pulls the string back before releasing it as the green arrow flies to the air with an extreme speed but the arrow disintegrates before reaching the scales of the dragon.

"Use your advanced magic and not the basic ones!" Kyle shouted as the black dragon started charging towards them.

"Wind Magic: Grand Whirlwind" a miniature tornado appeared in the bow in a shape of an arrow. The arrow looks like it is spinning as the wind around it started circling towards it. Cellica quickly released the arrow as it flies through the air as it enlarges before the dragon tried steering itself to dodge it but its momentum cannot be stopped anymore as it crashes towards the arrow. It drilled towards the wounds in its chest as it rips the flesh and blood out of the dragon as it growled in pain. Realizing that it cannot win, the dragon decided to retreat as dragon flies to the clouds before vanishing and only leaving a trail of dragon blood on the ground. Kyle sighs in relief before stretching his body as he attempted to enter only to feel someone grabbing his shoulder.

"I think we have something to discuss no?" Cellica asked with a smile on her face

"What that may be?" he asked without turning his head to face Cellica.

"Hmm.."Cellica tightened her grip as she remained smiling

"I know i know, i'll talk after Isaac absorbs the dragon's blood" Kyle smiled as he turned his head to face her but seeing that Isaac has already absorbed the dragon's blood on the ground he can only smile and stare at Isaac

"Why are you looking at me? the dragon's blood was enticing so i guessed it can strengthen anyone who drinks it" Isaac says after controlling the blood before he ingested it.

"Idiot! that would kill you!…..why the hell are you still alive?" Mellisa asked, confused as to why Isaac is alright despite drinking the dragon's blood.

"Don't mind him, we have more things to discuss right? Kyle?" Cellica says.

"Right.." Kyle says with a forced smile as the four of them entered the carriage with one of its doors gone. Silence covered the inside of the carriage before Cellica coughs and clears her throat.

"As you can see, as long as you will be my companion. I will share with you all my secret ways to become stronger" Kyle winked before throwing a thumbs up but both Mellisa and Cellica were not amused.

"I guess so. My conditions are, in no shape and form will you harm us directly or indirectly. The second is that you need our permission and acknowledgment when planning something and lastly that the both of you will help with my revenge" Cellica says

"My conditions are that the both of you will never betray us, never share any of our secrets and help us if we need your help" Kyle said back

"With the pledge of our soul, we conclude and acknowledge each of the conditions given by us and our death will be the answer if we break any of this" Kyle swore as a bright glow appeared in their hands. A black circle with a white cross in the middle appeared in their palm before vanishing to thin air.

With this, Kyle has finally achieved 2 new strong companions that will help him with his plan to fight the fate of this world.