A pact

Valerie was stunned. She had never expected someone to have such an audacity to ask her to make a pact. Forming a pact was not something one can take back. To solve it one must fulfill the promise made to form the pact. You could ask someone with enough power to break the pact if those who made it were weaker than the pact breaker. However, such a measure would still cause a severe backlash. Forming a pact was seen as a last resort when both parties didn't believe each other's words. It was much easier to fight it out rather than backstabbing each other while being bound to a pact. Some mages showed their commitment and love by forming a pact to be forever on the day of their union. Though it was not a very common practice considering how long mages could live and how fleeting love could be.

"Do not joke," Valerie admonished.

"I'm serious." The werewolf made his face as solemn as possible. A laughable effort considering how she heard him whimpered the night before. Valerie's lips twitched up.

"Don't laugh!" Noah said but immediately slapped his mouth. He looked at her warily, expecting her to freeze him into an ice statue. Not that she would, she was too busy trying to remember the last time she had smiled.

"Why do you want to form a pact?" Valerie humored the werewolf for his achievement.

"I need power. I heard that forming a pact with a witch can grant more strength. Am I right?"

"True." There was indeed a mortal man who formed a pact with a witch. The man gained magical power he had not been able to use before and achieved many great feats. Even so, he still ended as a snack for the witch. "Why do you need more power? Don't you werewolves boast of your kind's strength?"

The werewolf shook his head. "I can't afford to waste time by training. I need to get strong as fast as possible to avenge my family."

Valerie stilled for a second. Emotions surged and boiled in her cold heart. "Oh?"

"A friend-he betrayed me. He killed my father, the king of Alesia Kingdom, in order to seize the throne. I was caught and imprisoned by a loyal subject who helped me flee. I need to kill him and regain what is rightfully mine."

Another soul thirsting for revenge. There were many that she found in her journey. Some even wanted to take revenge on her. It was an old tune she had heard countless times. She remembered Aaron's bright smile and enthusiastic optimism. "It will take a long time but I know that we can move past these old grievances. We cannot forever be bound by these chains of hatred. Someone had to stop it. I believe we can."

Didn't you see, Aaron? I was right. There would always be those who were wronged and seek revenge. Your belief was too naive. This world was too broken and unfair.

Valerie sighed, exhaustion weighing her down. She looked at the werewolf with his righteous rage. Once again she was given two options. She could reject him and perhaps merely kicked him out instead of killing him. Or she could accept his ridiculous proposal. To form a pact was to form a bond deeper and more intimate than empty promises. There was nothing the werewolf could offer to her. She had finished her journey. There was no desire for power, influence, wealth left in her. And yet she still asked, "What can you offer in return?"

The werewolf stood straighter, gathering more courage. "I don't have anything except myself. But if you help me I'm willing to swear my loyalty to you. I'll do anything that you ask as long as it does not harm Alesia."

"You know your value and yet you still dare to demand?" Valerie asked. "Foolish."

"I will not back down."

"If I refuse?"

"Then I'll leave. I'm grateful for your aid and I will bother you no longer."

Valerie stared at him and didn't speak for a long time. The werewolf tried not to squirm under her scrutiny but his fists kept clenching and unclenching.

"Alright."

"Eh?"

"But I expect you to listen to my orders. I do not appreciate disobedience."

"O-of course! Then how do we start?"

Valerie sighed. "You don't even know how to make it and yet you demand to make one." She took a small jewelry box on the shelf. Inside were several pieces of jewelry that her mother saved. She picked out two rings and put them on the table.

"Cut the palm of your hand," Valerie said, throwing him a small dagger. "I'll say the incantation and you will repeat it."

The werewolf did so without complaint.

"Tell me your name," Valerie said as she made a shallow cut on her palm and took his hand in her.

"N-Noah," the werewolf said.

She placed their joined hands on top of the rings. Their blood mixed and slowly gathered.

"Here I swear as the Witch of Frost. May these words bind my soul. This pact shall not break until it is fulfilled. With all my might I shall help Noah avenge his grievances and in turn, he shall swear his loyalty until our bodies turn to dust."

"Here I swear as the son of Charles, King of Alesia. May these words bind my soul. This pact shall not break until it is fulfilled. I swear my eternal loyalty to the Witch of Frost and in turn, she shall aid me in my revenge."

The blood shone brightly, infused with their power. It fell unto the rings and seeped into them. The rings glowed red for a moment before returning to normal.

"It is done," Valerie said. "These rings shall be the physical proof of our pact. Keep it close. If you are ever in danger, speak my name and I will know."

Noah took one of the rings. He tried to put it on but it didn't fit his fingers. "I can't wear it."

"Of course not. They were my mother's." Valerie took the ring from him and put it on a necklace. "Here."

"Ah-thanks." Noah wasn't sure how to act in front of the witch. He had always heard the horrifying tales of the destruction witches brought. But the one in front of her rarely showed hostility except for that one time. He hadn't expected her to agree to his ridiculous proposal. He was even prepared to run away with his tail between his legs, but she accepted. Noah gazed at Valerie trying and failing to understand.