-Encrid Frostblade's point of view.
A few hours later, Encrid was talking to Elizabeth, the queen of the fairies.
A new dimensional rift will indeed appear; Encrid was nervous at this point.
Certainly, if a new rift comes to the world, that means that this time the world will be in ruins.
Everything he achieved in the war against the gods will be ruined with the appearance of a new dimensional rift.
However, he can do nothing.
He cannot return to his former power, he is no longer alive; Encrid is now only a soul that can have a body through Asher's mana.
His power is barely equivalent to an eighth circle; that power is absurdly weak to fight against the dimensional rift.
However, Encrid had a trump card.
Exactly, a successor who has enormous talent, but of course, at the moment he is weak.
"My successor."
"What is it?"
"He is the key, he has my same powers."
"He's still weak."
Elizabeth contradicted him.
However, that is true, but they lose nothing in investing in Asher; the time they have is eight years, more than enough time.
First things first is to get rid of Asher's problems; the first step is for him to finish the academy, the next step is for him to destroy the "Inverted Night" organization, and the last step is to reach the tenth circle.
"We have little time."
"That's right."
However, he could do nothing at this time.
The end of the world was near; the current mages do not have enough power.
"For the time being I won't tell him anything."
"Are you going to train him?"
"Mmm, I will when he is an eighth circle; for the time being, I would like you to sign a contract with him."
"...."
Elizabeth was puzzled. Sign a contract...
Fairies sign a contract with humans, however, this is difficult; not just any human can have a contract with a fairy.
One problem for humans is that the fairy seeks out the human, but there are rules.
Those rules mean that fairies cannot choose just any human; it must be compatible.
That doesn't apply to Elizabeth though, however, she is the queen; if she signs a contract with a human, then she will be leaving the fairy world.
"You don't have a choice, Elizabeth, this isn't about being leader of the fairies, it's about preventing the destruction of the world."
"But..."
"Even your world will be destroyed; we don't yet know which being has the power of a god that will come out of that rift."
Encrid was right; however, Elizabeth was hesitant, to sign a contract, to abandon the fairies and her world to be at the side of a human....
But if it was to avoid the worst destruction in the future, then she had to do it.
"Fine, but if your successor doesn't become strong enough, then I will break the contract and return to my world to protect it on my own."
"Okay."
It was hard, but it is necessary to do so; if the being coming out of the dimensional rift is an eighth god or a monster with the same power as the gods, then this was necessary.
"Fine, then I'll deploy the barrier."
Encrid snapped his fingers and then the barrier restricting sounds disappeared.
"You two, come."
Elizabeth spoke in a serious tone.
Encrid looked at Asher and he looked at him as well; then, he understood.
***
-Scene change.
-Asher Frostblade's point of view.
It was a large and spacious room; Asher and Gloriana had the fairy queen in front of them and Encrid was next to her as she looked to the side.
However, Asher began to think.
"The two of them know each other."
However, he already knew that.
But seeing the attitude Encrid had taken earlier, Asher had some doubts.
What did they talk about?
Why did Encrid seem nervous?
What was going on?
What are you hiding from me?
Soon, however, his questions would be answered; Asher knew the time would come.
However, this seemed different, the atmosphere and the queen's stare at Asher.
This left him very confused.
"My name is Elizabeth, queen of the fairies, and if I could say how strong I am.... Mmm, it would be an incomplete tenth circle."
"What, a tenth circle... Is that even possible?"
Gloriana expressed her astonishment; she was completely in shock, yet Asher remained calm.
Encrid had already told her about Elizabeth's power, yet Gloriana knew nothing.
"Calm down," Elizabeth said.
"Okay, this is sudden, but, successor to Encrid Frostblade, I'd like to sign a contract with you."
"..."
Asher was taken aback.
Why did the queen suddenly have that attitude towards him? Before it seemed as if she was about to kill him, but now it was different.
Of course, Asher knew what the contract is, but the fairy queen herself is asking it of him.
This definitely has to do with Encrid, what is he planning?
However, Asher then kept his cool and calmed his thoughts.
"I can only say this, in the future there will be a big problem and I must help for everyone's sake. You will be the savior."
"..."
What does he mean? Asher thought for a moment.
She definitely knew something, but why did she mention the future? Something is happening or going to happen.
But Asher was too confused by the situation. He was currently weak and they wouldn't answer his questions.
"Well, okay, I don't know why you're doing this though."
"I already told you, it's for the good of everyone."
"I accept, but I don't know how to sign the contract."
"It's easy, just drink my blood and the contract is signed."
Blood contract. Asher knew nothing about that.
Certainly, fairy contracts are strange, but it seemed to be the only way.
"Well, then let's get on with it."
Elizabeth stood up, approached Asher, and it was then that she made a small wound on her thumb.
"Now drink the blood and the contract will be signed."
Asher then opened his mouth and let the drops of blood fall into his mouth.
Drip, drip, drip.
"I feel like a vampire."
Elizabeth then returned to her seat, and Asher finished drinking the blood.
He felt nothing, however.
"That's it..."
At that moment, he felt something was different.
He checked his wrist; it was just there that he felt something strange.
"A tattoo..."
Precisely on the palm of Asher's hand a drawing appeared: it was two wings, just like fairy wings, lined up perfectly.
"This is the contract."
"Yes, easy, isn't it?"
"Good, now you, child, will sign a contract with my sister."
"Huh? Me too?"
Sister... That left Asher surprised.
"So, do fairies have relatives?"
Actually, it would be normal.
"My sister will be here in a few minutes, so wait."
"One question, is your sister related to the light?"
"That's right, she's my counterpart. I handle dark magic, just like you, and my sister handles light magic, just like your boyfriend."
"..."
What the hell did he say?
Asher looked at Gloriana.
However, she was blushing heavily.
"Girlfriend...?"
"Hey, that's not..."
Clank.
At that instant, the door opened and Asher looked at the woman who entered at that moment.
White wings, white skin, white pupils, white hair, and she was wearing a dress just like Elizabeth's, but white.
She was truly Elizabeth's counterpart, however, Asher was not surprised.
Seeing that the woman looked at her sister with wide eyes, she spoke.
"Sister, why did you say you would sign a contract with a human?"
"I'll explain later. First, sign a contract with that girl."
At that moment, the woman looked at Gloriana, then looked at Asher and quickly looked back at Elizabeth.
"Is she...really?"
"Yes, so hurry up, I'll explain why I'm doing this."
"Alright, but if I don't get a clear explanation, then I will take the throne from you and you will be banished."
"Yes, yes, hurry up, Eliza."
***
-Scene change.
"So... is that why you signed a contract?"
"That's right, it's for the sake of humans and fairies."
"I see, sorry about earlier."
"It's okay, sis."
Asher, although he wanted to know what these two had been talking about, simply could not listen.
Encrid had erected a barrier that prevented hearing people's conversations when they are inside one of those barriers.
Asher knew they were hiding something.
It had to be something big for the fairy queen to sign a contract with him. However, he didn't turn down the contract.
Asher knew it would be a good opportunity to become stronger in a much faster way.
However, he was sure that Elizabeth and Encrid were hiding something.
Gloriana, after a few minutes, had signed a contract with Eliza, Elizabeth's sister.
The same tattoo appeared as Asher's, however, Gloriana's was white and Asher's was dark.
Certainly, this was strange.
"Cefir said it was rare to see the counterpart of dark and light."
"Then why are Elizabeth and her sister Eliza together if they are both their counterparts?"
Asher saw this strangely, wondering why the two of them were together.
But, as with Gloriana and Asher, both fairies must have had their reasons for being together.
Asher couldn't blame them; he too was in the same situation.
"Contractors, follow me."
Eliza spoke to Gloriana.
"I'll teach you some skills and how to use light magic."
"Really?"
Gloriana looked at Asher, and he simply gave her a smile.
From the beginning, Asher had been looking for a way to find some skill related to light and also how to get Gloriana to be able to use that magic.
However, he hadn't been able to look for anything; the academy didn't allow going out into the outside world, it only allowed going to dungeons for credit points.
This, of course, was disadvantageous.
Like Gloriana, Asher had no way to learn a new skill. Of course, Encrid had taught him a few skills, but not now.
"It's annoying that he won't teach me his skills or help me train."
Actually, Encrid is his ancestor; Asher is Encrid's successor. However, Encrid does not train Asher and has barely taught him a few basic skills.
Asher felt it annoying.
But he couldn't deny it; it seemed Encrid was waiting for a moment.
A moment when Encrid would teach him all his skills and train him.
However, Asher for the moment knew nothing.
"We'll be right back."
Eliza walked out of the room along with Gloriana.
Asher looked at Gloriana and she looked back at him; however, at that moment, her face turned very red.
"..."
"Will she be sick?"
"..."
"I don't think so, she was fine before."
Clank.
The door closed.
Only Elizabeth, Encrid and Asher were left in the room.
There was silence until Elizabeth spoke.
"Well, we're partners now."
"But... what's the contract for?"
That was the first question on Asher's mind.
Signing a contract with a fairy seemed really amazing, but what exactly was it for? What benefits did Asher get from doing it?
So, Elizabeth answered.
"You can use some of my abilities. You can also access a small amount of my mana, I think only 1%."
"..."
"That... I wasn't expecting that," Asher thought.
Fairy queen abilities. She had new abilities now. Maybe they weren't really his, but what if he managed to master them and make them his own?
"It's possible. I can learn skills just by seeing them," he thought.
However, even though Elizabeth told him he could use some of his abilities, Asher didn't know exactly what abilities he could use or how to employ something that wasn't there before.
His question was soon answered.
"You'll be able to use them when I show them to you. I'll give you a demonstration, so watch closely."
Asher then fixed his gaze on Elizabeth's hands.
"This ability is called 'Chains of Darkness'."
At that moment, a dark circle appeared on the floor and suddenly thick black chains emerged, filling the entire room.
"The second ability is 'Shadow Steps'."
Asher watched as Elizabeth's figure faded, becoming a blur.
"It works to move through shadows."
Elizabeth's voice echoed just to Asher's right side. He turned his head quickly and saw her sitting next to him.
"When did you get there?"
But she disappeared again and returned to her previous spot.
"Now you must train so you can use these skills," Elizabeth continued.
"That's right," Asher replied.
Chains emerged from a dark circle, filling much of the room.
Then, suddenly, chains appeared in the palm of Asher's hand, but at the same time, he too disappeared.
Asher used 'Shadow Steps' just like Elizabeth.
Mimicking her movements, Asher appeared right next to her.
"How come...?"
"I told you, he's monstrously talented," Elizabeth commented.
She could only watch Asher in awe as a smile formed on her face. She couldn't believe what she had seen, but she couldn't deny it. Next to him she had someone capable of learning something just by watching him....