Talked So Much

'What if .. it's torture?' Azares contemplated.

'It could be.'

Azares scratched his nose with a troubled face. It was his mistake to lost control in front of Eugene. He could just continue to be weak and pitiful, but when he met Eugene again .. The indifference hidden deep within his bones seeped away. He lost his composure. He didn't care. He didn't want to be seen as a scaredy-cat. He wanted that man to acknowledge him. That even without the help of the Duke, without the resources from the Hayndal family, He could stand on his own.

'Sigh..'

'Doesn't matter. It already happened anyway.'

Originally, Azares will leave this family silently. When he leaves, he will be free to do anything he wants with no strings attached to the Hayndal family. Basically, Azares wanted to have nothing more to do with the Hayndal's. He had even finished packing his bag and things to bring. Now that Azares left behind a clue about his strength, he felt a little regretful. If the Duke found out, it would be hard to get out from the dukedom.

It seemed like he had to be prepared for anything that might happen. Right after Azares came into the study, he stealthily walked to a blind spot where the knights watching wouldn't be able to see him. He wrote something on a piece of paper then neatly folded it.

Taking a breath, Azares called out, "Sylph."

In a quiet room where the window was opened, the wind began to blow heavily towards a corner Azares was standing at. The wind was so strong it almost blew Azares away if he hadn't been prepared. Azares's hair danced beautifully in the air. His eyes shone brightly under the attack of the wind. He didn't blink. Azares patiently waited until it had calm down.

However, even though it had been quite a few minutes, The wind became wilder instead. It was like the wind was mocking Azares who had been waiting.

Annoyed, he hushedly said, "Come out."

[Hahahaha! You're not fun]

[It's been so long since the last time you called me, you know!]

A transparent-looking young man's figure appeared. His long green hair was spread in the air. He had a yellow eye that curved similar to a crescent moon. His lips bent sweetly, but it looked terribly wicked that Azares' head couldn't help but throbbed. Azares rubbed his forehead. If he could, he would never call this guy over.

Sylph was a wind elemental, a strong one at that. Wind elemental was a really active and mischievous elemental. These types of elementals loved to wreak havoc and pulled a prank whenever they came. The stronger they are, the more they couldn't stay calm. It was as if they could die if they relaxed a bit.

That day, Azares thought he could try summoning an elemental. Since he had the blood of an Elementalist running through him, the possibility of forming a contract with an elemental should be high. If he could earn himself a free kind of 'weapon', why not?

Unfortunately, the one who answered his call was this guy. He was strong sure, but also exceptionally noisy. The first time he stepped out of the summoning circle, the manor almost got crushed with a windstorm he brought with him. This miserable-looking manor became more miserable. Azares had no choice but to sent Sylph back to his own world. Azares could only blame his luck for getting into a contract with Sylph.

He didn't get a 'weapon' but a troublemaker instead!

Hey, is this karma?

From then on, Azares reasoned he would avoid calling Sylph unless necessary.

Azares stared at Sylph for a moment. Sylph's smile stretched wider than before. He laughed heartily and asked, [Now talk. What do you want?]

[Do you wish to tear this place down?]

[Do you want to slash them into pieces?]

By 'them', Sylph meaning was clear. He was pointing at the knights who were hiding. Seeing that Azares had no reaction, Sylph's eyes flashed with a strange light.

[Oh, I know. You want both!], With that, Sylph's clasped his hand. Thinking he guessed it right. Azares's eyelids kept twitching. He took a deep breath to keep his mind straight from some wicked offer.

'Is there a way to cancel the contract?', While Azares reminded himself to search for a way to cancel the contract, he handed Sylph's the piece of paper he held before.

[Deliver this.]

[Ah?]

Sylph suddenly went stiff. He dumbly stared at Azares before he dug his ear. He wanted to make sure he heard it right.

[Come again?]

[You are a wind elemental, aren't you?]

[Right..], Sylph nodded absent-mindedly

[That means, you can go anywhere no?]

[Of course!]

[Then deliver this.]

Sylph once again went silent. It took him a while to gather himself. Sylph was infuriated.

[I'm an elemental!! Not a messenger bird, you dumbass!], Sylph furiously bellowed at Azares which was reciprocated with a shrugged.

[It's the same]

[IT'S NOT!], Azares blankly stared at Sylph.

[Arghhh], Sylph covered his face with both hands then he groaned pitifully. He thought he had found a great partner which could accompany him in his madness, but who would have thought that he would be used as a bird?

[Even if you say so, someone with my status is..!!]

Azares tilted his head, [Your status?]

[You're only a high elemental. Yet, you talked so much], Azares shook his head and his expression showed 'What is so great being a high rank elemental?'

Sylph wanted to refute but felt it was useless. So, he resigned to his fate. In any case, he had formed a contract with Azares. It's not like he could take it back. In the contract, it was stated that Azares had to give some of his life energy to the elemental summoned. While the elemental would have to go along with whatever the summoner wants and this would last until Azares died.

With a feeble voice, Sylph asked, [Where should I go?]

[To...]

---

Meanwhile, at the Duke's manor, Eugene's office door was opened with a BANG.

"Father!"

"What is going on with you?"

Eugene frowned, his forehead was full of black lines. "Redian, where is your manner?"

Redian who got his question ignored, cried out angrily, "Forget about manners! Why are you letting that wimp go to the subjugation?!"

Eugene turned his head down and took a cup of tea to drink. He didn't seem to care much about whatever Redian was saying. Redian couldn't handle it anymore. But he couldn't reproach his father the Duke. If he went beyond this, he would be the one who got reproached and punished. So, he closed his eyes for a moment.

When he opened his eyes, Redian had become a lot more calmer than before.

"Father. If he comes with us, he will only be a baggage to us."

Eugene sipped his tea slowly, his movement was graceful.

"We'll see."

Redian carefully studied his father's face.

'It doesn't seem like a joke'

Redian was smart. He knew there was something deeper behind his father's actions. The best course was to wait and observe. Still, he was really curious. He was already fidgeting and eager to find out.

Eugene who knew his second son's reckless behavior warned him seriously, "Don't do anything to Azares. Or else.."

Redian cut through it before Eugene could even finish, "Alright! Alright! I know."

Even though he said that Redian didn't drop the matter in his head. Redian was thinking, if his father didn't want to tell him then he could go to his brother. He was the one who stayed the most at home. He must have known something. Redian mood was lifted. He hurriedly said goodbye and dashed to the training ground.

Nos, who came from the opposite direction was confused. These days, the Duke's office had become livelier.