Inside the palace of Larjia, Thrain sat on his throne, his hand rubbing his beard as he contemplated the figure in front of him.

His guards, mercenaries, and adventurers, whom he had hired to protect him, lay motionless on the ground, while the room was half destroyed.

"Here I thought you were some weakling, masking your identity to just annoy me, but it seems I was wrong."

Thrain spoke, his low and raspy voice reverberating across the room. He slowly got up from his chair, his short yet stocky frame damaging the floor beneath him.

Now, in Aeon's disguise, William stood across him, carrying his magic staff. His posture seemed relaxed, but it was evident that he was on guard. He had quickly eliminated most of the crowd by using a sleeping powder, only using force for those unaffected.

"I just wanted to talk to you in private, Thrain."

A distorted voice came from William's figure as he began casting a spell.

"As if I'd believe a magician. You lot are the reason why this country is so fucked."

Thrain cursed, his Aura moving furiously, his body charging forward.

William paused his spell after hearing those words, staring at the dwarf with confusion. He had come here with a goal, but it seemed he had to change his plans. The Thrain he knew and the current Thrain were a bit too different.

He quickly dodged to the side and the dwarf's figure staggered from the sudden evasion, opening its eyes wide. He did not expect a mage to be so agile without casting an enhancement spell. He could clearly sense that no mana was used.

"Why is a lowly mage using Aura? Who are you?"

Thrain shouted, his eyes opening wide in shock.

William smirked under his mask, his green eyes glinting with a mix of amusement. This encounter was far more informative than he had expected.

"I'm someone who knows more about you than you realize."

William responded, his voice still distorted.

"And I'm here to give you a chance to save what you hold dear."

Thrain's eyes narrowed with suspicion and fury. He raised his fists, ready to charge again. Sensing the imminent attack, William decided it was time to shift tactics. He began to cast a series of spells with fluid motions, enhancing his speed and strength while preparing a defensive barrier.

"You think you can lecture me?"

Thrain roared, launching himself at William. But this time, William was ready. With a swift motion, he deflected Thrain's attack, sending the dwarf crashing into a nearby pillar.

"I don't need to lecture you, Thrain, I need to show you the truth."

William said, his voice calm yet commanding.

Thrain struggled to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth.

"What truth? That you're just another manipulative mage?"

William took a deep breath, his mind racing. He needed Thrain, but the dwarf's anger and distrust were palpable. He had to find a way to break through without revealing too much.

"You and I both know this country is on the brink of disaster, the corruption, the betrayal, the demonic seeds taking root. I can help cleanse this land, but you must trust me."

William said, his tone softening just a fraction.

Thrain spat on the ground, his expression one of defiance.

"Trust you? Why should I? Give me one good reason."

"Because I can see what you can't. I know the future of this land if we don't act now. Your people will suffer, and everything you fought for will be lost. You don't have to believe me, but you do have to believe in the threat."

Thrain's eyes were angry, but William knew beneath that fury lay a deep-seated fear for his people. He needed to leverage that fear without giving too much away.

Thrain might be compulsive and a bit of a fool, but Thrain William knew he was a powerful warrior who did everything to protect Roia until his demise. He never betrayed anyone and paid gratitude a hundredfold. He only sought revenge on those who wronged him.

"You speak in riddles, mage."

Thrain growled, his fists clenching and unclenching.

"But if you know so much, prove it. Prove you're not just another charlatan."

William steadied himself, a plan forming in his mind. He had to make Thrain see reason, but he also had to maintain control. He raised his staff, casting a spell that caused the air to shimmer around him.

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"I'll show you something,"

William said, his voice resonating with authority.

"Something only I could know."

With a wave of his hand, he conjured an illusion. The spell wasn't complicated, and it was something that even a second-rank mage could cast with ease. However, the image the illusion portrayed was anything but simple.

It was a scene of devastation— Larjia in ruins, its once-great halls reduced to rubble, the corpses of his people strewn across the desolate landscape. The air was thick with the stench of death and decay.

The illusion soon showed many other scenes of destruction worldwide, as well as the countless tides of demonic apparitions.

Thrain's eyes widened in horror as he took in the scenes. He staggered back, his anger momentarily eclipsed by the sheer magnitude of the visions before him.

"This... this can't be real,"

He whispered, his voice breaking.

"YOU'RE LYING! YOU FOUL MAGE!"

"I'm not lying."

William said firmly, his voice carrying the weight of certainty.

"This is the future if we don't act. Your homeland, your people—they all fall. I've seen it with my own eyes."

Thrain's hands trembled, his fists clenching and unclenching. For some reason, he believed the figure before him even though he clearly shouldn't. He had always trusted his instincts, and that's how he had survived since he was young.

His instincts were screaming at him to listen to the suspicious figure and that he was telling the truth.

The dwarf was grappling with the vision of his worst fears realized. He looked up at William, his eyes filled with rage and desperation.

"What do you want from me?"

Thrain demanded, his voice shaking.

"I need you to root out the corruption within your ranks," William replied. "There are traitors among your people who have aligned themselves with the demons. I also need you to form a soul contract with me, one of subordination."

Thrain's eyes narrowed, and his anger flared anew.

"A soul contract? With a mage? Do you take me for a fool?"

His voice boomed through the ruined hall, but beneath the fury was a glimmer of something else—curiosity, perhaps even fear.

William didn't flinch.

"It's the only way to ensure mutual trust, Thrain. This contract will bind us both. You'll know I can't deceive you, and I'll know you can't betray our cause. Think of it as a safeguard against the very corruption we're fighting."

Thrain's fists clenched and unclenched as he weighed his options.

"And what exactly would this contract entail?"

"It will bind you to follow my directives against the demonic threat and the traitors within your ranks. In return, I will help you protect Roia and its people. It's a partnership, Thrain."

The dwarf looked at William, his eyes hard and calculating.

"And if I refuse?"

William's eyes hardened, his voice taking on a steely edge.

"Then you doom your people to the fate you just witnessed. I cannot save this land alone, Thrain. I need your strength, influence, and resolve regarding Baryngoria. I will tell you more after we've finished the contract."

Thrain was silent for a long moment, his mind racing. He had always been a warrior who relied on his strength and instincts. But this was different. This required a leap of faith he wasn't sure he could make.

Finally, he nodded, and his decision was made.

"Alright, mage. I'll form this contract with you. But know this: if you betray me, if you so much as think of harming my people, I'll make you regret it."

William nodded, relief flooding through him.

"Understood. Now, let's make it official."

After saying so, he placed his hand inside his satchel and took out a piece of paper. The paper was unique and glowing slightly.

Since [Encapsulate] was still active, he had to disable a part of it on the tip of his finger. Doing so, he took a knife and lightly jabbed himself, releasing a tiny droplet of blood and dripping onto the parchment paper.

Thrain looked at this scene with slight confusion, his irritation fading significantly.

"So you're human, after all."

William simply glanced at him and prompted the parchment to flow over to him.

"Simply drop blood on the paper to start the contract. This is a supreme-grade Soul Contract; read all the clauses before accepting. Once complete, the contract cannot be destroyed even if a god appears."

Thrain took the parchment, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the glowing document. He had dealt with magical contracts before, but none as intricate and powerful as this one. The dwarf's skepticism was palpable, but so was his curiosity. He began reading the clauses carefully, his mind racing with thoughts of potential traps or hidden dangers.

The contract was surprisingly straightforward. It detailed both parties' mutual responsibilities and protections, emphasizing their shared goal of eliminating the demonic threat and rooting out corruption. The clauses were fair, binding both equally, ensuring that neither could deceive or betray the other without severe consequences.

As Thrain read, William stood silently, watching the dwarf's expressions shift from suspicion to grudging acceptance. The terms were clear: cooperation, loyalty, and mutual protection. Any breach of these terms would result in dire repercussions, enforced by the contract's magical power.

After what felt like an eternity, Thrain looked up from the parchment, his gaze steady.

"This is a supreme grade contract, you say? No way to break it, even for a god?"

William nodded.

"Precisely. It's the strongest binding spell I could make to ensure our trust in each other. Once you sign it, there's no turning back."

Thrain's eyes flicked back to the contract. He took a deep breath, his mind made up.

"Very well, mage. I'll trust you, but know that I do this for my people, not for you."

With a swift motion, Thrain pricked his finger with his dagger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the parchment. As soon as the blood touched the paper, it glowed brightly, the magic activating and sealing the contract. The air around them shimmered with power, binding their souls to the agreement.

The parchment vanished in a flash of light, leaving both of them feeling the weight of the contract settle upon them. William could sense the bond, a tangible connection that linked their fates.

"It's done."

Thrain said, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and resignation.