So what will it be? Yield. Enough with this bullheadedness. Your tenacity is admirable, but this is not the time to fool around. Make your choice: live to serve me or die. I am certain both of us would prefer the former.

The Lord of Night had no right to enjoy this as much as he did. But there was always something heady about threatening people within his domain. Within the shadows, the Lord of Night’s senses were dialed to a maximum, he could feel everything, every minor muscle twitch, the quickening heartbeats. And only by speaking with his shadows did The Lord of Night ever use his true voice. The mortals’ reactions to the abyss never fail to be amusing.

He saw everything, sensed everything. Nothing was outside his range as long as it was within his shadows. It was a shame he could not pull air within the shadows for long, for it simply was not his domain of control and the Lord of Air didn’t like him nearly enough to allow any of his precious air to be “stinked up by ugly black filth”, or the Lord of Night would long have used it as a storage space for unsavoury mortals or as a safe house for the few precious ones that, unpopular personal opinion, should be securely kept under metaphorical lock and key, where he could keep them safe.

But for some reason, they all enjoyed freedom more than life, just like said Lord of air-headedness. The Lord of Night could never understand the reasoning of his fellow pillar — you can’t enjoy freedom if you’re dead? That was probably why they didn’t get along too well, now that he thought about it. The Lord of Night was magnanimous enough to understand the value of different opinions however, and never wasted both their time trying to change or to understand their opinions.

The point is—mortals who breathe air tend not to survive long in the shadows, either by suffocation or by having their bodies dissolved by shadows. But he digressed. Now, where was he? Ah, yes, back to convincing that stubborn little girl to roll over and play pet.

Speaking of the devil, this Kira girl was frantically nodding and pointing vigorously at her hand-covered face. Well, it’s about time, isn't it?

His shadows coughed the girl up onto their favourite treetop, whose branches were rather worn down by excessive scuffling.

“Go on.” Valendor chuckled at Kira precariously perched on a dubiously thin branch, coughing. “Recite the oath. Prove your worth to me.”

“Um, hold on a moment,” Kira mumbled.

Valendor raised an eyebrow. A shadow tendrils danced across his shoulders.

“Wait wait! I never said I wouldn’t, ok?” Kira licked her parched lips nervously. “But how do I know you won’t kill me afterward?”

“You don’t.”

“Wait what? Why would I swear an oath of loyalty if I’m gonna die anyway?” Kira tried not to hyperventilate, throat closing up on its own.

“If you’re useful enough, I’ll decide to keep you around.” Valendor tilted his head. “You look like you expected something else,”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Well, I thought you might try to convince me why it's a good idea? Like you’re not really selling it?” Kira laughed nervously.

“Like you did a better job trying to convince me why you make a better master,” Valendor snorted, arms crossed.

Kira had nothing to say to that. “Well, uh, what are you gonna do about the lack of a body if you killed me then? Eventually Professor Thornewood would connect my disappearance with your shadow abilities.”

She continued quickly. “Even if you pulled my corpse back out, they’ll find traces of shadow mana on it!”

“Hmph. Very well, I’m in a good mood so I’ll amuse you,” The Lord of Night was obviously greatly enjoying himself. Fangs flashed behind curled lips. “I’ll just feed your corpse to a monster and splatter your blood and guts all over the forest to make it seem like an attack.”

“But then you don’t have someone to kill the Professor! Remember—the bond restricts you from harming him!” Kira exclaimed, hands gesturing wildly.

“I could probably bypass that by using your corpse to stick a big monster on the camp and it could wipe them out. So technically, I didn’t kill Theodric, the monster did." Valendor shrugged and swept his glossy hair over his shoulder. “I’m not sure it would be within the restrictions, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. As for your corpse, I’ll plop it right in the burnt down camp and none would be the wiser.”

Kira’s eye twitched at the Night Warden’s nonchalant tone. “You’ve thought about this a lot haven’t you”

“Yes.” Valendor flashed his fangs in a smile. It was certainly something he considered, but lucky little Theodric was under the protection of Headmaster Alaric Ravencrest, of whom still held information the Lord of Night required. Who would most definitely be displeased with him if the students or staff were compromised in any way. So, as much fun as popping Theodric like a grape was, it would not, currently, be within the Lord of Night’s interests.

Theodric also makes for a pretty good meat shield plus long term donut provider. He was rather respectful and knew his place, as he should really, so that gave the Lord of Night extra incentive to keep him around longer.

That remains to be seen however. If only this brick-for-brains girl would learn some manners like Theodric. The Lord of Night sighed internally. You win some, you lose some. He grudgingly cut his losses. As long as Kira remains obedient, even the most useless underling will serve their purpose.

Valendor focused back on Kira, wide eyes and quivering lips on her youthful face. She gaped, trying to form words and finally whispered. “You really don’t care, do you?”

“If I had truly cared, the camp, the school and all its occupants would already be razed to the ground for tempting my wrath,” The Lord of Night lowered himself and sat down on his branch to be level with the frightened girl. “So no, I do not care. What I do care about however, is my mission. Everything I do now, I do in furthering my mission. Anything else is secondary,”

“Kira Rockwell,” Valendor placed a firm hand on her shoulder as her head snapped up in shock. Twin pools of abyss swirled with cold intensity. “Pledge allegiance to the Lord of Night and take up arms against the cursed Ebonblight. Swear to give your life for this noble cause for the sake of world order. In return, the Lord of Night shall ensure your death will not be in vain.”

Kira’s mouth worked as she scrambled for words, bright hopeful eyes never left those pitch black ones. As she swore, her voice grew steadier at every word.

“I, Kira Rockwell, pledge my allegiance and absolute loyalty to the Lord of Night, to ever take up arms against the enemy, the Ebonblight. I swear to give my life for this noble cause. In faith that the Lord of Night will bless this humble human with an honourable death. May the Pillars hunt me to the ends of heaven and earth, and spill my blood and gore for treachery, should this one break her oath.”

Pleased, the Lord of Night placed a gentle hand on the girl’s bowed head, and gave her his blessing.