"That's no reward at all," I retorted.

After a tense pause, I continued, seeing she wasn't taking no for an answer. "Fine, I've almost lost my life so many times in the past day anyway. What's gambling with it one more time? But you still haven't told me what we're betting on."

"The bet is on whether your teacher will return before the sun sets," Verdenia explained. "If you guess right, you live, and he and you come with me. If you guess wrong, well, you'll have a taste of the nature of elves."

I gulped audibly, which was surprising, considering how dry my throat still was.

"Ah, before that," Verdenia said, touching my forehead. I felt a surge of elven power entering my body and a symbol being etched onto my skin. It felt more like a gentle painting than a deep engraving, causing only a slight tingle.

"What did you do to me?" I asked, curious and slightly apprehensive.

Verdenia explained, "It's just a means to ensure our agreement. If you win, I'll spare your life. If you lose, I'll administer punishment as I deem fit. So, Falond, what's your guess? Will your teacher return before sunset or after? If, by chance, he doesn't return at all and you fail to guess, I still win."

"I don't know how you know about him anyway," I said cautiously, unwilling to reveal my thoughts. "But I won't play your game."

My response was met with a raised eyebrow from Verdenia. "Stop trying to stall, Falond; make your choice." Her tone was firm again.

My heart started to pound. I had tried to act tough, talking about how I'd been on the edge many times in the past few days, which was true, but that didn't eliminate the fear.

Uncertainty clouded my mind as I questioned Hadrian's return. Could I trust him? What was his reason for saving me? Hadn't he already fulfilled his duty by protecting me once? Wasn't that enough?

My distrust came to my mind again. I blurted out when Verdenia took a dagger from nowhere and played with it in her hand. "He won't come back!"

And just like that, she declared the bet settled, an unmistakable spark of excitement in her voice.

"Alright, Hadrian. You can come out now," she called into the wilderness, her tone light yet knowing.

Emerging from the dense forest, Hadrian appeared. A look of undeniable discontent was on his face. I had chosen wrong. How long had he been standing there? And why had he waited if he had returned not too long ago? My mind buzzed with questions, yet I didn't voice them. Instead, only indecipherable cursing left my lips.

What happens next? A feeling of defeat washed over me.

As if reading my thoughts, Verdenia interrupted my silent brooding. "Cheer up, Falond of the Moth. It would be against nature's decree to harm a being graced by a world beast. I can see you have unvoiced questions; keep them. You won't get the answers yet."

Her words echoed in my ears. They were bringing me only more questions. World beast? Blessing? These concepts were foreign, making me even more aware of my ignorance.

She continued. "You see, I tricked you, Falond; really, us forest elves are part of the group your sourcer Hadrian is – "

I interrupted, "What's a sourcer?"

"That's not important. What's important now is that we fulfill our bet—seeing how I just can't bear to kill such an amusing man. Instead, you'll be bound to me as a knight of sorts. We will be paired. As such, you'll stand with the elves now."

Her words echoed through the silence of the forest. Bound to her? A knight, to stand with the elves? My fate was spiraling out of control. Here I was, injured and helpless, negotiating with a forest elf who seemed to hold my life in her hands.

"Take it as a chance to learn, Falond. You might even discover the secrets of your 'curse.'"

Helplessness came over me, and the mark on my forehead lit up before sinking into my skin. No longer visible. A contract of sorts had been cemented.

Chuckling at my predicament, Verdenia said, "Falond, we are all just a series of choices; some we have set at birth, others we can control. You, my new bound, haven't been the best with either type of choice."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Inwardly asking about what I did to deserve all this in life, a sigh came out of my mouth. My issues stemming from distrust had come to a boil today, and I realized the high cost of my current nature. If only I had believed in Hadrian from the start. I glanced over at him, noting the scowl on his face.

Verdenia continued the conversation, unperturbed by my silence.

"Well, staying silent won't change the contract mark on your forehead," she remarked. "It serves as a reminder that you are bound to me. Should you against the elves or me, it will set you straight."

She continued, her tone shifting to a more casual and lighthearted manner. "But don't worry, Falond. We are partners in this. You'll need to perform a few small tasks for me in the future. In return, I'll provide guidance and assistance. From my perspective, it's a win-win situation. You get to have such a beautiful partner like me."

Her shameless words hinted at madness, yet her grin somehow was pretty.

"Enough of that, Verdenia. You can explain the details to him later. For now, I'll give you the herbs. Carry out your duty as the herbal healer," Hadrian instructed.

Verdenia sighed and pouted slightly. "Yes, yes, I suppose I'll do it now..."

I couldn't contain my shock and resentment any longer. "She was the one who was supposed to apply the herbs? What was all that game for then?"

Hadrian intervened before Verdenia could respond or tease me further, cutting her off before it began.

"That was a test, Falond. It varies for each person, but this was yours. And, in case you're wondering, yes, you failed it. Consequently, you've lost part of your freedom for a while, my foolish idiot. If you're not careful, you may lose more," Hadrian said, his tone filled with grimness.

Ah, his insults were back, too. He was upset. I didn't trust his word enough. I was too frustrated now to care much, however. Being tricked, betrayed, and feeling powerless was wearing me out. Anger was welling up inside me.

As if sensing my anger, Verdenia approached me and forcefully lifted my chin, bringing her face close to mine. I couldn't help but glance helplessly at her chest, my eyes betraying my vulnerability.

"Oh, already longing for your contractor? What a troublesome bound you are," Verdenia remarked, observing my vulnerability. "I can easily sense your emotions now, especially with the contract binding us. I must tell you, getting angry won't benefit you. This outcome may even be for the best if you use it wisely. Now, stay still as I apply the herbs. I can't afford to have my new bound get killed before you become useful."

With that, the seal took effect, immobilizing me as Verdenia skillfully applied the herbs brought by Hadrian. Despite her playful demeanor and tricks, she was undoubtedly skilled at her work. That's the trouble with elves—after reaching around maturity, they rarely show signs of aging for the next hundred years. Verdenia could be twenty-five or a hundred and twenty-five, and only an expert could tell. As she finished applying the herbs, a surge of power emanated from her, intertwining with the healing properties of the herbs.

This elf was far more formidable than her playful demeanor let on.

With practiced ease, Verdenia swiftly treated and wrapped my wounds like she had done it countless times before. Maybe she indeed had. In just a matter of minutes, I was already feeling a significant improvement. The circulation of my aura became smoother and more natural. With her assistance and the touch of her radiant green power, my body was no longer collapsing.

I managed to squeeze out a word of gratitude. Despite my grumbling, I knew Verdenia's healing was essential. The circulating power within me was a temporary fix, a stopgap for more time. If it ceased, my life would end rather quickly.

Hadrian approached me, starting to speak with an air of authority, "Foolish boy. Now that you've been tested and your injuries are no longer life-threatening, we must move again. Until now, we've kept you in the dark about us and our destination. It's time to change that."

Instead of Hadrian starting the conversation, Verdenia stepped in. She effortlessly secured me loosely to Hadrian's back using some wrap and began to talk, "Yes, my bound. As you can see, we are heading deep into what you call the Naien Forest, which is already beyond the true borders of your Kingdom of Reverent. Our destination lies at the edge of the northern portion of the Blessed Forest, close to the Sea Gate Mountains."

She paused momentarily before continuing, "A unique portal exists there. It is our passage to the depths of that mountain range."

"What!? There's a hidden portal this close?"

"It's not hidden to the most powerful among your kind," Verdenia countered. "Only the masses like you are kept in the dark. If you stop interrupting, I can teach you something, my little moth."

Resuming, she said, "You'll be coming with us through this portal. There, you will find a haven for most individuals like you on this continent. Mentors will be there who can guide, change, and mold you. But nothing comes without a cost. Even though you've already lost part of your freedom to me, there's still a price to pay. We can discuss that later." She winked at me as she finished her sentence.

"Off we go," Hadrian announced and sped off, with Verdenia keeping up effortlessly. My new contractor was indeed mysterious. She matched strides with Hadrian, who, besides the grand mage, was the most powerful being I had ever encountered. They continued to increase their speed, engaging in a silent race. However, there was more to it than that. A sense of urgency enveloped them. Perhaps they were fearful about the Grand mage's return? I couldn't blame them. After all, a casual spell from her had me put one foot in the grave.

We journeyed on in silence. Unsure of what else to do, I focused on circulating the unfamiliar aura and attempting to understand its true nature. Hadrian and Verdenia seemed aware of aura's secrets but deliberately held them from me. The pace picked up slightly as I continued to force the rotation, causing an ache in my veins.

"You should stop forcing yourself," Verdenia whispered into my ear. "Without proper techniques and guidance, you'll only end up causing more harm than good. And I certainly wouldn't want a worn-out man." She enjoyed provoking me, evident by her light laughter upon seeing my flustered reaction.

Her teasing successfully slowed my aura manipulation. With nothing else to focus on, I closed my eyes and tried to get some rest. In this semi-conscious state, several hours swiftly slipped by.