Samuel settled into the chair across from Canon, folding his arms, a light sigh escaping his lips before he began to recount his story.
"I woke up in a cave, completely lost. I didn’t know how I got there. I met Helydia, and she helped me understand that I had received special abilities, including telepathy. That's how we started communicating."
Canon nodded slowly, taking another drag from his cigarette.
"Then there was Kai," Samuel continued, his tone more neutral. "An archer I met along the way. We fought monsters and bandits together. As for my skills... they seem to have a will of their own." He paused. "The skill 'Immortal Anger' was randomly assigned to me. It has no description, so I still don’t really know what it does. As for the element of 'Darkness,' I didn’t choose that either. I tried dozens of elements, but all were rejected by my skills, until I resigned myself to this one. And my class, 'Calamity,' was imposed on me as well. And now we're headed to Chronos, but not to buy equipment as we told you when we arrived. We're actually searching for an ancient relic, the 'Heart of Aethril,' which will allow me to return to my world."
Canon, without interrupting, continued to listen attentively while chain-smoking one cigarette after another. Time passed—about forty minutes—with Samuel also sharing a few of the adventures he had experienced with Helydia and Kai.
Finally, after hearing the bulk of Samuel's story, Canon stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray beside him, exhaling one last puff of smoke.
"I see..." he said in a raspy but assured voice. "I think I’ve heard enough. You can bring in your companions now."
Samuel stood and opened the door to call in Helydia and Kai. As soon as the door was slightly ajar, Helydia, who had been listening in quietly on the other side, lost her balance and fell heavily to the floor of the room.
Samuel raised an eyebrow, looking at her without saying a word. Kai, standing a bit further back, couldn’t suppress a small laugh.
Embarrassed, Helydia quickly stood up, dusting herself off and trying to hide her smile.
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"I... I just wanted to make sure everything was okay," she said, somewhat awkwardly.
Samuel opened the door wide, letting Helydia and Kai enter the room. Canon was already standing, observing them. As soon as the three of them were in the room, Canon spoke in a grave tone:
"I’ve already promised you this, Samuel... but I’m going to say it again in front of your companions."
Without hesitation, he knelt on the floor, surprising everyone with his solemn gesture. He placed one knee on the ground and, with clenched fists, lowered his head in front of Samuel. In a strong voice, almost a shout, he proclaimed:
"I, Canon Roulakaz, swear to give you everything I have and everything I will have, as I promised you in exchange for saving my village. I swear to follow you to the ends of the earth if you command it. I will be your right hand, and I will do everything in my power to help you return to your world."
Canon bowed down completely, his forehead nearly touching the ground, a palpable sincerity in his gesture and words. Samuel looked at him in silence, his piercing gaze searching for any trace of doubt or hesitation, but all he found was determination and sincerity in Canon's voice.
Just as he opened his mouth to respond, Kai suddenly intervened, his serious tone breaking the silence:
"I'm not sure you’ll keep your word," he said, his arms crossed, his face stern.
This statement caused the atmosphere to freeze. Samuel turned his head slightly toward him, surprised by the remark.
"I’m serious," Kai continued, his gaze fixed on Canon. "I’ve seen men swear grand things and betray at the crucial moment. Don’t misunderstand me, Canon. I respect your commitment, but I don’t trust you."
A heavy silence followed, everyone waiting for Canon's reaction. He slowly raised his head, meeting Kai's gaze with a cold resolve.
"I will do everything to repay my debt to Samuel." Canon stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving the young archer's.
The tense silence was broken by Kai, who slowly pulled a small knife from his pocket and extended it toward Canon. His eyes were cold, and his expression was impassive.
"If you want to prove your sincerity," Kai said firmly, "then cut off a finger, as I did when I swore allegiance to Samuel."
The atmosphere in the room became even more tense. Helydia watched the scene, her eyes slightly narrowed, while Samuel remained impassive, letting the situation unfold without intervening.
Canon stared at the knife, then raised his eyes to meet Kai’s. Without saying a word, he grabbed the blade, his fingers trembling slightly. The idea of cutting off a finger to prove his loyalty would terrify anyone, but Canon seemed to seriously consider it.
After a moment, he took a deep breath, gripping the blade tightly. The silence in the room was almost deafening.