Chapter 28: Clivents Bane (IV)

[You have found your Life’s line Nothing acknowledges your lines Inexistence and {Oath}]

I’ve heard the sound of flesh ripping apart, metal piercing the veil of life, the bisecting of body parts through torture, hours of caged nights.

The sound of the rusty dagger hitting Adena’s flesh made none of those familiar sounds. “Crack!” the rusty dagger given to me by Glothmin had found Adena’s intestines. That’s what I had thought my mind said one thing, but my ears heard another.

The girl wasn’t bleeding in the slightest. Unconscious and unaware she lay shackled to the upward wooden table. The blade of rust with its voice of thirst and hunger was eluding her.

I’d never been more thankful. A girl like her wouldn’t have to experience the pain of being gutted. Her vegetable-like state turned out to be her greatest boon.

My eyes were wide open and glued to the rusty blade sticking out of her stomach.

Releasing the blade flung me back across the room towards the door.

“I had to help” The knife had to be removed by any means. Anything was better than hiding behind the shop's counter like that evil despicable demon of a blacksmith.

Healing my arms with Hands of the hearth had all but emptied me. Releasing the blade flung me across the room towards the store entrance.

“MOOOORRE!!!!” The rusty blade was shouting for blood as I ran up to remove it. Adena’s body still seemed a little cold on the outside but looking at the blade sticking out of her. Her skin was like ice, frozen to the touch.

“How was her heart still beating?” Remembering not to panic I ran over; the blade had only gotten about an inch deep into her stomach slowly sinking further into her gut.

“Yes!!” The sounds coming from the blade made my ears bleed, as it was finding a home in Adena’s intestines. Making up my mind I was ready to pull out the knife. I could heal Adena, any further damage from the blade would pose a further threat to her life. I put my hands on the hilt of the sword to pull it out. The knife lost its form completely.

I tried to grab at it, but the rusted knife became more malleable. Was this thing even a knife?

"Mine!!! ” the knife broke itself down into rust-colored sand forcing its way into the girl's stomach.

Helpless! Why was I so helpless? Adonin only gave me one job and I couldn’t even do that. Thinking to myself, shoulders lowered in defeat.

I signed to the Dwarf or Demon whatever he was peeking from behind the store counter. He had betrayed us and for what, the contract had to have some type of repercussion.

'Why!' Turning my back to Adena I knew he could see me; his eyes and forehead were the only part of his body that could be seen.

Glothmin was hiding behind the counter watching me struggle the whole time.

“What could you possibly have to gain!?” My hands were covered in blood from holding the knife back for as long as I possibly could.

[You have found your Life’s line Nothing acknowledges your lines Inexistence and {Oath}]

“Why do I keep getting this same notification? I agreed to live for him. What more is there to it?!? It’s over now, he'll never forgive me.”

My thoughts were in turmoil. I couldn’t even release my anger on Glothmin because he could probably kill me with little to no effort.

“I didn’t break the contract, Clivent. I'm unsure of the outcome. That rusty knife wherever it is inside the human girl was a gamble. I had never witnessed it speak before today or do any of whatever that was.” Glothmin was explaining but I just wanted to choke him to death. I gritted my teeth and glared at him, she was going to die and there was nothing I could do about it.

“You gambled with her life!?” I asked, holding my glare.

“Clivent read the room. Do you think I would risk breaking that contract? I had an inkling that the dagger was possessed. by what? You ask. Well, I don't feel like I’ll expose that information yet. It seems to have some effects though, don't you think?” He stood up putting both hands on the counter like he was ready to sell his finest wares.

When he said that [Death's Call] activated the room was practically boiling minutes ago but my back had picked up a fatal chill, a chill my tail had even caught a wind of.

At [Death’s Call] I ran leaping over the counter as a blast of frost and force came pushing out from behind me.

“My poor Kitty,” Glothmin pouted.

He needed to get his priorities in check. Huge shards of Ice had almost skewered us. Just looking up, the door to this shop's backroom was frozen over. The counter had saved me from a swift death but thinking about it if the door in front of me is frozen over what about the entrance?

Glothmin being at my side, it was the perfect time to ask him what was going on. The room was freezing.

“Don’t ask me any stupid questions. I can only surmise that the dagger wants the human’s body. Come to think of it, she might not make it three souls one body, the human being the weakest link. She’s most likely going to kick the bucket. Bane, do me a favor and give me an update on your friend, over the countertop you go.”

Seeing my breath fall onto the countertop, I lowered my "ears," I have two of them now let's not lose them. Rising back. up and over the countertop I took in the room crackling sound of ice lining the store walls. If snowfall wasn't bad enough the quality of the shards didn't give me any hope for the girl. The rate at which the aura had crystallized signified that we might have an Archmage on our hands, an archmage, if only.

No wonder Glothmin never came from behind the counter. That ice wouldn't be melting any time soon, as it was laid on thick and the glimmer- 'Enough' about ice, the girl!

Her shackles were frozen into broken bits as her corpse lay limp on the floor, she'd fallen face first by the looks of it. Such a small impact had covered the floor in a sheet of ice and the table that she lay on didn’t look any better.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

[Death’s Call] didn’t ring any bells so I made my approach. 'Slow and steady,' I made my way to the girl trying not to slip, making it to her side the Ice crystals sticking out of the store walls had started to noticeably melt.

Flipping Adena over off of her face, I looked for the stab wound. The stab wound that I made on the girl was nowhere in sight. What remained on her white linen shirt were smudges of red and yellowish-orange stains smelling of rust and blood.

A couple of stains, I can handle a couple of shirt stains. She managed to regain some color on that skin of hers, and my line is still intact.

'What next?' I need to stay on my toes.

[You have found your Life’s line Nothing acknowledges your lines Inexistence and {Oath}]

“Why thank you Glothmin, what would I do without you Glothmin, can we talk about opening a tab Glothmin?”A Dwarf snaked his way toward me and the girl. He could try lightening up the mood, but sarcasm wouldn't make me forget the new side of him I had seen today.

'He's not a Dwarf.' I can't afford to gamble with this girl's life. And I can't afford to let him do the same.

'What exactly was I expecting from him, just look at her.' The only difference between now and five minutes ago was that her paleness had slackened.

Ignoring him I raised her left eyelid to look at her pupils.

“That’s not good,” hands on his waist Glothmooking down at us.

Her left pupil resembled something reptilian the iris had taken on a shining blue it shimmered unmoving staring into space. The right eyeball was no better yellow all over with no pupil or iris to be seen. Adena looked all but gone.

“You should put the human out of her misery, there's no way she’ll regain control of her body, her soul is probably as good as gone.” Reaching down, Glothmin was about to put his tanned hands on her.

“Smack!” His hand went back up, from that action I could tell that I was grossly underestimating his strength. But I wouldn’t have him touching her without Adonin’s permission, nor would I let him kill her, 'She’s not dead yet.'

“Clivent c’mon don't be so naive. It's not like you. The girl’s as good as dead, show some mercy?” He can stretch and stress his words. That's not happening.

[You have found your Life’s line Nothing acknowledges your lines Inexistence and {Oath}]

“What do you know about Oaths?" I turned to face him hoping he could shed some light on the notification. Though I had height on Glothmin, that Crimson eye of his let me know where I stood. I try to stand tall. But would standing tall be enough? It would take more than five days to triumph against a lifetime of slouching misery.

I could stand tall, but there was no hiding whatever the "Dwarf" saw in my eyes.

What he sees now as I place myself between him and the girl.

She had regained some warmth. We could maybe spare some time, there had to be something we could do. Adonin had to be somewhere in the city. I know he could help. I'd bet everything on him. Call me insane to place so much faith in a child. I am insane.

“What an odd question. I was unsettled by your quick rejection, but interesting nonetheless. The girl there should be all but dead and here you are asking about an oath. You honestly don't think a "Human" is strong enough to defy a higher tier, do you? What makes you bring up an Oath in this situation?" Now he's asking questions, questions with answers I truly don't have.

"Bane, you Dog! She's so- so young." His jokes aren't really funny when they're about me. "I jest and joust, do control those urges. You take possession quite lightly seeing as she could be the death of us.” Glothmin paid my fangs no mind as he spoke freely, his eyes remaining glued to Adena’s unmoving- It's not a corpse.

“Are you sure? Is that the question you want to ask about my so-called "rejuvenation"?”

“No. You're right, I'm still intrigued by you Clivent so I'll entertain you as you do me. A true Oath is recognized by the system and can be created by leaders and kings often resulting in a life-or-death contract. Other times they simply signify loyalty to a person or cause. Quite funny really, someone is always on the receiving end. There are some "benefits" that come with extreme bordering deathly drawbacks when and if these [Oaths] or [Vows] are broken.” He scoffed; it seems he has a history with these so-called {Oath}’s only problem is this information wasn’t new to me.

“Anyone and I mean anyone can make up silly rules or words and claim it to be an [Oath]. Sometimes the system even plays along with such deceptive skills giving a notification or two. Illusion magic is a skill that helps with such trickery or just being an unbelievably good liar but that's unlikely. Sometimes an Oath is about absolution. The difference between a true [Oath] and a parlor trick is not just about a system notification or choosing a “Yes or no” prompt. My friend if Oaths were so easily forged they might as well be as good as a promise. I'm sure someone of your age knows that "promises" can be broken even a no-good thief can make a silly promise and break it soon after. Ha! Hilarious really that ole bastard." Is this where he starts another one of his rants?

"An [Oath] is spoken using not just words but "power". There is always a truth in such words of spirit, they bind my friend. All mad Official after agreeing not just by word but by binding of the user's system. A simple “yes or no” will be presented by the system menu, next comes acknowledgment in the form of sacrifice by reading the {Oath} with conviction, and then, at last, the sacrifice is taken. The power of an [Oath] is all about what’s being sacrificed and what's being exchanged in turn. Give and take whether they'll admit it or not Clivent Bane. A permanence will be always, a permanence that will change you forever."

“The system and user have to acknowledge the [Oath], right?” He takes a few steps back walking back toward his cash register, but I know a reply is coming.

"Why of course Bane." Glothmiin would keep in his stride until he found a seat beside his cash register, He never liked sitting in the chairs.

Oath, what did I promise in exchange? Why can’t I remember if an [Oath] is so important? I stood next to the girl stuck in my thoughts.

[You have found your Life’s line Nothing acknowledges your lines Inexistence and {Oath}]

“I won’t say it again, Bane,” he squinted, this was the usual face he made to hide his eyes, eyes that can't help but express his intentions.

I'd once caught his eyes tearing up when he was waiting on some deal to go through. Whatever the deal, it was enough to see his eyes tear up above his face full of wrinkles. After trying to intimidate me I can see now that he's the perfect picture of health, minus the pulsating red pupil and the crooked fangs hiding under his thin lips. What will my class do to me appearance-wise?

Instead of wasting more time, I should find out. There's no need to fret, and there's no need to worry. Maybe a couple of things to worry about.

“Can you watch me? It's been a while since I last looked at my system.” I never asked who taught him. I rarely ask these days. I would be dead by now if he wanted it so.

"Time I gave the system its due." I've stagnated.

“Determination, to keep the girl alive. Can't say it looks nice on you. It's clear to see that you have little attachment to the girl. But since I like you Bane I'll offer you a hand. Do know that if she attacks or even shows the slightest sliver of killing intent, I'll have Kitty here spit her out on the streets. Kill her myself if it comes to that.”

“But-” I signed.

“But what?! it won't be her, just one of two souls. Hurry it up, she's counting on you. And don't get any ideas once you Class up! Wouldn't want a measly class up to one hundred get you killed.”

“How?” I signed astonished how did he know my level it's been ages since I looked at the system. I've silenced it so that I couldn't get a sense of where my skill levels were, so how?

“A High-level half-demon, remember? I’d get to It if I were you. Those two souls are battling it out inside of the Hu- "girl" soon she'll take damage. Doubt you noticed, the strand of white hair on her scalp and the scale underneath. Two hours tops, that’s if no one comes looking for the "cause" of the City’s stormy weather. Chop, chop Clivent Bane.”

The store's heating had somehow taken care of the chill from the girl. Sitting down beside Adena I was ready to class up.

I was poorly leveled compared to other citizens, but I needed more options. Over fifty years I've waited and so much has happened. I found my [Life’s Line] 'What more could I have asked for in this life?

[You have found your Life’s line Nothing acknowledges your lines Inexistence and {Oath}]