"Thank you master, I am honor by your generosity and kindness. I swear to uphold and defend your honor and your life no matter the cost."

Roth looks down at Amaya confused on the one eighty switch from the timid personality to the now dedicated knight vow. The people around them look and gossip to each other as to why a woman such as herself is kneeling down for him. Roth is flushed with embarrassment as his face turns red. He quickly lifts her up by the arms and stands her up.

"Okay, okay I get it but... why the master part?"

"I was always raised in the household I serve to always call the person I serve under as master. There is no greater title to call you but that master."

"Yeah, but people will hear a girl calling a guy... you know..."

Amaya blinks in confusion,

"I do not understand, what is wrong with calling you master?"

"Well... ugh forget it... so you're like my guardian then?"

"Yes, I am your sword and shield. I have failed the house I was supposed to protect and now, I vow to do anything in my power to keep you safe. even at the cost of my life."

Roth chuckles nervously unsure what to even say next.

"For the next part of my servitude, I need to make a blood pact with you."

Roth blinks in confusion as Mina gasps in a gossiping tone.

"Oooooooh a blood pact? Sounds like someone's getting married hehehe."

Mina gives a smuggish grin as she elbows his side giggling.

"Can you not!"

Mina burst out laughing seeing his face turn slightly pink of embarrassment. He sighs and asks her what he needs to do for this blood pact. Amaya leads them to a more secluded area since it is a more sensitive and personal bond pact for the two. They set off to a corner alley away from prying eyes. One man in a suspicious black cloak looks over at the three tailing off of the plaza. He takes a sip of his cold honey ale and tips the server as he walks away in the opposite side of their direction. The three of them are finally alone as Amaya asks if he's ready. Roth nervously hesitates but agrees. She bows her head in appreciation and thanks Roth once more for his acceptance in their group. She unsheathes her katana and removes her glove. She places the blade on her palm and quickly slices it revealing a large cut across her palm. Mina winces in disgust seeing the open palm. Roth understood and pulled his sword out and removed his glove as well. He places the blade and slices his palm quickly as he gritted his teeth.

"Oh yeah... you two are definitely perfect for each other."

"Mina, I swear to god if you keep this up, I'm going to flick you on the forehead again."

Mina quickly covers her forehead and gasps in refusal. Amaya giggles seeing the two act with each other. She reaches her palm out for a handshake as the blood slowly drips down. Roth looks down at her bloody palm as he reaches out to shake as well. They both gave a tightly firm grip as they shook hands. A deep glow of red light beamed between their fingers, and he could feel a sizzling sensation on his cut. It wasn't burning or anything, but it felt almost staticky. After some time, they both let go when the light finally faded away. He looked into his palm and was surprised that the wound was completely healed. Not even a faint or sign of any visible scar left behind from the blade.

"The pact is now complete. I am bound to you and are free to command me however you may choose for me, I am at your disposal my master."

She kneels down again as she places her hand over her heart again. Roth looks at her in worry but assures her she doesn't have to kneel every time. She agrees and settles for a slight head bow. It's still a little weird for him but he'll accept that then the whole royal kneeling. After that unusual ritual, they finally decided to get dinner at a local tavern to fill their bellies since the day was coming to a close. Mina was happily explaining to Amaya of the crazy adventures they went through together. About facing an evil masked woman, to fighting a besieged city of wyverns to meeting a giant talking dragon. Amaya was fascinated with their adventures and could only wish she was there to see it in person.

"You know big brother, since we have three people now, we can technically be called a party now."

"Hm? You really think so?"

"Absolutely! If we're a party now, then we need to come up with a kickass name for ourselves! Something to put fear into the enemies heart and soul!"

As Mina puts up her fists and starts shadowboxing. Roth giggles at her silly behavior.

"Slow down, we need Amaya to register first in the guild before we can call ourselves an official party."

"D'aww alright."

As Mina pouts and leans against the table as she rests her cheek on her hand. Amaya smiles as she takes a large drink from her wooden cup. She now seems more refine and sophisticated then the timid shy woman he once saw before.

"So tell me lady Mina, what are you plans for the future when you become older?"

"Pfft, that's easy, I'm obliviously going to be continuing to adventure, no bones about it!"

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She said enthusiastically, they both giggled as Roth smiled at the both of them getting along nicely. Until a wave of anxiety swept over Roth, the same feeling of dread he felt when something bad was going to happen. The door opened as the little bell that hung from the door chimed quickly as three men in black cloaked hoodies entered the tavern.

"Take a seat anywhere you like gentleman, I'll be with you shortly!"

As the lady who owns the tavern said as she brought plates of food to other tables. Roth looked at the three men as their hoodies covered their faces. They looked around until they headed towards their direction. Roth kept his eyes on them and was right to do so, the three men walked to his table and stood over them. Mina and Amaya both laughed as they stopped and saw the three men standing above them.

"Excuse me, apologies for the interruption of your dinner, but by chance are you thee Roth Malvikun."

He stares, giving the hidden faces a stern look.

"And who might be asking?"

"We ask the questions here boy."

Said the other cloaked man. Roth's hand hovers over his blade as Amaya's hand is also ready to strike at the man. The same man again asks the same question.

"I'll ask again politely, are you the one they call Roth Malvikun?"

"I'm not saying shit to you, I don't know you."

"Then I'll take that as a yes..."

The cloaked man swings a powerful punch. It was so quick that Roth had barely enough time to react, only putting a small barrier around himself. The man's fist glowed bright yellow as he punches Roth's barrier. Roth was sent flying straight through the tavern and onto the outside tiles leaving a giant trail mark as his body drags across the floor. Amaya and Mina quickly rushed to his aide as fast as they could. The people in the tavern screamed as they fled from the scene in terror. The two helped Roth up as he shook himself of the debris that was on him. He looked at the tavern as he saw the man who punch him slowly walked through the hole in the wall. He slowly walks towards him as the other two stand back and watched him. He removed his cloaked hood and showed his face. His face was emotionless, his hair was slicked back smoothly, and his eyes showed no soul of mercy. They were cold and harden like steel. It was the one man he least expected to face off anytime soon, Touma, the leader of the Lernaean Fidelity.

"You have been a pain in my side for far too long boy. I thought I can get my subordinates to handle a measly boy who didn't know his place in the world. What's the common phrase people always say? If you want something right, then you have to do it yourself."

Roth quickly stood up and readied himself as he drawn his sword. Amaya followed as well as Mina preparing for support. Roth was curious and remembered Frida's level, if she was a subordinate then what was his level? He quickly appraised him, and his knees buckled under his weight. Surrounding Touma was a large blackish red aura that flamed intensely around him like if he was a giant firework. And the rank that the leader held was glowing red with a level of seven hundred. Seven hundred... the leader of the Fidelity sat at seven hundred. Roth had trouble dealing with a one hundred and fifty level person. How the hell was he supposed to fight a seven hundred person.

"Guys! Run away! He's too dangerous! I'll hold him off!"

"What?! No way! We're staying by you through this fight together big brother!"

"Agreed master, we'll fight no matter what."

"No I'm serious! You guys need to-"

He was interrupted as a large circle of flame surrounded them trapping them in the giant fire inferno wall.

"No one is leaving here without my authority."

Roth panicked and without thinking discharged a large amount of lightning towards Touma. Touma reached his hand out and took the full blast of the lightning. But he wasn't being shocked, instead he was absorbing all of the lighting into his palm. As Roth stop, he can stee Touma holding a ball of electricity as it flickered everywhere at his fingertips. He raised an eyebrow as he stared into the ball of lightning.

"Wooooow, so this is one of your unique powers as well. Tell me how it feels when I do this."

He sticks his hand out and the same type of lighting shoots out and struck Roth in the chest. He was sent flying back as he tumbles backwards twitching from the pain of the shock coursing through his body. Touma doesn't give a reaction at all, just the same stoic stare he has been giving all this time. Roth struggled to get up and had no choice, he aimed his hand at Amaya and Mina and casted the spell that Hajime gifted him. A large white circle surrounded the two as they looked down in confusion. A beam of white light shot up into the air and they both looked at Roth with sorrow in their faces.

"I'm...sorry... forgive me..."

"My master wait don't!-"

Amaya was cut off midsentence as the two of them disappeared instantly. The sky fluttered with embers of the white light. He got up to his feet and slowly lifted his sword up to fight Touma. Touma didn't snarked or made any witty remarked, he pulled his sword as well and ready himself. Time seemed to stop for him, everything felt slower, but his sense were somewhat heighten. He quickly used wind magic to propel himself fast and slice him down. Touma however quickly blocked his strike. His eyes widen in fear as Touma punches him hard in the gut. It felt like his insides exploded. He quickly healed and went on the offensive again. Trying to slice, slash and pierce but he kept blocking every attack. Roth was getting angry that he kept the same non expressive face the entire time. Until a sharp pain suddenly shocked Roth as he saw Touma's blade struck deep inside Roth and kicked him away.

Roth held onto the wound as he was pouring gallons of blood out. He quickly healed and the bleeding stopped but the pain resided. Touma was slight impressed and ask him a chilling question.

"Impressive, but tell me, can you heal from this?"

Roth's eyes widen, all he did was blink and suddenly, Touma was standing in front of him. No noise, no gusting wind, just unimaginable teleporting in front of him of how quickly he moved. He was frozen in fear as his whole body ran colder and colder until finally, he realized what he had done. He looked to his left and saw that he sliced his arm connecting to the shoulder clean off. His arm laid stiff on the floor as a pool of blood formed. Roth was having a panic attack he clutches on to the missing limb on his body as he screamed in pure fear and cried out in pain. Again, staring into his eyes, was pure emotionless reaction like if he was swatting a fly. He punched Roth again as he was sent flying back. He was losing so much blood he couldn't focus to heal. His skin was turning white as he was breathing really slowly. So this is what death is like as Roth thought to himself.

Touma stood over his cold body as he was shaking, and tears were falling from his eyes.

"I expected more from you boy. The fact that you gave my operation this much trouble baffles me. Say hello to your goddess for me."

He raises his blade getting ready to pierce directly into Roth's heart. Roth wheezes as he slowly lifts his hand to stop him but couldn't. He swings down his sword when suddenly Amaya rushes toward him in her red mist form, transforming back into her physical body blocking his strike. Touma's eyes slightly twitched catching him off guard. She took this moment and infused her leg with mana as she roundhouse kicks him sending him back into the tavern. She quickly throws Roth over her shoulder and grabs his missing arm and flies into the sky. She manifested large bat like wings made from the same red mist of her transformation as she quickly jets off into the sky. Touma steps out of the rubble easily walking through the flames unharmed. He stares at them flying off into the distance as he squints his eyes in pure annoyance.