image [https://www.deviantart.com/bananaskunkarts/art/1108924820] James blinked, his mind racing to catch up with what the witch had just said. My soul? He stared at her, his mouth slightly agape as he tried to process the absurd offer. Was this some kind of twisted joke? She had just saved his life, and now she was asking for his soul in return?

“My… soul?” he repeated, his voice shaky, not entirely sure if he was supposed to laugh or start running.

The witch, who had yet to even introduce herself, watched him with an amused expression, her arms folded across her chest. Her violet eyes glittered behind her red glasses, the same color as the magical energy she had used to dispatch the monster. “Yes, your soul. It’s not as dramatic as it sounds, don’t worry. I won’t own you entirely. Think of it as a… contract.”

“A contract?” James echoed, still not quite believing what he was hearing. He had only been in this world for a day, and already things had gone from zero to insane in record time. He’d expected quests and leveling up, not selling his soul to a powerful witch he’d just met.

She smirked, clearly enjoying his confusion. “Yes. In exchange for your soul, I’ll provide you protection, magical training, and, of course, my assistance in keeping you from getting torn apart by monsters like this one.” She nudged the now-dead Rank C beast with the toe of her black heels, her voice never losing its cool, controlled tone.

“And what exactly do you get out of this?” James asked, trying to regain some semblance of control in this conversation. “I mean… why would you even want my soul?”

The witch rolled her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself. It’s not about power, if that’s what you’re thinking. A soul pact is just a means of binding us together. It ensures that you uphold your end of the bargain, obedience, loyalty, serving my needs, that sort of thing. And in return, I make sure you don’t die a horrible death out here. Fair trade, don’t you think?”

James rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at the ground as he mulled it over. On the one hand, this woman was clearly incredibly powerful, far more powerful than anyone he’d encountered so far. She had saved his life without breaking a sweat, while he had almost gotten skewered by a monster. Having her protection would definitely be useful, especially given how little control he had over his magic. On the other hand… his soul? That seemed like a pretty steep price.

But as he glanced down at the dead monster, reality hit him again. This world wasn’t a game, he had been inches from dying, and without help, it was bound to happen again. He needed someone to watch his back until he could get stronger.

“Okay,” he said, nodding slowly. “I… I accept.”

The witch’s smirk widened. “Good. You’re smarter than you look.”

She stepped closer to him, holding out her hand. Her fingers were slender, the nails painted black, but as she extended her palm, a soft glow began to emanate from it, casting a faint purple hue in the dim light of the forest.

“This is the part where we make it official,” she said, her voice soft but commanding. “You’ll need to give me your hand.”

James hesitated for only a moment before extending his hand toward hers. As soon as their palms met, a surge of energy coursed through him, making his skin tingle. The glow around her hand intensified, and intricate symbols began to etch themselves into the back of his hand, glowing faintly as they appeared. The same symbols appeared on her own hand, mirroring his exactly.

“There,” she said, stepping back and glancing at the symbols on her hand. “The pact is sealed. You are now bound to me, and I to you. Don’t try to break it. Trust me, it won’t end well for you.”

James stared at the glowing mark on his hand, still feeling the strange energy pulsing beneath his skin. It didn’t hurt, but it was… unsettling. “So, uh… what happens now?”

The witch, who James realized he still didn’t know the name of, turned back to the dead monster, casually cutting the last of its horns free. “Now, you follow me. I’ve got what I came for, and I don’t plan to hang around this forest any longer.”

As she stood up, James found himself still trying to process everything. He had just made a soul pact with a witch, and now she was leading him… where, exactly?

“Wait, before we go, can you at least tell me your name?” James asked, jogging after her as she began walking down the forest path.

She paused for a moment, glancing over her shoulder at him. “Elysia Rayne,” she said simply, adjusting her glasses before continuing to walk.

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“Elysia,” James repeated under his breath, trying to commit it to memory. There was something about her, something mysterious and yet oddly captivating. She was clearly dangerous, but at the same time, she had saved his life and offered him a chance to survive in this world. Maybe he could trust her… at least for now.

“Come along, servant,” Elysia called over her shoulder, her tone laced with sarcasm. “We’ve got work to do.”

James couldn’t help but grimace at the word “servant,” but he followed nonetheless, wondering just what he had gotten himself into.

The walk through the forest was oddly quiet after the chaotic encounter with the monster, though James’s mind was anything but calm. He glanced down at the glowing symbols etched into the back of his hand, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that he had just made a soul pact with a witch. His hand tingled with the residual energy of the pact, but it didn’t hurt, just a constant reminder of the deal he had struck.

Elysia walked ahead of him, her movements graceful and confident, as if the danger they’d just faced had barely registered to her. Her purple hair shimmered faintly in the moonlight filtering through the trees, and the symbols on her own hand glowed softly. She still hadn’t told him much, just that she was a witch and that she needed the horns of that Rank C monster for some kind of potion. Beyond that, she was a complete mystery.

After what felt like hours of walking, the trees finally began to thin, and in the distance, James spotted the faint glow of lights. As they emerged from the forest, he saw it, a small, quaint cottage nestled between the trees, with ivy growing up its stone walls and a cobblestone path leading to the front door. Smoke drifted lazily from the chimney, and the windows glowed with warm, golden light.

“This is where you live?” James asked, his surprise evident.

“Yes,” Elysia replied, glancing over her shoulder. “It’s where I brew my potions, do my research, and where you’ll be staying for the foreseeable future. Welcome to your new home, servant.”

James winced at the word “servant” again but kept his mouth shut. He followed her up the cobblestone path to the front door, half-expecting the inside to be as rustic and simple as the outside.

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

As Elysia opened the door, the interior of the cottage revealed itself to be a magical wonderland. Books floated through the air, lazily putting themselves away on shelves. A stack of dishes was cleaning itself in the kitchen sink, each one scrubbing and rinsing in midair. The fireplace crackled with a soft, cozy warmth, and the room was filled with the scent of herbs and incense. There was an undeniable magical energy in the air, as if the house itself was alive and humming with power.

James stepped inside, his eyes wide with wonder. “This place is… incredible.”

Elysia shrugged, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. “It serves its purpose. Follow me. I’ll show you where you can sleep.”

Before they could get far, a soft voice interrupted them. “Ah, Mistress Elysia, you’ve returned. And it seems you’ve brought company.”

James blinked and looked down to see a cat perched on the arm of a nearby chair. But this wasn’t an ordinary cat. Its fur shimmered with the colors of the cosmos, deep purples, blues, and blacks, as if its entire body were made of nebulae and stardust. Its eyes gleamed with intelligence, and as it jumped down to approach them, James realized it wasn’t walking, it was floating just above the ground.

“James, meet Cosmo, my familiar,” Elysia said, gesturing to the celestial cat.

Cosmo regarded James with a critical eye before offering a small, polite bow. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, young man,” he said in a smooth, British accent. “I do hope you won’t cause too much trouble while you’re here.”

James gaped at the talking cat, unsure of how to respond. “Uh… thanks? I’ll try not to?”

Cosmo nodded approvingly. “See that you don’t. Mistress Elysia is very particular about her workspace, and we wouldn’t want any accidents, now would we?”

Elysia rolled her eyes as she moved further into the cottage. “Cosmo, don’t scare him off before he’s even settled in. We’ve made a pact, and he’ll be staying here for a while.”

“A pact, you say?” Cosmo raised an eyebrow, his starry eyes flicking toward the glowing symbols on James’s hand. “Interesting. Well, then, welcome to the household, young man. It seems you and I will be seeing much of each other.”

James could only nod, still processing the fact that a galaxy-colored cat had just spoken to him in a British accent. He followed Elysia deeper into the cottage, feeling more and more out of his depth with every step.

Elysia led him to a small but cozy room at the back of the house. A simple bed with soft blankets sat against one wall, and a small desk with a few candles was set up near the window. It wasn’t much, but after the day he’d had, it looked like heaven.

“This will be your room,” Elysia said, leaning against the doorframe. “Get some rest. You’ll need it. Tomorrow, your training begins.”

“Training?” James asked, half excited, half nervous.

Elysia smiled faintly, her purple hair catching the candlelight. “You didn’t think I made that pact for nothing, did you? You have potential, but you need a lot of work. I’ll teach you magic, how to control your power, and how to survive in this world. In return, you’ll do as I say.”

James nodded slowly, the weight of his decision finally settling on his shoulders. This was real. He had bound himself to a powerful witch, and now he was her servant. But in exchange, he was going to get stronger, learn magic, and, hopefully, not die in this dangerous world.

As Elysia turned to leave, she paused at the door. “Oh, and one more thing, James,” she said, glancing back at him. “Don’t forget, you belong to me now.”

With that, she closed the door, leaving James alone with his thoughts.

He sat on the edge of the bed, staring down at the glowing symbols on his hand. His muscles, still toned and powerful in this new body, flexed as he clenched his fist. He had come to this world wanting adventure, power, and a fresh start. He had gotten all of that, but at what cost?

Outside the window, the stars twinkled in the sky, and James couldn’t help but wonder what tomorrow would bring.

For now, all he could do was try to get some rest in the magical cottage of the witch who now held his soul.