Chapter 97: Contract

[Mana Points: 2,960/3,200.]

[Energy: 98%.]

Those four fireballs seemed useless, but it helped me determine my magic had become—magic blackened with another energy. Wasn't impure, but sure is… different. Ned massage the bridge between his nose. Yet, it seemed to add more strength to it.

"Still practicing this early?" A sudden voice called behind Ned. 

It was dark, but not too much as it was during the night. Fragments of unsettling stark whispered Ned's anticipation. It was proposed. Since it has been six hours since Sisi left to scout the region for Ned. 

"Just avoiding being rusty," Ned said. Clinching his fist from strenuous conjuring of his fire spell. The gesturing was livid; but necessary. The flow of mana was smooth with gestures. I really need to get accustomed by not declaring my spell. High mages would anticipate my attacks if I kept on doing it. Ned noted mentally. "Doing rounds, Cas'a?"

"Aye," Cas'a said. Stretching to start her new day. "I'm the best there is." She smiled straining. "Ye really going to leave?" Looking at the young lad. 

Ned nodded. 

"Can't really stop ye?" Sisi added. As the latter nodded for the second time. "Well, see ye soon, then." Walking away and approached the base of the mast where she stood. The rook's nest.

The ships creaked beneath the shores of Bogblot. The Lobby moved back and forth as the waves kept on ramming it. Its black wooden and iron body made the ship mimicking the darkness.

They arrived at the shore of Bogblot last night. and by dawn, Sisi decided to leave and scout; hoping that an old acquaintance of the crew was at the region doing his spying works. 

The agreement between Empress Chi and the rest of Griffith Kingdom—although decades past after the draft—was still in constant effect. It has been proven since merchant ships and the Kingdom's ship was allowed to freely exit and enter the shores. The two weren't at war, but not friends either. 

For that, their best and safest place to anchor was kilometers away from the shore. 

Ned wiped his shoulder from the damping mist, brown vest, black sleeves, and black pants resonated well with the darkness. A little bit of light footing and Ned would consider himself able to sneak someone's back without them noticing him. 

Ned walked past barrels, some empty, some filled. Made his way into the prison cages. The air; still damp, was mixed with wax and a hint of funky odor. From Yaluk perhaps, since he rarely asked to exit himself or clean himself. 

Ned strode to the left cage, there, the giant remained standing. Doing nothing for the past weeks while Anita was fully rested.

"Anita," Ned said. Throw himself on the floor and sat cross-legged. "Would you come out?" Wasn't a command or a begging request. His voice, Ned's voice was genuine—honest, sharp, and genuine. 

The coffin shook and the beaded roof cracked open. The skinny looking girl approached Ned with excitement; eventually—sadness.

Anita stopped in front of Ned. Throw herself a cross-legged seat, and leaned forward. She was waiting for a brotherly tap on her head. 

Ned smiled and brushed Anita's hair. "Was it today?" She said, looking with her failing eyes. 

"Yes, Anita, yes," Ned said. Leaning both his elbows on his laps and straighten his back. "Remember, be a good girl to your big sister, okay?" 

It was still a mystery to Ned, how Anita heed his commands. Surely, it wasn't just the aromatic food, there must be more to it. Something must have touched her past or her core. But for now, Ned doesn't have the luxury of time to make himself deep into this. For he has, much deeper things to attend to. 

Anita nodded despondently. But Ned could sense loyal into her actions. She was smart after all. She learned quickly and adopted quickly. Maybe her so-called Father made her this way. Ned thought forcefully. If that's the case, why?

"I can't promise," Ned said. I don't promise if I wasn't sure. He thought along the way. "But, if I'm done with my. ... Predicaments. Big brother is sure to look for you. So, stay close to your big sister, okay?"

This time she seemed happy hearing Ned to look for her. She nodded—

Footsteps from behind made its wait inside the room. "I'll take care of her," a strong yet distant voice rung behind Ned. 

"Captain," Ned said smiling. "What makes you here, rarely I saw you going in here." He added. Ned could sense her voice was something in a disagreement. Of course. Ned thought. It would take some time to recover since it was her crew that Anita killed. Hopefully, they're new recruits. 

Lady Darcey sat behind Ned, atop of a barrel. She let her cutlass hung on her side while having a straight and a composed bearing. Ned doesn't need to look behind his back to see that Lady Darcey was frowning towards Anita.

"Some things to talk," she eventually said. Crossing her arms under her chest. "Me guessing, here is fine?"

"Your guess is right," Ned answered. Looking at Anita with considering pupils. Poor girl. He thought, almost biting his lips. She's a puppet, she looked like a puppet. Ned shook his head. "Tell me, captain, what was it?"

Lady Darcey wittingly shook her head. "Lad, ye really sure ye not fourteen?" She said smiling. "Nevermind, anyway, here." Reaching a hand to Ned. A faint light was reflected at the ring in her index finger. Though her pinky was cut off—maybe some pirate oath reasons—she could still hold a sword just fine. With a flick of her wrist, a pouch no bigger than the size of half the human's head appeared out of thin air.

The pouched dropped beside Ned with a loud metal clanking sound. 

The pouch was brown. It wasn't new; it was a pouch that almost dozens of hands have used. With its tattered edges and roughly looking surface, Ned was sure it was deliberately made that way.

Ned grabbed the pouch. Ned used half of his normal strength to lift the pouch filled with metals. Ned scrambled his fingers to loosen the knot. Inside, she pulled one of the metal. It clanged, afterwards, the light from the wax and lamps reflected on the metal.

"Silver," Lady Darcey said. "I should I have given ye bronze, but it was messy and too much to carry." 

Silver, currency next to bronze. The edges were rough—thin and rounded rough. With some line in the edges, both sides were blank though. It looked white, and orange due to the candle burning opposite Ned. "Thank you," Ned said. Then a flap of clothing sat beside him. Black, leathery, and old looking clothe. 

"Cloak," she said. Throwing a gaze at Anita, who was busy staring at her big brother. "Help ye hide that scrawny body of ye. Though, with ye training, ye looked more manly now. But still, scrawny."

Ned wasn't sure if he would give a good thank you or let the unintended analysis be bygone. Instead; "Captain," he said. "Could you give her decent clothing?" Tilting his head to Anita. 

Lady Darcey looked at the sitting puppet. Wasn't sure if she wanted to, with her gaze. But, it was, after all, a request made by a thousand-mana-stone grantor. She sighed. "I'll find what suits her."

"Thank you," Ned said. It was a given though. Looking at Anita, whose body was overly exposed; hollow chest, almost looking a deep cavity without her monochromatic core, limbs almost looking a skeleton, instead—was a wood. She would certainly look like a human child if her body was covered with something decent. 

"Anita," Ned added. Showing a smile in front of Anita. "Thank big sister, she will give you a new set of clothes."

Anita stood, and bowed with a graceful wave of her hand. She looks at Ned. "Big brother," she said. Her voice—different. It changes as her core did the same. Her core went from white to red. Her voice went from a childish tone to a woman, commanding, and forbidding. "Let's make it official. Give me a drop of your blood. Don't worry. I like you. Really do. I don't want someone to gain control over me—again."

The last part of her words. It seemed, deep, depressing, and sad. Ned stood. Bit a part of his finger then blood seeped. While Lady Darcey felt something ominous coming out from the puppet. 

"Some sort of a Contract?" Lady Darcey said. Asking the child turned-woman. 

Anita hushed. Doesn't intend to answer the captain, her big sister. 

"A Contract?" It was Ned asking. He felt that it was a necessity to give her his blood if he wanted to leave her with the crew. 

"Touch my chest, Big brother," she said. This time her voice was controlled, caring, smooth. 

Ned with seeping blood reached for Anita's chest. He brushed his finger fondly into Anita's Core. 

For a moment, Anita was silent. After Ned pulled his fingers. She took a step back. At first, her eyes showed satisfactions, then she stared at Ned with clouded emotions. She seemed frightened, excited, or mystified.

Ned smiled, he was certain, but his blood. He knew his blood was different. So he smiled. And lifted a finger in front of his lips. "It's our secret." He said. 

Anita nodded willingly. Eventually, she trusted her new brother. She smiled. Her core, the blood sipped inside her core. It vanished. "The Contract is sealed. I'm yours, Big Brother," she said while smiling under her breath. "Now, command me to follow her." Throwing a gaze at the Captain by idly sitting behind Ned. 

"Anita," Ned said. "Will you follow Big Sister Darcey?"

"Yes!" Big brother," Anita said and smiling.

Ned looked behind his back, I guess that's it. He smiled. Looked back at Anita and said. "What does the Contract do, Anita?"

"Contract?" She asked, confused. "Was that a candy?"

Ned went silent for a moment. Soon, we'll meet again soon. He thought making a promise to himself. That I can do. 

A rush of footsteps echoed outside the prison cell. One of the crew hastily opened the door and went straight to lady Darcey. Without noticing the rest. Not even Ned. She leaned and whispered at their captain. Then she left. 

"Lad," she said. Standing from the barrel. "It's time."