"Oh please, you told me that she was your little sister, now she was your neighbor's kid. Don't lie to me," Elise said and let out a light giggle as if Harrison just said some sort of joke yet he remained expressionless as always. He was deep in thought, it looked like he was troubled because of this.
Ah, this is annoying. I don't even know what to say to her. Should I tell her about Alexandra? No, that wouldn't be a good idea, what should I do? He started to attack his mind with questions as he thought about what to say in this situation. How can he escape this? Elise spoke once again, "She looked really close and precious to you from the way you acted around her and when you called out to her after finding her in the carnival. She must be someone more than that, right?" Elise said.
After hearing what she said, he was in a dilemma, once again. It feels like he got caught in a trap or something, he got confident in his abilities and wasn't being careful during that time. Well, he never expected that Elise could have a charm that can block his spells or barriers. Damn, this girl is full of surprises and I hate surprises, he thought to himself before letting out a sigh.
"I can't tell you that," Was what he said after he sighed. That is what he can only think of, that one answer he can only think of when he doesn't know what to say or if he doesn't want to answer that question. Elise smiled, annoying him further, "Why?" Her voice sounded sweet and filled with curiosity as she spoke even though it was only a word. That tone of her voice annoyed him more, the answer was already obvious yet she was still asking him. Does this girl even have common sense or what?
"You can ask me anything but not that. She is not my sister nor is she not my neighbor's kid. We are friends. That is all you need to know," His voice sounded stern and strict as if he was a teacher scolding a student for breaking the school's rules. It sent a shiver down her spine, he looked scary and intimidating. His usual bored and (sometimes) playful demeanor changed into a completely different one, an intimidating and serious one. It was like she stepped over the line and he got angry about it. Harrison tried to maintain his composure, he doesn't like it when somebody asks some questions that would step over the boundary and involves his private life. Alexandra should not be known to everyone yet especially to this girl, the one he is currently talking to.
Heck, Neither Luke nor Jerich know the existence of Alexandra until her father would announce it to everyone. "Okay, fine. I only have one request from you," Elise said, not wiping off the smile on her face as she spoke in a gentle tone of voice which rang inside his ears. Her voice sounded so loud in this peaceful and silent place, there was nobody around. Not a single person playing with magic like suddenly making a chair float and smash it to the wall and such things that would greatly annoy him every day.
He hummed as he gradually softened his features, "What is it?" He asked in a serious voice, laced with curiosity. Elise widened her smile before she spoke once again, her voice sweet yet determined, "I want you to help or teach me how to properly handle or use magic. I can't control mine and I don't know who I can approach to for help, asking Sir Luke and Sir Jerich might be too troublesome for them," She said and his eyebrows creased before he responded. "Why me? You can ask others to help you with that besides Jerich is kind and loves to help other people, I am sure he can help you," He said.
"But, I am not really comfortable around them. I can't let them know this ability of mine, this ability was probably the reason why I was asked to attend this academy, It feels like I can trust you, I know that you won't tell anyone about it unless it is needed to," Then that one word sparked his curiosity "What ability?" He asked and the smile on Elise's lips somehow faded, she pursed into a thin line.
If she answers this question, that would solve all of my problems and questions which would always be inside my head whenever I see her. It was like whenever she appears, a button inside his head would be pressed and release all of those questions which would linger inside her head and trouble him almost the whole day especially that they were seatmates.
However, Elise just remained silent as if she doesn't want to tell him that ability of hers yet not until he won't agree to help her. He doesn't know if that was what she was planning to do, to spark his interest and curiosity so that he would agree. "If you aren't ready to tell me, then just don't," I will still find it out anyway, he thought to himself wanting to add that in the end but didn't. Then silence surrounded them for a few moments, Elise was waiting for the next thing that he will say.
"What if I don't agree?" He said. "Then I will tell Luke and Jerich about it, how will I do that? I have my own ways," Elise responded. How cunning, how annoying, he thought to himself and grinned. Knowing how mysterious she is and how she is filled with surprises, he had decided on what to do and this could also benefit him too.
"I'll help you and in exchange, you should not tell everyone about it. Not a single soul because if you do, then be prepared for the worst. Hell would break loose, I'm telling you," He said as if he was threatening her when he really is. He was serious about it, it looked like he was a killer or a kidnapper that threatened his victim that if she tried to escape, it will be the end for her except that he isn't a killer. Elise just let out a small giggle as if she wasn't scared by that when she actually is, she was just hiding it. "Sure, should we form a contract or deal?" Elise said.
Forming a contract, just like what a contract is, where two people agreed at doing something that would either benefit or harm each other. There is a penalty if ever one of them betrayed the other who they formed the contract with, the contract would immediately breach after the penalty. This is to ensure that the person they formed the contract with will does their part.
Both of them drew something in the wind and after they somehow pushed and swiped it, small fragments that are glowing appeared like snow falling. Then it formed into something, a paper to be exact with words written on it. Those were what they agreed to and before signing it, they read the contents first. To sign the contract, they will have to use their blood and to do so, they have to wound their finger or prick it with something in order to do so.
Once again, there was a small light that appeared right beside them and they looked at it and watched as the light gradually faded away, showing a small yet very sharp needle that they would use to prick their finger. They took it and did what they need to do, at first it was just a small red dot until it gradually became bigger as it flowed down their fingers. Using the blood on their fingers, they signed the contract without hesitation as if they were already used to it. Then there was this faint sound that sounds like a string of a harp or guitar being plucked which indicated that the contract was already signed.
The contract became small fragments that were glowing and it gradually disappeared as they felt something hot against the skin, as if something hot and burning was being pressed against it. Elise winced in pain as she tried to endure it while Harrison was also enduring it but not showing it. He let out a groan as he can't endure the pain anymore for a long time, and finally, after 10 seconds, that feeling eventually subsided and they were able to calm down.
They looked at the part where they felt the pain, on Harrison's shoulder was a mark, it looked like the symbol of the wind but more extravagant and elegant. Elsie also had the same mark on her shoulder and that showed that they formed a contract with each other. If ever they were about to break it and betray the other person, they feel that pain they felt earlier but more painful. That is to remind them of the penalty they will receive if ever they do betray the other person.
A few moments of silence before Elise spoke once again. "By the way, I knew what you and your friends were planning to do. You want to know more about me, so you decided to investigate and became closer to me," Elise said while smiling at him as if she forgot about what just happened earlier and what she felt. Before he was able to respond, the bell rang cue the end of the break time.
Elise smiled at him, "I'll go on ahead," She said before she turned around and started walking, leaving Harrison behind him to go back to the classroom just like what she said. He stared at her back for a moment before a thought came rushing inside his head.
This scene and what happened earlier reminds him of what happened at the orphanage. Wait, what orphanage? Did I live in an orphanage before? He asked himself, confused. Flashes of images appeared inside his head and changed into another one in a rather quick manner. Then there was a voice inside his head, it sounded so sweet and gentle yet stern and strict:
"If ever you broke the promise, I am going to break all of your bones. Do you understand?"
Weird. How weird is it to hear that voice, it sounded so familiar as if he already heard it from before. As far as he can remember, nobody told him that yet in his whole life. It sounded like Alexandra's voice, he was sure that she wasn't trying to communicate with him through telepathy because why would she say that? Well, if she heard their conversation, then that would explain half of it but that is not possible since they are far away from each other and you can't hear what the other person was also hearing.
Where? Where have he heard that voice?